I was particularly interested in the lesson ‘One Year on Earth’ – understanding seasons https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/edu/PR45_One_year_on_Earth.pdf.
I think this lesson would be useful in explaining the seasons in Ireland and would provide an opportunity for discussion of the weather and climate we have too. I think it would be suitable for a variety of ages and easily adaptable to many class groups. The weather and seasons are very relatable for children and easily linked to their everyday lives – what clothes they wear in each season, how they feel in each season, what happens culturally/in nature in Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter. It would really invoke discussion about the seasons and could be linked with Gaeilge to discuss weather in each season as Gaeilge too.
I think the question in activity 2 ‘Why does the Earth have seasons?’ is very interesting and again, relatable to children. The figures provided in this activity also show a useful visual. The hands-on activities ‘Build a sun-earth model’ and ‘one year on Earth’ are fun and engaging and by the end of the lessons pupils should become aware that the tilt of Earth’s axis affects the angle at which the Sun’s rays strike Earth and this is what causes the seasons.
I was also fascinated by the Astronomy picture a day on https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html and think there are many ways to regularly use this website in the classroom when discussing Earth and Space, constellations and the distance between stars and planets.