20 Feb | Deadline to apply for Science Teaching Leadership Programme starting term 3 2023 |
20 Feb | Deadline to submit a proposal to present at SciCon https://www.scicon.org.nz |
20 Feb | Cafe Scientifique Tauranga, 7pm. Lake Ecosystems & Global Change. Register here |
21 Feb | International Mother Language Day link |
25 Feb | |
1-31 Mar | Melanoma March www.melanoma.org.nz/news-events/recent-news |
1-31 Mar | Hearing Awareness Month https://www.nfd.org.nz/hearing-awareness-month2020 |
1-31 Mar | Whio Awareness month https://www.doc.govt.nz/whioforever |
3 Mar | World wildlife Day http://wildlifeday.org/ |
3 Mar | World Hearing day |
4 Mar | World Engineering day |
4-12 Mar | Sea week http://seaweek.org.nz/ |
Moon | NM Feb 20 1Q Feb 27 FM Mar 8 3Q Mar 15 |
- Sea week:
- From the Rivers to the Sea, Ngā Kōrero – The Way Forward is a free webinar series. Experts in marine science and mātauranga Māori share the discoveries and progress being made in marine protection as well as increasing awareness of opportunities for action. [HoS]
- Science Learning Hub resources for Sea Week
- Ocean Literacy poster https://www.msc.org/docs/default-source/aus-files/education/ocean-literacy-poster-new-zealand.pdf
- Snorkel days in some places – Motutapu, Wellington, Nelson, and others, check it out
- Primary Science Week is in Term 2, Week 3. The theme is Citizen Science, Exploring our World. It may be useful to look at Science Learning Hub tchr PLD on citizen science.
- Info about the support available for teachers of science: Science Subject Support full 230212
Info
- Mātauranga Māori
- Newshub article and news clip about using mātauranga Māori to tackle kauri dieback https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/01/leading-kauri-dieback-scientists-back-indigenous-knowledge-to-restore-aotearoa-s-kaurilands.html
- Professional reading/watching:
- Paper on the tension between academic achievement and student enjoyment, in a maths context. https://www.edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/ai22-591.pdf
- Teacher opportunities:
- If you are planning to go to SciCon this year, don’t forget PPTA’s grant to attend subject association conferences. You need to apply beforehand to be eligible for up to $700.
- Early bird prices for SciCon close 14 March https://www.scicon.org.nz
- Student opportunity
- Forest and Bird is turning 100 and is running a birthday cake competition. Cakes can be edible or just awesome to look at. Prizes. open to all ages. Email a photo of your cake by 22 March 2023 to kccinbox@forestandbird.org.nz , poster here.
- Literacy:
- Frontiers for Young Minds have some really interesting articles and great scientific literacy https://kids.frontiersin.org/. [Shannon Miller]
- The latest NZASE newsletter has an articles on Vaping and Nuclear fusion for anyone and bats and the Tongan eruption for members only as well as Ariana Estoras another Māori scientist. Sign up for the newsletter or find resources here https://nzase.org.nz/. Join NZASE here https://nzase.org.nz/membership/ .
- Science Careers:
- A short video about German naturalist Maria Sibylla Merian, from the 17th century.
Resources
- Biology:
- Observing soil respiration https://www.earthsciweek.org/classroom-activities/observing-soil-respiration
- If you are new to teaching you will want to get to know the Amoeba sister videos, eg their latest on plant diversity, structure and adaptations. Their learning playlist w resource links.
- Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
- David Attenborough video clip on weeds (3min) https://www.facebook.com/bbc/videos/1283435469070241
- Media release from Plant and Food about new dragon fruit varieties
- Earth & Space Science:
- A NASA simulation about our moon forming after Earth’s collision with a Mars-sized object: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/lunar-origins-simulations
- Recent articles about the effect of the Chicxulub asteroid’s tsunami on NZ from Stuff and The Waikato Times-Age, as well as Julian Thomson’s video. An older Alpha 116
- A reading and video about the science of the Turkey earthquakes.
- Chemistry:
- Students make their own ‘lava lamps’ using Alka Seltzer and vegetable oil. https://www.sunlive.co.nz/blogs/17142-create-your-own-alkaseltzer-powered-lava-lamp.html
- Use microscale chemistry techniques to explore electrolysis https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2022/elegant-electrolysis/
- Physics:
- Activity to design and build solar water heating devices https://www.teachengineering.org/activities/view/cub_housing_lesson01_activity1
- Learn about gravitational waves and where they come from Gravitational waves: a taxonomy.
- Primary & intermediate:
- Video for making paper towers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_e_7bWetGI . From this series, with teacher notes https://pstt.org.uk/resources/curriculum-materials/Starters-for-Science
- Activity building a wind turbine, hinged on the story of an African student (join Explorify for free) https://explorify.uk/en/activities/the-big-question/how-can-the-wind-help-us
- Science:
- This activity makes students aware of how much water is needed to make the foods we eat every day https://www.scienceinschool.org/article/2020/do-you-know-your-water-footprint/
- Discovery Education virtual field trips: Tundra Connection (polar bears), copper mine (drive a tall truck), genomics lab … https://www.discoveryeducation.com/community/virtual-field-trips/
- Education for Sustainability (EfS):
- Te Kawa o Tangaroa curriculum is a library of ocean-centred learning from NZ’s Marine Stewardship Council about solutions to overfishing, the science of sustainable fishing and promoting an ocean teeming with life. A focus on local curriculum context & mātauranga Māori.
- STEM:
Professional Learning and Development
- A Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst webinar on hydrothermal vents, Th 22 Feb, 7:30-8:30 pm ET (12:30pm Fri 23 Feb NZST). Register here or view live on YouTube.
- Teachers Day Out is a fully funded PLD day for career advisors & teachers of tech, commerce & the sciences to visit working farms/orchards and agribusinesses in your region. Teachers Day Out 2023.
- NZASE is offering science PLD again this term, separate workshops for primary & secondary. If a venue has been finalized your science leader should have received info. Online here.
Cheers, Mike
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