Next week will be the last Mike’s News for the year

5-29 Nov	NZQA exams
24-30 Nov	Solomon Islands Language Week, Solomon Aelan Pijin www.mpia.govt.nz
1 Dec	World AIDS Day https://www.nzaf.org.nz/ (Red Ribbon)
5 Dec	World Soil Day www.nzsoils.org.nz
Moon	NM Dec 1      1Q Dec 9      FM Dec 15      3Q Dec 23

All PLD events in a separate document – see below

Info

1. Student opportunities:
   • Maker sessions – youngsters 8+ design & make their own laser cut wooden photo frame. 2 sessions a day, 8 Dec & 15 Dec, Tauranga. $15. Adult required with each kid. Register here.

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Explore the prevention, causes, diagnosis, treatment of cancers. http://www.insidecancer.org/
   • Pig trotter dissection to show different tissues in a joint https://www.rsb.org.uk/images/RSB_Gopher_Science_Lab_booklet.pdf
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Info on Practices to conserve water
   • A Science Learning Hub article describing how apple attributes are tested. Students could try measuring some of these using tools found in the science lab.
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Life cycle of stars: animation and quiz
   • ELI activity making a model of a fossil scorpion: https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/426_Scary_scorpions.pdf
4. Chemistry:
   • Hot chocolate science lesson reviews phase changes and physical/chemical changes as well as introducing elements, mixtures, and compounds
   • Keri Garlick’s tips and practice exercises when her kids ask how to get A on L3 organics
5. Physics:
   • Students learn all about concave and convex lenses through visual presentations and interactive quizzes: https://www.synopsys.com/optical-solutions/learn/optics-for-kids/lenses.html
   • Shared at BoP cluster [Matt Synge]
     • RLC Simulation https://ngsir.netfirms.com/j/Eng/RLC/RLC_js.htm
     • Beats animation https://academo.org/demos/wave-interference-beat-frequency/#google_vignette
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Make an origami seed packet https://schoolgardening.rhs.org.uk/Resources/Sequence-Card/How-to-make-an-origami-seed-packet
   • Activity to make the best bubble mixture
7.  Science:
   • investigating the factors that affect the size of a bubble gum bubble. Free activity from Getting Nerdy, which is free to join.
   • Some cool science visualisations https://kcvs.ca/cards.html?type=visualizations

MoE/NZQA

1. MoE & NZQA are starting to develop resources to support teachers concerned about the potential impact of AI tools on the authenticity of NCEA assessments. Info available:
   • ChatGPT – NZQA
   • Effective Assessment Practice Guide – NZQA
   • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence – Ministry of Education
   • He Kōrero Whakataki ki te Atamai Rorohiko – Ministry of Education
2. MoE has developed new resources to support the implementation of the NCEA Co-requisite: NCEA Literacy and Numeracy resources for kaiako
3. ERO article on good practice to support curriculum change: building a professional learning community.
4. The Networks of Expertise services have been extended until the end of 2025 – this funds the subject associations to support teachers with the current changes.
5. Blogs from Alison Campbell on the issues with the L2 Bio exam: Cat coat colour & lethal genes.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Term 4 Science PLD 241125 has been updated to include
   • Alchemists workshop, for teachers interested in the events and resources available for the 2025 competition. Invitation 2025

Technicians

1. Don’t forget eye wash stations & chemical showers need a yearly service, evidenced by a certificate. In some schools this can be done by the property manager, others use an outside providers eg AllRoundSafety or Hazero. Legal requirements outlined by AS4775: 2007 – A summary of the std and Full version

Cheers, Mike

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