22 Jul | Café Scientifique: How safe is our food? 7-9pm, 90 Keith Allen Dr, Tauranga. |
26 Jul | Alison Campbell’s Scholarship Biology Workshop, Waikato uni, 10am-2:30pm |
29 Jul | ESS workshop, Otago museum, 9:15-3:15. Book at earthspacenz@gmail.com |
4-10 Aug | Cook Islands Maori Language week www.mpia.govt.nz |
5-9Aug | The Week of Engineering’ schools programme |
Moon | 3Q Jul 25 NM Aug 1 1Q Aug 8 FM Aug 16 |
- This year’s IB DP Sciences Cluster Mtg is 1-4 pm Thurs 21 Nov, Diocesan School, Clyde St, Epsom, Ak. Please register your attendance https://tinyurl.com/G4ClusterMeeting2019 Also, Kristin School is planning a “Middle School Symposium” with an array of workshops including one on MYP Sciences. This is likely to be on 12 Nov. If this interests you look out for more details coming soon. Matthew Campbell, Kristin. Cluster flyer: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/IB-Grp-4-Cluster-Mtg-2019-flyer.pdf
- A talk on Aurora Australis – the Science of the Southern Lights: Understand the science of the southern lights plus join a live link to Scott Base for an update on the aurora this winter. Th 29 Aug 6-7:30pm. BLT100, building 6, Old Bio building, Ak uni, 5 Symonds St
- Engineering Futures Evening is an informative event for (parents &) students interested in studying engineering being held in Ak 31 July & 6 Aug, Wgtn 1 Aug, Hamilton 5 Aug and Tauranga 8 Aug. Register here https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/engineering/community-engagement/schools/efe/register.html
- NIWA’s vessel RV Tangaroa has an open day Sat 27 July, Victoria TU wharf, 90 Fryatt St, Dunedin, 10- 4. Find out what it’s like to live & work as a scientist at sea. Spaces strictly limited, book now: https://otagomuseum.nz/…/programme-…/event/tangaroa-open-day
- Tiritiri Matangi Island has spaces in August for school bookings. Schools can visit Tiritiri Wed – Fri only. Schools of decile 1-6 can apply for funding to cover the costs of students on the ferry & of the guiding on Tiritiri. Contact Barbara: educator@tiritirimatangi.org.nz
- Film festival movie Inventing Tomorrow is about high school students working to develop practical solutions to their local eco challenges – and prepare projects for an international science fair. Check when it’s on in your region here https://www.nziff.co.nz/2019/
- NCEA workshops are being run around the country to bring people up to date with proposed changes and timeline. https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/NCEA-public-workshops.pdf
Info
- Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
- John Daniell & Noelle McCarthy look at the role of mātauranga Māori in conservation in NZ, and as an education tool at Auckland Zoo. https://bit.ly/2XNjduQ
- Māori astronomy https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1274-revitalising-maori-astronomy
- Pedagogy:
- Webinar on Deeper Learning https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/event/webinar-increasing-opportunities-deeper-learning
Resources
- Physics:
- Learn how we see as you experiment with light & mirrors in this fun science game for kids http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/howwesee.html
- Key landmarks in the history of making measurements https://bit.ly/2JFrVVl
- Geology:
- Teach the Earth has teaching materials over a wide range of geology topics – readings, practical activities, video clips, PowerPoints – good depth for seniors. https://serc.carleton.edu/teachearth/index.html
- NASA Educator Toolkit: Framing Phenomena-Based Student Investigations– NASA Earth science research, observations, visualization tools, and education resources on Earth systems, climate and weather, global climate change, and natural hazards.
- Biology:
- Analysing data from slater investigations http://datanuggets.org/2017/12/which-would-a-woodlouse-prefer/ . Explanation of the student options & teacher guide here: http://datanuggets.org/about-nuggets-2/content-and-graphing-levels/
- Lisa Matissoo-Smith has made 5 10-minute videos on human evolution – Mitochondrial DNA, Human settlement, Lapita origins, Ancient DNA and Out of Africa model. Go to https://www.otago.ac.nz/allan-wilson-research/study/africa-to-aotearoa.html then scroll down to the 2019 videos 1/3 of the way down the page
- Astronomy:
- Science Learning Hub resources around light pollution and its effect on observing local constellations, and on birds and moths. https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/2765-loss-of-the-night
- Stellarium is an open-source planetarium allowing you to show your students elements of the night sky. Has a lovely graphic describing planet visibility http://stellarium.org/
- Chemistry:
- Royal Society Of Chem suggests staying up to date in chem using these media.
- Twitter: @ChemistryWorld, @RoySocChem, @RSC_EiC, @NatureChemistry, @newscientist, @BBCScienceNews and @TheScientistLLC.
- Publications like Chemistry World, New Scientist&, Education in Chemistry provide detailed information on current topics at a level appropriate to older pupils.
- Are there other sites NZ teachers use? What sites are useful for your subject?
- Chem Collective has tutorials, practice quizzes, and activities and virtual labs to help take some of the mystery out of the subject. http://www.chemcollective.org/
- Royal Society Of Chem suggests staying up to date in chem using these media.
- Science:
- SciShow is a YouTube channel addressing all kinds of interesting questions and phenomenon that are science based e.g. Why Avocados Shouldn’t Exist and do so in relatively short, easy-to-digest videos. https://www.youtube.com/scishow
- DoC’s Kiwi Guardians provide a map & activities for kids to do at specific outdoor sites around NZ; check out the schools’ page too. https://www.doc.govt.nz/kiwiguardians
- Primary
- Introduce students in grades 1–3 to the habits and habitats of a northern Albatross (the species at Taiaroa Heads). Teacher’s guide has discussion questions & cross-curricular activities about albatross nests, behaviors, wingspan, & the impact of plastics/trash on albatross chicks. Background links too. https://bit.ly/2weUzUz
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- NZASE workshops for years 1-10 science. Flyers for each workshop accessed here https://nzase.org.nz/nzase-network-expertise/
- Electronics workshops are being held this term in week 3 in 5 main centres. Aimed at teachers of Years 7-11 keen to extend their DDDO skills, no prior knowledge is required. Learn through simple activities how to use electronic components and control them using basic programs. http://bit.ly/2O2qe7c (scroll down a little)
Cheers, Mike