7Apr-14May | Tūhura Tuarangi interactive space showcase at Space Place in Wellington. |
24Apr-5May | A Teacher Only Day in these 2 weeks https://ncea.education.govt.nz/teacher-only-days |
25 Apr | World Penguin day https://www.calendarr.com/united-kingdom/world-penguin-day/ |
25 Apr | World malaria Day http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/malaria/en/index.html |
26Apr1986 | Chernobyl nuclear explosion Link here. |
28 Apr | Save the frogs day www.savethefrogs.com/day/ www.nzfrogs.org/ |
4 May | Science Learning Hub & Science in a Van’s next Hive Mind webinar 4:00–4:45 pm |
7-13 May | Rotuman Language week www.mpia.govt.nz/programmes |
Moon | 1Q Apr 28 FM May 6 3Q May 13 NM May 20 |
- The theme for this year’s Primary Science week (8-12 May) is Citizen Science. What’s on offer?
- Science Alive Mātauranga at Education Perfect are offering some free resources including a mini lesson on Citizen Science and a live Q&A session for students 9:30 – 10:15 am May 10 (register here). Sign up for access to these resources here: https://bit.ly/registersciencealive .
- Check out NZAPSE’s page https://nzapse.nzase.org.nz/primary-science-week-2022/
- Webinar on Nature Activities for Year-round Learning. 26 Apr, 11 a.m. Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wdX6S9dFT_mzsEipZY736g#/registration
- A US national webinar on Breaking Stereotypes Through Children’s Books with a focus on STEM. 27 Apr 11am PT [6am 28 Apr NZT]. Register here.
- With the dates for the language weeks now announced, the full year’s calendar of events relevant for science teachers is complete: Dates for 2023
- Presenters at ULearn need to apply by 30 April, here https://ulearn.nz/apply-to-present
- The Queenstown Molecular Biology meeting returns as part of Queenstown Research Week 28–30 Aug after a hiatus due to COVID. NZ’s largest scientific conference will focus on nanotechnology applications in Health, Agriculture & … . It begins with a talk by Prof David Julius, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Teachers can apply for 1 of 3 scholarships which cover travel, accommodation, registration & conference dinner but not relief. Apply before Jun 6.
- The Plant Health and Environment Laboratory is responsible for identifying exotic plant pests and diseases. They are looking to work with teachers &/or students to increase understanding of biosecurity issues and science careers. Auckland or Waikato schools interested in co-constructing a program please contact David.Waite@mpi.govt.nz or Jeremy.Thompson@mpi.govt.nz
Info
- Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
- This Chrome extension allows us to right click on a term to search the Māori dictionary for a translation English to Māori or Māori to English. Very useful.
- Mātauranga Māori
- A paper from Georgina Stewart on mātauranga Māori and secondary science teaching: Stewart 2022 Mātauranga Māori n sec sci tchg
- Many schools are finding their senior students more fragile than usual after 3 years of COVID and interruptions to learning. One school found The Resilience Project really helpful for their students
Resources
- Biology:
- The predator-free story on NZ’s $5 note https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/31-03-2023/the-predator-free-story-on-nzs-5-note
- Podcast with Michelle Dickinson, Peter Dearden & Jamie Morton on Genetic modification: Does NZ need to rethink its stance? https://omny.fm/shows/science-digest/genetic-modification-does-new-zealand-need-to-reth
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- 4 webinars on farming with mycorrhizal fungi. Started 11 April, 11am GMT (11 pm NZDT). Register here. https://promo.soilfoodweb.com/reg-webinar-farming-with-fungi-vb
- Article on companion planting https://home.howstuffworks.com/companion-planting.htm
- Earth & Space Science:
- Build a model of the Extremely Large Telescope
- Two videos to explain the effect of different kinds of melting ice on sea level rise http://earthlearningidea.blogspot.com/2023/01/melting-ice-and-sea-level-rise.html
- Using phone apps to detect earthquakes https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/487530/the-phones-that-detect-earthquakes
- Chemistry:
- Making a poinsettia acid-base indicator https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/130784041/cool-chemistry-at-christmas
- Activities on the periodic table from RSC (register for free) https://edu.rsc.org/resources/periodic-table
- Physics:
- Teach Engineering lesson: Students explore renewable energy by engaging in activities to help them understand the transformation of energy (solar, water and wind) into electricity. They also look at how different types of engineers work to conserve energy.
- Using AI in physics https://theflippedscientist.blogspot.com/2023/04/branching-out-in-physics-lessons-with.html
- Primary & intermediate:
- ASE’s primary science journal requires a subscription (£95), but some of its articles are open access https://www.ase.org.uk/resources/primary-science
- Make your own paper sundials that work https://www.instructables.com/Paper-Sundial-Kits
- Science:
- A science fair project developing sutures that change colour with infection. Great story https://www.freethink.com/health/color-changing-sutures
- Education for Sustainability (EfS):
- Build a bee hotel: Bee-Hotel-Activity
- How healthy is te taiao from the perspective of tuna? Interactive so applicable to all areas. https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/155527d42155408c8b08649ca971dad0
- Links with NZ History:
- Historical weather events in Hawkes Bay https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/inundated/
- The science of panning for gold https://www.earthlearningidea.com/PDF/164_Gold_panning.pdf
- The New NCEA standards:
- SciPAD has written a text for L1 Science that shows one way you could approach teaching a program. Gives teachers some good ideas. Video walks us thru it.
MoE/NZQA
- Rumour on FB there’s no EfS in the new NCEA. Chris Eames replied saying that EfS standards are absolutely available and are being redeveloped into some really exciting content. This year, schools are piloting the new draft L2s and the SEG is working on the L3s. [EfS is only at L2 & L3.]
- MoE has announced the new NCEA L1 will go ahead, but L2 delayed to 2026 and L3 to 2027. Refreshed science curriculum not implemented til 2027. For now, a focus on maths, literacy, te reo Māori and pāngarau learning. Press release.
- The 2023 versions of the new L1 NCEA standards are now online. https://ncea.education.govt.nz/science/science?view=assessment Go to NZC tab at top to find AgH, CB, PES information. Word version of material for L1 Science: Sci TLAG Mar2023
Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities
- Education Hub webinar: Professor Rob Coe will discuss his work developing the Great Teaching Toolkit, which seeks to raise the quality of teaching and leadership at schools by providing an evidence-based curriculum for teacher learning and tools and instruments to provide feedback for professional development over time. Wed 26 April, 7.30pm Register here.
- Teacher PLD day at Maungatautari Sanctuary Mountain Fri 26 May 9:30am – 2:30 pm. info and tickets here https://www.facebook.com/events/217273257649771/
Cheers, Mike
Mike’s News is brought to you with the generous support of Warp Computers
MN