Mike’s News Jul 26

31 Jul Deadline to register for the NZ Engineering Science Competition
1-7 Aug Cook Islands Maori Language week www.mpia.govt.nz
6Aug1945 Hiroshima Day http://www.hiroshima-remembered.com/
6 Aug Deadline for next round of centrally funded PLD https://pld.education.govt.nz/
8 Aug Deadline to apply for the Ngārimu VC & 28th Māori Battalion Memorial Scholarships
8-14 Aug Maths Week www.mathsweek.org.nz/
Moon 3Q 1 Aug     NM 9 Aug     1Q 16 Aug     FM 23 Aug
  1. Café Scientifique: Environmental scientist Dr Rosemary Barraclough talks about the effect of malaria on our bird species. 28 July, 6:30 pm Horse & Trap, 3 Enfield St, Mt Eden, Ak
  2. Cook Islands Language week – some phrases for the classroom: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Cook-Island-Maori-phrases-2p.docx
  3. Women of Influence Speaker Breakfast 6:30-9 am Wed 28 Jul, 51 Dive Cr, Tauranga. $50. https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2021/women-of-infuence-speaker-series/tauranga
  4. Our Ocean: Bringing Climate Data to Life is an interactive workshop that explores some of the latest ocean climate data collected in NZ. 31 Jul, 1:30-3:30pm, Dunedin Public Library.

Info

  1. Mātauranga Māori
  2. Pedagogy:
  3. Student opportunities:
    • Rocket Lab Space Ambassadors will be available to visit schools around NZ and teach students about rockets, satellites, space & how to land a career in aerospace. Schools eager for a visit from a Rocket Lab Space Ambassador should register interest at rocketlabusa.com/education by 31 Jul to secure a date before the end of the year.
  4. Teacher Opportunities:
    • NZIC provides grants for schools to buy chemistry gear – e.g. pipettes, glassware, molecular models, balances & $ towards larger items such as spectrophotometers & pH meters. Apply by 1 Aug to https://nzic.org.nz/chemical-education-trust/ [Ian Torrie]
    • SCENZ offers members parallel papers for NCEA externals as well as teaching resources. Pay your subscription at https://nzic.org.nz/register/school. [Ian Torrie]
  5. Digital support:

Resources

  1. Biology:
    • Very readable Scientific American article on how human evolution lead to an extreme thirst for water
    • Animation addressing misconceptions around respiration, photosynthesis and plants
  2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
  3. Earth & Space Science:
    • NASA provides free public access to photos taken from the International Space Station
    • Free app called “Polar Explorer: Sea Level” lets users explore ocean maps from the deepest trenches to polar ice. See how ice, oceans, precipitation, & temps have changed over time and listen as scientists explain what you’re seeing and why.
    • Taupo super volcano LEARNZ field trip https://www.learnz.org.nz/naturalhazards193
  4. Chemistry:
  5. Physics:
  6. Years 1-8:
  7. Nature of Science:
    • McGill’s Office for Science and Society has the byline separating sense from nonsense. An article from them on the scaremongering about formaldehyde in baby shampoo.
  8. Science of COVID:
  9.  EfS:
  10.  Science:

MoE/NZQA

  1. NZQA is looking for Science/ESS, Biology, Chemistry and Physics moderators. Close 9 Aug. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/working-at-nzqa/contract-vacancies/contract-for-service-moderators-secondary-subjects
  2. MoE has prepared an early release of the new assessment materials for 6 L1 subjects as we get ready for the next accord day. See Chem & Bio at https://ncea.education.govt.nz/.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

  1. SciC6 is 2 days of free virtual STEM unconference for teachers. Jul 29 features ways to use educational games, and gamification in the classroom. Aug 5 is dedicated to helping our students graduate more prepared for the modern world by improving STEM education. https://www.thepocketlab.com/scic6
  2. ChemEd/BioLive registrations and call for abstracts are now live on the website. https://chemedbiolive.org/

Cheers, Mike

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