1-30 Sep	Save our Sight Month www.nzao.co.nz
12 Sep	4-4:45pm Hive Mind PLD for primary teachers. Register here
13 Sep	Early bird registration closes for ChemEd/BioLive (dinner now full, registration a bit cheaper)
14-21 Sep	Māori Language week www.tetaurawhiri.govt.nz ; www.reomaori.co,.nz
14 Sep	International Observe the Moon night https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/
15 Sep	Deadline to apply for Otago uni’s Science Academy
16 Sep	International Day to Preserve O3 www.uneptie.org/ozonaction/events/ozoneday
16 Sep	Deadline for students to register for NZ chem Olympiad
18 Sep	Supermoon (a full Moon at closest approach). Partial eclipse not visible from NZ during day.
18 Sep	Teachers PD rocket day. $45.00. Design, build & launch a rocket in 1 day. Sign up here.
18 Sep	2-4pm NZASE Primary Sci PLD nationwide, Zoom link Register.
18 Sep	Guilford & Paringatai talk about finding the stomach cancer gene, Timaru
19 Sep	Guilford & Paringatai talk on finding the stomach cancer gene, Christchurch
19 Sep	4pm Science Learning hub webinar on our animals with Georgina Stewart & Sally Birdsall
22 Sep	World Rivers day http://worldriversday.com/
22-28 Sep	Chinese language week
23 Sep	Spring Equinox NZ https://www.rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/sun-rise-and-set-1
23-29 Sep	Mental Health Awareness Week https://mhaw.nz/
Moon	1Q Sep 11       FM Sep 18        3Q Sep 25        NM Oct 3

1. Talks that may be relevant for us
   • At Café Scientifique Tauranga Prof Chris Battershill reviews Waikato uni’s marine research – what is happening in our harbour & along our coast? 7pm 23 Sep, Tauranga Yacht Club. $10. Register here.
2. Resources for Māori Language week, 14-21 Sep (beware, some sources have different dates)
   • Phrases and numbers: Classroom phrases Maori 2024
   • Stacey Morrison podcasts for Maori Language Week
   • Praise Cards to encourage the use of te reo Māori around the school [Hayley Burnett]
   • The kupu app can help you find the te reo Māori name for things you take a photo of.
   • Games in te reo: Sudoku, dominoes, crosswords, colour by number, wordfinds. When students have mastered the language basics, you could get them to make the games themselves.
3. A reminder that to join Schol Bio online tutorials, students or teachers apply here AND answer the membership question. Lots of resources once they join. Next session 14 Sep. Zoom link.

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori
   • Spinoff article asks If the government is trying to build a wall between mātauranga Māori & science?
2. Student opportunities:
   • On 12 Sep there’s an interschool competition for L2 & L3 chem students based on Alchemist’s Memory Set, an interactive card game on organic chemistry. Info here. Video about it.
   • A free science writing contest for teens worldwide: craft an engaging, creative article that explains a scientific concept that has sparked their curiosity. The competition closes Sep 23.
   • Chemquest 2024 will be held at 6pm on Wed 16 Oct at Waikato uni for students studying L2 chem. Info ChemQuest Letter 2024. Invite ChemQuest Form 2024.
3. Literacy:
   • A literacy activity in the context of Frankenstein: Overview ppt, starter article, organ activity, electrical input.
4. We can vote for our bird of the year https://www.birdoftheyear.org.nz/

Resources

1. Biology:
   • In activity 2 on this page students work out how much CO₂ a patch of lawn removes from the atmosphere. https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2024/biomass-in-the-school-garden/
   • LabXchange has useful simulations eg this on translation in prokaryotes,
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • A Spinoff article on regen Ag https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/13-08-2024/what-the-heck-is-regenerative-agriculture-the-latest-climate-buzzword-explained
   • An investigation comparing growing media https://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/ALL%20Horticulturalist.pdf
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Cosmology 101 videos are about our expanding universe. Episode 1 and episode 2
   • A list of videos about Auckland volcanoes and other geology: Ak geology Videos
4. Chemistry:
   • Chemistry infographics on factors that affect hair in summer, materials suitable for a space elevator and airplane air.
   • Article about using visuospatial thinking to solve chemistry problems (EIC is free to join)
5. Physics:
   • Video on friction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2P6CuHVWvI&t=100s
   • Roller coasters: TED-Ed explainer, potential and kinetic energy, physics
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • SPCA single lesson plans https://teachers.spcaeducation.org.nz/lesson-plans
   • Ride the Rock Cycle uses 5 stations to teach about the processes of the rock cycle
7.  Science:
   • STEM Online interactive resources are now available for all L2 and L3 chemistry externals.
   • Video about using harakeke for engineering applications https://www.facebook.com/frankfilmnz/videos/469732492608967
8. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
   • An activity from Lauren Roberts at Lincoln uni visualising pest impact: Teachers read out text, students colour their diagram to show changes: Student diagram and teacher text
9. New standards
   • SC1.2 in a rongoa context. [Kath Haines, WEGC] Teaching ideas PPT. Assessment task.
   • Fake news in chemistry (SC1.4) https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2022/fake-news-how-to-deal-with-it/
10. Te reo science resources
    • SPCA has instructional readers in te reo Māori. https://teachers.spcaeducation.org.nz/spca-instructional-readers/te-reo-maori-editions/

MoE/NZQA

1. MoE is proposing changes to remove school board obligations to human rights and te Tiriti of Waitangi. Have a look and have your say by 14 Oct – here. https://preview.education.govt.nz/have-your-say/changes-school-board-objectives-and-nelp-provisions/details

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Tātai Aho Rau Core Education is putting on 2 webinars for Māori Language Week. Register here.
   • Te kai a te rangatira / Celebrating te reo Māori. 3:30-4:30pm 16 Sep, $30.
   • Mātai whakamuri / A short history of te reo Māori … 3:30-4:30 19 Sep. $30
2. STEAM Education summit Sep 23-24, Crowne Plaza, Auckland. $1599 +GST https://event.brightstar.co.nz/STEAMEducationSummit2024
3. Massey uni (Palmerston North) is holding an Ag-Hort PD day. Applicable for Science and Bio teachers too. PD Day at Massey PN

Technician

1. Try this practical or demo to create a photographic image of an object using light sensitive silver chloride. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

Cheers, Mike

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