1-30 Sep	Save our Sight Month www.nzao.co.nz
8 Sep	International Literacy day https://en.unesco.org/themes/literacy-all
12 Sep	4-4:45pm Hive Mind PLD for primary teachers. Register here
13 Sep	Early bird registration closes for ChemEd/BioLive
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
Moon	NM Sep 3      1Q Sep 11      FM Sep 18      3Q Sep 25

1. Talks that may be relevant for us
   • David Barrell of GNS gives this year’s Hochstetter lecture on forthcoming changes to our coast in Ak, Chch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Napier, NP, Nelson, PN, Raglan, Taupo, Tauranga, Wgtn.
2. Resources for Māori Language week, 14-21 Sep (beware, some sources have different dates)
   • Some activities from Jo Dawson: Te Reo Activities JoDawson
   • Canterbury Museum has a program on Hangarau Māori / Māori technology they will bring to Chch schools. Good mātauranga Māori for science here too.
3. The Virtual Learning Network provides online learning for students for the L2 & L3 sciences. Enrol now for 2025. https://hail.to/kotui-ako-vln/publication/ZgjXXoS/article/Auguk8b
4. ChemEd/BioLive: registration will be closed off very soon as they have almost reached their cap of approx 220 delegates. (limited by lecture theatre space). Register asap.

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori:
   • Some resources from Science Learning Hub on
     • the mātauranga of whakairo wood carving https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/3327-whakairo
     • pūrākau of pounamu https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/3327-whakairo?tab=maramatanga-maori
2.  Pedagogy:
   • Article on using metacognition https://edu.rsc.org/ideas/3-ways-to-help-students-master-metacognition/4019681.article (EIC is free to join)
3. Student opportunities:
   • The Robogals Science Challenge is a global competition for girls and gender diverse students 5-15 yrs old. They choose a challenge by age group – a project or experiment. Info here.
   • KCC Challenge: What can you imagine living in the depths of our oceans? Entries close 30 Oct – 10 prizes to be won. https://kcc.org.nz/…/kcc_wildthings_164_spring2024_14.pdf
4.  Revision:
   • Learn Coach is offering free access to their personal AI tutor and study resources (Sci, Mx, Eng, Lit & Num) for Term 3, 8:30am-3:30pm + an extra 20-minute daily study session. Teachers sign in, create a class & add students. The free Scholarship Finder is useful for those going on to uni

Resources

1. Biology:
   • TED-Ed talk on tetanus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzzOKh6gbGg
   • Video about circalunar rhythms https://www.facebook.com/groups/577352309058780 FB
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • Virtual Nursery Field Trip (VNFT) has 42 videos of nursery production operations in USA https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/ag/vnft/
   • A Lincoln uni investigation using snails to model grazing preferences https://drive.google.com/file/d/13lyYW6z1E58jCcD_7_w38IF7Uh4mCHUM/view
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • A guide for stargazing: The September Night Sky
   • The video Rockets 101 from National Geographic explores how rockets work, what happens during a launch and the centuries of innovation that made space exploration possible.
   • Using data to find out if earthquakes are increasing in intensity and where the most intense EQ occur https://about.dataclassroom.com/ready-to-teach/anticipating-earthquakes (it’s free to join)
4. Chemistry:
   • In this activity, students investigate doubling or halving an ingredient to see its effect on an endothermic reaction, then use this to determine the optimum quantities and then to scale it up.
   • Article about gradually building understanding of electrochemistry https://edu.rsc.org/endpoint/spiral-your-curriculum-for-electrochemistry-success/4019272.article
5. Physics:
   • Some resources to teach an engineering design process: Poster, Student handout and projects to design and build a bridge and a Rube Goldberg machine.
   • Activity analysing the forces in a Truss Bridge https://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/ind-2472-analysis-forces-truss-bridge-lesson
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • NZ Police run Farm Safety programmes for Year 3-6 students. They cover firearms, chemicals and poisons, animals/plants, quad bikes, tractors and machinery, water safety.
   • Water-bottle rockets https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/ucd_bottlerockets_activity1
7.  Science:
   • Science News article for kids on a spacesuit that recycles pee into drinking water
   • High Equity Index schools have added challenges including lower literacy levels & sporadic attendance. To help their students succeed, programs and assessments need to be designed a bit differently. If you are interested in sharing resources for such students register here.
8. New standards
   • Connected article on Foulden Maar – Fossils or food explores the use of diatomaceous fossils for science or for cattle fodder (S1.1)
   • Are milky-fleshed snapper the result of over-fishing (S1.1, S1.4)? [thanks Erica Jar]. A fishy story
9. Te reo pūtaiao science resources
   • Science Learning Hub has new resources on Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa :
     • Manu – onamata, inamata, ānamata
     • Ngā urutaunga me te tautohunga manu
     • Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra – he tūhura raraunga
     • Ngā tohe tū mā ō tātou manu

MoE/NZQA

1. From 26 Aug to 20 Sep, the wider education sector is encouraged to have a say on the updated draft English curriculum for Years 0 to 6. Draft content & survey here.
2. MoE funds a study award for teachers to undertake the post-graduate specialist teaching programme: Complex Educational Needs through Massey University.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Science in a Van’s Big Term 1 Tour 2025 shows feature chemistry, flying rubber chickens, physics, giant bubbles, sound. Register here for South Island or North Island 2025 before the end of term (27 Sep). If you’re in Tāmaki Makaurau you can book now for a show this term.
2. Ako Panuku symposium on Pūtaiao for members, in Auckland Fri 24 Oct. Info here. Scroll down to find online modules on science investigations.
3. Genomics Aotearoa is running a workshop for CB1.3 in Ak Nov 7: GA Auckland 241107b
4. Resources from ASTA’s last cluster on CB1.3 are here

Technician

1. Remember the Safety and Science guide is a living document and MoE updates it as required.

Cheers, Mike

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