| 1-31 Oct | Health Literacy month www.healthliteracymonth.org/ |
| 1-31 Oct | Save Kiwi month www.kiwisforkiwi.org/save-kiwi-week/schools |
| 13-19 Oct | Earth Sciences week (USA) http://www.earthsciweek.org/about-esw |
| 13-19 Oct | Get Ready Week, marking the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction |
| 13-19 Oct | Niue language week www.mpia.govt.nz |
| 14 Oct | Free 20 min informal online PLD about LEARNZ term 4 virtual field trips. Info here. |
| 15 Oct | Free lecture, Bill Fry, tsunami risk 7.30 pm, Beachside Conf Centre, 70 Beach Rd, Nelson. |
| 16 Oct | World Food Day www.fao.org/wfd/ |
| 17 Oct | Free workshop ESS Schol, 9.15-2.30, House of Science, 671 Cameron Rd, Tauranga |
| 18 Oct | Free lecture, Bill Fry, tsunami risk, Dunedin erin.todd@otago.ac.nz |
| 20 Oct | Deadline to apply for Predator Free NZ support. Info here. |
| 21 Oct | Peak of Orionids meteor shower http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/meteor-showers |
| 22 Oct | Free lecture, Bill Fry, tsunami risk, 6:30pm, E Rutherford bldg, Ilam campus, UoC, ChCh |
| 23 Oct | Mole day http://www.moleday.org/ |
| 23 Oct | CoreEd online workshop on collaborative teaching 3:30-5pm. $99+GST. Register here |
| 24 Oct | World polio day http://wpd.typepad.com/worldpolioday/ |
| 24 Oct | Free lecture, Bill Fry, tsunami risk, 7.30pm, Room GBLT1, Old Govt Buildings, Vic Uni, Wellington |
| 25 Oct | Centrally Funded PLD Proposal due Auckland, BoP, Waikato |
| 26 Oct | Centrally Funded PLD Proposal due Tai Tokerau |
| 27 Oct | Diwali https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/new-zealand/diwali |
| 27Oct-2Nov | Tokelau language week www.mpia.govt.nz |
| Moon | FM Oct 14. 3Q Oct 22. NM Oct 28. 1Q Nov 4 |
1. SciCon, our biennial conference for science teachers, will be held over a term 1 weekend in Auckland next year. Consider approaching your school for funding & getting cheap flights this term. Details see Flyer: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SciCon-2020-Flier-2.pdf
Info
1. Funding for Conservation Projects is available if you are interested in engaging students in pest monitoring & control, or restoration of native species & habitats. Check out the guide
Resources
1. Geology:
- Article on ancient kauri log dug up at Ngawha that lived 41,000 years ago & recorded an almost-reversal of earth’s magnetic field over 1500 years. https://www.newsweek.com/ancient-tree-discovered-earths-magnetic-field-1447570?fbclid=IwAR0_Zo-MLdvIQUmvRCsQFFDRA_vU_u3DPjQa9-lcmTGQWt8B9s8np7lH4x8
2. AgHort:
- Dairy NZ has teaching posters on milk, grass growth, water quality, genetics, ruminants, bacteria, some in te reo Māori. https://www.dairynzschools.co.nz/teachers-resources
3. Biology:
- · Biozone has 3D models available free to all as digital resources. Human evolution set includes 20 skulls, 4 skeletons & 8 reconstructions. Observe here.
- · Time-lapse: Photosynthesis seen from space In this time-lapse video based on data from a satellite, viewers witness the influence of the sun on the seasonal abundance of plant matter produced on land & in oceans (as C absorption). Scroll down for a lesson based on the video – observation and inference, good Nature of Science. Jessie McKenzie
4. Physics:
- · Phet Waves Intro is for younger learners to make waves, discuss using sci vocab, explore frequency & amplitude and design an expts to measure the speed of a wave. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/waves-intro
- · Phet Waves Interference simulation has a new screen, Diffraction, where students can experiment with diffraction through elliptical, rectangular, or irregular apertures. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/wave-interference
5. Science:
- · Summary of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on oceans and the cryosphere (icy places) https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1176807515398344704.html
- · CNN Climate Change Solution Quiz Helps students to see the most effective ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint.
6. EfS:
- · Enviroschools is a good place to start if you want to implement sustainability education https://enviroschools.org.nz/
- · Science Learning Hub has 2 resources to help schools wanting to address the wicked problem of plastic: an interactive planning map that groups resources into key science & teaching concepts & a pedagogical article with links to NZC & Science Capabilities.
NZQA/MoE
1. As part of the NCEA Review, subject expert groups will be formed for work in 2020 and beyond – including AgHort, Agribusiness, Bio, Chem, ESS, EfS, Physics. If you want to be part of this, Expressions of Interest must be submitted by Mon 28 Oct. Info here
2. If you want some centrally funded PLD next year start thinking about it now and talk to your local PLD providers. Applications close in most regions 25 or 26 Oct.
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- The Liggins Institute is hosting one-day PLD workshops in Auckland (6 Nov) and Wellington (8 Nov) exploring the human microbiome and the highly publicised Gut Bugs trial as in the TV Three “The Good Sh*t” documentary series. Learn from scientists involved in the trial and explore new learning resources associated with the human microbiome. $150 for teachers and $75 for student teachers (GST incl.). Learn more and register here.
- Pauline Waiti is funded to set up online support for those teaching science or Pūtaiao in Māori medium, for Māori teachers of these subjects and for science teachers of Māori students. If you would like to be included please contact her at pauline.waiti@gmail.com
- An updated list of Term 4 subject-specific PLD, now also sorted by region & by subject. Thanks to Dave Thrasher: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2019Term-4-PLD.docx
Cheers, Mike