31 Jul	Deadline to enter International Chemistry Quiz here
31 Jul	Giant Squid talk Unitec, Ak, 4:30pm. Gate 4, Building 115, Room 1023. Info here.
2 Aug	Deadline to Register for the NZ Engineering Science Competition. Info here.
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.
Moon	NM Aug 4        1Q Aug 13        FM Aug 20        3Q Aug 26

1. The inaugural Maker Festival (MakerFest) planned for October 2024 has been postponed to 2026 due to insufficient sponsorship support.
2. Vic Uni is inviting ESS teachers to be part of 2 undergraduate Saturday field trips to the Wairarapa:
   • Putangirua Pinnacles (100 level paper): 7 or 14 Sep. Intro to basic field skills wrt regional sedimentology and stratigraphy. This trip runs twice due to large class size.
   • Ocean Beach (300 level): 21 Sep. Thrust fault – local EQ history & structural field techniques.
   • Space is limited and some terms apply. Both trips require a reasonable level of physical fitness. Email shaun.eaves@vuw.ac.nz for more details.
3. A resource for Cook Islands Māori Language Week: Classroom phrases Cook Island Maori 2024
4. Early bird registration for ConSTANZ ends 1 Aug, $400 – thereafter $450. ($100 loess for members) https://sites.google.com/view/constanz2024/registrations

Info

1. Culturally Responsive Pedagogy:
   • A recording of last week’s webinar by Janelle Riki-Waaka on Māori achieving success as Māori part 2 https://theeducationhub.org.nz/maori-achieving-success-as-maori-part-2/
2. Pedagogy:
   • A TES article on scaffolding https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/six-step-checklist-effective-scaffolding-classroom-practice (sign up for a free article every month)
   • Forming relationships are the key to managing bad behaviour https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2024/07/01/brian-marsh-classroom-behaviour.html
3. Professional reading/watching/listening:
   • HWRK is an online magazine written for teachers by teachers https://hwrkmagazine.co.uk
   • Ann Milne’s call for teachers to consider which students are most affected by the government’s policies https://aecnz.substack.com/p/whose-mokopuna-matter
4. Student opportunities:
   • Rotary Science Tech Forum for yr 12 students is held in Auckland in January. Info here https://rotarysciencetechforum.wordpress.com/ Students passionate about science (with an HOD recommendation) can apply to their local Rotary Club to attend
5. Podcasts:
   • Impact Wales podcasts on pedagogy https://www.impact.wales/podcasts

Resources

1. Biology:
   • Documentary Fungi the web of life and some teaching resources.
   • A Transcription/translation interactive simulation and worksheet as well as an activity to act out transcription
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • A newsletter about Sustainable Agriculture
   • Pamela Rutherford infographic on the symptoms & solutions for mineral deficiencies in plants: Mineral deficiency infographic
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Meteorite simulator https://www.purdue.edu/impactearth
   • National Geographic article about oceanography https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/deep-dive-oceanography/
   • National Geographic free Mapmaker 2024 and how to use it as well as examples
4. Chemistry:
   • Teaching redox in terms of electrons https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/4-ways-to-teach-redox-in-terms-of-electrons/4019650.article
   • Using structure strips in chemistry to help students make notes: the principles and 2 examples – particle diagrams and Atoms & Ions.
5. Physics:
   • Physics principles behind medical technology https://insidetheperimeter.ca/ten-ways-physics-has-enhanced-the-medical-field/
   • The physics of lasers https://insidetheperimeter.ca/pew-pew-fun-physics-facts-about-lasers/
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • A NZ newsletter for primary science teachers. NZAPSE newsletter Term 3 2024 Join NZAPSE for free by filling in this form to be sent these newsletters.
   • A Scratch-based lesson on the Olympic Rings https://www.digitalfutureaotearoa.nz/digital-pikau/scratch/virtual-presentation-olympic-rings
7. Middle School:
   • An inquiry-based learning activity based on animal tracks https://www.mesdoutdoorschool.org/prep-ideas/animal-tracking-activity
8.  Science:
   • Some resources on the science of sailing to use while the Americas Cup is on (22 Aug +) https://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/Curriculum-resources/National-events-and-the-NZC/America-s-Cup
9. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
   • The Waste Hero free teaching resource includes 19 lesson plans with activity worksheets on recycling fundamentals and creating zero waste. https://www.wasteheroeducation.com/
10.  STEM/STEAM:
    • Science Alive has free user-friendly, community focused STEAM resources that weave together multiple subject areas https://www.sciencealive.co.nz/educators

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. The NZ Aerospace Summit is being held on 23-24 Sep at the Te Pai Christchurch Convention Centre. There is a special reduced fee of $150 for primary/secondary teachers. More info here.
2. The NZ Starlight Conference, Towards a Dark Sky Nation, is being held in Tekapo from 20-23 October, a venue especially suited for South Islanders. Fee is $295.00.
3. NZASE term 3 secondary face-to-face workshops have been organised for Ak, Whangarei, Timaru, Greymouth, New Plymouth & Hawkes Bay with online workshops to follow. NZASE Term 3 Workshops

Cheers, Mike

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