Celebrating the science and pūtaiao of Aotearoa
Aotearoa New Zealand is a unique place, which is reflected in our new resources.
Whakairo – wood carving
Whakairo is a brief introduction to wood carving – taonga tuku iho – a divine gift handed down from the atua to tūpuna. The article is supported by māramatanga Māori (insights) featuring pūrākau of pounamu.
Pounamu adze
A pounamu adze. Traditionally, carving tools were made from pounamu or stone. This adze was discovered in the early 19th century.
Matua Wiremu Puke (Ngāti Wairere, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi), Carver and Historian, shares mātauranga whakairo in four videos:
Magma Pop – gamifying volcano geology
Magma Pop is a serious game that takes users underneath Aotearoa to explore magma, mineral crystallisation and volcanic rock composition. It’s an engaging way to introduce geological and chemical concepts such as the composition and structure of the geosphere and the structure of matter. The accompanying activity includes student handouts for intermediate and senior students.
Magma Pop (and Magma Drillers Save Planet Earth) are collaborations with Professor Ben Kennedy – winner of the 2023 Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize!
Magma Pop – Magma Academy
This visual representation of a magma chamber has many features to observe and discuss – even before users begin game play. The Magma Academy is where users learn how to form minerals from elements in the magma.
Free professional learning webinars
Join us for Animals of Aotearoa. Professor Georgina Tuari Stewart and Dr Sally Birdsall will introduce a new suite of classroom resources developed from research into Māori knowledge of animals.
Date: 19 September, 4:00–4:45 pm
Toi whakapapa artwork
This silhouette design was created for the project incorporating Animals of Aotearoa: Kaupapa Māori Summaries and Exploring the Three Rs of Animal Ethics with Māori Ideas .
Te toi Whakapapa graphic courtesy of Professor Georgina Tuari Stewart and Dr Sally Birdsall.
In case you missed it, the webinar is now live. Chloe Stantiall (author of our recent kōwhai mātauranga resources) and Greta share their experiences of exploring mātauranga as pākehā educators in English medium classrooms.
Register here for Science in a Van’s next Hive Mind webinar on 12 September. See our electricity collection with a focu s on current and static electricity, created to support this session.
Manu māra o Aotearoa
Te Tatauranga o ngā Manu Māra o Aotearoa is now in te reo Māori! Use the resources year-round to learn about and care for manu in your kura or rohe.
Follow us
We offer added value through our social media. Contact us about creating collections or boards tailored to your needs. We can help foster connections between the education and science communities.
Facebook : www.facebook.com/nzsciencelearn
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Instagram : www.instagram.com/sciencelearninghubnz
Your feedback
We hope you enjoy using the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao in your teaching and would love to hear from you. Your comments, ideas and feedback can be emailed to enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz.
Noho ora mai
Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao
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