4-10Aug	Cook Islands Māori Language week, Te Reo Māori Kūki Āirani www.mpia.govt.nz
6 Aug 1945	Hiroshima Day
7 Aug	3:30-4:15pm. Zoom for teachers about the Girls who Grow program. Register here.
8-14 Aug	Maths Week www.mathsweek.org.nz/
8 Aug	Cawthron’s Lecture on Citizen Science, 7-8:30pm, Nelson. Free for students. Book here.
14-20 Aug	Conservation week www.doc.govt.nz
18-24 Aug	Tongan Language week, Lea Faka-Tonga www.mpia.govt.nz
Moon	1Q Aug 13        FM Aug 20        3Q Aug 26        NM Sep 3

1. Talk that may be relevant for us
   • Parry Guildford and Karyn Paringatai talk about finding the stomach cancer gene – Timaru 18 Sep, Christchurch 19 Sep, Napier 22 Oct, Dunedin 29 Oct, and Wellington 31 Oct.
2. Darwin 200 is a global voyage following the journey of HMS Beagle. It is currently in the Pacific, due to make landfall in the Bay of Islands 1 Oct, depart Ak 31 Oct, off to Oz before arr Chch 27 Dec, dep 2 Jan. Each with onland research following Darwin’s footsteps. Weekly classroom activities here.
3. A reminder to register for the 2024 ChemEd BioLive conference in Wgtn PPTA funding to attend. Info on speakers, program & registration is online. Questions to chemedbiolive@gmail.com. To book your flights, the event begins Tues 12 Nov evening (7:30pm?) & finishes 1pm Fri 15 Nov. Early Bird Registration has been extended to the end of the day on Monday 5 Aug.
4. ASTA dinner is on 22 Aug for Auckland primary & secondary teachers: ASTA Dinner 2024
5. Registrations for NZ International Biology Olympiad close Sun 11 Aug. https://nzibo.org/registration/ 

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Becoming Tangata Tiriti brings together 12 non-Māori voices – professionals, activists & every-day individuals – who’ve engaged with te ao Māori to bring te Tiriti to life in their work. This book describes the lessons learned on the journey.
2. Pedagogy:
   • Ideas for dealing with issues when starting a lesson
3. Professional reading/watching/listening:
   • The 22 Jul Education Gazette has articles on: Structured Literacy & Writing; Using L1 literacy & numeracy data; Pacific legends; Environmental conference that may be of interest
4. Student opportunities:
   • Schools within 150km of Waikato uni can apply to have a mobile scanning electron microscope in their classroom
   • MacDiarmid Inst runs 2 fully-funded summer science camps for current yr 12 or 13 students. Apply by 25 Aug:
     • Discovery Camp, 19-23 Jan 2025 Wellington, is for Māori and Pacific Island students with a genuine passion for the sciences.
     • Nano Camp, 20-24 Jan 2025 Dunedin, is for students with a strong academic background who are hoping to continue with science.
5. Digital tools:
   • LEARNZ digital field trip exploring Auckland’s volcanic field starts 5 Aug https://www.learnz.org.nz/volcanoes242
6.  Podcasts:
   • Star Talk Radio is hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson
   • Leadership Lab’s podcast on Becoming Tangata Tiriti

Resources

1. Biology:
   • The science of gills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH3O69BscYg
   • A task requiring students to explain mutations in an infographic [Matthew Simmons] https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UtQUavjfHg1I5UUtuOzqIxofrJOkPXWO/view
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Plants to consider when setting up a school garden https://home.howstuffworks.com/easiest-vegetables-to-grow.htm
   • HATA has set up a moderation buddy system. Members can contact Kerry if looking for someone to critique tasks and/or verify student grades k.allen@stpauls.school.nz
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A guide for stargazing: The August Night Sky
   • An article on the unusual weather patterns currently over the South Pole: Polar heatwave
   • Activity identifying minerals in everyday objects https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/313_What_made_of.pdf
4. Chemistry:
   • A poster, fact sheet and storyboard activity to help students understand equilibrium
   • The chemistry of the Paris Olympic medals – they are heavy! https://www.compoundchem.com/2024/07/30/paris2024medals/
5. Physics:
   • Otago Uni’s booklet of Scholarship Physics resources: Questions and answers.
   • Learn about dependent and independent variables in Physics contexts using Myth Busters  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA_c39ur9ho
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • A video about astronomy patterns (you’ll need to join Generation Genius, but its free) https://www.generationgenius.com/videolessons/patterns-in-the-sky-video-for-kids
   • School Kits will send a physical kit to your school. Topics include Story Vets, solar cars, Power it up (electricity), Power kits (energy) & Water Literacy. Free (but must provide a review).
7. New standards
   • A red flag, green flag game for S1.4 [Ange Fox] – you’ll need to join Blooket but it’s free. https://dashboard.blooket.com/set/66a2ccfe6040a6a63c13dafb
   • The mock exam for the CB1.4 external is now available for download from https://nzic.org.nz/exams. You will need to log in with your school password first.

Can you help?

1. Amanaki STEM Academy (Manawatū) supports Pasifika students to achieve in sci, tech, maths & engineering. Teachers tutor/mentor students after school & in the hols. They are looking for volunteers to tutor in Phys, Chem, Bio (yrs 9-13) and Maths & coding (yrs 5-13). Email here.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Hive Mind, free online PLD from Science in a Van + the Science Learning Hub, happen on Zoom at 4 – 4:45pm Join to hear what yr 1-10 teachers from all around Aotearoa are up to & share planning tips & tricks. Get the resources from the last one here. Next is Thurs 12 Sep – Register Now
2. Learning Network NZ, Cnr Universal/Soljan Drives, Henderson, Auckland
   • Biohacking Learning & Motivation – Andrew Fuller, 11 Sep. Register here.
   • Tricky Conversations & resolving Conflict – Andrew Fuller, 12 Sep, Register here.
3. School-Gen has 5 modules of PLD from Nanogirl on renewable energy and our energy sources with downloadable resources https://www.schoolgen.co.nz/for-teachers/stem-pld
4. Field-Based STEM are holding conferences around NZ, timed after Nov exams start. Content has been co-constructed with schools who provided feedback in Term 2. Register for Kapiti Coast 14-15 Nov https://field-basedstem.kiwi/conference-event/kapiti-conference-secondary-schools-2
5. Te Papa is running workshop for teachers on Inquiry Learning – developing a culture of learning; engaging with place & experience. 13 Aug 9:30-4. https://events.humanitix.com/inquiry-learning
6. ASTA is planning clusters to discuss L1 science standards beginning 12 Aug. ASTA Cluster Meetings Term 3 2024
7. As well as the NZASE facetoface Workshops, Linda Haycock, is offering 3 online discussions for teachers to discuss specific issues with the L1 standards: NZASE Online QnA

Vacancy

1. De La Salle College in Auckland is looking for a Science Technician with an immediate start. Full time i.e. 35hrs/week. Contact HOF Science Ajinesh Kumar kumara@delasalle.school.nz

Cheers, Mike

Mike’s News is brought to you with the generous support of NZASE and Warp Computers