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ASSIGNMENT
Return to the Weather and Climate resource you downloaded for the module 1 assignment and go to activity 3
- Watch the Paxi video on greenhouse gases
- Use the tool for predicting future temperatures
Provide your feedback on activity 3 and how you could use it with your class.
Make reference to anything you think could be improved or added to the activity.Post your response (150 words minimum) as a reply to this post.
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Activity 3 involving predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions sounds engaging for students. To use it in my class, I would start by showing the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. Then, I would guide students through the simulation tool, allowing them to manipulate variables and observe the impact on temperature predictions. This hands-on approach would deepen their understanding of climate change and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To enhance the activity, I could incorporate real-world data and case studies, encouraging students to analyse trends and propose solutions. Additionally, including opportunities for critical reflection and discussion on the ethical implications of climate change actions would enrich the learning experience.
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Activity 3: Climate reporters and predicting temperature change is an very engaging and exciting activity. There is a lot to explore in this topic and a lot of skills to be drawn on as a class. In my class I would use the Paxi video as a visual and relatable starter into the topic. I found the video very engaging and provided a simple and clear explanation to the greenhouse effect with lots of clear imagery. I also like the way the video ended with positive outlooks on how we can change our actions to help reduced the effect. I would use the temp predictor tool maybe to show them how temperatures can increase where we live and the factors that are taken into account when trying to predict future temperatures. I really enjoyed this task and think it would be a extremely engaging group project.
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Module 2 Answer
This is a very interesting and practical lesson that I look forward to using in the classroom. I would begin by initiating discussion and brainstorming to record prior knowledge from the children on what they already know about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. I feel it would be very important to spend lots of time on familiarising children with vocabulary and allowing them time to think and come up with their own questions. I would then go on to show the Paxi video to the children. The video is both informative and enjoyable. Following on from this I would divide pupils into groups and ask them to come up with practical changes that we could make individually, as a family and as a school to tackle climate change. They could then present their ideas at green school meetings and share them with other classes in the school.
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Activity 3, “Climate Reporters,” is a valuable resource for my 6th class students, encouraging them to engage with the concepts of weather and climate through research and reporting. The activity promotes critical thinking by having students investigate current climate issues and present their findings, enhancing both scientific literacy and communication skills.
In my classroom, this activity could be highly effective by allowing students to explore local climate patterns and changes, connecting global concepts to their immediate environment. Incorporating national data or case studies, such as the impact of climate change on local agriculture or coastal regions, would make the activity more relevant.
To enhance the activity, I would suggest using online databases or news sources for research, and perhaps creating digital presentations or videos rather than just written reports. This would not only make the task more engaging but also help develop digital literacy which is a goal in my school.
Providing clear guidelines for the reporting process could help students understand expectations and improve the quality of their work. Including peer review sessions where students give and receive feedback on their reports would also add a collaborative element, encouraging critical evaluation and discussion among classmates. -
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Activity 3 asked that we watch the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and use the tool for predicting future temperatures.
Discussions about greenhouses gases and its impact on the world are openly discussed on the media. Children will have heard discussions on climate change and ways we can help in their daily lives- for example the different colour bins, recycling bottles and cans in shops, electric cars, cycle a bike or walk etc. People are also predicting and engaging in conversations about climate change and its influence on the world. For example the heatwaves in some countries during summer and the flooding and cold in others.
In my class I would use the Paxi video as one of my stimulus to start the discussion on this topic. I found the video was very simple for children to understand and provided a simple and clear explanation to the greenhouse gas effect. I also liked that it ended with a positive outlook on how we can help individually to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases through simple activities. I feel this is very important as children should not feel burden or anxious that they alone are causing this problem. Every little step can make a big change.
The tool I would select is the temperature predictor. This tool can be used to show how temperatures can increase where we live and predict future temperatures. I believe all the children in my class would understand the prediction of hot or cold in areas
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I agree that a very important and necessary part of this exercise is to relate our findings and conclusions to the daily lives of the children. A lot of lip service is given to recycling and other worthy activities, but it is important for the pupils to see the direct correlation between our actions and climate change and to realise that each individual action can have an impact.
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You raised some great points here Sharon, about the children’s awareness of greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect due to the ubiquitousness of the media. Young children are well versed in recycling, the different colour bins we use and now with the ‘Bring it back scheme’ they are more motivated than ever to recycle their cans and bottles so as to make some money. I like the way you mentioned the heatwaves in some countries while others are experiencing floods. You said that the Paxi video ends with a positive outlook but I still think it would induce some level of anxiety and guilt in younger classes.
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Activity 3: Climate reporters provide a variety of resources that make predicting temperature change engaging and exciting. There is a lot to explore in this topic and many skills to be drawn on as a class. To begin with, I would play the Paxi video as a visual and relatable starter for the topic. This would help the students familiarise themselves with the greenhouse effect while providing a simple and clear explanation of the greenhouse effect with lots of clear imagery. I also appreciated how the video ended with a positive outlook on how we can change our actions to help reduce the effect.
I would use the temperature predictor tool to show students how temperatures can increase in our local area and the factors considered when predicting future temperatures. I really enjoyed this task and believe it would make for an extremely engaging group project for senior classes.
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This is a very interesting activity. I would start by brainstorming the topic of greenhouse gases. Following this I would introduce certain vocabulary which would be heard or read during the lesson. The Paxi video is effective in demonstrating the greenhouse effect in a clear and concise way and I would use this to illustrate further the meaning of the greenhouse effect and how it impacts the earth. I also really liked the David Attenborough video in this module and feel it would have a great impact on this lesson, particularly for senior pupils. There is a lot of content between both, so I would suggest dividing this over at least 2 lessons. A further activity could involve research on weather events in recent times which have been caused by the rise in the earth’s temperature.
After discussion and research, I would introduce the temperature predictor. This would be a very interesting exercise for the pupils. I would end by reinforcing how we can help to change the trajectory of the earth’s temperature. Both videos were effective in this.
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Activity 3 of the Weather and Climate resource involves watching a Paxi video on greenhouse gases and using a tool to predict future temperatures. This activity effectively combines visual learning with interactive tools, enhancing student engagement and understanding of greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change. The video simplifies complex concepts, making them accessible, while the prediction tool encourages students to apply their knowledge and visualize potential future scenarios. To further improve the activity, incorporating a discussion component where students analyze different prediction models and their assumptions could deepen critical thinking. Additionally, providing supplementary materials on real-world climate policies and mitigation strategies would offer practical insights and emphasize the relevance of their learning. By adding these elements, the activity could foster a more comprehensive understanding of climate change and empower students to think critically about solutions.
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Hi Aine
I’m glad you liked the resources in this and you have some great ideas for using them to enhance discussion and critical thinking through analysis of the prediction models and coupling the use of the prediction tool with research on climate policies and climate mitigation strategies employed around the world seems like a very thorough way of deepening children’s engagement with the topic of climate change and encouraging them to think about solutions.
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Activity 3 is another nice activity that could be used in the classroom. I like the fact that there is groupwork involved in the task. I feel that the climate and weather topic can be quite vast and daunting but having specific activities that break it down into more manageable chunks is great. Like many others have said here the Paxi video is a nice support to help understanding. I would certainly do a form of KWL with the children too.
Once I had checked what they knew and then introduced and shown the Paxi video I would take certain aspects of the TEAL website to further support their learning. There are some nice fact sheets that I could crop and create supporting cards that could be used in their groups. We are lucky enough to have Chromebooks and students have their own Google accounts so we could present findings on Google slides. I would love to arrange some kind of Zoom call with someone from Met Eireann to further emphasise the impact of climate change and rises in temperature.
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Activity 3 (Climate Reporters) asks the children to look at future climate scenarios and analyse how these will impact temperatures. This is a great activity because it provides two excellent resources; the Paxi Video about greenhouse gases and the TEAL Tool.
The Paxi Video would be more suitable for junior classes as it is a very straightforward and simple carton with language geared towards younger children. I would use the KWL teaching and learning strategy. First I would ask the children what they already know (K) about greenhouse gases. We would brainstorm here and listen to their prior knowledge on the topic. Then I would ask the children what they want to know about greenhouse gases and we would write these on the board. Finally, having shown the children the Paxi Video we could all discuss what we have learned and take more notes on the board.
Using the TEAL tool would be more geared towards senior classes with access to their own laptop or chromebook. The excellent thing about this tool is that the children could explore climate variables (rainfall, temperature and radiation) from the 1950’s to the present day. They could each take a country and track its climate and then discuss their findings with the class. As a follow up they could do an interactive presentation for the class using the tool (as long as there is an interactive whiteboard in the classroom.
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There was a lot of scientific information in this video. I think it would be great to use as a standalone lesson on the Greenhouse Effect. It could also be used during Science Week where different points made by Paxi such as recycling, energy usage and water usage could be researched in detail or maybe used as a Project for homework.
The points I gained from the video were as follows.
Greenhouse effect makes human life possible – I like the comparison between how the Greenhouse Effect with plants works and the Earth.
Human activity increases the C02 gases – e.g cutting down trees.
The greenhouse effect made the temperature on Earth rise.
We can help by
Cycling, walking not driving.
Don’t waste water – conserve.
Turn off lights/tablet/unplug any appliances and do not have any red lights on TVs etc at nighttime.
Recycle everything that is recyclable. E.g paper,plastic, cardboard etc.
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In my opinion, I think TEAL is a great resource that allows students to explore climate variables for the past 40 years. I would use Tealbot with my students to research these variables and contrast and compare the results between differing countries. For example, in Tealbot you can compare precipitation levels between Spain and Ireland over the past 40 years. The results are displayed on a graph which is a great cross curricular links to Maths.
The Paxi Video was interesting as it describes how Greenhouse effect makes human life possible. It is very informative as it explained how human activity increases C02 gases e.g cutting down trees. Unfortunately, Earth’s temperature is rising due to the Greenhouse effect. We can help by conserving water, cycling not driving and by turning off lights/tablets and unplugging any appliances. It is important also to Recycle everything that is recyclable, e.g cardboard, plastic, paper etc.
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The “Climate Reporter and Predicting Temperature Change” lesson activity is an engaging and informative educational experience designed to help students understand the complexities of climate change and the science behind temperature predictions. This activity is particularly effective in combining theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on learning, making it an excellent tool for both educators and students.
I would use a KWL chart with my class and then I would show the paxi video. It is a very engaging video which delivers its message effectively.
I would then show the temperature predictor tool and explain that this is the tool scientist use to help predict the future temperature based on what is happening now. It could be fun to introduce a scenario like pretend we are scientist trying to predict the temperature for next years school tour. I would model how to use it and then we would make predictions altogether. In groups, children can explore the tool with different scenarios eg what happens if there is a lot of rain.Finally I would encourage positive action and ask what can you do to make a change.
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Hi Ciara,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this module. I think the KWL is a great starting point as the pupils may have so much knowledge on climate change but also could have misconceptions, these could be addressed through the Paxi video.
I like your idea to give the pupils a specific scenario when using the Teal tool initially, it will give them a focus initially and they could then explore themselves. I also like how you want to encourage positive action from the pupils.
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Module 2 Assignment:
I found Activity 3- Climate Reporters an interesting, novel exercise for students to complete. Firstly, it draws children’s attention to the detrimental effects of human activity on the earth’s atmosphere and ultimately, climate change. This acts as a nice introduction for future lessons in which we consider our actions and how to make changes to reduce our carbon footprint.
Before playing the Paxi video, I would elicit children’s prior knowledge and make a mindmap on the whiteboard with key words/ facts on the topic. I might even invite older students to make a concept map/ KWL chart which could be revisited after the lesson.
I like the way the activity is presented and includes the use of ICT to explore projections of climate variables across the world. This would stimulate students’ interests as each group could be given a different country to investigate or perhaps their home country and compare these with others.
Perhaps for a younger class, I might just play the video, followed by a discussion and teacher modelling of the Teal tool on the Interactive Whiteboard as I fear some students may be too young to navigate the technology. However, senior classes would be delighted to engage in group iPad work to analyse these findings. -
Children today are very aware of climate change, in fact are more aware than a lot of adults. Greta Thunberg has motivated children all over the world to take action and challenge adults , politicians and governments to take action. In our school awareness of climate change has been included every year as a priority in all classes and our Student Council also includes it as a priority in their objectives. The Paxi Video on greenhouse effect is a lovely simple child friendly way of explaining the impact of fossil fuels , deforestation, urbanisation, and rearing cattle on our planet and how these are leading to increased levels of CO2 and thus increasing the planets temperature. I really love that the Paxi video explains to children how they can help in a simple way by turning of lights and devices, unplugging things and of course recycling. This empowers children to feel that they can do something to help our planet. This is very important as there are a lot of videos on social media and documentaries on netflix etc that children are watching like David Attenboroughs documentaries that are frightening children as they show explicitly that we are burning up the planet and show explicit videos that upset children. We must teach children in a way appropriate to their age level and empower them on how they can help in their own little way. The temperature predictor tool was excellent and I feel children would be very interested in predicting temperature increases especially where they live and comparing with other places.
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“Activity 3 – Climate Reporters” is an interesting and novel exercise for students. It effectively draws children’s attention to the harmful effects of human activities on the earth’s atmosphere, leading to climate change. This serves as a great introduction for future lessons where students can reflect on their actions and explore ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Before showing the Paxi video, I would start by eliciting students’ prior knowledge and creating a mind map on the whiteboard with key words and facts about the topic. For older students, I might have them create a concept map or a KWL chart, which we could revisit after the lesson.
The activity could also incorporate the use of ICT to explore climate projections across different regions of the world. This would capture students’ interest, especially if each group were assigned a different country to investigate, including their own, and then compare the findings with others.
For a younger class, I might simplify the task by just playing the video, followed by a discussion and a demonstration of the Teal tool on the Interactive Whiteboard, as some students may be too young to navigate the technology independently. However, senior classes would likely enjoy engaging in group work on iPads to analyze the findings.
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Hi Caroline,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module. It is important to elicit the prior knowledge of the pupils and I like the idea of a concept map. In my own class, we create a concept map and at the end of the lesson we revisit it with a different colour pen to add to our learning.I think that senior classes would enjoy using the Teal tool as you have mentioned and that for middle classes and younger it might be easier to show them the resource on the board.
I hope you enjoy the course.
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I loved the video Paxi! I will 100% be showing this to my pupils this year. I loved how the greenhouse effect was explained and how they nearly used the Goldilocks phrase: not too hot and not too cold. I feel like the younger children will love this and help them understand a complex topic. What I liked most is that they gave examples at the end to show children what they themselves can do to help with the problem of too many gases being produced by humans.
I liked using the tool for predicting future temperatures but too be honest I felt that I would not use this in my 2nd class. However, I went and looked at an activity they recommended for younger children called ‘Why do we need the greenhouse effect on Earth’ and I will be using this! The simplicity of using actual jars and recording the temperatures is brilliant! The experiment is simple to do and the results can be see after a few minutes. To be honest, I wish I had see things like this when I was a child as I feel that this topic is very complex and lots of people do not understand it at all. Ido believe that we need to ensure that younger children are being introduced to this area young but that we do so that does not terrify them.
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Activity 3 is a very practical lesson that I would use in the classroom. To begin, I would elicit prior knowledge from the children through questioning on what they already know about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. I would then go on to show the Paxi video to the children. The video is very informative and enjoyable, however I would use it with the middle classes rather than 6th class. Following a discussion on the video, as a class we would then move onto the ‘Teal’ simulation tool. I would first get it up on the interactive whiteboard and as a whole class we would manipulate the variables to see the impact it would have on temperature predictions. I would then enable the children to use the simulation tool on i-pads in small groups/ pairs to further their engagement with it. I think that this tool is a very engaging way for children to come to realise the impact that greenhouse gases and climate change has on not only Ireland, but in countries all over the world.
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I totally agree with you Grainne in eliciting prior knowledge from the children on the topic before beginning any teaching. This is always valuable and children learn so much in the process. Also it is a lovely idea to allow the children to use the TEAL resource on Ipads in small groups. This makes their learning more exploratory, engaging and rewarding as a whole.
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Activity 3, which involves predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, sounds incredibly engaging for students. To implement this lesson in my class, I would begin by showing the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. Before getting the students using the digital tool, I would support their data literacy skills by encouraging them to gather their own data like in Module 1. Then I would pose a problem that could only be answered by Teel Tool website. I would guide students through the simulation tool, allowing them to manipulate variables and observe their impact on temperature predictions. I think for this website children would need to be supported with their data literacy first to really engage and understand that the data is implying. To extend this further I would ask the students to figure out what had the biggest impact on Ireland over the years, temperature, precipitation, wind, solar radiation, co2 and which do they think is going to be the second most of a problem in the future.
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I would begin with the Paxi video to spark discussion and use a Kahoot or Blooket quiz to gauge prior knowledge. Students would then work in groups to research climate predictions using iPads. We’d watch a video on carbon emission scenarios and use the C3S Climate & Energy Education Demonstrator to calculate average temperatures, integrating nicely with the new maths curriculum. Students would reflect on the gathered information and brainstorm ideas to combat climate change locally. This adaptable method would work for different age groups and abilities, with outcomes varying by lesson length. It would help enhance research skills, critical thinking, and tech engagement while tackling climate change. Adding hands-on activities or simulations could further enrich the lesson.
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Hi Padraic,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course! Adding Kahoot or other quiz apps to the activity is a superb way to elicit prior knowledge and to get a baseline of learners’ understanding of climate change as you delve into the topic.
There is a growing wealth of resources available for tackling climate change, and one that I think is worth checking out is from the Climate Ambassador programme run by an Taisce. What I like about it is the Irish context that it provides, and accessible facts and figures. Here is the link: https://climateambassador.ie/resources/
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I believe the Paxi video would be great at the beginning of the lesson. It is a fun and colourful video and be very engaging for the pupils. Group work is key for this lesson as there are many levels and it also works well for differentiation. Each group would be given their own iPads and encouraged to conduct their own research too. Pupils would then predict their own future temperatures before moving onto the teal simulation tool. Pupils could then explore the tool and manipulate any variables and see the impact that they can have on our climate. There are plenty of opportunities for further discussions on the impacts it can have and also what can be done to combat.
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As a teacher in a junior school, I think using the Paxi video to introduce our students to the topic of Greenhouse Effect is excellent. This video is very clear, uses engaging illustrations and will be a really useful tool in beginning discussions about the greenhouse effect and climate change. I am also very impressed with the Teal tool as a very visual and very effective tool to be used in these lessons. With students so young, I think we will engage with this together as a class, and be more focused on the variations of colour to show change over time, rather than on data readings. This too will be a valuable learning experience for the students. Watching projected readings is fascinating, and should lead nicely to discussions on how each of us can have actions that can change not only what is happening now in the world, but into the future as well.
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Hi Jane,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course! I can see you have put thought into how to make this work with your young learners, and Paxi videos are a great place to start. They are easy, accessible, and engaging. As a technical tool, I think working as a class is better for juniors, and focusing on colours rather than numbers is a practical way to make it accessible.
For young learners, it is essential to focus on how we can all care for the environment, and programmes like the Green Schools are a great place to start, as well as projects to reduce energy usage in the school. This activity can be a terrific starting point for conversations about making changes.
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I think that activity 3 is a very useful and engaging activity. The children would be working in groups for this activity. I would begin the lesson by using the Paxi video as a stimulus. At the end of the video, I would ascertain the children’s understanding of what they have seen through a quick question and answer session. Following this, I would put forward an open question related to what might happen in the future. Then I would introduce the children to the TEAL tool using the interactive whiteboard. Through guidance from class teacher, I would encourage the children to manipulate the various variables in the program, keeping in mind the open question from earlier. In their groups or as pairs, children will use their ipads/chromebooks to manipulate and investigate the TEAL tool. Hands-on learning, group work and co-operative work are all important elements of STEM learning. I believe this activity would enable every child regardless of ability to engage and learn.
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Hi Séamus,
Thank you for your post, and welcome to the course!
You have made a thoughtful plan for how to make this activity work in the classroom, with consideration for understanding where the learners are at in terms of background knowledge on the topic.
For anyone conducting this activity, and especially for the first time, it is important for both learners and teachers to reflect after it is carried out on what went well and what could be improved upon. Did I allow enough time for each stage? Would I ask different questions, etc.
It is also a great starting point for looking at the local community and seeing changes underway that are climate-positive. Are there more solar panels in the area? How can the school become more environmentally friendly?
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I thought activity 3 was a valuable educational tool for fostering understanding of climate change dynamics among students. By watching the video, students grasp the role of greenhouse gases in global warming and its potential consequences on future temperatures. To enhance this activity in my classroom, I would integrate hands-on components where students use simulations or climate modeling tools to predict future temperature scenarios based on different emission scenarios. This practical application helps students connect theoretical knowledge to real-world implications, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. I would als provide opportunities for students to present their findings or propose solutions based on their predictions can encourage collaborative learning and empower them to take proactive roles in tackling environmental challenges.
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I like how Activity 3 uses a video to teach about greenhouse gases and global warming. Integrating climate modeling tools for predicting future scenarios is a great idea to connect theory with real-world implications. Allowing students to present their findings and propose solutions enhances collaborative learning and empowers them to tackle environmental issues actively.
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Using the Paxi video to start this lesson on climate change for young children engages their attention and simplifies complex concepts through visuals and storytelling. This video can illustrate the impact of climate change in relatable and age-appropriate ways, making abstract ideas more concrete. They can also evoke emotional responses, fostering empathy and a personal connection to the topic. Additionally, this video provides a common reference point for all students, stimulating discussion and encouraging questions. This multimedia approach caters to various learning styles, enhancing comprehension and retention while sparking curiosity and interest in environmental issues. This video will prompt discussion and will encourage use of whiteboards for peer assessment.
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I agree that using videos to explain climate change to young children is an effective strategy. By breaking down complex ideas into relatable visuals and stories, these videos help make abstract concepts more tangible. They can also evoke emotional responses, fostering empathy and a personal connection to the issue. Additionally, having a shared video as a reference point encourages discussion, questions, and active engagement. This multimedia approach supports various learning styles, improves understanding and stimulates curiosity.
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After looking at lesson 3 initially I thought it seemed to be a very complicated lesson and that it would take a lot of explaining and teacher input and this could impact on the effectiveness of the lesson as it does not lend itself to self-discovery or inquiry based learning. What made me feel better was the fact that the lesson was accompanied by a teachers sheet which gives a step by step guide of what needs to be done. This lesson lends itself well for integration and if I was to use it in my classroom I would try to incorporate Visual Arts in some way in the form of a poster to show what humans can do to lessen the impacts of climate change.
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I would start this lesson with the PAXI video as a hook to engage all the children and give them relevant background information that they need to know before completing the rest of the activities. We could then have a whole class discussion about what they learned from the video and what we can go to fix the greenhouse gas situation. I would then introduce the children to the TEAL tool and show them how to use it. I think the tool at the bottom where you can see how the temperature changes in each country in the world between 1950 and 2023 is especially effective where we can virtually see no blue countries anymore. I would divide the children into groups and it could be linked with geography where they have to research a different county and have to include the temperature changes over the years and the projected temperature changes based on the different scenarios.
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Hi Rebecca,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course! The Paxi video is an excellent introduction to this topic, and there are many other great options online to prompt this activity and further learning.
There is so much that can be done at all levels to help improve the greenhouse gas situation, and it begins with learning about the issue. Armed with the how and why, learners will have a lot to contribute regarding how to solve it, and every small, practical example has a significant impact when done at scale.
RTE News are also an excellent source for climate news, with a climate tab in their app. While some stories may trigger anxiety and should not be shared, others offer hope in terms of the innovations and solutions currently being developed at a national level.
This activity that really shows the impact and importance of accurate data collection and its usefulness in creating models from which we can all learn so much! A great lead into geography projects, energy saving in the school, or monitoring temperature and setting up a weather station!
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Rebecca I think your idea of linking this lesson to Geography in looking at different countries and monitoring their story in terms of climate change would be really interesting, particularly for senior classes. This is something that could be tracked throughout a whole school year and would also lend itself to integration with the new Maths curriculum.
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Activity 3: Climate Reporters is an excellent exercise for helping pupils understand future climate scenarios and their impacts on temperatures. The activity is well-structured and engages students in critical thinking and group collaboration.
Before starting the activity, I would ensure my students have a solid understanding of greenhouse gases. Younger pupils could watch Paxi’s video on the greenhouse effect, which is a great way to introduce the topic. We would then discuss the differences between natural and human-caused greenhouse effects.
Dividing the class into groups to explore different climate scenarios is a brilliant idea. Using the Teal Climate Data Tool, students can analyze projections for low, medium, and high greenhouse gas emissions. This hands-on approach will help them grasp how future temperature increases could impact their lives.
After analyzing the data, each group can brainstorm ways to lessen the effects of climate change in our area and present their ideas to the class. This encourages practical thinking and public speaking skills.
One improvement to the resource could be to include more interactive elements, like simulations or games, to make the learning process even more engaging for students. Overall, this activity is a valuable addition to any climate education curriculum.
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Hi Eric,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course!You have given considerable thought to running this activity and touching on important points, including ensuring learners have a solid grasp of what greenhouse gases mean. This will be new vocabulary for many, and a poster featuring new STEM terms will help the learners remember this over time.
It is an excellent opportunity to present ideas on how to reduce impact in the area but also see what is already underway-there are a lot of positive changes, and this is important to highlight in terms of our rapidly changing energy supply here in Ireland, more cycle lanes, solar-powered homes, etc.
You make a good point about games; they are a great motivator when learning! One option could be to make it a race to see who can retrieve a certain climate scenario first, etc., to add a competitive element once everyone is confident in using the tools.
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Activity 3: Climate reporters. This is an excellent resource and really allows the children to understand the effects of climate on their future lives. The ‘Paxi video about greenhouse effect’ is very informative and the animation would be attractive to the pupils and would be a great place to start the lesson. It gives them the knowledge they need about greenhouse gases that they will need to effectively do the activity. Getting the children to work in groups is another aspect to the activity that I like and, as other participants have mentioned getting the children to use the Ipad’s would certainly help to keep the boys engaged.
I found the TEAL demonstrator tool very interesting but also a little tricky. I would need to simplify it before introducing with my class I feel. I like that you can compare and contrast the data with other countries. This would be a fun thing to do in the class especially with so many pupils in my school coming from all over the world. Overall, another excellent resource that will be used in some way in my class next year. -
Climate Reporters Activity 3 is a lovely activity for the senior classes. It is an example of inquiry based learning. As a pre-cursor to the lesson, I would recommend a lesson firstly on the specific technical language used e.g. Greenhouse Effect, Palaeoclimatologists, Global Warming. The videos linked in Module 2 for explaining Greenhouse Effect using the Paxi Video and global warming could be used also to explain in more detail before the activity. In this activity the children are required to investigate Climate scenarios and the increase of temperature causing climate change. Also, the children are to write predictions for 2050.
The TEAL tool is an amazing resource allowing a look at temperature, precipitation, wind etc over timelapse and predicting into future. Using this tool correctly may need some guidance initially, it took me a little time to understand the readings and choosing countries. I feel my class would enjoy exploring different countries and comparing. It would work well as a group project where the children choose different climates.
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Hi Ciara,
I completely agree that pre-teaching key vocabulary and technical language, such as Greenhouse Effect, Palaeoclimatologists, and Global Warming, is essential when covering this topic. This foundation will undoubtedly enhance students’ understanding and engagement in activities. Utilizing the Paxi Video and other resources from Module 2 is a great strategy to solidify these concepts. You are correct the TEAL tool and the group project idea will greatly enrich the children’s learning experience and encourage discussion and collaboration within the class.
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For activity 3, Climate Reporters, I like the group work approach. I think pupils would find this so engaging and would love the research aspect of it, maybe using TEAL or other tools. We use Chromebooks a lot in our school and this would be a perfect activity.
I would start with a discussion around climate to elicit prior knowledge. I feel that many pupils have such a grasp of climate-related issues already and so this would be an opportunity for those pupils to contribute so much at the early stage of the lesson. The Paxi video would explain greenhouse gases in a very accessible way. The visualisations and diagrams would really aid understanding.
An aspect of the above that I feel would be extremely important is for pupils to feel they and their families and communities can actually do something to help, even simple things like turning off, unplugging, recycling, walking, etc. There is a danger of some pupils feeling hopeless and anxious about climate change. I have seen this in my classes previously and I have had parents mention their child’s anxiety to me. It is important to have pupils informed, but also crucial for them to feel there is some hope.
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Activity 3: Climate reporters and predicting temperature change is a great activity for pupils. There is a lot to explore in this topic. I really enjoyed this activity and I thought that the Paxi video was great. It was very child friendly and a fun way for children to learn about greenhouse gases. I would play this video for my class and then hold a classroom discussion with emphasis on how us humans are influencing climate change. I would divide pupils into groups and ask them to come up with 3 changes that we could make to tackle climate change. I would use the temperature predictor tool to show them how temperatures vary depending on where we life and the factors that are considered when predicting future temperatures. I would ask the children to use the simulation tool on i-pads in small groups for them to see the impact on climate change throughout the world.
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Activity 3 is a very useful practical lesson that I could use in my classroom. As I will be teaching such a young class level, the majority of this activity would be completely orally and collaboratively. I would elicit prior knowledge from the children around the topic of climate change and explain that they are going to be climate reporters. This would link well with Aistear and the children could report on the climate through role play. I would also recall temperature with the children and remind them of how to use the thermometer and look at the influence that this has on climate. As the children can’t yet write a report (Junior Infants), they can instead draw their answers and discuss these within their small group settings and then report their answers back to the teacher. Although it would need to be altered a lot to suit my class, I do think this is a good activity to elicit information from the children and check for understanding.
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Hello Declan,
Welcome to the course, and thanks for the post!
I can see you have given considerable thought to how to engage learners in your junior class in this activity.
Teal is a useful tool and can be made as simple or as complex as needed to match the level of the students, with guidance from the teacher.
For such a young class, a teacher-led activity simply showing the solar radiation(sun icon) and how the planet is getting warmer over time in a given location, with a focus on the changing colours over the time span of 1950 to now could be more than enough, while putting a greater focus on the Paxi video resources.Drawings, as you mentioned, are also a great way for learners to record information and demonstrate understanding.
Best of luck with this lesson in the coming academic year!
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Activity 3 is a very practical, engaging activity that is also an excellent tool in the assessment of learning. I enjoyed watching the video and know that my class would also find this good. The children are fascinated by the climate and this activity gives them the opportunity to be a climate reporter which I know they will love. I would begin the lesson by getting the children to ‘Think, Pair, Share’ to elicit their prior knowledge. I would then discuss the activity with the children and allow them to complete this in small groups as a collaborative activity. The children could use the school iPads to look up further information on climate that they think would be relevant to their report and this inclusion of technology in the lesson will enhance their engagement levels.
I find that there is quite a lot of reading and writing involved in this activity which I would change slightly to meet the needs of my children, but it is an excellent, engaging activity for the children to complete.
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I found the ESA video on The Greenhouse Effect very beneficial, and I think the students in my classroom will learn a lot from it. Paxi the space explorer character is child friendly and will keep their interest and attention throughout the video. The visuals of the earth’s atmosphere and throughout the video are of a very high standard, very clear and repetitive which will ensure the understanding and the retention of the very important content of the video in relation to the Greenhouse effect. The comparison between the actual greenhouse with plants is clear and has engaging visuals with good sound effects. Th recap at the end of the video is excellent as it id directly linked to the worksheet for the children. this consistence of visuals helps to consolidate learning. I found the TEAL tool for predicting future temperatures very interesting. Kt took ma a while to navigate my way around the site and took time for me to get familiar with the tool. I think the children would also find this tool fascinating. Watching the videos help enhance my understand of how the tool works. I like that you can specify which timeframe of data to collect e.g. summer months in a specific country and they print out the findings. This would be a great tool for project work, or presentations are the visuals are very clear and professional. I did love the climate reporter’s activity; however, I feel that my class would need a lot of support to complete this activity. I would like if there was a filled in example of the exercise on a certain country as an example and explanations with visuals as to how the findings were researched. A lot of skills are used during this exercise including mathematical equations. Saying this I do feel it would be a very beneficial and exciting activity to complete within the classroom.
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I found Activity 3 in the Weather and Climate resource from Module 1 to be very engaging and educational. Watching the Paxi video on greenhouse gases provided a clear and engaging introduction to the topic, making it accessible for 4th class students. The tool for predicting future temperatures is a fantastic interactive component that allows students to visualize the impact of greenhouse gases on global temperatures.
To use this activity with my 4th class students, I would start by showing the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. Following this, I would guide students through using the temperature prediction tool, allowing them to explore different scenarios and understand the long-term effects of greenhouse gas emissions. This hands-on approach would help them grasp complex concepts through visualization and interaction.
To enhance the activity, I would incorporate a group discussion where students can share their predictions and reflect on the results. Additionally, integrating a hands-on experiment to demonstrate the greenhouse effect in a simple, tangible way could further solidify their understanding. For instance, using jars, thermometers, and heat lamps to show how heat is trapped could make the learning experience more comprehensive.
Overall, Activity 3 is a valuable resource that effectively combines video content and interactive tools to teach about greenhouse gases and climate change, and with a few added elements, it could be even more impactful for young learners.
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Hi Conor,
I agree with you, 4th class is a great level to be working on this topic. I work in an infant school and like you I would start by showing the paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. I agree that activity 3 is a valuable resource but with a few added elements it could be more impactful for young learners.
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Hi Conor,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course!
I can see you have put thought into running this lesson with your 4th-class learners, and Paxi is certainly a great introduction to the topic!Predictions are an important part of an investigation, and can see you put a strong emphasis on this through group discussions. A hands on example is a great way to bring this topic to life. Venus is a great example of the impact of greenhouse gases that could be added to the discussion.
For Irish climate-based information, I recommend the Climate Ambassador site; it has a nice section on climate change in Ireland and future predictions. Read more here: Climate Change – Climate Ambassador
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I work with younger learners and I think that the Paxi video on greenhouse gases is an excellent resource to use in the classroom. The visuals are clear and uncomplicated and the voiceover would really appeal to younger learners with its friendly and upbeat tone. The video keeps you watching and wanting to learn. I also enjoyed the recap at the end to summarise the main points in the video.
I enjoyed reading about activity 3 and I can see this being extremely successful in older classes. I loved the introduction when we discuss the greenhouse effect and some points from the video we would have recently watched.
I feel that my children would struggle a little to understand the measurements and reading the thermometers although I think they would enjoy the experiment so I would adapt it to suit their needs and give them a greater understanding of why the greenhouse effect is important.
The caretaker has a greenhouse in the school grounds so a little visit may be very more realistic to the children and they may understand the greenhouse effect a little more easily.-
Michelle I agree that the Paxi video would be an excellent resource in the classroom and especially in the older classes. I also enjoyed the positive tone to the video and encourages the children to be involved and active in making a change. Sometimes the information provided on the news about climate change can be very negative and doom and gloom, its good to see a video promoting active change makers.
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Michelle I agree that the Paxi video would be an excellent resource in the classroom and especially in the older classes. I also enjoyed the positive tone to the video and how it encourages the children to be involved and active in making a change. Sometimes the information provided on the news about climate change can be very negative and doom and gloom, its good to see a video promoting active change makers.
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The Paxi Video from this module all about the Greenhouse Effect was excellent. It explained the concept so clearly, used vivid imagery and perfectly pitched content for primary school children. The video was really engaging and I loved the summary points to conclude – a really nice recap. It was also so positive and relayed the correct message as in “You can make a difference”. I loved the way it continued to list ways each and every one of us can action on reducing the greenhouse effect. The tool for predicting future temperature across the globe was also very engaging. I think the senior classes in particular would understand this interactive tool the most and it really allows children to visualise the impact the greenhouse gases have globally.
To use these resources, I personally would find out what the class know about the “Greenhouse Effect” as in their previous knowledge – just to gauge their understanding. I might even put the class into groups to do a K,W,L on chart paper. Then I would show the Paxi video which explains the concept in such a fantastically engaging way. The class should open up discussion afterwards. Additionally, integrating one of the hands-on experiment to demonstrate the greenhouse effect in a simple way could further solidify their understanding. For instance, using jars, thermometers, and heat lamps to show how heat is trapped could make the learning experience more comprehensive. Children could also respond to this activity by drawing a picture/diagram to show the positive and negative effects of Greenhouse Effect. Overall, I really feel that this activity is practical, hands on, interactive and engaging for pupils. I will definitely use this resource next year.
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The Paxi Video from this module all about the Greenhouse Effect was excellent. It explained the concept so clearly, used vivid imagery and perfectly pitched content for primary school children. The video was really engaging and I loved the summary points to conclude – a really nice recap. It was also so positive and relayed the correct message as in “You can make a difference”. I loved the way it continued to list ways each and every one of us can action on reducing the greenhouse effect. The tool for predicting future temperature across the globe was also very engaging. I think the senior classes in particular would understand this interactive tool the most and it really allows children to visualise the impact the greenhouse gases have globally.
To use these resources, I personally would find out what the class know about the “Greenhouse Effect” as in their previous knowledge – just to gauge their understanding. I might even put the class into groups to do a K,W,L on chart paper. Then I would show the Paxi video which explains the concept in such a fantastically engaging way. The class should open up discussion afterwards. Additionally, integrating one of the hands on experiments would further demonstrate the greenhouse effect. This would certainly consolidate their learning. Children could also respond to this activity by drawing a picture/diagram to show the positive and negative effects of Greenhouse Effect. Overall, I really feel that this activity is practical, hands on, interactive and engaging for pupils. I will definitely use this resource next year.
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To incorporate Activity 3, which involves predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, into my class, I would follow a structured yet engaging approach to ensure that students not only understand the scientific concepts but also appreciate the ethical and practical implications of climate change.
Introduction and Brainstorming
I would begin the lesson with a brainstorming session to gauge my students’ prior knowledge about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. This initial discussion would help identify any misconceptions and tailor the lesson to their current understanding. I would also introduce key vocabulary, allowing students to familiarize themselves with terms they will encounter throughout the activity.
Attention Grabber Starter: Paxi Video
The next step would involve showing the Paxi video, which has a clear and engaging explanation of the greenhouse effect using vivid imagery. This video would serve as a visual and relatable introduction to the topic, making the complex concept of greenhouse gases more accessible to all students in my class regardless of their preferred learning style. The positive outlook presented at the end of the video would also inspire students to think about actionable steps they could take to mitigate climate change.
Hands-on Simulation
Following the video, I would introduce the temperature prediction simulation tool. I would ask the children in my class to first make their own predictions about future temperatures to engage their critical thinking skills. Then, they would use the tool to manipulate variables, greenhouse gas emissions and observe the impact on temperature predictions. This hands-on approach would deepen their understanding of how different factors contribute to climate change.
Group Work and Research
To facilitate differentiated learning and collaboration, I would divide the class into groups, providing each group with a laptop. They would be encouraged to conduct their own research on climate change, allowing them to explore the topic from various angles. Group work would also enable the children in my class to share ideas and learn from each other, fostering a collaborative learning environment. They could then propose practical solutions based on their findings, encouraging them to think critically about how individuals, families, and the school could implement practical changes to tackle climate change. These suggestions could be presented and shared at green school meetings or with other classes, promoting school-wide dialogue on climate action.
Improvement
While the activity would work successfully with my 5th class pupils I feel it could be further enhanced by having an interactive elements such as quizzes or games related to climate change perhaps with the help of Paxi to continue making the learning process engaging for the children.
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Activity 3, Climate Reporters, in the Weather and Climate resource offers an engaging approach to teaching climate change. The Paxi video effectively explains greenhouse gases, making the concept accessible to pupils. Using the C3S Climate & Energy Education Demonstrator tool, they can predict future temperatures based on real climate data.
In my class, I would begin with a discussion about the Paxi video, then guide pupils through the online tool to explore various climate scenarios and predict temperatures for 2050. Pupils would then write climate reports based on their findings. To ensure inclusivity, I would offer simplified explanations and additional support for less able pupils, while providing more complex data analysis tasks for advanced learners.
To improve the activity, I suggest incorporating hands-on projects, such as creating simple greenhouse effect models, and using local climate data to make the exercise more relevant and engaging for pupils. Overall, this activity fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, making it a valuable addition to the curriculum.
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I found this module very informative. I found myself learning so much and enjoyed looking at the videos as I am a visual learners and this helped me to fully understand concepts such as the greenhouse effects. The PAXI video was very informative and very relatable for children . It can often be difficult to make the link between our own day to day activities and the impact on the environment eg. Leaving the screens turned on when know on is watching. I liked also how it explained how the greenhouse effect is what makes life possible on earth and then went onto explain that human activity is what has increased greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, making the effect of the greenhouse effect too powerful, which has in turn increased temperatures on Earth. I have found this concept difficult to teach in the past. The PAXI video really would help children to understand the WHY humans need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that they produce.
The TEAL tool was a very simple yet effective tool to explore different climate variables as well as carbon emissions for the past 40 years. This would be a great way to link learning about the climate in with maths as children study the different data.
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Susan, I really like the idea of giving the opportunity to predict temperatures in the future. This idea made me think of doing a classroom capsule. Children could do some research on the current climate and record their findings. Then compile their predictions for the same questions and then put both into a capsule that could be buried on the school grounds.
It would be such an exciting school activity and would be great to refer to over coming years to see how climate trends are tracking and if the predictions are looking to be correct or not.
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Activity 3: This is a very interesting lesson. If I was using this with my class I would first elicit any prior knowledge the pupils have of their understanding of climate change. I would discuss how pupils think Ireland has changes over the last 60 years, in terms of industry farming etc. then I would Watch the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and discuss the it in relation to what we had just discussed.
Following this I would use the tool for predicting future temperatures and I would look at for example the carbon dioxide emissions in Ireland in 1960 (11.17) and track how it has changed over the years until now. By 2021 the carbon dioxide emissions had increased to 37.55, which is over treble the emissions over 60 years. considering we are a small country its frightening, and bigger countries will have even larger increases. it is a very effective tool -
After watching the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and using the tool to predict future temperatures, I feel Activity 3 – Climate Reporters would be highly engaging and purposeful for my 5th class students. The Paxi video does an excellent job of explaining complex concepts in a way that’s easy for young students to understand, making it a great introduction to the topic.
Using the tealtool.earth tool allows students to visualize how greenhouse gases impact future temperatures. This hands-on approach not only makes the learning experience interactive but also helps students grasp the real-world implications of climate change.
I would plan to incorporate a group discussion where students can share their predictions and reflect on what they learned. Including a creative component, such as having students design posters or presentations about their climate predictions, can also enhance their engagement and understanding.
Overall, Activity 3 is a fantastic way to deepen students’ knowledge about climate change and foster their analytical and presentation skills.
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I enjoyed Module 2 on Climate Change. Children are quite familiar with the concept of climate change, but I’ve found over the years that their understanding of the causes of climate change can be mixed. The Paxi video was absolutely excellent. It was very child-centred with the animations and language, but the information was very accurate. There were also multiple opportunities to expand and develop on what was there. For example, there was reference made to greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide being the most widely known. However, children could explore other gases that are in the atmosphere and how the ozone layer works, etc.
The Teal Tool from the WEMC is interesting. I particularly like the way you can focus in on specific regions in the world. After spending a bit of time looking at the projections until 2100, I was struck by the projections for Southern Europe. Whilst projected increases in most countries are about 2 Degrees, in Italy and Spain and some North African countries, temperatures are projected to increase by 4 Degrees. Over the past few years, there have been more extreme heatwaves in Mediterranean countries, and it is a proven fact that many areas of Southern Spain are becoming more prone to desertification.
I became friends with a retired fire chief a couple of years ago who lives on the shores of Lake Ontario. He told me how up until a few years ago, the lake shore would freeze during winter. However, this stopped happening, and no longer does. His holiday cottage very nearly got lost in wildfires a couple of years ago. Last summer, just 3 weeks after I left the city of Kelowna, wildfires caused devastation and huge losses of property. Unfortunately, the empirical evidence and projections are stark. Right across California, Oregon, Washington state and most of Canada, millions of trees burn every year, releasing vast amounts of carbon into the air. Having experienced the vast scale of wildfires in these territories at first hand over the past couple of years has really brought home to me the real and immediate danger many of people on our planet live with right now.
I believe a blended approach of real stories, evidence, data, projections and scientific reports are the best approach to teaching children about climate change. It is for that reason I’m really enjoying this course.
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Aonghus, you gave us some real world experience. I really thought that struck a chord with me. In Ireland, because our weather is never really that severe, it might be hard for the children to actually comprehend how disastrous the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change can be. When I teach this to my class, I would consider showing the class a video, or reading a piece from someone in a different part of the world who’s life has really been affected by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
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I agree Aonghus, I thought that the Teal Tool was a real eye opener and an excellent visual that highlights the impact climate change is having on our world but in particular specific regions such as Spain and Greece . Many of our children would holiday in these countries so I think that they would really make connections with these particular regions and thus deepen their level of understanding. I also agree that real life accounts and stories are an excellent resource to use in the classroom too.
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I like Susan’s idea of making the series of lessons more practical. The reality is that my generation (born in the 80s) have had and continue to have very negative effects on the climate without really suffering from climate change to the extent that children born in this century will. We have enjoyed an era of cheap air travel, tourism, excessive burning of fossil fuels, etc without the moral or financial disincentive. The students of today will bear the emotional and financial cost of climate change. It is in their interests, and therefore our responsibility as educators, to guide them in the right direction.
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Activity 3
The Paxi video about the Greenhouse Effect from module 2 would act as a great trigger or stimulation for discussion and problem solving with the class.
I liked the way the message is relayed in a positive way and encourages the children to be the ones to make the difference.
The video would lead very easily into some Brainstorming activities and allows the children to become active problem solvers.
I feel that the TEAL tool lends itself well to This topic and allows for engaging exploring of different climate data for the children.
Overall this is a very child friendly and engaging approach to teaching the children about Climate Change and allowing them to become Climate Reporters allows for the deepening of their knowledge in a meaningful way. -
Activity 3:
This is a very hands-on and engaging lesson that I will definitely make use of with my fourth class next year. At the lesson introduction stage, I will split the children into mixed ability groups and, using whiteboards, I will give the children time to record everything they know about weather and climate. I will record what each group has noted as it will allow me to elicit their prior knowledge. The Paxi video is well suited for my class, and is very informative for the children. Each group would record what they learned during the video, before moving on to the Teel Tool website. I would demonstrate how to use the tool before inviting the children the chance to engage with the tool in their groups. This will allow the children to explore how climate changes affect different areas and give them a more holistic learning experience on climate and weather.
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I think the students will really enjoy Activity 3. To begin the lesson, I would use the whiteboard to brainstorm with the children – what do we already know about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The children will already have a base knowledge on this from listening to the news or radio, or even adults in their lives. I would predict that they will know more than they think they do. Then, I would use Paxi’s video as a stimulus for further investigation. Paxi’s video is engaging and easy to understand. It was lots of fun graphics, which I know the children will enjoy. I would look at Teal’ simulation tool on the interactive white board as a whole class. Together, we would change the variables to see the impact it would have on temperature predictions. Then, I would put the children into pairs to use the school chrome books to continue to investigate with the app. By using this tool, children can really see the impact that greenhouse gases and climate change has.
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For me I think this activity would be a little bit difficult for my second class to do themselves. I would approach this as a whole class lesson and explore the tool on the white board and fill in the questions with the class. I am not sure if they could navigate that tool themselves. Depending on how that went and if they could use it, I would then let them use the ipads in their groups and do it as group work, this would still allow them to do the activities like presenting to the class.
Activity 3 would be a little more doable for second class but I would break it down into different activities and either let the class complete in groups or have one element as an individual task.
It would be nice if there were simplified ideas for younger classes for example, draw what your last birthday looked like and predict what it could look like, this would be a nice individual task to complete at second class level.
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Module 2
Activity 3: Climate reporters and predicting temperature change is an engaging and practical activity that I can see myself using in my classroom. First I would use the KWL strategy to find out the children’s prior/existing knowledge about climate change and also to highlight key vocabulary and familiarise the children with the meaning of the new vocabulary.
I would then use the Paxi video as a “trigger” to engage in more meaningful conversation and discussion about the effects of greenhouse gases. I would use the temperature predictor tool to show how temperatures increase where we live and to predict future temperatures.
As a groupwork activity , I would get the children to work in groups of 3 to approach this real world problem and think about ways in how we can change our actions in our school to help reduce the effects of greenhouse gasses (key focus would be on the engineering design process) -
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I would begin this lesson by finding out what the children already know about the Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change. This will enable me to accurately gage their actual understanding of this topic. Talk and discussion, questions and answers and simple quizzes are excellent ways of acquiring this information.
I would then develop our lesson with the use of the Paxi resource. I found this video to be an excellent teaching aid and believe it can be adequately used as an effective teaching tool with many class levels. This resource is packed with lots of information and I feel it would require a few lessons to fully absorb the content of this video, especially with the younger classes. I love that pupils get to meet the returning character Paxi the Space Expolrer and instantly become engaged in the lesson.
The matters of Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change are explained very well and in a way that is age appropriate from start to finish. Throughout the video many pause and discuss moments have been brilliantly created whereby children get to talk about their thoughts and opinions and we as educators get to subtly assess their understanding of the topic in question.
This is an excellently thought out teaching tool for pupils of all class levels and the fact that learning takes place in a natural, easy and fun way is a real bonus.
I was also very impressed with the Teal tool. It is a lovely visual resource that enables the children to move along their understanding in a very engaging and effective way.
I feel the focus on data might be a little too advanced for younger classes and so, would use the levels of colour as a mark of change over time.
I have no doubt that the above teaching resources will assist the children in acquiring a far greater understanding of the Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change and how we are impacting this each day. The video is an emotive aid that will ignite empathy for our planet and it’s people and spark ideas on how we can improve the world we live in for the generations who will follow in the future.
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Activitiy 3, is a very practical and relevant opportunity for the children to take repsonsibility for their own learning. Using a video as a stimulus also allows the children to reflect on their previous knowledge and understanding, and helps them to pose questions about the topic.
In my class, I would begin by introducing the term Greenhouse Gas and illicit the children’s previous related knowledge on the topic. I would show the children the Paxi Video and use a quiz on Kahoot (inspired by a previous poster) to gauge understanding from the video. I would divide him into mixed ability groups, and guide them through the process of using the stimulation tool. We would conclude the activity with a whole class discussion, and use mintimeter to gather their thoughts on the activity and what they’ve learned.-
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I really like this idea as well. Group work would mean that children could pool their ideas and knowledge together, and tools like kahoot are great for examining their knowledge in a fun and interactive way. I think the mintimeter would be great as a brainstorming activity at the beginning, and then repeated at the end, to show the new level of knowledge that the children now have. It could then be finished up with one last opportunity for children to suggest one question they still have on this topic, which could guide further learning on this topic in the future. These types of lessons would also make great projects, as the children could explore certain aspects of global warming and projects within the classroom to try help reduce the problem where possible.
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Hi Katie,
I think the idea of a Kahoot is super, having pupils create their own Kahoot, to peer assess would be fun too. Another I have seen used is Menti-Meter, to share ideas in class, it is very visual and would provide great opportunities to share ideas at the beginning of the lesson, perhaps on what each child took from the video or ways we can make small changes to address the concerns highlighted in the video too.
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Understanding Greenhouse Gases
What Are Greenhouse Gases?Imagine Earth has a big, cozy blanket around it. This blanket is made up of gases called greenhouse gases.
These gases include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor. They help keep our planet warm by trapping some of the Sun’s heat.
How Do Greenhouse Gases Work?The Sun sends energy to Earth in the form of light.
The Earth absorbs this energy and sends some of it back into space as heat.
Greenhouse gases trap some of this heat, keeping the Earth warm enough for us to live.
Why Are They Important? Without greenhouse gases, our planet would be too cold for plants, animals, and people.
But too many greenhouse gases can make Earth too hot, leading to climate change.Being a Climate Reporter
Who Is a Climate Reporter?A climate reporter studies the weather and climate and shares information about changes happening to our planet.
They help us understand why our world is getting warmer and what we can do to help.
What Does a Climate Reporter Do?They measure temperatures, observe weather patterns, and collect data.
They use this information to predict future weather and climate conditions.
Tools of a Climate Reporter:Thermometer: Measures temperature.
Rain Gauge: Measures how much it rains.
Anemometer: Measures wind speed. -
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I recently watched the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and found it to be a highly engaging and informative resource. The video effectively explains the concept of greenhouse gases and their impact on global temperatures in a way that is accessible to students. Using the tool for predicting future temperatures was an excellent follow-up activity, allowing students to apply what they learned from the video and see the potential future impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Activity 3, which involves predicting future temperatures, is particularly valuable as it encourages students to engage with real-world data and understand the long-term effects of current environmental practices. I plan to use this activity in my class to help students grasp the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One suggestion for improvement is to include a segment where students can compare different climate models and scenarios, offering a broader perspective on potential outcomes. Additionally, incorporating a hands-on experiment to demonstrate the greenhouse effect could further solidify their understanding.
Overall, I believe this activity is a powerful tool for raising awareness and fostering critical thinking about climate change among students. Integrating these resources into the curriculum can significantly enhance students’ comprehension and engagement with environmental science.
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Activity 3 is a very useful resource that I will definitely be using with my 3rd class children in the new school year. I would elicit any prior knowledge that the children may have on climate change by doing a spider diagram (brainstorm) or a KWL chart. I would ask the children some questions about climate change.
Before we watch the paxi video on greenhouse gases and would ask them to discuss what they think greenhouse gases are. We would then watch the video and I would ask the children to comment on ways to reduce greenhouse gases.
The Teal tool also caught my attention. It’s a fantastic visual aid that captures the students’ interest and effectively advances their understanding.
For younger students, though, the data focus might be a bit too challenging. I would suggest using the colour levels to illustrate changes over time. This approach simplifies the concept and makes it more accessible for them.
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I really like the paxi video and the TEAL tool. Firstly, I would start with a discussion about greenhouse gases where the children could first brainstorm how much they already know about this. This would include questions about why it is happening, why it is a problem and what we can do to try help prevent this. I would then watch the video and conduct a mini group quiz after. We would look at TEAL together using Ireland as the first example, I would then assign each group a country that they need to investigate the changes that have occurred from 1950 to 2024, only looking at the colours not the numbers. I would explain the meaning of the colours, and looking only at temperature first. I would then show the children in their groups how to watch the changes over this time and decide if they noticed anything, for example, has it gotten hotter, stayed the same or gotten cooler. We would do this quite briefly and then examine some counties together as a class, looking at the other aspects like solar radiation, rainfall and co2, and discuss what these changes might mean. As this tool is a bit complicated, I would focus on one country or area each time, and one aspect, to ensure that the children can understand the tool. Though the tool is a little complicated, it would be a very interesting way to show the changes that have occurred across the world in a short space of time.
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Hi Yvonne
Starting with a discussion on greenhouse gases is a good approach as it helps to identify not only what the children already know but also to identify any misconceptions. I find regularly when I start this discussion in classrooms that many children (and adults) believe that global warming is caused by holes in the ozone layer and a simple explanation of the role of greenhouse gases and tools like the Paxi video can help to correct this.
I love your approach to using the TEAL tool. As you said, it is quite complicated but shows some very useful information. You approach of picking one parameter at a time and just looking at the colours is a great way for the children to notice and discuss changes without being overwhelmed by too much data. Once they have looked at temperature in Ireland and understood what they are looking at, then they could move on to other aspects and other countries.
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Activity 3 in the Weather and Climate resource involves two main parts: watching a Paxi video on greenhouse gases and using a tool to predict future temperatures. This activity is beneficial because it simplifies complex scientific concepts about greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change. The Paxi video uses visuals and explanations that are easy for students to understand, making it accessible for all learners.
To enhance this activity, I would incorporate follow-up discussion questions to stimulate critical thinking and deeper understanding. For example, students could discuss how greenhouse gases affect their local environment or brainstorm ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their community. Additionally, relating the predicted future temperatures to current climate events or historical data could provide context and relevance.
Furthermore, I would encourage students to explore additional resources or conduct further research on greenhouse gases and climate change. This could include analyzing data trends or investigating scientific models used in predicting climate scenarios. By expanding on these aspects, students can develop a more comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between greenhouse gases and global temperatures, empowering them to make informed decisions about environmental issues in the future.
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The Teal Toll resource is a very interesting tool to use. Similarly to how this topic was introduced to us, I would introduce it to the children, using the Paxi video on Greenhouse gases. The video is interactive and engaging for children at all levels. I would then brainstorm the language that might be useful for the activity e.g. average, warmest, coolest, driest, wettest, temperature, precipitation. It could also be an activity of dictionary work to find the meaning of words needed. As a whole class, I would introduce the teal tool and it’s main features. If possible, each child/group of children would receive an internet source to be able to use the tool to complete the activity. One way I might encourage the children is to use different methods to represent the data. This could be based on data representation methods completed at an earlier stage, depending on the class level. Luckily, the ESA resource has many links to resources in the given activity.
I would encourage the children to come up with solutions on a local level and global level to see if any new changes can be made, as the world is ever changing.
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I would begin the lesson by showing the children the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, engaging in talk and discussion with the children. I would show pictures of common greenhouse gases like car exhaust, factory smoke and cow methane. We would then do a science experiment to explain how the green hose effect works. For this experiment I would place a container under a lamp and cover it with plastic wrap, this will represent greenhouse gases trapping the heat. I would then ask the children to predict the weather. I would give them a blank weather prediction chart for the week. They would then draw a symbol into each box which represented the weather. Each day we would compare their predictions with the weather.
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Activity 3, the predicting of future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, seems like a highly engaging and fun activity for children. To implement it in my class, I would begin by showing the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. Following this, I would guide students through the simulation tool, allowing them to manipulate variables and observe the impact on temperature predictions. This practical approach would help to deepen their understanding of climate change and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To further enhance this activity, I would incorporate real-world data and case studies where suitable, encouraging students to analyse trends and propose solutions. As a follow up activity I would provide opportunities for critical reflection and whole class discussion on the ethical implications of climate change actions.
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Activity 3 on weather and climate is a brilliant resource for helping pupils understand future climate scenarios and various impacts on temperatures. The activity is well-structured and engages students in critical thinking and group collaboration. Before starting the activity, I would ensure my students have a solid understanding of greenhouse gases, and similar related terms as sometimes the higher-tier vocabulary can exclude students with weaker literacy skills. Pupils could watch the Paxi video on the greenhouse effect, which is a fantastic stimulus to engage pupils in the lesson introduction. I would then assess prior knowledge by discussing the differences between natural and human-caused greenhouse effects.
The online Teal Climate Tool is great as it allows students to analyse projections for low, medium, and high greenhouse gas emissions so they can construct their own understanding of changes to the climate. After interpreting the data, the class could brainstorm in groups different ways to reduce the effects of climate change on a local, national, and international level, and feedback their ideas to the class. This will hopefully develop critical thinking and public speaking skills.
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The Paxi video is fantastic resources and one I feel I could get great use from in the Senior end of the school. Echoing some other contributors to the forum, I feel the video and it’s resources are quite content rich and would aim to develop the theme over a number of lessons.
Prior to showing the video, I would carry out a KWL introduction with the class. This will establish what the students already know and ultimately dispel some myths or misinformation that they may have. I do feel there is a lot of ‘fake news’ out there about climate change and greenhouse gasses.
Next, I would brainstorm words associated with the topic and make the students familiar with their meanings. I feel this will help the students get the most from the video resources.
Finally I would look at what ways that we can do our bit to reverse the damage being caused to the world. The temperature predictor would be a lovely resource for this. Students work best when faced with a real life problem and are scaffolded in their learning and enquiry to work towards a solution.
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I agree with you Brendan that there is a lot of fake news out there. A lot of the news headlines have scare tactics in them. Education is the key for children to find out more climate change nd to get the facts right. There are a lot of excellent resouces for example the ESA Weather vs Climate tool, The paxi video and the Teal resource too which help children to find out more. I enjoyed watching the David Attenborough video and this shows us what we can do to help the world.
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I worked in Dublin when smog was big issue and covid style masks were worn and when you blew your nose the tissue was black. I often start my lesson on greenhouse gases with this story and ask children to explain why this was happening and how we tried to rectify it. We then look at youtubes of cities in China today where the smog is so thick the sun is barely visible and why its happening. Now I have this activity to help students understand how greenhouse gases affect global temperatures. The Paxi video clearly and simply explains how these gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere causing the rise the temperatures. After the video, students can use the prediction tool to see how different levels of greenhouse gas emissions might change future temperatures.
It’s important that children understand that we can change the process back and identify how they are doing it in their daily lives.
Maybe an interactive quiz of some sort or a kahoot might improve the childrens experience as they love them.
I found Activity 3 to be engaging and educational for students. It combines visual learning with interactive data analysis, making complex concepts easier to understand.
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Hi Pat,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this module. Having experienced the smog in Dublin and sharing this with your class would engage them and provide for lots of discussion. Making links with videos of smog in China would also engage them. A friend of mine was teaching in Shanghai and there were days when they couldn’t let children out at break time due to the poor air quality. I shared this with my class and it led to lots of discussion and connections with their own knowledge of greenhouse gases. Discussions like these can also provide children with the opportunity to reflect on what they know and make connections with their own lives.
I hope you enjoy the course. There are many great resources across this course.
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I think activity three provides excellent resources to structure a climate change lesson around. I think the paxi video is a great example of how to make educational videos for kids, suitable for a fairly broad age range, informative but not overly detailed or wordy. This could be paired with an activity measuring temperatures inside and outside homemade greenhouses (using clear plastic or old lunchboxes).
The Teal tool is a fantastic resource which I will definitely be incorporating next year. It is great for showing real world measurable changes in climate factors compared to ones that aren’t affected as much by human activity. It also can be a hopeful tool when comparing the emissions and change in just a few decades and how quickly things can be turned around. This would pair well with any lesson on climate, with lessons on change over time in history and with measures in maths. With an older class you could ask them to research how places have changed over time like deserts or glaciers and link it back to the tool and its data. I think this tool would provide great opportunities for discovery learning as it doesn’t make any assumptions or links it just provides data which would give ample chances for students to reach their own conclusions.
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Activity 3 – Climate Reporters is an excellent way to deepen students’ understanding of climate change. Starting with the Paxi video on the greenhouse effect is a great way to engage younger students and introduce the topic. Discussing the difference between natural and anthropogenic greenhouse gases sets a solid foundation for the activity.
Using the C35 Climate & Energy Education Demonstrator to explore different climate scenarios and predict future temperatures is an interactive and educational experience. It helps students understand how scientists use data and models to forecast climate conditions.
To use this activity in my class, I would divide students into groups to work on different emission scenarios. They would calculate monthly average temperatures and discuss how temperature increases could impact their lives. Each group would then present their findings and suggest ways to mitigate climate change effects.
To improve the activity, I would providing more real-life examples of climate change impacts and possible solutions could help students connect the activity to their daily lives and inspire proactive thinking.-
Hi Eimear,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Climate reporters activity. I like your idea of children working on this task with varying levels of emissions to allow for discussion and for the pupils to make connections between changes that can be made and what effects this could have. As you have mentioned, this could provide for real life examples of climate change and encourage the pupils to come up with possible solutions.
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As a teacher in a senior school, I think it would be great to begin this lesson by playing the PAXI video. The video could be used as a trigger for a discussion by the children in small groups about greenhouse gases. The children could then be given a mini whiteboard or sheet of paper to record any knowledge they might have about greenhouse gases. These could then be shared with the class by one chosen member of the group. Following that, we would have a whole-class discussion on how the temperatures are changing and the groups could be asked to predict future temperatures. I would then introduce the children to the TEAL tool and show them the function for showing temperature changes around the world in the last 70+ years. In their groups, the children could use the class iPads to research temperature change in a country or countries of their choice.
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Activity three gets the children thinking about the future and what the effects of climate change will have on the world in years to come. Firstly, I would ask the children to watch the Paxi video as this explains to the children the effects of greenhouse gases on the climate. I would ask the children to brainstorm the different reasons why there is a rise in greenhouse gases. I would then get the children working in pairs on the following https://tealtool.earth/ . Working in pairs allows the children to engage in conversation and share observations about how temperatures are changing all over the world. I would then ask them to look at activity 3 and to pick an area. They will look at a country in detail and find out about the climate in the past and make predictions for the future. The children will then present their findings to the class and listen to other peoples finding. This in turn will spark a whole class discussion as they find out where is the hottest country they picked is and the coldest country.
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I would introduce the topic of greenhouse effects by first eliciting prior knowledge from the children, the greenhouse effect and climate change are terms the class may be familiar with. I would complete a KWL chart with the class. Using the Paxi video as a stimulus for our learning – the video is child friendly and easy to follow. The facts are portrayed in clear and concise language, with suitable visuals to support the facts. It also gives ways in which we can help to reduce the human impact on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.
Dividing the class into groups working on a different scenario (a low emissions scenario and
a high emissions scenario) is very effective for the children to engage with the lesson topic and participate in a hands-on activity. Calculating monthly average temperatures based on the respective scenario is engaging and valuable work – this lesson is a great example of drawing on skills from many curricular areas.
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The Paxi video is a great resource for simplifying the complexity of greenhouse effect It provides students with a clear visual understanding of what the earths atmosphere is and why it is like a greenhouse. It explains how the atmosphere keeps our earth’s temperature just right and how human activity impacts the earths temperature. It gives examples of these human activities that are negatively impacting our planet. It gives resolutions to fixing the problem and how we can all take small steps to make a difference.
Activity 3 is a great way to get children to understand just how much the greenhouse effect will impact them in the future. It is raising awareness of the severity of the situation and how students themselves can do something to make a difference. It implements a knowledge and understanding of the greenhouse effect for students that they will carry forward with them as grow up and encourage them to take simple action to prevent climate change in future. I would use the temp predictor tool to show students how temperatures can increase where we live and the factors that are taken into account when trying to predict future temperatures. The students would then go on to make their own predictions and present their findings.
It would be a great lesson to be arranged or carried out by the Green School Committee in the school at the beginning of the school year. Their findings could be used and presented to implement some changes throughout the school to reduce the schools carbon emission for the school year ahead.
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Activity 3 – Climate Reporters:
As I teach in a Junior school and as I will be teaching Senior Infants this coming September I would start this lesson by completing a KWL chart with the children to find out what they already know. After we have discussed their prior knowledge and what they would like to learn about I will then show them the Paxi video on Greenhouse gases. This is an age appropriate video that the children will be able to follow and understand easily. It will give them a good introduction into greenhouse gases. The worksheet for this lesson will have to be simplified as it is too advanced for my class. I would include simple pictures and a matching activity as well as space for the children to draw their answers.
I would show the children the tool for predicting future temperatures on the board and then I would download it onto iPads, split the class into groups and then give them an iPad, one for each group, so they will be able to use it for themselves.-
Hi Niamh
You have some nice ideas there for using the Climate reporters resource with senior infants. I’m glad that you consider the Paxi video to be suitable for a younger class and that you have ideas for simplifying the worksheet with pictures and matching activities. Yvonne had suggested above that she would focus on just one country and one parameter a time when using the Teal Tool and just look at the changes in colours. You might like to use a similarly simple approach if using it with a senior infant class.
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I think the map use in the Teal tool and the ability to visualise and manipulate the changes would be a useful tool in increasing the children’s understanding of climate change. There would be a need for some vocabulary work first so this would definitely be part of a series of lessons about weather and climate rather than a standalone lesson. The paxi link was very useful and the David Attenborough video would be helpful in creating optimism and a problem-solving approach as the concept can be quite scary for primary school aged children. The main thing I would improve in the activity is that the activity sheet 3 isn’t easily differentiated and isn’t that accessible for children with dyslexia or other learning needs. I think I’d probably take elements from it and create my own and set a wider variety of challenges.
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Hi Caitriona,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Teal tool and the map work in it. I agree that there would need to be some work on topic specific vocabulary initially and then the pupils could use this vocab in a meaningful context while using the tool.
There are many resources across this module and you can easily adapt them or change them to suit the many learners in your classroom. You could also use some resources to provide a challenge for others.
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Activity 3 asked that we watch the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and use the tool for predicting future temperatures.
As an introduction to the lesson I would introduce a discussion about greenhouses gases and its impact on the world as they are regularly discussed on the media as a starting point for the lesson. Children will have heard discussions on climate change and ways we can help in their daily lives- for example the separation of our rubbish, recycling bottles and cans in shops, electric cars, cycle a bike or walk etc. People are also predicting and engaging in conversations about climate change and its influence on the world. For example: the increases in storms in Ireland as well as increased rainfall.
In my class I would use the Paxi video as a visual stimulus to start the discussion on this topic. The video was very child friendly and would be easy for them to understand. It provided a simple and clear explanation to the greenhouse gas effect.It ended with a positive outlook on how we can help individually to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases through simple activities. I feel this is very important as children should not feel burden or anxious that they alone are causing this problem. Every little step can make a big change.
The tool I would select is the temperature predictor. This tool can be used to show how temperatures can increase where we live and predict future temperatures.
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Hi Linda,
Welcome to the course, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video.
This video would be a good visual stimulus as you have said and would allow for discussion on the greenhouse gas effect. Having a positive outlook allows for children to look at changes they can make so as not to create an anxiety around it. As you have said every little step will help.
I hope you enjoy the course and the many resources that can be used in the classroom.
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Activity 3 is an interesting and practical activity which would engage learners. It involves predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions. To use it in a classroom setting, I would start by brainstorming vocabulary and would elicit any knowledge on the topic. I would then show the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. I would then guide students through the simulation tool, allowing them to observe the impact on temperature predictions. I feel this activity would really help to deepen their understanding and awareness of climate change and the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Based on the class ( I will be SET this year) I would encourage students to explore additional resources or conduct their own research on greenhouse gases and climate change and sharing with their peers through ICT, Projects etc
I thought it was worthwhile that it ended on a positive note as not to cause fear and anxiety, instead showing us how we can help individually to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases through simple activities.-
I agree with your last sentence on this topic, Clare. Unfortunately for children, the issue of Climate Change has become very emotive across the world, triggering a lot of fear and anxiety amongst our youngest generation. As teachers, there is a fine balance to held when encountering the topic of Climate. On one hand, we want children to know how important the issue is but we do not want our children to become paralysed by fear of what the future holds. I like the way a lot of the resources mentioned are framed in such a way that children get the sense that the little, everyday things that they can do in their environment can have a small but meaningful impact.
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I agree with you Alan in that the issue of Climate Change has become very emotive. As teachers, I am of the opinion that we can make or break the topic of Climate Change with the children we teach. We can either alarm them and make them fearful for the future or we can help them to develop a healthy sense of responsibility, arming them with useful everyday things they can do to help the planet.
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it does seem to cause a little anxiety in children as they are aware of their footprint when it comes to cars. They are always questioning who has an electric car etc. responsibility in our daily lives is the message we should be focusing on. its great to show how the world has and still is changing.
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There are great points to be made around fear and anxiety. However, as many have pointed out, the resources on offer are all very positive and promote positive solutions to these problems. For primary school students, showing them simple effective solutions to the problem of climate change will hopefully lead them to discover lasting and more complex solutions in the future.
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Pax’s video on how greenhouse gases are produced and how they are causing climate change would be highly beneficial for several reasons:
· Simplifying complex concepts like greenhouse gases and climate change helps children grasp the basics. This child-friendly video can break down these ideas into manageable and relatable pieces of information.
· Many children learn better through visual aids. The video illustrates the processes of greenhouse gas production and the effects of climate change in a way that is engaging and easier to understand compared to text-based explanations.
I think the Teal tool is a good resource and I understand how useful it would be in demonstrating the difference in temperature, wind speed, precipitation etc but I feel it is an extremely advanced tool for primary school children to get to grips with. All the other resources and especially Pax’s video are excellent but I feel it would be a tool I would use with secondary school children.
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The Paxi video is a great resource for starting a classroom conversation on the causes and effects of greenhouse gases. It is a very pupil friendly resource and explains greenhouse gases in a relatable way to younger classes. It allows pupils to see the ways that they can make small but meaningful contributions to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases and maintains a positive outlook for pupils, as given the pressing uncertainty and worry about climate change through the media, it allows children to see that they can play their part and have a meaningful impact, especially when working in a class or school community. The temperature predictor is a great resource to implement, and pupils can examine temperatures in the local area and predict future temperatures. In being enabled to predict future temperatures, a class can see the impact of society on weather but also how they can be empowered to influence and change this.
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Hi Christine,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video. I agree that this resource is very pupil friendly and also ensures a positive outlook on changes the pupils themselves can make to play their part. Often there can be a level of anxiety among pupils about climate change. The temperature predictor can also support pupils in making changes or suggesting changes in their homes and local area.
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I really find the Paxi video to be a great learning aid, particularly from a visual point of view, for learners who may have heard of The Greenhouse Gas effect but may not have grasped the concept fully. Introducing the concept of The Greenhouse Gas effect through this simple video will give the learner a strong sense of being able to contribute towards reducing the emission of Greenhouse gases.
I have to admit that I found the Teal Visualisation tool a little difficult to navigate but with further practice, I would feel confident in introducing it to the classroom.
That said, it is clear to see the benefits of such a tool as the learner can interact with real-time and historical data related to weather and energy. This hands-on approach helps in better understanding complex concepts. Using this tool correctly allows learners to analyze and visualize data trends, fostering skills in data interpretation and critical thinking. Learners could be encouraged to explore how meteorological conditions impact energy production and consumption.
I like the way the Climate Reporters activity is framed as it gives the learners a sense of power and control. The children can see the positive effects that good choice will have on global temperatures and precipitation levels etc, therefore giving the learner a sense of autonomy.
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Module 2 provided a good insight into the Greenhouse effect. The Paxi video is a good way to introduce the topic and it would certainly appeal to younger pupils with it colourful animation and alien character. I would use this video as a springboard to launch the topic and would ask middle and senior classes to brainstorm introducing all the vocabulary associated with The greenhouse gas effect and to elicit their prior knowledge. Comparing the planets Venus and Mars and the difference in their greenhouse gas levels could be used as a point of interest for pupils. Children are exposed to so much information from television, media, phones etc and they are bombarded with the different voices. I am conscious of how important it is not to alarm children or make them feel guilty for their actions. Many of the resources in this module were excellent and provide teachers and children with practical ways to be proactive in lowering greenhouse emissions.
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Hi Grainne,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this module. I like how you would use the video to identify the language and vocabulary your class have on this topic and to assess prior knowledge. I agree that at times there can be uncertainty and anxiety among children regarding climate change and the resources in this module provide for positive outlook and encourage children to make small changes and how this can help overall.
I am glad that you liked the resources in this module, there are many great resources across this module that you can use with your own class next school year.
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I thought that the Paxi video was great, was very child friendly and a fun way for children to learn about greenhouse gases. I would play this video for my class and then hold a classroom discussion with emphasis on how us humans are influencing climate change. I would divide pupils into groups and ask them to come up with 3 changes that we could make to tackle climate change. I liked Activity 3 also. I think the kids would enjoy making their own predictions first and then compare this with the scientists’ predictions and see were any similar. I think it would be a very thought-provoking exercise and get pupils thinking like scientist and engaging in critical thinking. I like the idea of giving the different scenarios to pupils, high emissions and low emissions. At the end I would ask pupils to present their ideas and conclusions to the class. I would hope that every pupil would engage and find this activity interesting.
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Activity 3 is a great and engaging activity to ensure hands on practical pupil engagement levels. I personally would see this activity being enjoyed by my 4th class pupils as older classes. I’m my classroom, I would complete a KWL chart with the class to find out what their prior knowledge is. I would then play the Paxi video for the class and allow a discussion to unfold from its content. I would then utilise our Ict tablet time allocation to allow pupils to explore the ‘Teal’ simulation tool in pairs to explore its properties. Here, the pupils themselves are exploring the resource as well as seeing its potential in a real life purposeful context. This not only enables independent exploration skills but also emphasises the contemporary value of ICT in the classroom in a paired activity capacity
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Hi Niamh
Assessing pupils prior knowledge using a KWL chart or other means is always a nice way to start a lesson, especially with greenhouse gases and climate change where both children and adults have so many misconceptions. Allowing discussion based on the Paxi video will help to explain some of the science and also help to counter the misconceptions they may have. Allowing them time for free exploration of the TEAL tool is a great idea but you might want to start with a simple demonstration for the whole class or by having a few specific tasks either for the whole class to complete or for groups who need a little extra guidance on how to start exploring the tool.
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Activity 3:
The children have a wealth of information at their fingertips when it comes to climate change.
This is a very practical lesson where brainstorming would show what they already know about climate change and greenhouse gases. Most children are already aware of recycling within the school itself and how we recycle now at home. Many children are taking their bottles their bottles to the drop points and are more aware now of the bank of bottles that were never returned. They also are aware of the zero grazing in agriculture and how the more beef we consume contributes to the increase in methane gas in the atmosphere.
The Paxi video is a very informative and enjoyable one pitched more so to the older classes. It makes the kids more familiar with with the greenhouse effect through the use of good pictures and explanations. Its not all doom and gloom and gives the encouraging message that every little change we make will help climate change. The children would enjoy the temperature predictor tool where they could investigate how temperature is affected by not just global but local factors. I would anticipate a lively discussion as we are located in a rural/suburban location. This would lead to a great debate.-
Hi Fionnuala,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on module 2. I agree that some children have a wealth of information regarding climate change but at times this can cause a level of anxiety among children. The Paxi video is not all doom and gloom as you have mentioned and encourages the children to make small changes and that they all help. The location of your school would provide for good discussion with different perspectives from rural and urban settings regarding changes that can be made.
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Activity 3 is a very interesting exploration of temperatures in our own country and around the world.
The Paxi video is a great way of introducing the topic of greenhouse gases and exploring how temperatures around the globe are increasing. There is lots to talk about in this video such as the role we play in reducing how much pollution enters the air.
Activity 3 lends itself easily to be integrated with maths and geography as children could explore the temperatures here and around the globe. I think this activity would be suitable for older classes but it could be simplified for younger classes by examining how an increase in heat will affect our weather and in turn, our clothes, activities etc.
If a school was participating in the Green Flag initiative, the Paxi video could be shown to all pupils to re-emphasise the importance of recycling and to generate a whole-school discussion and plan to help tackle climate change in our own way.
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The Paxi video is an excellent resource, I can definitely see myself using this in the classroom next year, along with the other resources in activity three. I found the video was probably the best pitched part of this activity, in terms of being suitable for all class levels. However I agree with other participants that some of this activity may be more suitable for older classes, or need simplification in the junior end of the school. The Teal tool is fantastic but I did have to rewatch parts to fully get to grips with the task.
I think when teaching the content of this activity, I would definitely focus on Ireland as a basis for learning and then students could investigate or make comparisons between Ireland and the rest of the world. There is a good opportunity for integrating this learning across the curriculum, particularly with maths as well as some links with the Green Schools Programme.
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I think in activity three, using a KWL chart would help and visually display what the pupils know, want to know and what they learned in the process of the activity. It is a good idea that is used in the activity to show the tools and models that scientists use around the world to help predict the climate change for the next century. We could also make it part of the pupils world and discuss what weather tools we could use around our local area.
The TEAL tool is very handy. The children can visually see the changes in temperature over time. They can relay it at home and discuss with older generations in their family about what the temperatures were like in the past. The colour coding and design of the tool is very helpful in showing children the changes.
The Paxi video is a nice child friendly, explanatory video to show the greenhouse effect.
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Hi Edel,
Thanks for your post. A KWL is a great choice, particularly for this topic, where there can be some confusion. I particularly like how you plan this lesson to extend to the family home, where students can learn from the older generation about the weather long ago. Was the winter colder? Was there more snow? Etc. By the meticulous capturing of weather data worldwide, over time we can see how our climate is dramatically and rapidly changing.This summer, the temperatures across Europe and beyond continue to break previous records and will continue to do so. Read more on this here: Hottest summer ever? Experts reveal what could be in store for Europe in the next few months | Euronews
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In teaching the topic if Greenhouse Gases, I would begin with a whole-class KWL chart to establish prior knowledge and to set a focus for the learning.
I would then show the Paxi video and follow it with a class discussion. It’s important to note at this point that I have been very aware of children’s anxiety around the area of global warming and the climate crisis in the last number of years. While it is crucial that children are educated, I feel it is very important to place the focus and emphasis on the ways in which the earth can be healed and to ensure they understand that Climate Change and Global Warming are reversible phenomena. David Attenborough’s documentary illustrates this perfectly. I am unsure at this point whether I would use the prediction and simulation tool before or after showing David Attenborough’s documentary. However, I do know that I would be very mindful of keeping the focus of the lesson proactive and positive.-
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Hi Triona,
I would agree with you that some children have unnecessary anxiety related to climate and global warming. It is important to give relevant and age appropriate information so as not to increase stress levels. The use of videos such as Paxi and the David Attenborough documentary are excellent in that they provide information in a very child friendly manner.
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Great point Triona about providing relevant and age appropriate information so as not to increase stress levels.The resources and activities here are all very positive and give positive solutions to the roblems that will hopefully equip the children with knowledge and skills to help them to discover lasting and more complex solutions in the future.
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I thought the Paxi video was very informative and done in a very child friendly way, but to me, teaching sixth class this coming year, it’s not suitable. However, I did like how it gives the children ways in which they can help (scooting, walking etc. to school, not leaving the tap running while brushing their teeth), because realistically, how can they help achieve aims set out by the Paris Climate Agreement? They need to be given ideas where they can make a difference, however small. The C3S education video was really good, but again possibly more suitable for secondary school students. I will still show my class the video and liked how it showed the two different scenarios and used Germany as an example. It clearly shows how we can still make a difference if we choose a low emissions route.
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Hi Christina,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course.
You make a very valid point about the limitations that young learners have in the choices they make-usually it is the parent/guardian who determines how they travel, etc., but by creating climate literacy in these young learners, teachers play an incredibly important role in providing a fact-based understanding of climate change, and humans role in this. Of course, there are also small and simple ways they can make a difference, too, and at the senior end of the cycle, they should be able to give some examples, like those mentioned in the Paxi video.
A KWL chart can be helpful for this lesson, as there are many misconceptions about what climate is and the extent of our impact, and TEAL is ideal for a senior class like yours and can help bring the topic to life on a dynamic and engaging platform.
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I think using KWL chart is a great way to start teaching children the topic of Greenhouse gages. We can have a whole class discussion about ant prior knowledge and this opens up conversation and discussion around the topic. We could also start the lesson by engaging the children with the Paxi video. This engages children’s interests and get them talking.
Other resources can be used such as as showing children different instruments that meteorologists and scientist use. For example the Teal instrument- this is interesting and shows the children how temperature changes over time.
There is lots of opportunity for cross curricular integration.. This topic could be covered across Geography, Sciene, Maths. Also it would be a great idea to shoe children the Paxi video if the school is participating in the Green flag as it will show children how they can impact on climate change.-
Hi Jamie,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course!
A KWL is an ideal starting point for this class, and your learners may surprise you with the extent of their prior knowledge as climate change becomes a more recognized concern for us all. The Green Flag programme is a great way to tie in the climate aspects of the activities outlined in this module and the real-life ways learners’ choices are making a difference. It can also be interesting to touch on any relevant stories from the locality that can be attributed to our changing climate, increased flooding, etc.For cross-curricular links, the SEAI has a terrific ebook that can be downloaded in English or Irish and may suit senior learners. Follow the link here for more: SEAI | Schools | Climate SOS
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Activity 3: Predicting Future Temperatures
Activity 3 involves watching the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and using a tool for predicting future temperatures. This activity is excellent for visual and interactive learning, effectively conveying the concept of greenhouse gases and their impact on global temperatures. The Paxi video is engaging and simplifies complex scientific ideas, making them accessible to younger students.
The temperature prediction tool is a valuable resource for fostering hands-on learning and critical thinking. Students can experiment with different variables, enhancing their understanding of how human activities influence climate change.
To improve the activity, I would recommend integrating a discussion component where students can share their predictions and reflect on the implications of climate change. Adding a collaborative project, such as developing action plans to reduce carbon footprints, could further deepen their engagement and understanding. Additionally, incorporating real-time data and case studies on the effects of climate change in various regions would provide a more comprehensive learning experience.-
Hi Michaela,
Thanks for your post. I can see you have a comprehensive plan for delivering this to learners, including an enriching discussion on predictions and climate change overall.
By developing an action plan to reduce carbon footprints, learners can gain empowerment and environmental values that will serve them well in the future they currently face.
Case studies are a great idea, and there are some startling examples of climate refugees, etc. Closer to home here in Ireland, we are already seeing an impact, with increased heavy rain and storms resulting in increased flooding, profoundly impacting communities. Read more on this here: Human-caused Climate Change Brings Increased Storm Rainfall – Met Éireann – The Irish Meteorological Service
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Both the Paxi video and Activity three of the ESA’s Weather vs Climate workbook provide a good point for children to begin predicting our future climate. Using the video the students will begin to understand climate change, the factors that contribute to it and the future outcomes. It gives a quick insight into the information they will need to help come up with predictions for the activity in the workbook. In activity three, the students will look 26 years into the future and try to predict the impact of climate change on the world in 2050. Combine the tools that were already discussed in this course and there are a multitude of extension activities that can help develop the understanding of climate change. The layout of the questions is well done as it means the students will need to explore the consequences of climate change before focusing on solutions. Making sure we fully understand the problems we face is a good way to make sure we develop well thought out solutions.
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The video of Paxi explaining about The Greenhouse Effect was engaging and had a level of complexity that could be easily understood by children in the senior section of primary school. It would be a great opening to a lesson on climate.
The video explanation of the weather prediction tool was very clear, however, depending on your group I feel it would be a good idea to explain the idea of weather prediction before you show this to them. You could use relatable examples like deciding what to wear based on the weather forecast. The tool itself is very user-friendly. It is visual and interactive which would maintain the interest of children. The graphics are colourful and the animations would make the data easier to understand. I feel it would be a good idea to allow the children to make their own predictions about the results before you would use the tool itself. Recording the results of predictions would be an important step. Once some time has passed you could discuss the accuracy of the predictions. Here you could integrate maths by having students calculate the difference between predicted and actual temperatures and average their prediction accuracy. -
The Paxi Video was very bright, engaging and would motivate pupils in their learning. The video is colourful and vibrant and can be made accessible for learners, with subtitles and the ability to re-watch this, to review their work. The video could be used at the beginning of learning to stimulate a discussion around this topic and to embrace the inquiry process. Working collaboratively the pupils could consider how they could make changes in their daily lives to address the issues raised, in the digital video. Pupils could consider transport, home, school and the community, looking at ways we can make positive changes.
The Teal Tool was very visual and would engage pupils, in looking and investigating the site. However, I felt the exercise, in completing the data table would only possibly be suited to sixth class, when looking at averages and the mean of particular months and years. This table could be simplified by looking at yearly averages and finding the average over ten years, for senior classes. -
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Activity 3 is an interesting and engaging lesson. I would begin with specific questions to elicit prior knowledge and promote discussion. I think its important to introduce the necessary vocabulary that would be heard throughout this topic and that children could use to answer questions asked by the teacher. This could also be done during a literacy lesson through a reading comprehension or dictionary work. I would ensure to watch the Paxi video as it is a clear explanation. While it may be geared towards younger classes I feel visuals are always a fun way to aid learning, engage pupils and allow them to become excited to discuss an important topic. After discussion, I would then introduce the Teal tool as I like the group work task. I believe it would be necessary to do this on the interactive board first as it can appear complicated. Children could then work in mixed ability pairs where they can explore climate variables and this promotes collaborative learning. I believe the children would enjoy exploring this tool once clearly show how to use it. In order to enhance this activity after using the prediction tool where children can see possible long term effects, I think it would be important to research ways to help combat climate change and present findings to the class. Within this module I found some videos useful and informative and would use to help with this discussion.
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This activity seems like a very engaging one and I think the children would really enjoy it. Climate change is something that interests children and generally they have a lot of knowledge about it. For the lesson, we would have a discussion and we would create a mind map to find out the class’ prior knowledge. I would show the children the Paxi video which is suitable for all ages to explain about greenhouse gases. I would introduce the TEAL tool and demonstrate how to use it to look at the changes in temperature, sunshine, wind speed, precipitation and carbon dioxide emissions over the years. I think this tool would be most suited to senior classes. Children could work in pairs on Chrome Books in order to investigate climate data. Children could give feedback on their findings to the class.
I also thought the David Attenborough video on Climate Change was simply explained and this is a resource that would be very useful in the class.
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Hi Karena,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course. The Paxi video is a great entry point for all learners and covers quite a lot in a short space of time in a fun and accessible way. A mind map is a great idea for eliciting prior knowledge.TEAL is a really accessible tool, and with a teacher’s support and guidance will help consolidate learning in this topic. While it is most suited to the more senior classes, I think there is some potential to look at one of the variables with more guidance from the teacher.
How to Save Our Planet is a beautiful video, and through simple and engaging language, it helps learners get a snapshot of our planet and the sustainable approach that is needed for our best future.
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I know from experience in the past that children love watching videos which are colourful and involve cartoon type characters. The Paxi -The Greenhouse effect video is very engaging and I can see lots of learning benefits from it. I would use the framework from Curious Minds/ESERO involving the four step approach: Engage, Investigate, Next Steps, Reflect. There are lots of opportunities to plan various lessons on Climate change.
Engage: The video itself would be the trigger to get the children interested and engaged in the topic.
Investigate: The next step would be to investigate. I would probably get the children to investigate by doing an experiment for example to show the Greenhouse effect.
Next Step: Apply the learning from the experiment to the Earth. Look at date surrounding the Greenhouse gases and omissions. Compare increases in some gases, analyse and record data etc.
Reflection: Get the children to reflect on their findings, their experiment. I would also reflect on the learning and see if there was any room for improvement on the learning by changing elements of the lesson.
The tealtool.earth is a brilliant tool to analyse climate data, precipitation, wind speed, temperatures from around the world. It would be very beneficial in the upper classes of primary school to allow for discussion around climate, analyse data, compare data and work out calculations relating to climate. -
would use the Climate reporters resource back as a preparatory piece for the Maths CBA. I think it would make for a magnificent investigation. I would begin with the facts about air temperature looking at the different zones in the earth that have specific conditions that make it hot, temperate, cold, dry, wet etc. This would then lead into the study of the greenhouse gases and how humans have interfered with the balance of this layer in the atmosphere.
Students would then be split into groups all given a specific task in relation to the investigation. Some students will investigate the task, others making or finding tools, others will make charts and notebooks to record data and then students will record and write up their findings. All students will engage with the workbook on Climate reporting. This will look at recorded data compared to predicted data and how this is done. Students will look at averages in their own data and make predictions. I think this is a very interesting investigation and could be carried out with different groups at different times of year to see the changes in temperature at different times of the year. I think activity three would be an excellent report. To show air temperatures and rainfall in Ireland throughout the four season.
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Activity 3- To begin with my class, we would brainstorm by using a mid map to seek their prior knowledge on greenhouse gases and climate change. We would also discuss what they might like to learn from the video. Perhaps some children have prior knowledge on this topic while others may have never even heard about this whole area. I would introduce some vocabulary from the video prior to showing it just to help deepen their understanding as they watch it.
I would then show the video. We would have a class discussion around the video- I will facilitate the discussions through thought provoking questions.
Finally we will make it all relevant to our own country, class, community….how can we tackle this problem from a individual level…can we?? what small changes can we make?? I think information is key for the younger generations. If they are not educated on these important topics from a young age, they cant be expected to incorporate changes into their lifestyles and habits.
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Hi Aoife,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course.
I can see that you have put thought into how to run this activity with your learners, considering how to make it as meaningful as possible and using vocabulary development to deepen understanding.You make a great point about the vital role teachers play in educating learners about the current challenges in an age-appropriate way, creating a climate-literate generation who understands the problems and the solutions.
It’s crucial to focus on the local aspects of climate change, as it makes the issue more relevant and relatable to learners. With increased storms and flooding becoming the new normal, it’s an issue that is and will continue to impact us all.
The solutions are starting to be seen across Ireland, and learners can reflect on what they (hopefully) see in their neighbourhoods, be it solar panels, wind farms, greater access to recycling, more public transport, and bike lanes. Etc.
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<span style=”font-size: 7px;”>In activity three we take a look at temperatures in our own country and around the world to explore the idea of greenhouse gases and climate change. </span><span style=”font-size: 7px;”>The Paxi Video is an excellent resource for introducing this topic as it is very engaging and would be suited to watch with most class levels. There were lots of topical discussions that could use this video as a springboard and lead into listing important ways that we can prevent greenhouse gases and in turn play our part in preventing climate change. </span>
<span style=”font-size: 7px;”>The activity and video lends itself for easy integration into maths literacy and SESE lessons. Some of activity 3 is definitely better suited to older classes particularly in terms of using the data table and looking at average and mean temperatures but this does not mean it cannot be adapted or modified for younger classes and have the same meaningful impact.</span><!–/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_240723_224746_166.sdocx–> -
Having completed Activity 3- Climate Reporters, I find it very informative and really usable particularly from classes 3rd to 6th. There are loads of opportunities for cross curricular integration particularly with English language (narrative/report writing) and drama lessons. While I can envisage using it with my 3rd class, I feel that it would be essential that the students had acquired all the knowledge and vocabulary involved in SESE in advance of the lesson when they are required to write a short climate report for the year 2050. They could do a drama lesson after they have written this fictional report.
They would need to understand the new vocabulary- some words/terms quite challenging. Such as natural v’s anthropogenic greenhouse effect, climate models, supercomputers, asteroids, paleoclimatologists. These words could be placed on a science word wall or be questions in a Friday- ‘Show mw what you know!’.
Watching the Paxi video about the Greenhouse Effect would be essential. The Teal free visualization tool would also assist understanding.
45 mins is a good length of time to spend on the writing of the climate report but much more time would be needed to pre teach the vocabulary and content needed. -
In Activity 3, we were asked to use the tool for temperature prediction and watch the Paxi clip on greenhouse gasses. I would utilize the Paxi clip as one of my stimulation materials in class to get the conversation going on this subject. The clip, in my opinion, gave a very basic and understandable explanation of the greenhouse gas effect that even young children could watch. I especially enjoyed how it concluded with a positive perspective on how everyone of us can contribute individually by engaging in simple measures that lessen the effects of greenhouse gasses. The media publicly discusses greenhouse gas emissions and their effects on the environment. Children will have heard talks about climate change and how we can all contribute in their everyday lives. Some examples of these include using various colored bins, recycling cans and bottles in stores, driving electric cars, riding a bike or walking, etc. In addition, predictions and discussions about climate change and its effects on the world are becoming more common. The temperature predictor is the instrument that I would choose. With the help of this tool, we can forecast future temperatures and see how local temperatures can rise.
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The PAXI video is a very effective introduction to this lesson and will catch the attention of the class. It provides the necessary information to complete the tasks. The Teal tool is very useful but may need some exploration and instruction for pupils to be comfortable finding information. I think it is a good idea to group the class and give each group a country to feedback comparative results. I would be very selective in the countries as this could extend learning by emphasizing how some of the poorest countries in the world are among those most greatly affected by climate change. This could foster a discussion on how some of the lowest polluters of CO2 emissions are those hit hardest by the changing climatic conditions. This lesson covers many cross curricular elements including Geography, Literacy, Mathematics and Art. Each group could feedback their information digitally through the Ipads and emphasize what was the most interesting statistic they encountered. They should also highlight the projected statistics best, worst & average from the Teal tool and what this may mean for that specific country.
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Activity 3 seems like a really engaging and effective lesson for senior classes. I would complete this lessons after a series of lessons on Weather Vs Climate and The Greenhouse Effect as it requires a solid understanding of topic-specific vocabulary and concepts. I think the PAXI video is an effective way of activating and assessing the children’s prior knowledge of The Greenhouse Effect and I would definitely use is to introduce the lesson. I would perhaps pause the video before it reveals what we can do to reduce the Greenhouse Effect in order to give the children the opportunity to come up with their own ideas and suggestions based on the problems caused by it. Alternatively, this could also be done as a follow up lesson.
I would definitely spend time introducing the Teal tool to the children and demonstrate how to investigate the various data sources available. The children would then work in small groups investigating the effect of climate change on various countries around the world. The groups would then report their findings to the class during which we could compare the countries most/least affected.
This activity has many opportunities for integration across the subject areas and I would definitely use it as a stimulus for report writing in Literacy, data in Maths, a country study in Geography and changing trends in History. -
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I found found the Paxi video very effective for teaching children. As a teacher one could expand on the foundational knowledge provided in the video. Here are some ways you can build on the concepts presented, especially focusing on the causes of climate change and other related topics:
Expanding on Greenhouse Gases
Types of Greenhouse Gases:Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Discuss sources such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas), deforestation, and certain industrial processes.
Methane (CH4): Explain how it is produced from livestock digestion, rice paddies, and landfill waste decomposition.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O): Highlight sources like agricultural activities (use of fertilizers), industrial activities, and combustion of organic matter.
Fluorinated Gases: Talk about industrial gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and manufacturing.As a teacher that loves to teach the children about Biodiversity and gardening I would aspire to constructing a Greenhouse on our school grounds to show the real effects of the Greenhouse effect. The results could be compared to produce growing in the actual school garden .
Introducing the Teal tool to explore climate variables and promote collaborative learning would be my next strategy. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively integrate this tool and enhance the activity:
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Introduction on the Interactive Board and start with a demonstration on the interactive board to familiarise students with the Teal tool. Show them how to access the tool, navigate through the interface, and use its features.
Conduct a walkthrough of a simple task using the tool, such as selecting a specific climate variable (e.g., temperature, precipitation) and exploring its trends over time.
Allow students to come up to the board and try out the tool themselves under your guidance. This hanIntroducing the Teal tool to explore climate variables and promote collaborative learning sounds like an excellent strategy. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to effectively integrate this tool and enhance the activity:
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Introduction on the Interactive Board
Demonstration: Start with a demonstration on the interactive board to familiarize students with the Teal tool. Show them how to access the tool, navigate through the interface, and use its features.
Walkthrough: Conduct a walkthrough of a simple task using the tool, such as selecting a specific climate variable (e.g., temperature, precipitation) and exploring its trends over time.
Interactive Session: Allow students to come up to the board and try out the tool themselves under your guidance. This hands-on experience can help demystify the tool and build their confidence. -
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I would introduce the lesson by informing the children we are going to watch an interesting video! Prior to watching the video, I would question the children to elicit their prior knowledge on the topic of Greenhouse gases. I would use a mix of higher and lower order questions to determine where the children are at! I would then get the children to discuss the most important parts of the video in their opinion. I think the video explains in a child friendly way however it may not be suited to the older classes. I think this lesson could be used as a starting point for a series of lessons on greenhouse gases and climate change. I think it is very important to use the children’s immediate environment in order to ensure lessons are pitched at an appropriate level to them
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I thought Activity 3, Climate Reporters was a very interesting and engaging lesson. It would be a great way to determine the pupil’s knowledge about greenhouse gases and their impact on world climate. Before the lesson, we would need discussion / brainstorming to ensure that each pupil in the group is familiar with the weather/ climate terms and vocabulary. The lesson gives opportunities for the pupils to predict future climate scenarios and gives them the chance to see how their own actions can change those future scenarios.
The video Paxi, Greenhouse Effect is an excellent and child friendly resource that is suitable for any primary school age group. The video outlines very simply what greenhouse gases are, how they are produced and what effect they have on world climate. Without causing alarm or undue stress , the pupils are encouraged to do the simple things, recycle when they can, preserve water and switch off lights or devices when they are not in use.
The Teal Climate tool is a very informative and useful resource , particularly for the senior classes. Using it, the pupils can observe and analyse temperatures, precipitation levels and other weather variables pertaining to our own country. It gives very relevant information and gives pupils an insight into the work of scientists and meteorologists in determining future climate and weather patterns. -
Activity 3, Climate reporters is an excellent resource for completing lessons on the topic of greenhouse effect and rising temperatures on Earth. I think these lessons are really suited to the middle and senior end of the school but can be adapted easily for the junior classes.
I would start the lesson by completing a KWL chart to find out first what the children already know about climate and weather. I would then show them Paxi’s video about the Greenhouse effect.
Activity 1 Is it Weather or Climate would be an excellent oral language/SESE lesson, the children could work in groups to discuss it first and then feedback to the rest of the class.
Activity 2 would also be an excellent lesson for the Junior classes, one that we could link with the number strand in Maths but just on a simpler level looking at when it is hotter and cooler and even comparing it to other parts of the country around the world and in the past.
However, I think a hands-on experiment like Activity 1 from Earth under the Lid would be an excellent lesson for infants, as it is so visual and hands on and really would give them a great understanding of the greenhouse effect.
I would finish the topic by completing the KWL chart with the class on what they have learnt. -
Activity three involves predicting future temperatures which involves greenhouse gases. As I teach the younger children I would begin by having a whole class discussion on their understanding of what exactly a gas is. Is it something we can see? Is it something we can feel? Can we smell it? Can we touch it? do they know the names of any gases I would ask the children do they know the name of the gas that we all breathe in every day? Oxygen and when we breathe out, exhale ,do they know the name of the gas that we exhale ..carbon dioxide. I will continue then by saying we’re going to learn about carbon dioxide and that it’s making our planet a little too warm and this is not a good thing. It is happening too fast and we’re going to learn why. I would show the paxi video. I think this video is excellent especially for the younger children. It shows the natural greenhouse effect and how humans are contributing to the greenhouse effect and making the planet much warmer at a much faster pace. It also shows the children what we can do to help reduce the carbon dioxide being released into the air. I feel the temperature predicting ,the analysis of data, the comparison of data would be a little out of reach for the younger children. We might then get into small groups and talk about what we can do to help reduce carbon dioxide. Small things like walking to school, turn off the tap, save energy recycle turn off the television when it’s not being used are all extremely practical things that even a small child can learn and implement. I would encourage the children to draw the way that they think they could help reduce carbon oxide being released into the air once completed I would encourage the groups to report back to the class, show their drawings and reflect on what we have learned.
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Hi Barbara
That sounds like a lovely approach to Greenhouse gases for a younger class. As you have outlined, it is important first to establish that they understand what a gas is before talking about greenhouse gases and then to introduce the topic of greenhouse gases in a very simple way through use of the Paxi video and simple discussion. Making the connection between our everyday actions such as travel, water use, energy use and recycling and the release of greenhouse gases is very important. Once you have given them this solid foundation, they can then build on this knowledge and understand more about the science of Climate Change and perhaps look at tools such as the TEAL tool as they get older.
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I really enjoyed this module and particularly enjoyed David Attenborough’s narration on what we can do for the climate. Students are very engaged with the topic of climate change and we can link it to the SPHE stand of developing citizenship. I would also show the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. I really like the idea of predicting temperature and I would question the pupils on how we could reduce temperatures globally. What small things are they doing. The video of how to implement the curious mind programme was very informative. I particularly liked the fingerprint lesson and seeing it used in the Autism class. I teach in the autism class and I was delighted to see a practical and fun way of teaching the curious mind lessons.
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I agree that David Attenborough’s narration would really engage students too. I also like the idea of the fingerprint lesson and would be eager to use it next year. Encouraging the students to think about the small things they are doing on a personal, family and school level is also a great way to focus on change.
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Hi Evan,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course.
The Save the Planet video, narrated by David Attenborough, is a wonderful introduction to the topic. With its accessible language, vibrant imagery, and David’s positive can-do attitude, it is ideal for young learners, focusing on the solutions.
I am delighted to see you enjoyed the Curious Minds video and took something from it. Creating a narrative/prompt with someone stealing the jellies really creates a sense of fun and engages learners. The video shows well how any activity can be adapted to a class’s abilities. I hope you get a chance to carry out these activities in the coming year!
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I found this module very interesting. This lesson would be ideal to use with a 4th/5th class setting I think. To begin I would do some brainstorming, maybe using the KWL method to elicit prior knowledge and to see what questions they have about climate change. I would perhaps include some definitions or make a glossary for the children before watching the Paxi video, to make sure they have a deep understanding while watching. After watching we would return to the KWL chart to see if we can answer any questions we may have had. I would then introduce the TEAL tool on the interactive whiteboard. I would show them how to manipulate the tool to see different predictions. Afterwards I would allow the students to use the tool on their Ipads. I would then ask the students to find specific predictions to show their competency using the tool. As an extension activity we could complete a kahoot quiz based on their new knowledge. Otherwise we could discuss the limitations of the TEAL tool and discuss other factors that we may have to allow for when predicting climate change.
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Hi Niamh,
Thanks for your post. I am delighted to see that you found this module interesting. You have prepared a comprehensive plan on how to deliver a meaningful activity with your class, and it is great to see that you have incorporated tools to aid understanding and frame the activity, with the KWL chart, Kahoot quiz, and reflections after using TEAL.
By taking time to demonstrate how to use TEAL and giving learners a chance to find specific predictions using iPads, learners will quickly become familiar with this tool and develop their skills and confidence in its use.
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Module 2:
As many other participants have already outlined, the children will already know a little about climate change as it is such a prevalent topic in news etc. at the moment. I think starting with a Mentimeter task on climate change to get an idea of the prior knowledge the children have would be great. Then, using this video to support teaching and learning, as it is a really child friendly video! I have used some of the Paxi videos in my class before and the children really like them. I think this one does a great job of explaining climate change/ the greenhouse effect in a child friendly way. I really liked how at the end the video focuses on small changes the children can make. This could be supported with ‘Guzzlers Big Book of Energy’, which also focuses on changes the children can make. We are a great school, so I think a nice lesson would be linking in with the Green Schools Committee as a class, to perhaps promote a whole school imitative such as bike/walk/ scoot to school week.
At the start of the module I thought perhaps the topic of climate change might be mostly suited to senior classes, but this video has really got me thinking of how the topic can be taught in younger classes too. I liked the TEAL tool and it would be a great way of using Ipads in the class to promote pair work and digital learning. I think it is most suited to more senior learners, I think giving the children task cards and exploration of the tool would help guide learning-
Hello Ciara,
Thanks for your post and reflections on this module. Climate change certainly is a hot topic at present, and while the focus on the press is often on it being the hottest month/summer/year, which is a symptom of the problem, more spotlight needs to be given to the solutions and the positive changes underway, that needs to be both celebrated and accelerated.
I see you have experience using Paxi’s resources in the classroom before, and I am glad they are a hit with your learners! Your idea to tie in with the Green Schools Committee is a great way to get the whole school engaged in this activity and demonstrate to learners the power of a committed group in prompting positive changes, like walking to school week, etc.I am glad to see that this module gave you pause to reflect on the age at which you should introduce this topic. With careful consideration, teachers can gently introduce this with the help of accessible resources like the Paxi video.
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I teach first class so to begin this class I would show the Paxi video to introduce the concepts of greenhouse gasses. I think showing this video and having a good chat about it would be vital especially in a younger group. The video is excellent and very informative, but I feel the class chat would be just as important. This chat will let me know if the children understood the video or not.
I would then move on and ask the children to imagine what the Earths climate will be like in the future. As I have a young class to promote engagement, I will allow them to use their imaginations and maybe speak about the film cloudy with a chance of meatballs as a stimulus for ideas. After a bit of fun, we will then speak about the topic more seriously.
We will then speak about the causes of greenhouse gas emissions and how we can reduce them. I am thinking we may link it with green schools as we got a flag last year where we learned about how not using the car is good for the environment.
In first class I think I would simplify the worksheet. It is very good but I feel it would be better with older children.-
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Hi David
I like your approach here. Talking about the themes raised in the Paxi video is important. Although it is a short video, it covers quite a lot, so a discussion on the main points is a good idea. I love the idea of using the “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs” film as inspiration for their own thoughts on the Earth’s climate
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I teach the senior classes and I would definately use the Paxi video as an introduction to climate change and global warming. They have very little background knowledge and the video is clear, simple and engaging. I also like how it gives suggestions for ways we ourselves can help. After this I would complete our own model of the Greenhouse effect to give the children a concrete example of what is actually going on in our planet.
I would work through the video of the carbon emmission scenarios before using the temperature predictor tool to ensure they had a good understanding of the point of investigating future temperatures. I would then hold a class discussion on what areas around the world might be affected my climate change and then link back to our own home town and would we be impacted.
I would have the children complete the task of writing reports based on different future climate scenarios in groups and present to the class.
The activities in both modules so far are ones I would definitely use with my class.-
Hi Michelle,
Welcome to the course, and thanks for your post.
I am delighted to see you plan to make use of the resources outlined so far in this course-they can work very well as a block of classes.
You have put together a robust plan for delivering these activities in your class. I like how you plan to learn about what is happening globally while also making it relevant and local to what is happening here in Ireland.
It’s great to see that you plan for your learners to create reports and present them to the rest of the class, as your learners will improve their communication skills, and there is an opportunity for ICT skills development there, too.
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Activity 3 is an excellent addition to the classroom, particularly because it incorporates group work. The topic of climate and weather can be overwhelming, but having targeted activities that break it down into smaller, manageable parts is very effective. The Paxi video is a helpful resource for introducing the concept of greenhouse gases, as many others have noted. I would also implement a KWL chart with the students to structure their learning. Starting with the Paxi video, students can work in groups, which is a component I find valuable. Additionally, using iPads to engage students is a great idea. Comparing data with other countries is particularly relevant since my class includes children from various countries.
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I really like the Paxi video-it is simple and child friendly. I love the animation and how simply it is explained. It was suggested in the posts, to do a kahoot prior to this lesson, which is something I would definitely do. I like how the video educates children as to how they can help, make a difference, and basically, how humans need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that we produce. `
I would introduce the Teal Tool only to senior classes. I do find it very interesting but I think it would be very challenging for younger students. I would divide the children into groups and assign a country to each group asking them to investigate the varying temperature changes.
I often read the posts and recommendations that fellow teachers input here, before I plan one of these lessons as there are so many great ideas to inspire me. I too believe in the pre-teaching of key vocabulary and technical language, such as Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming, It is also worthy to note the possibility of anxiety among students. It is important that they are informed, about our world and that it is in danger, but equally important that they know there is always hope and that there are things we can do to save it.
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Activity 3 Watch the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and use the tool for predicting future temperatures. A range of resources from climate reporters make temperature change prediction interesting and thrilling. This is a topic that offers a wealth of exploration opportunities and abilities that the class can apply. I would start the discussion by playing the Paxi video as a relatable and visual introduction to the subject. In addition to giving the students a concise, understandable explanation of the greenhouse effect with loads of vivid imagery, this would aid in their familiarization with the concept. I particularly liked the video’s optimistic conclusion, which offered suggestions for how we may modify our behavior to lessen the impact. At the start of the school year, the Green School Committee should plan or execute this fantastic lesson at the school. Their conclusions might be applied and shared to the entire school to lower its carbon footprint for the upcoming academic year.
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Activity 3 is an excellent resource for the topic of climate change. The main focus of this activity is exploring the greenhouse affect and developing a better understanding of this. The Praxi video is a great tool for beginning the lesson as it explains what the greenhouse affect is in a way that is easy to understand for all. This video also explains what we as humans are doing to cause an increase in gasses in our atmosphere as well as what can be done to help reduce CO2 levels. If i was to play this video for my class, i would pause it at different points and prompt discussions throughout. This would help keep children engaged and allow them to ask any questions they may have.
The Teal tool is a fun way of investigating the greenhouse affect. However, i would keep this tool for older classes as it can be difficult to navigate. It allows you to see what countries are producing vast amounts of C02 as well as what countries experience the greatest effects of the rise in CO2 emissions. One thing that stood out to me, was the rise in CO2 emissions across the world in the late 20th century and 21st century compares to before.
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To carry out this activity with my class, I would begin by eliciting prior knowledge of ‘Greenhouse Gases’ by asking the pupils to brainstorm what they already know. We would then work on addressing common misconceptions and generating questions on what the children would like to find out about greenhouse gases and climate change.
I would then show the pupils the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and discuss.
With my 6th class group, I would integrate the activity with Data in Maths. I would split the class into small groups using one Chromebook per group.
Each group selects a different country.
They click on the air temperature tool and use the ‘time slider’ to explore how the air temperature data has evolved over time. They would analyse the temperature each 10 years and record this in a table & graph the data.
This will allow the pupils to see how the selected variable has changed/evolved over time.
They could then use the tool for predicting future temperatures, having analysed patterns over the past 100 years or so.
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This September, I will be teaching a MGLD class in a Junior school. To begin the lesson, I’ll use a KWL chart to determine what the children already know and what they want to learn about. After discussing their existing knowledge and interests, I’ll show them the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, which is age-appropriate and easy for them to understand. This video will serve as a good introduction to the topic. Since the original worksheet is too advanced for my class, I’ll simplify it by adding pictures, a matching activity, and space for the children to draw their answers. I’ll also demonstrate the tool for predicting future temperatures on the board. Then, I’ll download this tool onto iPads, split the class into groups, and give each group an iPad so they can use the tool on their own.
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Assignment 2
I find the European Space Agency’s “Weather and Climate” resource to be a fantastic educational tool to be used within the classroom. The resource effectively breaks down complex concepts into understandable segments, using visuals and simple language that explains and in my opinion would inspire young learners to take their own initiative in lowering our carbon footprint. It helps children to grasp the differences between weather and climate through interactive activities and engaging examples. The hands-on experiments, like creating simple weather instruments, are particularly useful for fostering curiosity and making learning tangible.
However, I feel the resource could be improved by incorporating more real-world case studies that highlight how different regions experience unique weather patterns and climate changes. Additionally, the predicting tool provides a great interactive tool that could be used with an interactive whiteboard in the classroom. Additionally I feel more suggestions for outdoor activities, such as observing and recording local weather, would enrich the learning experience for children. Overall, the resource is an excellent starting point for introducing young students to the fascinating world of meteorology. -
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I really like the visual information available using the online tool exploring the rising temperatures linked with greenhouse gases explored in the video. I think this makes for a great practical activity for students to actively engage with the topic and I like the idea of groups exploring different emission levels and the effects of this on climate. I would progress to encourage groups to present their information to the class so as to spark further debate. I think actively exploring some of the hands on ideas mentioned during the module, like the experiment to explore rising temperatures through varied conditions, would compliment this well.
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Hi Ellen,
Thanks for your post. I am delighted to see that you think this makes for a great practical activity. TEAL is a wonderful visualisation app for learners to use as it is a powerful way to convey data yet highly accessible, even for primary school learners. With some initial guidance and training from a teacher, they will soon be confident in generating results of their own.
I like the idea of getting groups to present their information to the class, and by including some hands-on activities, learners will develop their STEM skills and understanding of this important topic further.
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The past few years I have been in between the classroom and the learning support room. This activity has prompted me to remember a lot of the preteaching I would do with certain children before a topic would be taught in the classroom. I think the Paxi video is a great video that is child friendly with great visuals to help children understand the greenhouse gases process, I think it can be used for all ages and I would definitely use it as a pre teaching tool for children in the LS room to gather prior knowledge before it is taught as whole class. I had never seen or heard of the TEAL tool before this and I know the senior class children would navigate it quickly. To extend the learning I would get the children in groups to create kahoot quiz to share and play with the other groups and the other classes in the school.
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Hi Emma
That’s a lovely idea to use the Paxi video as a pre-teaching tool for learning support before the topic of greenhouse gases is taught in class. The video itself is short but it can lead to lots of discussion around the topic of greenhouse gases. The TEAL tool would be great for older classes. You could start them off on some simple scenarios and see what they are able to discover for themselves.
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This is a really interesting and engaging lesson plan. Following on from the previous activities on weather, climate and being weather detectives I would then ask the children for their prior knowledge of greenhouse gases, make a list of those and then a list of what we want to learn more about them and their effect on the earth. The Paxi video is really well put together for the children to be able to understand and engage with the topic on their own level. Having previously set up a weather station and then becoming weather detectives, noticing patterns in the weather and making future predictions of the weather I feel the children would be better able to approach the subject of climate change. Working in groups they would be able to do small projects on what we as humans are doing day to day to damage the environment, while coming up with ideas around the school in which we could improve. These suggestions could then be brought to the green schools committee to see if there is anything that we aren’t already doing daily.
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The lesson on climate change is very effective and engaging. I like how it gives facts and information and then sets a challenge for the children. If I was teaching this lesson I would certainly use the ESA-PAXI video as I thought this was an excellent introduction to climate change and greenhouse gases. It explains the concept in a child friendly way and offers scope for classroom discussion after. Having explored the TEAL temperature tool I think this would be a good resource to use to support the learning of the climate change lesson however I think it would be necessary to work with the pupils first to explain the concept and probably would work best at an older class level. I think the lesson is good however I think some children would find it challenging particularly with some of the language used in the questions and the skills mathematical skills needed to complete the activities. There is certainly a need to have this differentiated to ensure each child in the class can access the content.
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Hi Aideen,
Thanks for your post, and welcome to the course!
You make an important point about the need to differentiate content to meet the abilities of the learners. The resources provided serve as a template that can be adapted to become simpler or more challenging and are by no means prescriptive.
There is a lot to take in from the TEAL tool, and with careful guidance from a teacher on its use, it can add to the resource toolkit available to explain climate change. The PAXI video is an excellent video, and as you said, it explains the concept in a child-friendly way. It is a great conversation starter for this topic and is suitable for all ages.
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I found both resources in this module very useful. i would use the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases to the class. I think it would be a good way to garner interest from the students in a fun and inviting way. It explains the concept very well, in easy to understand language and the children would be kept interested through the animations and voice overs.
As I have 3rd class I would then use the Teal Tool to get my students to work in groups and independently to explore their predictions for climate change and to use as a tool to make a project using graphs, bar charts, illustrations and oral presentations of what they have learned.
I think that by using both of these tools in my lesson it would enable me to differentiate my lesson to ensure that all students are accessing the information at a level that is appropriate to them.
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Activity 3, involving predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, is n activity which the children will like as it is a highly engaging and enjoyable activity. To carry out this activity it in my class, I would start by showing the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. Next, I would guide the students through the simulation tool (they love these type of activities), allowing them to manipulate variables and observe the impact on temperature predictions. This hands-on approach will help deepen their understanding of climate change and ultimately the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To enhance this activity further, I would incorporate real-world data (integrating maths) and case studies where appropriate, helping the children to to analyse trends and look at possible solutions. As a follow-up activity, I would provide opportunities for critical reflection and whole-class discussions and debate on the implications of climate change actions.
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The Paxi video is very good for educational purposes. I can see both younger and more senior primary school children enjoying it. It is child friendly in it’s approach to teaching about the effects of greenhouse gases. I would use this as an introduction to the lesson. Afterwards, I would do a think, pair, square about what they learned that was new. I would then show the pupils the TEAL tool. The TEAL tool is great, it is a visual tool that can help aid in learning. This in my opinion this is important when trying to accommodate all types of learners in our classrooms. This tool can be used in group work also. I think it would be an appropriate tool to use both in class and for a homework assignment. I especially like that the temperatures can be predicted with this tool. After a wash out of a summer, this would make for an interesting topic debate. It provides the opportunity in class for critical thinking skills in regard to what would happen with rising temperatures and more rain in our climate.
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Module 2 Assignment : Siobhan ni hIceadha
After watching the Paxi video on Greenhouse gases I must say I found it very child /user friendly and easy to understand. The video is suitable for all age groups, and I really liked the use of simple language used whilst at the same time getting very important messages across. It explained very well what the greenhouse effect is. I know in the area I teach in , a lot of families have greenhouses in their gardens so the children could compare it to this very easily. I also like the way that we can help to fix the problem. Im thinking in particular of my infant class here- walk / jog / cycle instead of car where possible. We actually promote walk on Wednesdays as it is, which has proved very popular.Turning off lights / tablets/ tvs when not in use. I have a child eachweek in charge of making sure the classroom lights are off and the whiteboard at break times. The NEVER forget to remind me !
Also promoting the planting of trees is very easy for infants to understand.
Using the tools for predicting future temperatures etc is very good . However, I fell it is more suitable for the older classes.
Activity 3 –climate reporters has some great activities and resources for teachers. Again however I feel these are more suited to middle/ senior classes mostly.The climate detective kids resource I would certainly use in future if I have an older class-chrn 8-12 years old. Howver I do think the Paxi animation videos I would use with my infants-these are great . -
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Activity 3 : To begin my lesson for module 2 , I would first show my class the paxi video on this topic as I’ve found in my experience children can both respond and engage well with visual learning, especially with videos as informative and creative as the paxi ones.
I would follow up with a discussion on greenhouse gases and their effects. We will discuss tactics and efforts to end their consequences on our environment. In our society I hope to found the children will have a background knowledge on this topic but as I’ve learned in teaching you can never assume. I will have pre prepared a PowerPoint on this topic with things such as recycling ,reuse, the bottle return project, electric cars and environmentally friendly modes of creating energy. Children can share their opinions on this and their own efforts if they have any at home.
Finally I would introduce the temperature predictor tool to the class and explain how it works and why it is functional and useful to us. It can be used to show temperature changes in our vicinity and future temperatures. We could create grafs using data from this tool. A great way to introduce different types of grafs and charts to the children.
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I think the Paxi video linked here was really informative and child friendly. I wasn’t familiar with the Paxi videos and I’m interested to see what other topics they have covered as I found this one was very well pitched. It was child friendly without being too babyish which I find can be hard to achieve for 6th class students.
We are currently making a school garden and there is a greenhouse being constructed so this could allow for a nice introduction to the lesson going out to the greenhouse making observations about it and identifying what it’s purpose is. This video would then build nicely from that. I think getting the children involved in identifying ways in which they can help the planet would be beneficial for them and exploring the different commitments from countries across the world to reduce their greenhouse gases and initiatives in place to achieve this. I think this could link in really nicely with some persuasive writing work in English where the children could try to persuade others to do their bit to contribute or they could write persuasive letters to politicians etc about Ireland’s efforts.
The tool for predicting future temperatures would be very interesting for the children and show them in real life context the effects. It could provided nice opportunities of integration of maths looking at data, creating graphs etc.
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Sarah I agree that the Paxi videos are child friendly and interesting. I had never heard of them before either but I look forward to looking further into them. I am always taken back by how many resources are out there that we don’t know about. It would certainly save a lot of time having a bank of useful resources easily accessible to teacher for planning.
Best of luck with your school garden! We have found it a very enjoyable and beneficial activity for the students.
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In Activity 3 of the Weather and Climate resource, students watch the Paxi video about greenhouse gases and use a prediction tool to estimate future temperatures. This combination of visual content and interactive learning effectively engages students, helping them grasp the concept of greenhouse gases and their influence on climate change. The video breaks down complex topics into more digestible content, while the prediction tool allows students to apply their understanding and explore potential climate outcomes. To further enrich the activity, integrating a discussion where students critique different prediction models and examine their assumptions could enhance critical thinking skills. Additionally, providing additional resources on current climate policies and mitigation strategies would give students real-world context and reinforce the significance of their studies. These improvements would deepen students’ comprehension of climate change and inspire them to think critically about how to address its challenges.
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Having reviewed Activity 3, I think it has huge potential for use in the classroom. Again I would be thinking with the Senior classes in mind but I like the idea of each group working on a different climate scenario – this gives potential to complete the lesson more than once and facilitating reflective practice and key critical thinking skills. We are very lucky to be getting a set of Chrome- books this year and I think this activity provides enough guidance that it could be a very child led lesson.
Again I think there is so much opportunity for integration with complex math skills and it makes the study of data a genuinely meaningful activity. I think by the time we get to the senior classes we have done a lot of the generic lesson and this allows for a fresh perspective. It also appeals to a multitude of learners with the video and allows access to children of different abilities. -
The Paxi videos are hugely effective and great food for thought. They are a fantastic resource to draw upon in the classroom and integrate into many curricular areas in an innovative and interesting way. I would draw upon the videos and incorporate them into a lesson by introducing the topic with a KWL Chart (K and W) and then ask the children to share their prior knowledge in pairs and thereafter in small groups. After that the children would watch and contemplate upon the Paxi Videos, then discuss their thoughts upon it in small groups and one person from each group would make a presentation to the class. They would continue their learning and exploration through the means of group work projects on how to combat / reduce the impact of climate change. Afterwards they could display their projects to the whole school and finally fill in L on KWL chart. The knowledge gained could be shared at home and within the school and wider school community to work on combating the effects of climate change on a daily basis.
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Activity 3- Climate Reporters provides a very rich learning experience for learners. Personally, I feel that this particular activity would be more suitable to the older classes in primary school. As I will be teaching 2nd class this year, I would have to adapt it to make it suitable for my students. I would talk about the fact that the climate has been changing all the time but now it is changing faster than ever. I would explain how scientists can use tools to predict what the climate will be like in years to come. I would model the tool for predicting future temperatures, rather than ask the children to explore it as I feel it would be too complicated for this age group. We would have a class discussion about how climate change is happening rapidly. We may use some of the information from this activity to design posters to place around the school.
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Hi Emma,
Thanks for your post and welcome to the course!
As a 2nd class teacher, I can see how elements of this activity may prove a challenge for learners, and that you have made a plan to adjust the resources to a level that suits your class’s unique abilities.By demonstrating and focusing on one aspect, learners will take away a lot from TEAL, as a visally engaging prediction tool.
Designing posters for around the school is a great way to extend the lesson, integrate Art and English, and consolidate learning on this important topic, perhaps using some of your findings from TEAL as part of the poster.
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Response to Activity Three – Greenhouse gases. I teach in a senior school and I think this video is appropriate in length to engage their interest and is a visually rich learning experience for the children. I would start the lesson with a KWL (Know, Want, Learn) chart to gather previous related knowledge on the subject and what the children would like to know about the topic. On the last lesson of this topic we would fill in what the children learned. We would have a class discussion on climate change. I would then show the video to the children and to discuss 3 main points they remember in pairs and then share them with the class. To enhance the children’s learning, I would ask them to create digital projects in small groups and present them to the class.
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Hi Caitlin.
Thanks for your post. As a teacher in a senior class, I think that the videos are well-suited to your group and will help them begin to understand this topic. Lots of new vocabulary may warrant a poster/list to capture these terms, and a Kahoot quiz could help consolidate learning later on.
A KWL chart is a great idea for this topic, as there can be considerable confusion about this topic. Creating digital projects in small groups is a great way to get learners active on ICT and develop their presentation skills while growing in their understanding of this environmental challenge.
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In this activity, students will explore future climate scenarios and analyze how these changes could impact global temperatures. They will also discuss actions that can help mitigate or raise awareness of the effects caused by rising temperatures. The Paxi video is an excellent resource to engage students, as it presents these concepts clearly and stimulatingly. Show this video to the students before starting the activity.
Discussion and Exploration
Ask Students:What is a greenhouse gas, and how are they produced?
What is the difference between the natural greenhouse effect and the anthropogenic greenhouse effect (caused by human activities)?
Encourage Predictions:Ask students to predict what Earth’s climate might be like in the future based on current trends and data.
Group Activity
Scenario Analysis:Provide different climate scenarios for the students to work on in groups. Each group will analyse their assigned scenario, discuss the potential impacts on global temperatures, and brainstorm actions to address these impacts.
Class Presentation:Have each group present their findings and proposed actions to the class. Encourage discussion and reflection on the variety of scenarios and solutions presented.
This activity is particularly well-suited for senior students, as it encourages critical thinking and collaboration on complex, real-world issues. -
Activity 3: Climate reporters offer many fun resources to help students learn about predicting temperature changes. There’s a lot to explore, and students can develop various skills. To start, I would show the Paxi video because it provides a clear and simple explanation of the greenhouse effect using engaging visuals. The video also ends on a positive note, showing how we can change our actions to reduce the greenhouse effect.
Next, I would use the temperature predictor tool to demonstrate how local temperatures might rise and what factors are considered in these predictions. I found this task enjoyable and think it would make an exciting group project for older students.
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Activity 3 involves predicting future temperatures influenced by greenhouse gas emissions. I plan to start by discussing and brainstorming with students to gauge their existing knowledge of climate change and greenhouse gases. Familiarising them with relevant vocabulary and allowing time for questions will be crucial. The Paxi video effectively explains the greenhouse effect with clear visuals and ends on a positive note about how we can mitigate its impacts. After watching the Paxi video, students will interact with a simulation tool where they can modify various factors to observe their impact on temperature forecasts. Following this, they will collaborate in groups to develop actionable strategies for individuals, families, and schools to combat climate change. To further enrich the activity, I would integrate real-world data and case studies. Students would analyse these trends and develop potential solutions. Additionally, incorporating opportunities for critical reflection and discussion on the ethical implications of climate actions will enhance their learning experience.
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As a stimulus for the lesson, I would use the PAXI video. I believe the children will be engaged from the beginning if they watch this. After eliciting prior knowledge from the children and an in depth conversation with them, I would then introduce the activities. Completing these activities in groups would be excellent as children can share their ideas and work cooperatively. They would be tasked to suggest a number of changes humans need to make to eliminate climate change. Children will use their whiteboards to brainstorm these ideas. Incorporating ICT into the topic, I would encourage the children to use the TEAL tool. Before using the tool, I would demonstrate it for the children. This will allow the children to explore different aspects of climate. This type of lesson will be received very well by the children, I believe they will enjoy it while also receiving a holistic learning experience on climate and weather.
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Hi Maria
That sounds like a lovely lesson, where you introduce the topics and the websites and tools to find information and then give the children the freedom to work in groups on their projects. allowing them the space to research climate change and find information for themselves and come up with solutions will give them ownership of their project and make them more likely to retain the information than if you had simply presented it to them.
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Using a tool to forecast future temperatures and viewing a Paxi film on greenhouse gases comprise Activity 3 of the Weather and Climate offering. Through the efficient use of interactive tools and visual learning, this activity raises student interest and comprehension of greenhouse gases and how they affect climate change. The prediction tool helps students to use their knowledge and see possible future scenarios, while the film makes complicated subjects more approachable. Adding a discussion element to the exercise, where students examine various prediction models and their underlying presumptions, could enhance critical thinking even further. Furthermore, supplying additional resources on actual climate policies and mitigation tactics would highlight the relevance of their education and provide useful insights. By including these components, the exercise may encourage students to think critically about potential solutions and provide a more thorough understanding of climate change. I would really like to set up a Zoom conversation with a representative from Met Eireann to emphasize the effects of rising temperatures and climate change.
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The Paxi video would be used in my class as the stimulus at the beginning of my lesson to begin the discussion on this topic. This video is a great stimulus as it explains the greenhouse gas effect in a very clear and simple way. It is also very engaging and would no doubt instigate a very good discussion on the topic. I like how there is groupwork involved in activity 3 which gives opportunity to facilitate great discussion and conversation within the class. I would also incorporate the use of I-pads into this lesson and using the temperature predictor tool let them explore the impact on climate change across the world.
I do feel that this activity could be further enhanced with the presence of some interactive activities such as a quiz that the children could engage in at the end of the lesson, which could also be used as a tool of assessment. -
The Paxi video would be brilliant for engaging learners in a lesson especially children from the younger class ranges. The TEAL Tool is fascinating and a wonderful resource to use in the classroom. It is a wonderful visual aid to show children in real time the changes which have occurred over time. This resource would really help children understand the concept of climate change and the impacts that modern society are having on the significant increase in the rate of climate change. To add to this activity I would maybe combine it with a project in the classroom whereby the children could each explore different causes of climate change. Alternatively we could pick a location around the world and explore the impacts of climate change on that specific region. This would be a great way of showing children the global impact of climate change.
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While the TEAL Website is an excellent resource, the Paxi video on Greenhouse gases and the videos provided on the website would definitely have to be watched prior and the terminology on the website would need to be explained as well. I would let the children play around with the website allowing them to get used to it before setting some activities and tasks for them to complete based on the TEAL Tool. It is definitely a tool for older classes.
You could divide your class into 5 groups with each group investigating the change of Carbon Emissions, Wind Speed, Solar Radiation, Precipitation and Temperature across a number of countries, with each group getting a different list of countries to investigate. Or you could divide the groups up into continents and allow them to choose whichever countries they wanted within their given continent.
The scope for cross-curricular integration is wide and you could have an interesting maths lesson exploring averages and making predictions or you could write great reports based on the statistics and observations made!
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Hi Paul,
Thanks for your post. You make a good point about how the TEAL app should not be a starting point for this activity without giving context and the appropriate terminology for this lesson and taking the time to demonstrate how to use this app.
This generation of learners is quite comfortable with technology, and allowing them time to play and explore on the website will be time well spent, as they will build their confidence in using it through free exploration. Plenty of maths opportunities, as you say. Reports could be created in PowerPoint and presented to other classes for further skill development in communications.
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This is a fantastic activity to get children investigating and researching different areas and how the temperature, rainfall etc are changing. I would definitely show the children the paxi video as it explains different terminology and is informative for the children. I would put the children into different groups which will allow the children to share their ideas and thoughts. They can then present it to the class.
I love using Blooket when learning new topics so I would have the children doin different blooket quizzes allowing them to recap and answer questions on parts of the topic we have learned. I will introduce them to the Teal Tool also and allow them to navigate independently.
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This is a fantastic activity to get children investigating and researching different areas and how the temperature, rainfall etc are changing. I would definitely show the children the paxi video as it explains different terminology and is informative for the children. I would put the children into different groups which will allow the children to share their ideas and thoughts. They can then present it to the class.
I love using Blooket when learning new topics so I would have the children doin different blooket quizzes allowing them to recap and answer questions on parts of the topic we have learned. I will introduce them to the Teal Tool also and allow them to navigate independently.
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I found the Paxi video to be very informative.It would be an ideal starting point on the topic of the Greenhouse effect. It shows clearly what is happening in the atmosphere and the effects people are having on it. Prior to the showing the video, I would like to complete the greenhouse gas experiment with the peat in the plastic bottles to help the children grasp concepts of what is actually happening. It would be a lovely way for the kids to actively engage in the process of the greenhouse gas effect with a hands on approach. Following the video I would like to take class on a tour of the school and surrounding areas to actually investigate what changes have been made to the natural environment, eg house’s shops, farms and possibly observe traffic on the roads to determine what is actually causing the release of carbon dioxide in the the atmosphere. By doing so it would children to gain an insight into the whole situation rather just explaining it. The you tube video ‘ Story of Fossil Fuels’ would also be a helpful resource to use.
I would use the tool for predicting future temperatures afterwards.
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Hi Liam,
Thanks for your post. You have a comprehensive plan for exploring this topic with your learners, and I like how you will incorporate a practical demonstration, video resources, and a look around the locality to identify sources of emissions. It could even extend to cross-curricular activities like posters to educate others on climate change and explore the learner’s circle of control, as mentioned by a previous poster, to alleviate any eco-anxiety.
Plenty of scope for vocabulary development and new terms for learners to record/list on a poster in the classroom.
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Similar to the first two activities, activity 3 is engaging and practical and it provides children with comprehensive and detailed way to enhance their knowledge on climate change. There is so much cross-curricular linkage in this activity from exploring people at work to developing digital technology skills within the classroom. The use of group work suggested in this activity is an excellent way for children to learn from each other and provides opportunities for peer scaffolding. I found the Paxi video a very nice way to introduce the lesson as it is very child friendly yet includes the key points to be taught in this lesson. I would begin my lesson by showing this to my class and follow up by eliciting any prior knowledge they have on the topic. I would also like to complete the greenhouse gas experiment with plastic bottles explored in this module as it gives children the opportunity to actually visual what is happening around them. I would complete activity 3 with my class and further like to complete a visual arts lesson where children create posters to display around the school about climate change and what we can do to help it. It would also be nice for my class to present their ideas in a school assembly to educate others in the school.There is also plenty of scope for vocabulary development in this lesson which can enhance literacy skills and this new vocabulary could be used in creating projects on the topic either online or hands on.
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To introduce this lesson I would first do a quick brainstorm to see what the children already know about the effect of greenhouse gases and climate change. I would then show them to Paxi video. This video is really engaging and I can see that the children would enjoy interacting with it. It is informative in a child friendly way and is also empowering with all we can do to help climate change. I think the importance of allowing the students to investigate how this will effect their lives is important and meaningful for children to be active in helping to save the planet. The TEAL toll links us to other countries in the world and is a good means of comparison.
The children could all present their findings to the class or invite other classes to come and watch their climate report presentations at the end.-
Hi Lorraine
I agree with your point that it is very important to link Climate Change to the children’s own lives. Too often, people in Ireland dismiss the idea of climate change thinking that it won’t affect us or that because we are a small country, our actions don’t matter. It is important to realise that while we in Ireland have escaped the worst effects of climate change so far, we are being affected by increased floods, occasional droughts and other unpredictable weather events as a result of climate change so it is relevant to everyone . We also need to take responsibility for our own part in contributing to the problem.
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I really liked this Paxi fun video about the Greenhouse effect. It explains it in a simple clear way for children to understand it. It’s also very positive and won’t cause unnecessary climate anxiety for kids. I also like the way it comes in many different languages. I watched one of the previous videos in Italian because I’m fluent in Italian. I can imagine today it will be very useful for me in my classroom because of the many nationalities in my school. EAL students can watch it in their own language on iPad/chrome book.
I watched/used the Climate/tool temperature predictor. This will be fun to use on the whiteboard for my students and for any projects they do. The can see and map the data across the world on the global map.
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I think activity 3 could be spread out over a few lessons so that there is quality discussion on the information it brings to the table. Firstly I would do KWL chart with the children on climate change and greenhouse gases. Then depending on their knowledge we could spend time discussing their contributions. After that we would watch the Paxi video on greenhouse gases which is very child friendly and informative. We would discuss the video and I would possibly create a Kahoot quiz to assess the children’s knowledge. Following this I would introduce the children to the tool for predicting future temperature and we could make predictions as a class. We could record the temperatures in the chart given. We could then discuss the impact of these predictions if they came true and also what we can do as the human race to stop this from happening and climate change.
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Hi Louise
It is a very good idea to spread this activity out over a few lessons and to include your KWL chart and lots of discussion. the topic of Climate Change shouldn’t be rushed as it is very important that children understand what greenhouse gases are and how they cause climate change. There is so much misinformation being spread about Climate Change that children have a lot of misconceptions and it is good to take the time to address these. Your use of the Paxi video to aid discussion and the Kahoot Quiz will help to reinforce the science around Climate Change and help address misconceptions.
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Activity 3: Climate Reporters is an interesting activity that I believe would be very engaging for senior classes. The activity uses an active learning approach which I favour. Depending on the class I believe it may be necessary to preteach some of the vocabulary involved later on in this lesson e.g precipitation, anthropogenic, climate variables, average, annual, solar radiation, emission etc..
I would start the lesson by using Paxi’s video about the green house effect. I found the video to be engaging and appropriate for senior primary classes. I particularly liked how the end of the video showed the positive ways we can contribute to a healthier environment.
Following this I would use a KWL chart to assess what the class know already and to plan for the rest of the lesson.
I really like the Teal tool, I hadn’t come across it before. I can see my class finding it extremely engaging and exciting to use. They enjoy any opportunity to use the iPad within a lesson. I think the class could use this to look at the changes in precipitation and temperature in Ireland from their year of birth until present day. To integrate with Maths (Data) they could then chart this. I would group my students in mixed ability groupings to ensure all students are comfortable and engaged with the topic.
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Hi Grainne,
I too agree that children are exposed to climate change more than ever in the news and on phones etc and while this is a good thing I think it prudent to give them the opportunity to find solutions on a small scale that they can effect. The worry of climate change for young people can overburden them and make them feel guilty for not doing enough. But the new bottle return schemes and other initiatives really help support them to give young children agency in the fight against climate change.
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The Paxi video is effective in demonstrating the greenhouse effect in a clear child friendly and concise manner and I would use this to begin a discussion on climate change. The children could give their ideas then using a KWL and refine their understanding of some of the more difficult vocabulary terms.
I think the TEAL tool is excellent and easier to use for the older classes with a bit of patience in that they are allowed to change the variables. The visual representation of the globe and the changing colours give a good overall impression of temperature changing, that they can later examine in detail at their own pace. It is excellent in that it provides historical data and children can further investigate those periods of peak temperatures in a year that was important to them or their grandparents life. I Think Activity 3 gives them a chance to analyse the difference in historical and projected temperatures and how these might actually effect their daily life and what they and the people around them can do to lessen those effects.
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I completely agree that the Paxi video is a fantastic starting point. Using a KWL chart is a smart way to activate prior knowledge and identify learning gaps.
The TEAL tool is definitely a powerful resource. I like the idea of letting older students experiment with different variables. It’s a great way to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving. I hadn’t considered looking at historical temperature data in relation to personal events. That’s a wonderful way to make the information more relevant to students.
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The Paxi Video is a wonderful resource it is very child friendly & engaging and should help hook children on the topic and task at hand. A useful feature of the video is it can be made accessible for learners, with subtitles and the ability to re-watch this, it can also be used to assist children in reviewing their work.I think it would be beneficial to start a KWL chart at the start of the lesson and then show the video to stimulate the discussion further around this topic and to embrace the inquiry process. Pupils could work in groups and discuss a number of questions/ how they could make changes in their daily lives to address the issues raised, in the digital video. Pupils could consider transport, home, school and the community, comply a list of ways we can make positive changes. The TEAL tool could be introduced, explained & explored as a whole class on the interactive whiteboard before allowing the students time to explore the tool further using the class i-pads. A nice follow on activity from this is a Kahoot quiz to reaffirm the children’s new knowledge in the area. As a final activity we could discuss the limitations of the TEAL tool and discuss other factors that we may have to allow for when predicting climate change.
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I liked this activity ‘Climate Reporters’. I feel it may be best suited to middle or senior classes.
· I would begin with a discussion around climate change. Hopefully children would have a good grasp of the concept after completing activity 1 and 2.
· I know that the Paxi’s video is mainly aimed at younger children however I think I would use it with middle /senior classes as I think it explains the concept of global warming in a nice clear way.
· Class discussion – how scientists predict what earth’s climate will be like in the future. Focus on how scientists make and run models to predict future climate. Explain climate scenarios.
· Divide the class into groups – use the Teal link to source different climate scenarios. I would use the worksheet provided for this activity. Children discuss how their scenario would affect their lives. How could we take action at home, in school and in the wider community to reduce the impact of the scenario.
· Each group reports their findings and conclusions to the class.
· Agreement : We would then work as a whole group to compile 2 things we will do in school to combat climate change and 2 things we will do at home to combat climate change. We will check in weekly to see how this is going …this could be taken on by the whole school. Perhaps the pupils from 5th and 6th class could pop in to the other classes once a week for feedback and maybe create a pictogram or chart on progress.
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Hi Shona,
Thanks for your post. I really like your plan for this activity, and I particularly like the SMART plans you have in place to act as a result of what your group learns about climate change.By creating a Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely plan, you have the most chance of success. Measuring progress is a great way to sustain motivation and for learners to be encouraged to do more. By making these actions apply to both home and school, the impact of this work reaches further, and the final results will demonstrate the power of collective change.
The following quote by Margaret Mead, anthropologist springs to mind,
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
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To begin the lesson, I would facilitate a class discussion on climate change to ascertain the children’s prior knowledge of the topic. As this is such a well discussed topic in the media, I feel they will have some knowledge. However, to explain the impact of carbon emissions and greenhouse gas I will show the Paxi video. I feel that this is a great, age-appropriate video to explain the greenhouse effect. It also explains how global warming is occurring and the link with human activity. I feel the prediction tool TEAL will be more user-friendly for the senior classes. I think I would use it more as a comparison tool with the younger classes to show how climate change is occurring. I really like that children can investigate different climate variables such as rainfall and temperature. I would ask the children to brainstorm how climate change is affecting the planet, rising temperatures, melting ice caps, sea-level rise, more extreme weather (like storms and droughts), and its impact on animals and plants. I think using TEAL to show areas affected by rising sea levels and extreme weather events would be very beneficial. As a visual activity the children would be asked to draw two pictures: one of the Earth as it is now, and one of what they think it will look like, if climate change continues at the same rate, in 2050. Finally, in small groups the children will be asked to come up with a climate action plan for the school.
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Hi Ailbhe
I think a class discussion to assess children’s prior knowledge of Climate Change is essential before dealing with this topic As you said, most children will have some knowledge as it is now belatedly being discussed to some extent in the media, but I’m sure you will find that children have many misconceptions as the causes of climate change are rarely discussed in any detail and many adults are not aware of the differences between weather and climate and how global warming can lead to many different extremes including cold and wet weather. The Paxi video is a great place to start in explaining how man made climate change is happening and how our actions can contribute in negative or positive ways.
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I found the experience both engaging and insightful, especially the way it integrates real-world climate science with interactive learning. The Paxi video on greenhouse gases was a great way to introduce the topic to younger students. It broke down a complex issue into something understandable and relatable for them. The tool for predicting future temperatures was particularly eye-opening. It made the abstract concept of climate change more concrete by allowing students to see the potential impacts of different variables.
In terms of classroom use, I think this activity would be a powerful way to get students thinking critically about the environment. However, I would suggest incorporating more localised data (if possible) or examples into the tool. This would help students connect global issues to their own local communities. Additionally, adding a discussion component after the activity could encourage students to reflect on what they’ve learned and consider how they can contribute to solutions. -
Activity 3, where students predict future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, sounds like a fun and engaging way to teach about climate change. To bring this into my class, I’d start by showing the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases in a simple way. Then, I’d guide the students through the simulation tool, letting them play around with different variables and see how these changes affect temperature predictions. This hands-on approach would help them really grasp the impact of greenhouse gases and why it’s so important to reduce emissions.
To make the activity even more relevant, I could include real-world data and case studies for students to analyze. They could look at trends and come up with their own solutions, connecting what they see in the simulation to what’s happening in the world. The tool is a really hands-on way of involving the children and getting them to think critically about the information they’re learning. To wrap it up, I could have them brainstorm actions that could make a real difference in reducing emissions, bringing the lesson full circle with a focus on practical solutions.
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Some really great ideas on improving this activities for the classroom. I loved Simons idea to try and arrange some kind of Zoom call with someone from Met Eireann to further emphasise the impact of climate change and rises in temperature. This would be exciting and engaging for the children, again bringing it back to the real world for them.
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I find this lesson on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions both fascinating and highly practical, and I’m eager to bring it into my classroom. I would start by engaging the students in a discussion to elicit their prior knowledge about climate change, encouraging them to brainstorm and share what they already know. They should have a good grasp on some of the language due to the previous activities we would have completed. This would be followed by familiarizing them with key vocabulary, giving them time to reflect and generate their own questions, which I believe is crucial for deepening their understanding. Having a STEM notebook for key definitions etc would be super useful.
To introduce the concept of greenhouse gases in an engaging way, I would show the Paxi video. Although it’s typically aimed at younger children, I believe it would be equally effective for middle or senior classes because of its clear and concise explanation of global warming. After watching the video, once all the way through and a second time pausing every few minutes; I would then guide the students through an interactive simulation tool that allows them to manipulate variables and predict future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions. This hands-on approach not only reinforces their understanding but also demonstrates the real-world impact of these emissions. Using ipads they could do this themselves after I have modeled how to use the TEAL tool for predicting temperatures.
Next, I would divide the class into groups and have them explore different climate scenarios using resources like the Teal link and accompanying worksheets. Each group would discuss how their assigned scenario might affect their lives and brainstorm practical actions they could take at home, in school, and within the broader community to mitigate these impacts. The groups would then present their findings and proposed solutions to the class.
To conclude, we would come together as a whole class to agree on specific actions we can take both at school and at home to combat climate change. We would set up a system for weekly check-ins, where older students could visit other classes to gather feedback and track our progress using a pictogram or chart. This collaborative approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of climate change but also encourages the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Moreover, in a special education setting, these activities are particularly valuable as they help extend vocabulary and lead to a more profound comprehension of classroom topics. Rachel
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I found the the Paxi Video about greenhouse gases and the TEAL Tool to teach children about climate and greenhouse gases very informative and great learning tools for kids. The activities are both easy to teach learn and solve. There are many hands-on activities to get children of all ages involved in the importance of looking after our local environment and climate.
The Teal tool is a great option for the middle to senior classes to help develop numeracy skills thought the exploration of data, graphs and collecting data as they compare and contract many regions. I would get the children involved in talks and discussions first as a whole class and brainstorm all the important subjects as they watch the Paxi video. Their evidence and findings could be presented to the whole school in many hands-on, interesting and creative ways. The use of IT and i-pads would further stimulate the pupils interest, cognitive skills and research skills. The green school committee with a representative from each class would report back to each class, display work on at the entrance notice board and allow for whole school/parental feedback.
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I completely agree Carmel with your assessment of the Paxi video and the TEAL Tool. Both are excellent resources for teaching kids about climate change and greenhouse gases in an engaging and accessible way. The hands-on activities you mentioned, along with discussions and presentations, provide a well-rounded approach to learning. Incorporating IT and the green school committee adds an interactive element that encourages students to take ownership of their learning and involve the broader school community.
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This is a very interesting and important activity. There is so much talk about climate change it is vital children understand it themselves. Climate Reporters is a wonderful activity to teach the children about the effects of Greenhouse Gases. The data on the level of Carbon Dioxide increasing and the dramatic increase since 1950 is frightening. I do like how there is a positive focus put on it and children are encouraged to be the change. Seeing themselves how it is being caused and what can be done to prevent it will help in the fight against climate change.
The tool I would select is the temperature predictor. This can be used to show how temperatures can increase where we live and predict future temperatures. I thought the Teal Bot was something the children would really enjoy. Using AI technology to navigate through historical climate data is so interesting and important. You can explore data from climate variables and see how they have changed for different locations and dates.
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Module 2 Activity 3:
I would brainstorm with the children to get a greater understanding of the children’s prior knowledge before we start the topic of climate change. I would then show the children the Paxi video (which is very well put together using child friendly vocabulary and is also extremely informative.) Just like Padraic said I would then use Kahoot quiz to assess if there have been any misconceptions after the video. I believe the activity of weather detectives is a fantastic idea, it gives the children a real focus on their learning and investigating. It will also help them with their organisational and predicting skills. I can envisage the gather of data will lead to thought provoking and engaging discussions within the classroom environment. As this topic is regularly spoken about in the media it may lead to conversation at home as well which should be strongly encouraged. This in turn (we would hope) could encourage families to become more environmentally aware and environmentally conscious.
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Hi Patrick,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the climate detectives activity. I think that exploring the pupils’ prior knowledge is a good starting point and as you have mentioned it will identify any misconceptions the pupils might have that can be addressed through the video or in discussion within the lesson.
The Teal tool does allow for lots of skills development such as predicting and analysing and through exploration the pupils can become independent learners and share their own learning in class discussion and as you have said, sharing their learning at home also to increase awarness.
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Activity 3 which involves predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions sounds engaging and hands on for the children. In order to introduce the topic I would use the Paxi Video which would also introduce the concept of greenhouse gas. The video highlights the positive changes which we can implement to reduce the effect. I think group work would be a good way to help the children come up with some ideas on how we can make practical changes. These ideas could then be presented to the class or the school during school assembly. The tool that I would choose in the temperature predictor which can be used to show the children how temperatures can increase in our local area and the factors that we need to keep in mind when predicting future temperatures.
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I really enjoyed this module. David A’s video really hit home but instead of doom and gloom and possibly scaring children , he came across as reassuring and positive. An extension in the class room would include the children making their own video and delivering positive reassuring news and possibly inviting other classes to contribute through feedback.
Regarding activity 3, I would invite the children to watch and share the Pax video on green house effect. After researching and recording their finding, the children could share their findings with others via a news letter to raise awareness
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Activity three seems very relatable and particuarly suited to an older group of learners. I would begin by discussing pupils’ prior knowledge on the topics using key words from the video such as greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, rainfall and temperature. I think this would help pupils be in the right frame of mind for watching the video together. Afterwards I like the idea of using technology such as kahoot to assess pupils misconceptions (which can be rife in this domain). I think I would integrate this activity into a weekly or fortnightly theme. It’s a great starting point to incorporate the maths curriculum (maybe even the new curriculum) and I think the central topic is morally quite attractive for primary school pupils. We could put our work together and display it around the school for the whole community to benefit from.
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Hi Christopher
Discussing Climate Change with the children prior to watching the video is a good idea. There are a lot of misconceptions around this topic and a lot of misinformation so understanding what the children already know is important. Introducing the terminology that is used in the video is a good way of preparing them. The video will reinforce the ideas introduced in the class discussion and Kahoot would be a good follow up as it can take some time to understand how greenhouse gases lead to Global warming and how this can cause the Climate to change in many different ways,
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A recent academic study has revealed that anxiety is among the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in children and teenagers, so it is with some trepidation that I approach all work on Climate Change. As a ten year old. I remember finding a government designed pamphlet sent out to schools on what to do in the case of a nuclear event, which was the primary existential threat of the day. The stomach-twisting sense of catastrophizing it triggered is almost palpable to this day and while there are many children that will focus on the positive conclusion of the Pax video on what we can do to affect change, I’m always aware of the cohort that will ruminate negatively on the concerned scientists studying the cataclysmic trend graph.
The key phrase in the video is ‘The Good News’ and this will form the fulcrum of the development, as giving the children agency in shaping their future is elemental in alleviating any anxiety that might stem from this work. I will preload a Google Slides presentation entitled ‘Climate Change Good News’ with spaces in which we can enter the actions we can do, e.g walk, cycle, conserve water, turn off appliances, etc.
I have found that setting a home based challenge, e.g Climate Crisis Side Quest, where we list the actions and the children can tick them off at home as they complete them, allows for further reinforcement of the message, as the children are tasked with carrying their learning home and communicating it to family members, where further conversation can take place, in so doing deepening their understanding.
The tool for predicting future temperatures will be conducted in tandem with a numeracy study of data and averages. Data can be a wonderfully rich strand when the children choose the topics and are charged with corralling the information before sculpting into a graphical representation. In my experience, it is also one of most successful crucibles for group work, with component tasks that play into everyone’s strengths, including social/interpersonal, mathematical art, visual, etc. It’s a joy to furnish the groups with the tools to create their own study and then let them off, acting as a sounding board and facilitator when the need arises.
I thought Activity 3 was wonderfully structured and resourced. For maximal impact, I always believe the local is the universal and I would use Met Office Data from our locality to incorporate ground and air temperatures over the past decades to make the study more personalised and relevant.
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I would use the Paxi video as a stimulus to introduce the topic of climate change. The video explains what greenhouse gases are in a child-friendly and coherent manner that I think is very engaging and would capture the children’s attention. I like that the video is optimistic as sometimes children may feel daunted or overwhelmed with the concept of climate change. I think prior to showing the video I would provide time for the children to brainstorm and create a KWL chart to assess their prior knowledge of greenhouse gases. The tool for predicting future temperatures would be a great way for the children to apply their learning and also to imagine possible future scenarios. Promoting the children to reflect on the impact of rising temperatures on a national and international level with older classes would be a great way to develop critical thinking. This would allow children to connect their learning to real-life examples. I would like to build on this learning through project work where the children would collaborate to investigate possible solutions to reduce greenhouse gases.
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I find the teal weather predictor particularly useful for visualizing potential temperature changes in specific areas, making it a valuable educational tool. Additionally, the predictor’s ability to incorporate local data makes weather predictions more relevant and relatable. These range of resources make understanding and forecasting temperature changes both engaging and intriguing. This subject provides plenty of opportunities for exploration and skill development within the class. To kick off the discussion, I would start by showing the Paxi video, which serves as a visual and relatable introduction to the topic. The video effectively helps students grasp the concept of the greenhouse effect, offering a straightforward and visual explanation. I also appreciated how the video concluded with an optimistic message about how our actions can mitigate the impact. Additionally, I would introduce the temperature prediction tool to demonstrate to students how local temperatures might rise and the various factors that influence future temperature predictions. This would lead to talk and discussion and how we can play our part as a whole to reduce climate change.
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Hi Seamus,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on module 2.
The Paxi video introduces the concept well and it is a great starting point for discussion in the class and I agree that ending with an optimistic message is good to encourage students as some pupils can be quite anxious regarding climate change. This also leads nicely to exploring the Teal tool with the pupils in the classroom so they can explore the changes in temperature and develop a positive approach to making changes in the school and at home.
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I really enjoyed this module. It is an eye opening realisation that our generation and particularly the next generation need to be fully aware of and aware of the impact they can have on climate change. I think it is important that children understand what is happening in the world around them and understand what climate change actually means but I also think that it is pivotal that children can become agents in their own actions and understand that they have the ability to make small lifestyle changes which can positively combat climate change, this is a conversation that could be developed from activity three.
Activity three is a great way to further develop the children’s understanding of climate change. It will clearly show them how the temperature is changing over time. The Paxi video is a great way to develop their understanding of the topic of climate change without scaring them and creating a level of anxiety amongst the children. This is definitely a difficult topic to teach due to the underlying anxiety associated with climate change but this module and accompanying activities has equipped me with the skills and resources to effectively teach the topic of climate change.
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I found activity 3 interesting, very important, especially with whats going on in the world today and very practical. As I have a 1st class I would begin with a chat about the green house effect to see what the children already know. From there I would introduce the Paxi Video. This is very child friendly, colourful and I think it will really grab their attention. When the video finishes I would have a class discussion about it and try and keep it as positive for them as possible.
We would then look at how we can take temperatures and how we could record them. From here we would look at our role in this and what we can do at home, in school and in our community to tackle climate change.
I do think it is vital to get the message across but equally not to scare the children. So ill be very mindful to keep the lesson/lessons as positive and productive as possible.
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I think what Olivia is saying is very important. We shouldn’t scare the younger children especially into thinking that climate change and global warming is very serious but also it’s important to educate them and build on this information each year. As they get older they will be able to handle more accurate facts about our world and the negative impacts we have on it. However, for the younger classes it’s best to focus on educating them about what we can do to help and that small changes do make a big impact.
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Activity 3:
The climate reporters is a fun, practical and excellent resource for a primary classroom because it combines interactive learning with real-world applications. I like how the students can use Paxi’s video to engage with activating prior knowledge and learn additional foundational knowledge about greenhouse gases and then exploring different climate scenarios, students gain a comprehensive understanding of climate change. The group work element would be great to try in the classroom to foster collaboration and critical thinking on the topic of climate which needs collaborative efforts. The activity’s emphasis on brainstorming solutions encourages students to think creatively about real-world problems. Incorporating a presentation aspect where students present their findings and discuss personal actions can reinforce the material and connect classroom learning to everyday life.
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Activity three looks like an excellent and engaging resource. I think this would be a fascinating lesson for the senior end of the school. I would start the lesson by recapping on the children’s prior knowledge and showing them the Paxi video (to consolidate their understanding of the greenhouse effect). It is a lovely child-friendly video with great illustrations. The children can come up with their own changes they can make in their own lives. I would then introduce the Teal Tool to the class. I think it’s a fantastic resource but it might be a little tricky for younger children. Dividing the class into small groups to focus on different countries/climates will promote teamwork, discussion and collaboration. They can then present their findings to the rest of the class using a method of their preference eg. graphs, bar charts, posters, powerpoint, drawings etc. To conclude the lesson, it’s important the children reflect back on their own learning.
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Hi Emily
I like your idea of dividing the class into groups to use the TEAL tool. Maybe you could first demonstrate with Ireland. COme up with some simple questions about temperature, rainfall etc in Ireland e.g. comparing the same month over a number of years and see what you can find out as a class. When you split the children into groups, they could first come up with a list of questions they want to answer about the country they are researching before using the TEAL tool to answer the questions. As they research they may come across other information that they want to highlight. Alternatively, the class could come up with a list of questions that every team will research so they can then compare results. I like the idea of teams having a choice in how they present their findings.
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I found that activity 3 was an interesting and engaging resource. For my 5th class, I’d show the paxi video to explain the greenhouse effect in a fun and understandable way. Afterward, I’d encourage my students to think about how this phenomenon impacts our planet and share their thoughts.
Next, we’d explore further by researching how human activities contribute to the greenhouse effect and examine Ireland’s efforts in reducing emissions. I’d then have the students act as climate reporters, creating their own reports through writing, posters, or videos, with a focus on the positive changes Ireland is making, like expanding renewable energy.
Finally, we’d reflect together on what they learned, reinforcing the importance of their role in combating climate change while maintaining a hopeful outlook. This activity would not only educate but also inspire action and critical thinking.
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This activity would be a great addition to learning about Climate and Climate change.
I would go over vocabulary and prior knowledge before starting. The videos are very informative and do so much explaining for you. In using the tool, I would firstly use it as a whole class investigation and use the interactive whiteboard as it is quite tricky. The children could then work in groups on their devices. We are a very multinational school so it might be an idea to work on a number of different countries and then to present their findings to other classes and involve the Green Schools Committee in their work. The children who originate from different countries other than Ireland would find it very interesting to learn about their country. We can then discuss our results and how we think we could encourage changes in behaviours to help. -
To utilise this tool with my class I would start by asking the children what they know about greenhouse gases, creating a KWL chart and then showing the children the paxi video on greenhouse gases. I’d show the children the resource and the different areas it goes into detail about e.g. temperature, precipitation, wind speed, solar radiation and carbon emissions. I’d break the class into groups and ask them to record would each group would like to know about greenhouse gases and it’s impact on specific countries in these five areas. Meanwhile I’d have set up the tealtool.earth on the devices that we have access to for the children to do some exploring and ask them to come up with answers for the questions they originally posed after seeing the video. It would be ideal to bring maths into this lesson also in the future as the children could create graphs illustrating the results on specific countries. There is a lot of scope for this tool from both the younger classes to the older ones. The Green Schools Committee would also get involved as it could link directly to some of the actions we undertake in our school, e.g. walk to school, cycle, carpool, turn lights off, don’t let water run, recycle, reuse for art and STEAM activities etc. I picture this tool being used over a few weeks for project work as there is so much you can do with it and it would link/integrate into many more subjects also.
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Activity 3 – climate reporters
To start this lesson we would brainstorm what a greenhouse is and has anyone seen one or what its purpose is. Afterwards give a quick explanation and then I would use the Paxi video. I found the video very engaging and it gave a clear description with nice imagery which the children could follow and understand. It also is quite reassuring to the pupils as it outlines how we can help reduce the effects by carrying out simple activities such as recycling, powering off electronics, cycling more and conserving water.
The tool I would choose for my class is the temperature predictor. It shows how temperatures can increase in our local area and predict future temperatures.
Finally, as a concluding activity the class could design posters for raising awareness around the school/local community on ways to try combat climate change. They would draw pictures, create slogans and put in factual information learned, such as information gathered from temperature predictor of local area.
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The ESA Activity “Climate Reporters” is a valuable tool for engaging students in exploring the impacts of climate change on local environments. In this activity, students investigate how climate change affects their community and create reports to communicate their findings. This hands-on approach is effective for fostering research skills, critical thinking, and environmental awareness.
However, the activity could be enhanced by incorporating more structured guidance on sourcing credible information and evaluating data. Adding a collaborative element, such as group discussions or peer reviews, could enrich the learning experience by encouraging students to share perspectives and refine their ideas. Additionally, incorporating digital tools, like creating multimedia presentations would modernise the activity and help students develop relevant communication skills.
In my class, I would use this activity as part of a larger project, where students could compare their findings with other regions, fostering a global perspective on climate change
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Activity 3 on the Weather and Climate module offers an excellent classroom opportunity that blends visual learning with interactive tools to enhance students’ understanding of greenhouse gases and climate change. The Paxi video simplifies complex ideas, making them more accessible, while the prediction tool allows students to apply their knowledge and visualise future scenarios. Group work is a key component of this activity, breaking down the vast and sometimes overwhelming topic of climate and weather into manageable parts. To enrich the learning experience, I would start by using a KWL chart to assess students’ prior knowledge before showing the Paxi video. Following this, I would incorporate elements from the TEAL website, such as fact sheets that could be turned into group discussion cards. Additionally, our access to iPads would allow students to do some research and present their findings on Google Slides or powerpoint presentation infront of the class.
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I would engage the pupils in the senior classes with a news headline currently being reported relating to climate change. For example: “Should Dublin airport be allowed to increase the annual passenger cap?” I would ask them why they think this is causing such debate in the country at the moment. Hopefully this would engage the class to begin talking about greenhouse gases etc and climate change. We would discuss what we already know regarding the topic and then I would show them the paxi video, following on we would investigate with the Teal tool for predicting future temperatures. We would follow the rest of the activity investigating why greenhouse gases are increasing and what it means for the plant. What are the next steps that nations need to adopt going forward and then we would reflect and come back to our engagement headline regarding passenger caps in Dublin airport and I would ask the class to give their opinion and vote whether they think the government should increase the passenger. We could have a class debate….. lots of possibilities for integration with literacy.
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Hi Orla
I love the idea of using a recent newspaper article and a current topic to introduce the lesson on greenhouse gases. There is great progression there from introducing the question at the start and debating it, to then learning more about greenhouse gases and climate change and coming back to the original question. It would be very interesting to see if opinions change after learning more about the topic. brining in some data about Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions and airline emissions in general would be a good way to add to this discussion. Websites such as https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions can help with global figures while https://www.seai.ie/data-and-insights/ has information on Ireland’s emissions. It is also a great way of showing the children that Climate Change is not just an abstract concept but has an impact on our lives in many ways and needs to be considered in everything we do.
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Hello Orla & Una,
I also agree that using a current news item is a fantastic way of engaging older students to the debate on climate action. It has thankfully become a more regular topic in the media and it would be brilliant to imagine older primary students offering informed opinions to their parents and families.
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In Activity 3 Climate Reporters pupils work with climate predictions. They will discuss the effect of global warming on our planet in the future and write a climate summary for the year 2050.
The_Greenhouse_Effect video from the ESA is a useful resource to explain about greenhouse gases and to prompt talk and discussion and wondering questions.
The third question about the effects of an increase in global air temperatures on daily life and the planet is a very broad question. This question could form the basis of a group project. Possible solutions could be incorporated in the project.
Using the tool for predicting future temperatures incorporates technology for the pupils.
Pupils can become critical thinkers as they pose questions (what can be done? How can effects be minimised? Where do solutions lie? Etc.
The addition of recent ‘climate reports’ could be included in activity 3. Showing children the inventiveness of humankind in tackling greenhouse gases enables positivity to be applied to the activity. Positivity is an important aspect to incorporate in such an activity so as to highlight a ‘solution-based’ approach to the future. Focusing on various sectors such as agriculture and industry and at an individual level will highlight renewable energies, energy conservation, reduction in consumption & waste, recycling etc.-
Hi Martina
I love your approach of including a focus on recent innovations and inventions that help to tackle climate change. It is always good to put a positive slant on discussions around climate change and get the children thinking about solutions that can help to reduce the effects or mitigate against them. Using real life examples of people who have come up with solutions is a great way to do this and as our understanding of the problem grows, there are new ideas and solutions being developed all the time. Highlighting these innovations and using stories and examples of people, especially young people who have made a positive difference is a great idea to instil a sense of hope in children. I came across this book recently which might be of interest https://www.rebelgirls.com/products/rebel-girls-climate-warriors
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Activity 3: Climate reporters and predicting temperature change, is a very interesting and engaging activity for the children. It helps them to grasp the whole idea if temperature and climate change. It is very important that the children can see for themselves that climate change is also happening now! It is not something that is going to happen. I think a great way of demonstrating this is simply to look at this summer.
I would show the class the Paxi cartoon, which I personally thought to be very informative and easy to understand. It is very important that the children understand that the ‘Greenhouse Effect’ is a natural effect and how they can do their bit to help.
The temperature predictor tool would give the children a great idea of how the influence of humans directly affect the weather. I would hope that this might give them ‘food for thought’ and make more of an effort to make a positive difference.
To give them a better experience I’d ask the children to put on their coats and zip them up before beginning the lesson. This will give them the feeling of warming up and being too hot and try to put that into the context of global warming. -
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This activity involves predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, this activity can be a highly interactive and engaging topic for children to engage in. It will build on their awareness of the environmental and global warming and also lead to discussion on how best to look after the environment.
To incorporate this into my class, I would begin by showing the Paxi video as my stimulus, this would open up discussion on the concept of greenhouse gases. Tar éis é seo, I would guide students through the use of a simulation tool, allowing them to adjust variables and observe how these changes affect temperature predictions. This interactive, hands-on approach would help deepen their understanding of climate change and the impact of global warming.
To further enrich the activity, I would show children real world data and statistical trends on temperature increases and then have children propose solutions.-
I completely agree with you here Luke.. this activity is highly interactive and engaging. A great way of exploring this topic with the children. I also really like your idea of enriching the activity with showing the children real world data on temperature increases and having the children come up with solutions to this. Motivating them to make changes!
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The Paxi video can be used with children as a trigger or stimulus at the start of the lesson and to elicit prior learning. By looking at and discussing future scenarios, children will learn how human activity can affect average temperatures in our area. Students can identify the consequences of increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and actions we can take to reduce global warming. Cutting and pasting images from the video is a nice activity for middle classes. The TEAL tool could be used with the senior classes to explore temperature rises locally and across the globe. As a follow up, I would use the ESERO Framework to plan inquiry in action activities. Modelling the green house effect using thermometers, lamp, soil and 2 clear plastic bottles, cling film etc. is a great hands on learning activity. Children can record and compare the temperatures from both bottles and discuss reasons for the differences.
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Hi Freda,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video and resources in this module. The Paxi video is a great stimulus as you have mentioned and would encourage class discussion and elicit the pupils prior knowledge.
I like how you plan to follow up on the video by modelling the green house effect. It is a good idea for the pupils to develop their learning further and to ensure they are active in recording the data and compare the temperatures.
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I very much enjoyed activity 3 and I could definitely see myself using this with my class. In my opinion, activity 3 is a useful teaching tool for helping students understand the dynamics of climate change. By watching the video, students gain an understanding of the role that greenhouse gases play in global warming and the potential effects that this could have on future temperatures. To improve this activity in the classroom, I would incorporate hands-on components where students use simulations or climate modeling tools to predict future temperature scenarios based on various emission scenarios. Students can see how greenhouse gases will affect future temperatures by using the tealtool.earth tool. This hands-on approach not only makes the learning process more engaging, but it also helps students comprehend the practical implications of climate change.
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Activity 3 is an excellent resource for engaging students in understanding the impact of greenhouse gases on future temperatures. The Paxi video simplifies the complex concept of greenhouse gases, making it accessible to younger students. The predictive tool is a powerful way to visualise the outcomes of different scenarios, reinforcing the importance of sustainable practices.
In my class, I would use this activity to promote critical thinking by having students analyse different future temperature scenarios and discuss the implications. Additionally, incorporating a hands-on experiment, like creating a mini greenhouse effect model, could solidify their understanding. This activity aligns well with STEM education. Enhancing the activity with group discussions and projects could further deepen students’ understanding and engagement.
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Activity 3 gives huge scope for lessons at different age groups from simple awareness with younger classes to more substantial project work with a senior class. The Paxi video would be suitable for younger classes along with similar videos on the Dr. Binocs channel on youtube. My senior infant class last year loved to watch the animated explainers. The teal tool would certainly be more useful with older classes where I might show the idea of changing temperature colours to 1st Class as a discussion point to imagining our future climate. In terms of ideas of how I would teach the topic to 1st class this year, I think I’d use an image of an actual garden greenhouse to spark the discussion; What is this called? Why is it called a greenhouse? Have you ever been inside one? How do you think it works? This primer would hopefully engage the students and help to ensure that all fully understand the metaphor of the the greenhouse effect.
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Hi Jack,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module. I like how you plan to use the Teal Tool with visual supports for younger classes. This will allow them to recognise and explore the changes in temperature and encourage discussion, using the visual of the green house will also help the pupils to understand the concept. I had not heard of Dr Binocs on YouTube, but I will check it out. Thanks for sharing.
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I really enjoyed this module. I would begin the lesson by quickly doing a look back on vocab that we learned in the last lesson. I would have these written on the whiteboard, I would then introduce the word green house gas and gather the children’s knowledge on this. We could then look up the definition and discuss. I would show the Paxi video to the class. I think this is v well suited towards senior end and I also think the David A video was brilliant. We would then look at Act 3 and climate change, the tool would be very useful here. I never came across this and I know the children would love to work on this in pairs on their ipads. For the next lesson I would maybe do the green house gas and temperate change experiment where two glass boxes with soil and thermometers are left outside in sunlight, one covered in clingfilm to show how significant it can be with the rise in temp.
Really practical ideas, thanks.
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I really enjoyed this module. Activity 3, which focuses on predicting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, is an exciting opportunity for students. To implement it in my class, I would begin by presenting the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases. Then, I would guide students through using the simulation tool, enabling them to adjust variables and see how these changes impact temperature predictions. This interactive approach would enhance their comprehension of climate change and highlight the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I would also include real-world data and case studies for students to analyze trends and develop solutions. I look forward to trying this with my class.
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Activity 3 ‘Climate Reporters’, which involves forecasting future temperatures based on greenhouse gas emissions, seems like an exciting and engaging task for students. The concept of what the Greenhouse Gas Effect is, is a difficult one and therefore I would begin this lesson in my classroom with the Paxi Video to ensure that the students have a clear understanding of it. It is a simple but very effective video. I would then model and lead students through the simulation tool, enabling them to adjust variables and see how these changes affect temperature predictions. This interactive method would enhance their understanding of climate change and highlight the significance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Group work would be the best approach and I feel that the students would require a good bit of time with the interactive tool to fully master it and therefore I would conduct this lesson over a few class periods. To enrich the activity, I would recommend utilizing online databases or news sources for research. Involving the Green Schools Committee would also be a suggestion.
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I thought the video was very helpful in explaining the greenhouse effect in a way that would be accessible for a variety of age groups. As I mentioned in my last post, I have found that the younger classes often require a visual/concrete resource for understanding topics that are not in front of them. The tool for predicting future temperatures could also be helpful in this regard.I have also found that some children can find this topic a little scary and I think the video deals with it in an informative and positive way. The consolidation at the end was also a feature I thought was very practical. While I think some parts of this activity would be beyond my First Class this coming year, the resources provide opportunity for meaningful discussion and al base of knowledge for project work on what we can do to aid in the fight against climate change.
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Activity 3 on predicting temperature change seems a very engaging and worthwhile activity for students. In my class, I would begin by eliciting the children’s prior knowledge of the topic through a class discussion and recording our knowledge through brainstorming. I would then use the Paxi video as a stimulus. This video is easy to understand and enjoyable. It would be important to spend time explaining the new terminology to the children after watching. The children will hopefully be able to see the link between our everyday actions and climate change. It might be both interesting and useful for the children to use chromebooks to do some further research with the class on weather trends in different countries in recent years.
The TEAL tool is very suited to this topic and provides interesting insights into various climate data. It would make for a very engaging activity for the children in my classroom. It would be perfect for middle and older classes in particular. -
I feel like Activity 3 is well-structured and offers a comprehensive introduction to the greenhouse effect and climate change, making it suitable for my 3rd class students. Starting with an informative video is a great way to engage students and provide a visual foundation for understanding complex concepts like greenhouse gases. Discussing the difference between natural and human-made greenhouse effects is essential to help students grasp the impact of human activities on climate.
Dividing the class into groups to work on different emission scenarios allows for collaborative learning and critical thinking. Using the online tool for predicting future temperatures introduces students to data analysis, a key STEM skill. It also helps them to realise how influential climate change is, furthering their understanding.
If somebody needed to make the activity more age-appropriate, they could simplify some of the terms and use visual aids or models to explain abstract concepts. Additionally, incorporating a creative component, such as drawing or crafting, could help younger students to express their ideas on how to lessen climate impacts, making the lesson more engaging and accessible.
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This activity is very engaging and interesting. It is very child-centered and i think would provoke the motivation and curiosity of the children. They would be very active in their learning in this activity/lesson. The children’s understanding and learning about the future effects of Greenhouse gases would be developed. The paxi video was excellent and I would definitely use this at the start of my lessons. I also think that it would be important to educate the children at the end of the lessons on how we can all make a change to reduce our effect on green house gases! This will motivate the children and encourage them to do their bit!
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Module 2 :
ASSIGNMENT
Activity 3 is a very engaging activity that I would enjoy trying with my class as either a group work task or project on the Chromebooks. We would begin by watching the Paxi video on greenhouse gases as an introduction to the lesson. It is very informative and breaks down exactly what affect Greenhouse gases have on our Earth however it is child friendly and offers some easy ways we can make a positive impact. After a whole class discussion on how we can make a change in our own lives, we could use a Chromebook in each group with recorders taking note of what their group found for each answer to activity 3 by using the Tool for predicting future temperatures. This is a very user friendly tool and one which will encourage the children to take an interest and change small habits. -
I would begin this lesson by watching the paxi video on greenhouse gases. We would create an area in the classroom for learning about climate change and from watching the video we would create a chart on the effects of green house gases on the climate. I would then demonstrate how to use the simulation tool and the students would work in small groups to adjust variables and see how these effect temperature changes. This research could be recorded and information gathered displayed in the climate change learning area.
We would then relate all of this information to our everyday lives..questions like do we burn fossil fuels in our homes , our electricity use , our use of plastics etc . This is part of the project which could be taken home and a questionnaire done with parents could be done. Close the the end of the project once students understand their impact on climate change they could educate their parents on how their household can help..this can be ongoing .
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In Activity 3, the WEMC Teal tool provides an engaging way to predict future temperatures by utilizing real climate data. The hands-on approach is excellent for helping students understand the variability and uncertainty in weather predictions. The activity’s strength lies in its ability to make abstract climate concepts tangible, allowing students to see the real-world application of their learning.
For classroom use, this tool could foster critical thinking and discussions around climate change, data interpretation, and prediction accuracy. However, I believe the activity could benefit from additional scaffolding, especially for younger or less experienced students. The paxi video would be useful here to simplify these ideas and aid their learning on greenhouse gases and the environment. It allows children see the consequences of humans actions on the environment without frightening them.
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I think that the Paxi video is a very useful tool. It uses child friendly terms while also using enough scientific language to keep their interest. The examples given of what causes the increasing greenhouse effect and how children can help to slow it down/prevent it are very useful. I think that in the younger classes especially it is important for them to understand that small changes mean a lot, in the past I have taught children who were anxious about issues like this.
Activity 3 I think is more suited to the older classes as they are better able to understand the longevity/consequences of actions today on the future of the earth’s climate/greenhouse effect. I think it would be very useful to look at the start with something like the Paxi video, before moving on to the prediction tool and activity. With 5th/6th class it would help to consider their community and what the impact of global warming would have on their community.-
Hi Susan
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video, there is some terms and vocabulary that you could explore with the pupils prior to watching the video to support the pupils and engage them.
I agree that it is important to acknowledge all the small changes we can make, even in the junior classes and reduce the anxiety around climate change for our pupils.
The Teal Tool is a great resource to explore with the senior classes and give them scenarios so they can use the prediction tool and then support their critical thinking.
I hope you enjoy the course.
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I found the video to be interesting and informative. In the context of the Esero framework for Inquiry, it is a good trigger to initially engage the children in the topic of greenhouse gases and global warming. Within this framework, the children could work in groups to pinpoint key facts and interesting points about the video. Each group could make a mind-map of their findings, taking into account prior knowledge. They could be given an opportunity to explore further resources to build a larger mind-map or visual of their work. I really like the Investigate section of the Esero Framework, as it determines the structure of the investigation. Activity 3 is helpful in determining the Starter Question and what the children will be predicting. The weather tool can be used to gather the data. This really is a series of learning opportunities over a number of weeks. Therefore, the children should be given time and opportunity to reflect and use the TEAL resource. Moreover, I feel that the Inquiry Framework could be used by the children themselves through the use of a child-friendly template.
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Hi Jacinta,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the video and activities you would complete in your class. I really like how you would get the children to create a mind map as they watched the video. It is a great skill and they can also add their own prior knowledge to the mind map too. I hope you enjoyed the course.
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In activity 3: ‘Climate Reporters’, I would start the lesson by brainstorming with the class or using Think, Pair, Share as it gives opportunity for the students to work in pairs in this discussion about greenhouse gases and climate change. The class could use the school iPads in pairs or small groups to do their own research on climate. I would continue the lesson by showing the Paxi video. The Paxi video would be very age appropriate for my 4th class that I will have in September. The Paxi video in this activity would be a great tool to enhance the students understanding and knowledge. The Paxi video is a visual, clear and informative video that the class can understand and the video could generate whole class discussion. I would then move onto the Teal simulation tool.
I feel the David Attenborough documentaries would also be very beneficial to enhance the lesson. -
In activity 3: ‘Climate Reporters’, I would start the lesson by brainstorming with the class or using Think, Pair, Share as it gives opportunity for the students to work in pairs in this discussion about greenhouse gases and climate change. The class could use the school iPads in pairs or small groups to do their own research on climate. I would continue the lesson by showing the Paxi video. The Paxi video would be very age appropriate for my 4th class that I will have in September. The Paxi video in this activity would be a great tool to enhance the students understanding and knowledge. The Paxi video is a visual, clear and informative video that the class can understand and the video could generate whole class discussion. I would then move onto the Teal simulation tool.
I feel the David Attenborough documentaries would also be very beneficial to enhance the lesson.
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