13-19 Oct | Earth Sciences week (USA) http://www.earthsciweek.org/about-esw |
13-19 Oct | Niue language week, Vagahau Niue www.mpia.govt.nz |
16 Oct | ESE webinar on geological processes that formed Zealandia 4-5pm. Register here. |
16 Oct | Chemquest 2024, 6pm at Waikato uni for students studying L2 chem. |
17 Oct | Supermoon |
17 Oct | 9:30 am NZ ShakeOut, EQ drill & tsunami evacuation. |
17 Oct | Applications close for School to Seas / School to Skies Teachers Camp Jan 2025 |
20-23 Oct | NZ Starlight Conference in Tekapo, on dark sky and light pollution. Info here. |
21Oct-15Nov | Last MoE TOD https://ncea.education.govt.nz/teacher-only-days |
21 Oct | Peak of Orionids meteor shower http://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/meteor-showers |
22 Oct | Guilford & Paringatai talk about finding the stomach cancer gene Napier |
23 Oct | Mole day http://www.moleday.org/ |
23 Oct | 1-day forumNitrogen – Friend or Foe? Stewart LT, Lincoln Uni, Chch. Info here. |
24 Oct | World climate action day https://www.climate-action.info/day/ |
24 Oct | NZ ShakeOut, our national earthquake drill and tsunami hīkoi (evacuation), info here. |
24 Oct | World polio day http://wpd.typepad.com/worldpolioday/ |
27Oct-2Nov | Tokelau language week, Te Gagana Tokelau www.mpia.govt.nz |
Moon | FM Oct 18 3Q Oct 24 NM Nov 2 1Q Nov 9 |
- Talks that may be relevant for us
- Dr Sarah Kessans will talk about her space research with UoC, 7pm, 16 Oct at the Central Lecture Theatre, Ilam. Book here. Livestream will be here. Recording available here afterwards.
- Prof Mark Stirling talks on earthquake hazards in the quiet zones in NZ, (& Aus & USA too). Café Scientifique, Tauranga Yacht club, 7pm 21 Oct, $10. Register here with no’s.
- The Corruption of Science & the Practice of Teaching with Guy Claxton on the science of learning. Tu 22 Oct, 7-8pm. Free. Online. Book here to receive the zoom link.
- Wellington region runs a junior quiz in term 4: https://sites.google.com/whs.school.nz/wjst/home
Info
- Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
- The Aotearoa Songbook – a digital book featuring many classic waiata of te ao Māori – has recently been launched. Lyrics, music sheet, video. https://www.aotearoasongbook.com/
- Pedagogy:
- Pose, Pause, Pounce, Bounce – PPT and blog (you’ll need to join Teacher Toolkit but it’s free).
- Webinar on metacognition https://community.stem.org.uk/blogs/tim-bradbury1/2024/09/25/cpd-drop-stem-community-live-metacognition-what-wh (Stem Learning is free to join)
- An NZCER report on writing texts and using visuals to include ākonga Māori gives us food for thought about how to incorporate Māori mātauranga, te reo and values in our resources.
- Don’t forget the 2022 online revision webinars Doug Walker organised. The recordings for the L2 & 3 science subjects, as well as scholarship, your students may still find useful: NCEA revision recordings
- NZIP members can apply to the subject association for a book prize for your school. Info & apply here.
- Student opportunity
- Worldwide Bio Olympiad essay competition on how to succeed at school: tips strategies & personal success stories. Up to 2000 words. Deadline 31 Oct. Info here.
Resources
- Biology:
- A Levels of Organisation activity
- Scavenger hunt to help students see proteins, lipids and carbohydrates are found everywhere and an activity on Protein Function
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- Teacher Notes for the George the Farmer books adapted for a NZ context https://www.agribusiness.school.nz/course/view.php?id=24 .
- AgHort videos from ABC – includes apple, dairy, grapes, potatoes, beef, eggs & sugarcane https://www.abc.net.au/education/digibooks/future-farmers-australian-agriculture/101729002
- Earth & Space Science:
- Ian Griffin video on how photograph aurora https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB92dM3v7_4
- Series of activities on exploring exoplanets https://resources.perimeterinstitute.ca/products/exploring-exoplanets-breakout-activity
- Nifty activity measuring the speed of plate movement https://geoetc.com/rocks-of-ages-2/
- Chemistry:
- Activity on how to Make Ice Cream
- Use Johnstone’s triangle to help learning https://edu.rsc.org/feature/improve-students-understanding-with-johnstones-triangle/4019740.article?
- And an infographic on the 2024 Nobel prize for Chemistry https://www.compoundchem.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-2024-Nobel-Prize-in-Chemistry.pdf
- Physics:
- Energy Jeopardy game as a PDF and a PPT.
- Activities on the wave model and its applications https://resources.perimeterinstitute.ca/products/wave-model-applications
- Primary & intermediate:
- Odd one out activities that promote observation and discussion https://explorify.uk/teacher-support/how-to-use-explorify/top-tips-odd-one-out-activities
- Teaching about materials to 5-11 year-olds https://explorify.uk/teacher-support/helpful-reads/how-can-explorify-help-you-teach-children-about-material
- Middle School:
- Activity My Mineral, page 10 here, has middle-school-aged learners research and create a presentation on a mineral of their choice.
- Science:
- Wetland resources – https://www.nzaee.org.nz/resources/matuku-link-wetland-resources
- A resource to investigate different types of graphs with a real world example of each for students to explore. https://about.dataclassroom.com/blog/nine-graph-types
- Education for Sustainability (EfS)
- Make a weta hotel https://www.doc.govt.nz/get-involved/conservation-activities/build-a-weta-motel
- A report from NZCER on climate change education
- Nature of Science:
- Some activities from the Perimeter Inst exploring how scientists think by students making observations and inferences, building models and finding patterns
MoE/NZQA
- NZ Curriculum refresh timeline https://newzealandcurriculum.tahurangi.education.govt.nz/new-zealand-curriculum-online/new-zealand-curriculum/new-zealand-curriculum-refresh/5637144667.c
- In response to teacher feedback, L1 Science stds have been reviewed. A summary of the changes will be here on Mon, so we can plan but they won’t be published til January. CB, PES, AgH to come.
Can you help?
- For the month of Oct, House of Science is on One Good Kiwi – you can vote for them to receive a share of $100,000 by downloading the app and donating One Good Kiwi coin.
- NZ Avocado would like to work with HATA to develop resources for teachers. If you are interested and/or have any ideas or suggestions please complete this survey.
- Auckland Uni is running a survey on Aucklander’s views on antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- Visit farms/orchards/agribusinesses in your region on the Teachers’ Day Out in Kerikeri, Gisborne, Taupo, Nelson, Invercargill 19-27 Nov. Fully funded. Places limited. More info here. Register here.
- Chemistry teachers day 15 Nov. School of Chemical Sciences, Bldg 303, Level1 teaching labs, Ak uni. Book here for free. A spectroscopy workshop is expected to be added to program.
Technician
- With Vic Uni not responding to emails, get rats for dissection from Dave Matthews at Otago Uni.
- Stock for growing mushrooms: Sporeshift Mushrooms NZ and video to inspire.
Vacancies
- Dilworth School is looking for a science teacher mostly for the senior campus. Apply by 25 Oct. https://gazette.education.govt.nz/vacancies/1HAj3J-science-teacher-dilworth-school
Cheers, Mike
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