6 Apr	National Biomechanics Day http://thebiomechanicsinitiative.org/#about-nbd
7 Apr	World Health day www.who.int/ 🡪 Events calendar
12 Apr	International Day of Human Space Flight www.un.org/en/events/humanspaceflightday/
14 Apr	Last day term 1, Easter Thurs
17 Apr	World Haemophilia day http://www.wfh.org/en/page.aspx?pid=492
Moon	1Q Apr 9      FM Apr 17      3Q Apr 23      NM May 1

Info

1. Mātauranga Māori
   • Education Perfect offers free resources Science Alive Mātauranga. [Content 🡪 Cross-curricular (below sci on LHS)]. Problems? Contact lauren.pugh@educationperfect.com
2. Pedagogy:
   • A blog on writing report comments that support a growth mindset https://blog.teacherspayteachers.com/meaningful-report-card-comments-to-support-growth-mindset/
   • Some ideas of things to do when you have a few minutes left at the end of class.
3. Student opportunities:
   • EPro8 interschool science & engineering competition for years 5-13 starts at the end of term 2 https://epro8challenge.co.nz/schedule-of-events-2022.html
4. Revision:
   • A 7-step model for teaching a revision strategy https://community.stem.org.uk/blogs/gary-aubin/2022/03/21/how-to-scaffold-pupils-revision-seven-step-model

Resources stories

1. Biology:
   • This is a good time of year to look at seed dispersal e.g. https://blog.growingwithscience.com/tag/seed-dispersal-activities/
   • In PhET’s Natural Selection simulation students explore changes to environmental factors related to a population of rabbits, tracking & graphing their outcomes.  Then students select their own factor/variable to test. You will need to join PhET.
2. Agricultural and Horticultural Science:
   • School Gardening Curricula and Lessons from the University of Illinois Extension: https://extension.illinois.edu/cook/school-gardening-curricula-and-lessons​
   • The newly established Akongoue: Pasifika Horticulture Programme aims to introduce Pacific youth to fruitful careers in NZ’s horticulture sector.
3. Earth & Space Science:
   • The night sky for April: https://www.mikesnews.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Night-Sky-April.docx
   • Australia’s large 2019 and 2020 fires damaged the ozone layer – Science News article.
   • Hamish Campbell video on basalt columns https://youtu.be/IXPE12gyiNE
4.  Chemistry:
   • The chemistry of skiing https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/better-skiing-through-chemistry/4015063.article
   • Infographic on deuterium https://cen.acs.org//content/dam/cen/99/43/WEB/09943-feature4.pdf
5. Physics:
   • Use a sachet of tomato sauce or mustard or soy dropped whole into a 2L plastic bottle of water as a Cartesian diver to investigate pressure. Squeeze the bottle.
   • Earth’s vertical electric field in Antarctica – an illustration of the electric field between 2 parallel plates. https://www.antarctica.gov.au/site/assets/files/54311/e_field_final.pdf
6. Primary & intermediate:
   • A simple activity for students to identify clouds https://www.facebook.com/tokirimaschool/posts/1008605829756766
7.  EfS:
   • A recording of the public meeting hosted by Royal Society Te Apārangi on climate change featuring NZ authors of the most recent IPCC report. It covered the science, social impacts, adaptation, policy, and Māori perspectives.
8.  Science:
   • Some secondary science resources for Easter https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/509708/easter-secondary-17th-april-2022
9.  STEM:
   • A gazette article about using play-based learning in STEM https://gazette.education.govt.nz/articles/mud-play-invigorates-stem-learning-in-waikato/

MoE/NZQA

1. Have a look at the new content for Aotearoa NZ histories. There’s an online overview Apr 5, and Q&A Apr 12. If interested add your name https://forms.gle/en1wJq5AJnPGWKqGA
2. A curriculum refresh is underway for science too, expect it to be structured similarly. Read more on the process here & here.
3. In 2021 ERO produced 4 reports on teaching science from years 1-11. https://scienceonline.tki.org.nz/Teaching-science

Professional Learning & Development (PLD) Opportunities

1. Learning Network’s 2-day conference for leaders and those aspiring to lead. 9 & 10 June, Wellington.https://www.learningnetwork.ac.nz/events/aspiring-leaders-wellington/

Technicians

1. Doubting that using cheek cells is safe with Covid, some are turning to skin cells. Rub a piece of tape on the inside of the wrist (sticky side [ss] down) then place the tape ss down onto a slide, and apply stain under a corner (or place it ss up and apply stain to top then a coverslip). Beware rogue fingerprints on the section of tape collecting cells.
2. This Facebook page has posts from technicians from all over the world, especially helpful for working out solutions to problematic practicals. [Emma Edgecombe]

Cheers, Mike

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