1-31 Oct	Health Literacy month www.healthliteracymonth.org/
1-31 Oct	Save Kiwi month www.kiwisforkiwi.org/save-kiwi-week/schools
1-31 Oct	Breast Cancer Awareness month www.nzbcf.org.nz (Pink Ribbon)
5 Nov	TEDxNelson https://www.commerce.org.nz/event/tedxnelson-connection
7Nov-2Dec	NZQA exams – timetable
7Nov-5Dec	Young Explorers 21 Day Challenge. sign up here
3 Nov	Outdoor classroom day, some ideas here.
8 Nov	CSTA science leaders PLD. Register here link.
8-9 Nov	Total lunar eclipse (11:59pm – 2:56 pm) https://rasnz.org.nz/in-the-sky/eclipses
10 Nov	World science day https://www.un.org/en/observances/world-science-day
10 Nov	Protecting Our Planet Day – CC program http://protectingourplanet.org.uk/
10 Nov	Auckland ESS teachers’ day. Flyer
10-11 Nov	Science is Cool Conference, 7am +. Register here
14 Nov	World Diabetes day https://worlddiabetesday.org/about/theme/
Moon	1Q Nov 1      FM Nov 9      3Q Nov 17      NM Nov 24

1. The planetarium at Auckland’s Stardome observatory has a new show on the birth of planet earth https://www.stardome.org.nz/movie/birth-of-planet-earth

Info

1. Culturally Responsive & Relational Pedagogy:
   • Article on values, wokeness & decolonizing the curriculum by PLD facilitator Stephen Ross.
2. Mātauranga Māori
   • Article from Ako Journal about schools following maramataka (there is a te reo version too) https://akojournal.org.nz/2022/09/14/a-return-to-wisdom/
   • One teacher’s journey with Mana ōrite https://nzareblog.wordpress.com/2022/09/20/mana-orite/
3. Student opportunities:
   • Innovative Young Minds is offering two exciting programme options in 2023 for young women in years 11 and 12. Apply from 1 Nov. Flyer 1, flyer 2, flyer 3
     • Online: 17 – 21 April 2023 Five half-day sessions delivered entirely online for students from across NZ – limited to 100 places. Find out more here.
     • Residential: 3 – 8 July 2023. Based in Lower Hutt for students from Manawatu to Wellington – limited to 40 places. Find out more here.
   • First Foundation provides a university scholarship, mentoring & paid work experience for students from challenging backgrounds. https://www.linkedin.com/company/firstfoundationnz

Resources

1. Biology:
   • The Conversation article on Svante Paabo’s Nobel-worthy work on Neanderthal & Denisovan genomes
   • Revision posters from Ben Himme at Pathways https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-j5WqdaXHOuBMNpF5GquDCo0Tga1YR_y
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • A video about farmers transitioning from conventional farming to regenerative agriculture. It’s free to join Waterbear.
   • Inquiry to build a slow-drip watering system https://info.eie.org/keep-it-watered-activity-book
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • Night sky 1 Nov: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Nov-night-sky.docx
   • An article on glaciers and ice sheets https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/how-the-ocean-works/frozen-ocean/glaciers-ice-sheets/
   • An article & video simulation on what we know about the Hikurangi Subduction Zone
4.  Chemistry:
   • Infographics on insecticides, textile fibres and acids and bases
   • Jo Standley’s Halloween Pumpkinator: To a 250 mL beaker, add 125 mL of water, 2 tsp cream of tartar and 1 tsp Na₂CO₃. Then add 2 Tbsp (30 mL) 3% H₂O₂. (If the mixture is not mostly clear, then add slightly more Na₂CO₃.) Then, add 0.5 tsp of CuSO₄ solution (prepare by adding 1 tsp CuSO₄ to 1 Tbsp water). Gives you a lovely orange mix. 🡪 write redox equations.
   • A simple reading on fireworks and an infographic
5. Physics:
   • Energy sources resources (US) https://www.need.org/energyawarenessmonth/
   • The video vault here is sortable & filterable. Looks useful https://universeandmore.com/
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • Primary Science Teaching Trust’s Autumn issue of their magazine is a treasure trove
   • Halloween pumpkin stencils on marine science https://www.whoi.edu/whoi-halloween-stencils/
   • Stories with a science theme: On a beam of light by Jennifer Berne about Albert Einstein
7.  Science:
   • Some Halloween science https://sciencelessonsthatrock.com/halloween-science-ideas-html/
8. Education for Sustainability (EfS):
   • Some really great activities here for investigating kauri dieback with students. E.g. simulation on the page numbered 56 https://www.kauriprotection.co.nz/assets/Documents-PDFs/School-Resources/Kauri-Protection-School-Resource.pdf
   • Landcare research Manaaki whenua resource on detecting pests using tracking tunnels and chew cards: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Identifying-pests-from-chewCards.pdf
9.  STEM:
   • PSTT’s STEM club Eco Science is a set of 8 activities related to recent research about the environment and climate with a teacher overview and practical guide.

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Kohia Teacher’s Centre, Gate 2, 76 Epsom Ave, Epsom
   • Making talk count for Teacher Aides: Kerry Upson, 1 Dec, 1 – 3pm, online. $120
2. From 28 Jan to 3 Feb 2023 an international volcanoes conference is coming to Rotorua. It includes opportunities for teacher PLD and student activities. A flyer has been emailed to all science leaders in BoP, Waikato, Auckland. If you are interested but outside those regions, then contact Mike mikhal@actrix.co.nz.
3. Georgina Stewart is giving a webinar on mātauranga Māori for secondary Science teachers on 10 Nov, 3:30-4:30pm. Register by 4 Nov by emailing tataiangitu@massey.ac.nz . Flyer attached: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Matauranga-Maori-n-Sec-Sci-Tchg.pdf
4. Steve Spangler’s free virtual Everyday STEM workshop is live on Mon 7 Nov at 7PM EST (12pm Tues 8 Nov NZST). Here’s the registration link to get your Zoom link.
5. Lincoln University Agriculture Teachers Day is on the 25 Nov at LU (Chch). Teaching resources, in-class experiments, field trips at Lincoln and hearing from experts. Register here

Technicians

1. In The Safety in Science webinars there was some confusion about the exact info required on containers. WorkSafe has clarified that as well as identity and concentration a pictogram is sufficient for hazardous substances of these classes: (i) class 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, or 1.4; or (ii) class 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 3.1A, 3.2A, 4.1.2A, 4.1.2B, 4.1.3A, 4.2A, 4.3A, 5.1.1A, 5.1.2A, 5.2A, 5.2B, 6.1A, 6.1B, 6.1C, 8.2A, or 8.3A. The Risk Assess program includes pictogram on its labels.
2. Extracting DNA from bananas, strawberries, cauli etc works best from frozen because ice crystals rip open cell membranes, making them more susceptible to detergent lysis, releasing more DNA.

Vacancies

1. House of Science is looking for a new manager for their Horowhenua/Manawatu branch based in Palmerston North. Apply now @ https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=3823318318

Cheers, Mike

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