1 May	Deadline for students to register for Crisis Lab Challenge. Info here
5 May	Peak of Eta Aquariids meteor shower (dust from Halley’s Comet) visible from NZ
8 May	National School Nurses Day (wed in week of world nurse’s day)
9 May	Science Fair PLD 4-5:30 ftf in Remuera, Ak or online. Register here to get address / link.
9-15 May	NZ Sign Language Week http://nzslweek.org.nz/
11 May	World Migratory Bird Day www.worldmigratorybirdday.org (2nd Sat In May)
12 May	World Nurses Day www.timeanddate.com/holidays/world/nurses-day
12-18 May	Rotuman Language week www.mpia.govt.nz/programmes
13 May	Deadline for teachers to enter Blake Inspire Teacher Program. Apply here
13-17 May	Primary Science Week (Term 2 week 3) http://nzapse.nzase.org.nz/
Moon	3Q May 1      NM May 8      1Q May 15      FM May 24

1. Talk: that may be relevant for us
   • Dr Ian Griffin speaks on aurora australis Wed 8 May 6pm at Royal Society Te Apārangi, 11 Turnbull St, Thorndon Wgtn.
2. NZIP has a contact database of physics teachers and another for L1 PES. Anyone can be on this database. To be added to one or both of these lists, please email Helen at pldsupport@nzip.org.nz
3. The NIFs team who were supporting teachers in the transition to the new NCEA stds at L1 all lost their jobs last week and finish at the end of June. Subject Associations are waiting to hear if their PLD funding will be renewed – some pressure may be helpful. Iona.holsted@education.govt.nz ?
4. Paid union meetings 13-24 May https://www.ppta.org.nz/events/paid-union-meeting-schedule

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori:
   • Using mātauranga Māori and science to judge stream health https://lincolnagritech.co.nz/working-together-to-identify-waterway-health
   • These videos on the Kopurererua Valley and Hutt City show the importance of protecting the mauri of wai. Ensure captions are on to see the translation of the Te Karere item.
2.  Pedagogy:
   • Teaching strategies with the highest impact for the lowest cost https://twitter.com/ImpactWales/status/1781033637669982372
   • Using non-verbal signals to manage behaviour https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/no-words-necessary-the-classroom-hand-signals-you-need-to-know/4013244.article (RSC edu is free to join)
3. Professional reading/watching/listening:
   • This website gives teachers info, resources & strategies to deal with different needs in the classroom – brain injury, ADHD, autism, dyslexia, Downs, … https://inclusive.tki.org.nz/guides/
4. HoD:
   • Summary of the Importance of Humour in Leadership https://mailchi.mp/spectrumeducation/laugh-track-the-importance-of-humour-in-leadership
5. Digital tools:
   • Using AI to make PowerPoints https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P26wk-KxCs
   • An AI designed for teacher planning. Free to join. https://www.teachershub.ai
6. Science Careers:
   • Ideas for including careers links in lessons https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/fuel-curiosity-in-science-careers/4019273.article (RSC education is free to join)
7. Apply for a Westpac Water Care Project grant to fund env’al projects – planting trees, monitoring water quality, restoring habitats, … https://landcare.org.nz/project/westpac-water-care-project/

Resources

1. Biology:
   • PPT with images for rat dissection
   • Activity about evidence for evolution in the context of whales
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Data interrogation exercise on the benefit of legumes for perennials https://datanuggets.org/2023/06/collaborative-cropping-can-plants-help-each-other-grow/
   • 2021 MfE report on land use: Summary here, report here
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Activity matching evidence with different theories about moon formation
   • This module engages students with real-time NOAA data to investigate how El Niño affects organisms that live in the ocean. Includes teachers guide, student worksheets & answer keys.
   • Bruce Hayward explains the Waitematā Sandstone rocks that the Auckland volcanoes erupted through. These sedimentary rocks make for a perfect introduction to some geology basics.
4. Chemistry:
   • An interactive challenge about water filtration https://virtualscienceteachers.org/water-filtration-challenge/
   • videos to help students practice ion identification without needing chemicals [Keri Tan Garlick]
5. Physics:
   • It’s a Drag is an interactive resource where students measure the effect of vehicle type, tyres, road surface & weather conditions on stopping distance.
   • Activity to explore how the design of a solar oven affects the transformation of radiant energy to thermal energy?
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Experiment exploring sources of UV light https://www.need.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Beaded-Chameleon.pdf
   • A recorded webinar on fun and Safety with primary science https://bit.ly/FunSafeScience with a PowerPoint and lots of handy links to health and safety documents.
7. Middle School:
   • Interactive resources for all sorts of science topics https://www.abc.net.au/education/science-games-for-secondary-students-and-classrooms/14031616
8. Education for Sustainability (EfS)
   • The webinar Breaking Down Microplastics explored the issue of plastic pollution.
9. New standards
   • Resources focussing on the health of their local river [Richard Booth, Ngā Tawa Diocesan]. Student resource and Unpacking sheet
   • Checkology has lessons on evaluating science based claims, misinformation, bias (S1.4). https://checkology.org/account/teacher/content It’s free to register your school.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Education Hub Webinar: Teaching & Leading to the NW: Prof Russell Bishop discusses his research into how leaders and teachers can structure their practice to create quality and equitable learning for ākonga Māori and other marginalised students. 7:30pm Tues May 7. $9.95. Info here.
2. ASTA is hosting a Science Learning Hub PLD session for teachers of years 1-10 science. Come explore their physical resources, popular contexts & learn how to increase literacy and/or numeracy in your science classes. Wed 8 May 4-6pm, Mission Heights Junior College. Register here.
3. A new round of the free online workshops, Making Assessor Judgements, Transforming Assessment Praxis, and Assessment Approaches, are now available. https://lms.nzqa.govt.nz/
4. Rourou Leadership Lab is running 3 workshops on systems change – free, online. 4-5pm 7 May, 4 Jun, 25 Jun. More info & register here

Cheers, Mike

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