Do these things – right now – to elevate creativity and innovation.
By William Van Zyl Published in November 2022. “I am not going to suffocate my children with literacy and numeracy. I don’t care what people – and even teachers – Continue Reading
Our diverse world needs to be more culturally responsive. Are you responsive?
By William Van Zyl Published in November 14, 2022. Culturally diverse countries like Germany, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, France, Spain, Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom face huge Continue Reading
World War 3 Victory Gardens: ThingSpeak and Eels save the day.
By William Van Zyl. Published on November 8, 2022. A high-frequency air raid siren goes off above Jacob’s head. He flinches. Urgent notifications ping on his phone – a row Continue Reading
Crystal Radio shortens Gravedigger’s night.
By William Van Zyl – Published June 2022. *Listen to the podcast while reading: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-e78d4-124aaff “At the sound of the gong, it will be exactly 1 am on 2ZC radio.” Continue Reading
LESSON: Use the work of an influential designer to inform design ideas. Design a Moon-base on Minecraft Education – focus on Aesthetics and Function.
By William Van Zyl (Published in April 2022). Design Brief: Design a Moon-dwelling or a Moon-base (in your groups or individually) on Minecraft Education. Use the work of an architect Continue Reading
Minecraft Lesson: Create a Minecraft Character to contain a USB Drive. Making freehand sketches with dimensions. Use SketchUp (3D Warehouse) & TinkerCad (3D printing) to prepare the file for 3D printing.
By William Van Zyl – Published 2018 Learning intention: To learn how to make 3-D sketches in third angle orthographic projection. To learn how to use SketchUp (software) to design Continue Reading
Tiger, Tiger, Tiger! タイガー、タイガー、タイガー！
Nine unique lessons on the planning and attack at Pearl Harbour (WW2). By William Van Zyl (December 2021). Listen to the podcast of the article: Weeks earlier. A tiny reed Continue Reading
Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).
By William Van Zyl First published in October 2021 (edited in April 2025) On Friday, 5 March 2021, I stepped into the unknown. It was dark, humid, and very black. Continue Reading
HEROES, HEROINES AND ME: Tuahangata (Heroes) & Tuawahine (Heroines). MAORI CULTURE COMPARED TO PAKEHA AND OTHER GLOBAL HEROES (LESSON & RESOURCE FOR 13-YEAR-OLD TO 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS).
Tauhangata & Tauwhine (Maori – New Zealand context) Download the full ebook (lesson on own identity) for free: Overview of the resource: Tuahangata (Heroes) 1. (personal noun) hero, male idol, Continue Reading
Cardboard Art, Sculpture, and Bas-Relief work: An integrated lesson on ‘identity.’
Front cover. Back cover. Available at fivehousepublishing.com By William Van Zyl ( First published in 2017, edited in 2018 & 2024) The Battle of Bloodriver The first shot from the ‘Sanna Continue Reading
Helium Balloons and Sky Lanterns: Our New Jellyfish and Alien ‘Space Killers’ of the Future?
By William Van Zyl (Published in 2020) Essay: Soft bait is a silent killer. Synthetic fishing lures have been developed to catch any type of freshwater and saltwater fish. Designers Continue Reading
River Rights: A United Approach to Improve Sustainable Practice.
By William Van Zyl (First published in 2019, edited in 2021 and 2026). Can a River Own Itself? Imagine a river at dawn, mist rising off waters that carved valleys Continue Reading
Whimsical, Loose, and Quirky Watercolour Sketching.
William Van Zyl (2021) The book of Felix Scheinberger – Urban Watercolour Sketching – challenges the reader with 154 pages of unique sketching ideas. To learn new art techniques and Continue Reading
Rat-a-Strophics and Cat-o-Matics
By William Van Zyl (July 2021) Listen to the podcast of this story and article: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-spxxm-10f938c *Additional to this article: Don’t miss the great lesson ideas at the end (for Continue Reading
Learn Technology through Arts and Crafts: for 12-year-old to 16-year-old students. Primary and Secondary School. Integrated Learning. Global Citizenship. Critical Thinking. Electrical Circuits. Programming. Multi-materials.
By William Van Zyl (edited in 2021) Synopsis: This resource introduces a simple lesson of cardmaking with electrical circuits. STEM & STEAM focus. The project – a greeting card – Continue Reading
Entering a dark, humid cave – lit up by cat-eyed, yellow fiery flies – could turn your thinking upside down.
By William Van Zyl (March 2021) On Friday, 5 March 2021, I stepped into the unknown. It was dark, humid, and very black. Yellow cat eyes stared at me from Continue Reading
Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).
By William Van Zyl Thinking of the sustainability of a cave is not something that comes to mind naturally. It requires prompts: What choice of materials is best for constructing Continue Reading
Hickory, Dickory, Fig Tree – I ask of you – can you hear me?
By William Van Zyl (July 2021) Listen to the podcast of this article (listen while you read): https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-gvr28-116868b Hickory, Dickory, Tree – Dockerty, Hockerty, Dock. A mouse Hickory Dickory Tree. Continue Reading
Tardigrades and Radiotrophic Fungi – death-defiers and demon-destroyers.
By William Van Zyl Podcast of this article. Listen while you read OR just listen: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-5n4bm-1010cab July 2032 “As all the countries of the world are aware, an asteroid had Continue Reading
Sensors: Maintaining the eco-equilibrium of sensitive limestone caves in New Zealand. STEM and Digital Technologies -Programming microprocessors as sensors to improve cave sustainability (Micro:bit and MakerBot – mBot).
By William Van Zyl Thinking of the sustainability of a cave is not something that comes to mind naturally. It requires prompts: What choice of materials is best for constructing Continue Reading