The timetable for Science Outreach Activities is now available.
Please look at the availability of activities and email your requests to Sue Unsworth. This timetable will be updated regularly to keep you up to date with new activities and to keep you current with bookings taken.
If you have a special request for a Teacher Workshop, please contact Sue.
Practical activities for NCEA Level 1
| Level 1 -Year 11 |
It’s a bugs life - Ecology
Date: on demand
Brief overview: Practical work (outdoors weather permitting) Agroecology, bees and pollinators, horticultural pathology and biocontrol.
Relevant to: Ag and Hort Sc AS 1.6, 1.8, 2.2; Biology 1.7 |
Human impact – the possum problem
Date: on demand
Brief overview: Practical techniques to monitor abundance, using wax tags to identify animal pest species, methods for possum control using a computer simulation.
Relevant to: Biology 1.5 |
Biotechnology – winemaking
Date: Term 3
Brief overview: The vineyard and making wine, practical activities using yeast, parameters that affect carbon dioxide production, sugar and alcohol content.
Relevant to: Biology AS 1.2, US 18978 |
Practical activities for NCEA Level 2
| Level 2 - Year 12 |
BIG Biology Quiz 4.30-7.00pm
Date: Term 2
Brief overview: FUN with FOOD! (Drinks and snacks at ‘intermission’)
Teams of 4. Supporters welcome. There will be opportunity to ‘ask the audience’, clickers for audience participation and more!
Questions will be ‘general biology’. |
Microscope Assessment (full day)
Date: Term 1 (see timetable)
Brief overview: Practice skills and techniques to prepare slides and make biological drawings using quality binocular and stereoscopic microscopes in the morning followed by an assessment task in the afternoon. Each pupil will have their own microscope.
Relevant to: Biology US 8928 |
Agriculture:
For all Science pupils (Phys, Bio, Chem, Ag, Hort )- Breeding techniques and technologies on the farm
Date: Term 2 (see timetable)
Brief overview: The science behind the farming; artificial insemination, scanning, sire recording and selection, flushing and embryo transfer.
Relevant to: Ag. AS 2.4, 2.5, Bio AS 2.3, 2.6. Careers in Agriculture for all Science Pupils |
Biodiversity
Date: on demand
Brief overview: Macro-organisms in leaf litter, use of and construction of keys, population ecology of the leaf miner.
Relevant to: Biology AS 2.5 |
Human Impact – the possum problem
Date: on demand
Brief overview: Practical techniques to monitor abundance, using wax tags to identify animal pest species, possum control using a computer simulation.
Relevant to: Biology AS 2.2 |
Genetic variation
Date: on demand
Brief overview: Variation within populations, gene pool changes, speciation and evolution. Looking at the examples of fresh water mussels and penguins.
Relevant to: Biology AS 2.3, 3.5 |
Photosynthesis and transpiration
Date: on demand
Brief overview: Investigations into factors affecting photosynthesis or transpiration using ‘high and low technology’ (gravimetric, LiCor 6400, spectrophotometry).
Relevant to: Biology AS 2.7 |
Quail Island research (full day)
Date: End of term 4 – after examinations (see timetable(PDF, 80.77 kb)
Brief overview: Field trip to Q.I. to monitor birds, reptiles, invertebrates, mammals; soil moisture profiling; GPS for site mapping.
Relevant to: (in preparation for) Biology AS 3.1 |
Biotechnology – winemaking
Date: Term 3 (see timetable (PDF, 80.77 kb)
Brief overview: The vineyard, practical activities to make wine and to study yeast and associated cell processes.
Relevant to: Biology AS 2.2 |
Practical activities for NCEA Level 3
| Level 3 - Year 13 |
Animal investigations
Date: Available as required. This can be brought to your school in term 1.
Brief overview: ‘Learning about slugs’ for the animal investigation. This introduction includes practical opportunity to get to know slugs.
Relevant to: Biology AS 3.1 |
DNA Lab
Date: Week Term 2 and Term 3 (see timetable (PDF, 80.77 kb)
Brief overview: Extraction of DNA; forensic analysis - loading, running and interpreting gel electrophoresis. PCR, transilluminator, sequencer and other high tech apparatus will be demonstrated and applications of this biotechnology discussed.
Relevant to: Biology and Technology AS 3.6 |
Biology Scholarship Day (full day)
Date: Monday 1st October Full Day
Brief overview: Invited experts + interactive opportunities for group work, to answer exam questions, to discuss model answers, to gain tips for the scholarship examination. |