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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.
Please also comment on at least one other participant’s post
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Activity 3 is a highly engaging and accessible way to introduce students to the concept of greenhouse gases and their role in climate change. The Paxi video effectively simplifies a complex topic for younger learners, using visuals and clear language to explain how greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. The temperature prediction tool is an excellent interactive feature that allows students to visualize the impact of emissions on future climate scenarios, reinforcing the importance of reducing our carbon footprint.
In the classroom, this activity could be used as a starting point for discussions on sustainability, followed by students exploring real-world data or designing solutions to reduce emissions. One improvement might be to include a hands-on experiment or simulation to complement the digital component
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Hi Colin, I completely agree—Activity 3 is a great way to make the concept of greenhouse gases understandable and interesting for younger students. The Paxi video really helps break it down in a fun and engaging way. I also like your idea of extending it into discussions on sustainability and solutions. Including a hands-on experiment would definitely make the learning even more memorable and meaningful.
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Yes Colin I agree with you that the video makes a complex topic like greenhouse gases approachable for young learners. The emphasis on visuals, clear explanations, and interactive tools like the temperature prediction feature really showcases its educational value. I also like your suggestion for a hands-on component—it would add even more depth and engagement to the lesson.
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Activity 3 is a well-structured and engaging lesson that introduces pupils to key concepts of climate change, including greenhouse gases, climate modelling, and future climate scenarios. It encourages data analysis, critical thinking, group work, and awareness of real-world environmental issues. The integration of digital tools adds a practical, interactive element that supports inquiry-based learning.
The use of videos helps visual learners and helps younger pupils grasp abstract concepts more easily. Group work and hands-on data exploration. Working with real climate model introduces students to tools used by actual scientists and supports the development of scientific literacy. Asking pupils to compare low- and high-emissions scenarios promotes understanding of cause and effect, and the importance of human actions on climate change.
I would integrate Activity 3 into a cross-curricular project week focused on “Our Changing Planet.” I would begin by assessing prior knowledge with a quiz or class discussion, followed by the Paxi video to introduce the concept.
Then, I would divide the class into four “news teams,” each with a different region or scenario using the C3S Edu Demo to study. We’d dedicate one session to exploring the tool, another to analysis and calculation, and a third to preparing and presenting climate news segments.
To conclude, students could develop posters about actions individuals or communities can take to reduce emissions and lessen climate impacts. -
I think getting students involved by designing posters on how to reduce emissions and lessen climate impacts is a great idea. They will really understand the topic in question when they are fully immersed in it and try to come up with solutions or activities that they can do to make the world a better place.
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I think my young people would really enjoy using their ipads to record climate news segments. It would help drive them through the written parts of the worksheet and would be a great way to demonstrate their learning and reinforce it as they listen to each other’s reports.
Posters are also a great way to enhance the learning and could be hung outside the classrooms to generate interest and discussions with other students and teachers.
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I agree with you , Amelia, that pupils would enjoy using ipads to record climate news segments.
This is one way in which tasks can be differentiated. I use Seesaw with my class. There is great scope for creativity.
I love using drawings and mindmaps.
I love the idea of assigning different tasks to class groups.
There is a plethora of great ideas on the forum.
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Hi Amelia. I love your idea of getting the children to record climate news segments on their iPads. It would provide a fun and active way for the children to engage with their learning and would be great for developing their STEM skills. Listening to each other’s reports would act as a way of consolidating their learning. They could even use Green Screens on their iPads to make their videos look more impressive and professional!
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Activity 3, ‘Climate Reporters’, offers a dynamic and age-appropriate way to introduce younger learners to the causes and consequences of climate change, especially the role of greenhouse gases. The Paxi video serves as a clear and engaging entry point, using child-friendly language and visuals to explain complex environmental concepts in a way that young students can easily grasp.
To extend this learning meaningfully, I would begin with a class discussion after watching the video to reinforce key messages and answer questions. Then, students would be invited to draw pictures of everyday actions we can take to reduce emissions—such as cycling instead of driving, conserving energy, or recycling. These illustrations would be combined into a vibrant class poster, creating a shared visual representation of our learning and encouraging a sense of collective responsibility. This visual and collaborative approach supports comprehension and helps make abstract ideas more concrete.
To further support engagement and understanding, I would also incorporate a simple picture book or story related to climate change. The narrative structure and illustrations in a storybook format can enhance children’s empathy and emotional connection to the topic, helping them explore climate issues in a developmentally appropriate way.
In the later stages of the activity, older or more advanced learners could be introduced to simple climate modelling tools, such as TEAL. In groups, they would select a future emissions scenario from a curated list and use the tool to collect data on projected monthly temperature and precipitation. They would then synthesize their findings into short climate reports using a format of their choice such as posters, digital slideshows, or even short news style video reports. These presentations would offer comparisons between scenarios and highlight potential local impacts, promoting both critical thinking and creativity.
By blending storytelling, creative expression, data interpretation, and collaboration, this adapted version of Activity 3 supports a wide range of learning styles while helping students develop a foundational understanding of climate change in a hopeful and empowering way. -
I really like your idea of using illustrations and storytelling to help pupils connect with the topic. Making climate change visual and age-appropriate is so important. I also hadn’t thought of using the TEAL tool with older pupils — great suggestion for bringing data and real-world context into the discussion.
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As a 4th class teacher, I found Activity 3 from the SFI “Weather vs Climate” resource to be a valuable tool for helping pupils distinguish between weather and climate through data interpretation. The graph-based approach is accessible and encourages critical thinking, especially through the guided questions that prompt pupils to notice patterns and anomalies. To make it even more meaningful, I would use local weather data—such as temperature or rainfall from our own area—so pupils can connect more personally with the information. I’d also link this activity with our classroom weather station, encouraging students to collect and graph their own data over several weeks. This hands-on experience would help them better understand how daily weather observations can build into broader climate trends. I think the activity could also benefit from a collaborative element, such as pair work or group discussions, and I would consider using simple digital tools like spreadsheets to enhance graphing skills. Overall, it’s a strong activity that I would adapt to include real data, collaboration, and inquiry.
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When going through module 1, I opened the the link and investigated the C35 Edudemo tool. The useof this tool, alongside the Paxi video on greenhouse gases makes for a very engaging, challenging series of lessons on climate change. I believe that parts of the content are aimed at older children, Furthermore, I believe that children need reassurance around the message of climate change and the consequences of temperature rise, for example. The Paxi video imparts information and explains the concepts in a very learner-friendly way. There is scope in this series of lessons for both use of technology ie ipads, & chromebooks, access to real-life climate tools used by scientists, oral language (both in english and as Gaeilge), maths.
I love the idea of creating posters. Our class actually had a discussion on what children themselves could do to help reduce emissions. Their ideas were brilliant. To make work like this meaningful, I would relate it to our situation as much as possible and use data relating to ireland to analyse.
Models of Earth can be made out of playdough or plasticene. The cross-curricular potential is amazing.
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Hi Treasa,
Thanks for sharing!
I can see you have taken time to reflect on the delivery of this important lesson and the importance of making it age-appropriate. I also agree that children need reassurance, not scaremongering, when it comes to climate change. At its most simple, it’s a problem that we have the solution for-this is a positive that is so often forgotten! We know what we need to do; we just need to get moving faster on the solutions. And already across Ireland, we can see changes-Moneypoint ceasing to use coal, wind turbines, solar panels, etc. There are a lot of positives that can be shared.
Posters are a great way to develop STEM communication and art skills on how to convey crucial information that engages its viewers and prompts action.
I am delighted to see that the climate change conversations are already being held in your classroom and hope the resources here help prompt further discussions and activities.
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The first Paxi video looks at how the Green house keeps the temperatures right for the plants.
On planet earth gases work just like green house gases – this is what is called The Green House Effect.
The earth is getting warmer too fast. Green House gases have increased to dangerous levels especially carbon dioxide
· By burning oil, coal and natural gas for energy
· Driving cars
· Raising animals for the food industry
· Cutting down trees to build houses
· Cutting down trees – less carbon dioxide absorbed
· Reduce carbon dioxide
We can help the above by walking more, recycling more and Using less energy
Activity 3
This activity is based on Carbon Emission Scenarios. The youtube clip looks at
Air Temperature in Manua. It projects future levels and also looks at what they were like in the 1950s.
I would ask the class to base a discussion around this. The children would discuss 2 different scenarios.
· How life in the 1950s reduced carbon dioxide emissions
· How our current lifestyle increases carbon dioxide emissions and how they look for the future.
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Hi Sarah
I’m glad you liked the tools and resources in this module. When using Climate models like the Teal tool, it is important to understand the background of Climate Change and how data is represented. The modern day increase in Greenhouse Gases began at the start of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s and Greenhouse gases have been rising steadily since then. Although the Teal tool only shows data from the 1950s, the reference point for increases in Greenhouse gases is pre-industrial levels of CO2. Greenhouse gases were still increasing in the 1950s, although not at the same level as they are today.
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Hi Sarah
I’m glad you liked the tools and resources in this module. When using Climate models like the Teal tool, it is important to understand the background of Climate Change and how data is represented. The modern day increase in Greenhouse Gases began at the start of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s and Greenhouse gases have been rising steadily since then. Although the Teal tool only shows data from the 1950s, the reference point for increases in Greenhouse gases is pre-industrial levels of CO2. Greenhouse gases were still increasing in the 1950s, although not at the same level as they are today.
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Activity 3 ‘Climate Reporters’ is a fun and engaging way to introduce younger students to the idea of climate change and greenhouse gases. The Paxi video explains the concept in a clear, child-friendly way, making it easy for young learners to understand which is the level I will be teaching in the coming academic year. The temperature prediction tool can be used as a class activity, where we explore what might happen to our planet if temperatures continue to rise.
With a younger class, I would adapt the activity by having a discussion after the video and then asking children to draw pictures of ways we could reduce emissions. These drawings could be combined into a large class poster to display our learning. This creative approach helps students express their understanding visually. To improve the activity, it would be helpful to include a simple picture book or story alongside the video to support discussion and understanding further.-
I really like your approach to adapting Activity 3 for younger learners—it sounds both engaging and age-appropriate. The idea of discussing the video and then having students draw ways to reduce emissions is a great way to reinforce their understanding through creativity. Creating a class poster is also a lovely idea—it not only consolidates their learning but also gives them a sense of ownership and pride in the topic.
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Hi Louise, I completely agree with these ideas, especially the way the activity has been adapted for younger learners. The Paxi video is an excellent starting point it’s simple, engaging, and perfectly pitched for primary students. I really like your idea of following the video with a class discussion and having children draw ways to reduce emissions. It gives them a chance to process what they’ve learned in a creative and meaningful way. Creating a class poster from their drawings is another lovely idea and includes collaborative learning. These strategies make the activity more age appropriate while still keeping the core message of climate action strong and clear.
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Hi Louise,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your ideas on the Paxi video from this module. I also like how you plan to differentiate the lesson for younger learners and to allow them to respond more creatively through making posters for reducing emissions. As you have said it will keep the message of climate action strong and clear. It is also a great way to explore the different approaches we can take ourselves and that every step taken counts. This may reduce the anxiety that children may have regarding climate change.
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That’s a lovely and age-appropriate approach! I really like how you plan to use art and discussion to help young learners engage with climate change. The idea of creating a class poster is a fantastic way to reinforce learning. A supporting picture book would definitely deepen understanding and connection.
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Activity 3 is an engaging way to deepen students understanding of how greenhouse gases influence climate, while also giving them practical experience interpreting climate models.
I think watching Paxi’s video on greenhouse gases provides the children with a clear, age and language suitable introduction to the topic. Then, using the tools like TEAL to predict future temperatures enables learners to visualise the impact of different emission scenarios. In class I think the children in groups could select a future emissions scenario from a given list and collect projected monthly temperature and precipitation data using TEAL or similar tools.
They could create a short climate report in any format they wish and present it, reflecting on differences between scenarios and discussing local impacts.-
Hi Tara,
I like the idea of getting the children to apply their learning by creating a short climate report using a format that suits them. Comparing scenarios and discussing local impacts builds critical thinking and helps them see how climate change affects their own lives. It’s engaging, personal, and encourages real-world connections.
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Yes it’s great that this activity provides lot’s of opportunities for our pupils to explore real-world consequences and connections with how climate change affects their own lives. The climate report is a great idea. To build on this idea, pupils could role play being meteorologists or news reporters when reporting their findings.
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I like the idea of playing meterologists and climate reporters in the classroom.Children love to get involved in role play and drama and they could have a map of the world up on the interactive screen and a pointer as if they were on a TV programme. Flooding , storms etc have become common everywhere.This could be done with Ireland first and then move to Europe and finally the world.Geography and science would be fully integrated in an activity like this.
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Hi Tara,
I am really impressed by the ideas you have suggested. The incorporation of the resources mentioned (Paxi’s video) and the use of TEAL will equip students with the necessary knowledge to support their prior understanding of greenhouse gases and the impact they can have on different aspects of the environment. I always like the idea of students creating a report and then presenting it to their peers. It offers opportunities for peer and self-assessment as well as developing oral language and presentation skills. Well done.
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Activity 3 is a very useful resource that I could definitely see myself using with my class. The video is very thorough and explains it very well. This would work particulary well for visual learners. The video provides plenty of room for discussion and quesioning. TEAL is a tool that can be used to predict future temperatures which allows children to grasp the impact of some of our actions on the plan and how it could affect their lives in the future. Children could discuss and display impacts of rising temperatures in groups on a local, national and international level. Groups could comment on each other’s work and then an action project could be undertaken to analyse how we can limit the effects of climate change. This activity also provides room for differentiation within each activity. Overall, I think this activity really engages children in the topic and allows them to opportunity to delve into it deeper.
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I completely agree with your insights Diarmuid. The video really is an excellent resource, especially for visual learners, as you mentioned. It breaks down complex ideas into manageable, clear explanations and opens up so many opportunities for rich discussion and questioning.
The use of TEAL as a predictive tool is a brilliant way to help children make meaningful connections between data and real-world consequences. It’s imoortant for them to see how actions today can shape the future of our planet. I love your idea of having groups explore the impacts of rising temperatures on local, national, and international levels—it encourages global thinking while keeping the learning grounded in their own lives.
Your suggestion of peer feedback and a follow-up action project is also excellent. That kind of active engagement not only deepens understanding but also empowers children to feel they can make a difference.
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Paxi’s Video is engaging and age-appropriate video that’s a powerful educational tool that helps children understand one of the biggest challenges of our time.
How could it be used in class? (Junior Classes)
• Assessing Prior Knowledge:
“What do you think makes the Earth warm?”
“What happens when we drive cars, run factories or burn things?”
• Paxi’s Video:
“What did the sun do?”
“Why did the Earth get warmer?”
“What makes the Earth too hot?”
• Natural vs. Human-made Greenhouse Effect
Give a simple explanation: “Some gases are always in the air – they help keep Earth warm. That’s good! But when people use too much energy, cut too many trees, or burn things, we make too much of those gases – and that makes Earth too hot.”
Create drawings – a happy Earth (natural balance) and a hot Earth (too much gas).• The Earth Under the Lid Activity is a great hands-on activity designed to help children understand the greenhouse effect using everyday materials.
1. Two clear jars placed in sunlight.
2. Thermometers inside each container measure temperature change.
3. Jar with a lid = Earth with greenhouse gases.
4. Jar without lid = Earth with fewer gases.
“Which one got hotter?”• Understanding Climate Predictions – Exploring Scenarios with Teal
Group Activity – Give Scenarios: “Imagine the Future” (Great way to build empathy and thinking skills).
“It’s hotter – what happens to animals?”
“There’s less rain – what happens to plants?”
“What can we do to help Earth?” Ideas: plant trees, walk to school, turn off lights, recycle.-
This is a great idea. I like how it breaks down a complex topic into simple, relatable steps for young learners. The mix of questions, clear explanations, and hands-on activities really helps make the concept of greenhouse gases easy to understand. I especially like how it encourages children to think about real-life impacts and ways they can help, which makes the learning feel relevant and empowering. It’s a solid plan that’s both engaging and educational!
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The Paxi video is a wonderful educational resource that effectively introduces young students to complex scientific topics in a fun, accessible way. The video immediately captures the attention of children, making the content both relatable and enjoyable. I feel the video is particularly effective for visual and auditory learners.
It simplifies scientific concepts—such as weather, climate, or the greenhouse effect—without diluting their meaning. The clear explanations, paired with visual demonstrations, help children grasp the main ideas and retain information more easily.
It also encourages curiosity and critical thinking among children and provides great opportunity for class discussion. It naturally prompts questions and can easily serve as a conversation starter
It also provides strong opportunities for cross-curricular integration. For example, after watching the video, students could explore related topics in geography (e.g., climate zones), science (e.g., water cycle), or even art and writing (e.g., designing posters to promote environmental awareness). I look forward to using this with my class of fifth class pupils next year.
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Hi Siobhán,
You make a very valid point about how the Paxi video appeals to younger learners in particular the auditory and visual learners who would benefit most from this video. I am also impressed by your references to cross-curricular integration in geography and science. As educators we are always trying to manage the load of too much content being delivered. When the opportunity arises to blend learning between subjects it must be seized.
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This will be a fun and engaging lesson to complete with my class next year to help them to understand and develop awareness that global issues like climate change are a relevant and pertinent issue to them. This will act as a stimulus to open up discuss around what actions could help lessen or raise awareness of the impacts caused by an increase in temperatures and encourage my pupils to be more environmentally conscious. It will highlight to students that their behaviours and actions can contribute to solutions. This activity provides a learning experience whereby pupils can utilise their critical thinking skills in order to analyse future scenarios. I would make the lesson relatable to my class by encouraging them to consider questions such as: “What might summers look like here in 2050?”, “What do you think the world will look like when you’re grown up?” and “What would you like the world to look like when you grow up?”.
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The Paxi video is a fantastic resource to address climate change, greenhouse gases and melting ice caps in the classroom.The Earth Under the lid experiment is definitely one I will teach when I return to school.The national geographic video is very informative as is the one on energy . I had not hear of Curious Minds before now and I think the framework will be invaluable for teacher planning .While there seems to be alot of content in the framework document once you would become familiar with it it will certainly result in a very organised lesson/lessons and allow children to develop their scientific skills at the same time.It will also allow us to address issues such as Social Justice as we can look at how climate change is affecting those in underdeveloped countries most.The children could take a country affected as part of a Geography module and present their findings to the class.All areas of the curriculum could be incorporated in to this project.
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This activity is a great way to introduce the green house effect and how we play a part in it. The paxi video is informative and useful in introducing the topic. It is direct and informative in it explanation considering it is a very intricate topic. THe group work of calculating monthly temperatures is very engaging and having one group focus on high emissions and another on low emissions is a great way to spark conversation and further the learning process. I think it is a really engaging activity where many skills in the group will be pulled on. I think to use this in a junior classroom maybe a book or poster a longside the video and more of a discussion around the temperatures rather than using the tool would be effective.
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There are so many opportunities as one explores this topic in more detail. The Paxi video is a fantastic resource that I feel would definitely engage the pupils. The ESA Earth under the lid experiments would further support this and are very manageable experiments to carry out. The Tealtool is a great resource that the children could explore with on the IPADS and help them in predicting future temperatures and precipitation in varying countries around the world. The video on how to use it would be required for my class to properly engage with it. It would be useful to explore countries in the different climate areas to see what variances are expected. The David Attenborough video on Save our Planet reinforces the message that we as humans need to make changes and the children can discuss next steps and reflect from all their learnings. There are many opportunities to link with other subjects, vocabulary games, report writing, drama and art within the class as well as whole school collaboration. These are great resources and activities to incorporate the 4 Cs of critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication.
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I really agree with your suggestions. The Paxi video and the “Earth under the lid” experiments are excellent ways to introduce climate science in a manageable and engaging way. The TEAL tool adds a digital element that supports curiosity and independent thinking. Including opportunities for creative expression and whole-school collaboration makes the learning more dynamic and inclusive.
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Hi Deirdre.
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts and suggestions for the resources in this module.
There are numerous resources in this module and this course and as you have mentioned they support the 4 C’s of critical thinking. There are many opportunities to make meaningful connections with other curricular areas too such as vocabulary in English or data in Maths. I like how you suggested whole school collaboration which would support the learning across the school and in the school community. It is important for the children to recognise the small changes we can make ourselves and in the community.
I hope you enjoy the other modules in this course.
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Activity 3 is an engaging and effective way to introduce younger students to the concept of greenhouse gases and climate change. The Paxi video presents complex information in a fun, simple, and age-appropriate way, making it ideal for visual and younger learners. The TEAL temperature prediction tool adds an interactive element, helping children visualise how emissions affect future climate scenarios. In my classroom, I would follow the video with a class discussion to consolidate understanding, then have students draw or write ways we can reduce emissions. These could be compiled into a collaborative class poster or turned into a short news-style video, with children acting as “climate reporters.” This adds a fun role-play element while deepening their engagement. To further support learning, including a picture book or hands-on experiment would enrich the experience and cater to different learning styles.
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Hi Niamh, I like the idea of introducing role play into the lesson. Any opportunity that an element of drama can be introduced into the school day is always welcomed! It would really spark the children’s interest. Another activity I liked from module 2 was ‘who stole the jellies from the jar’ idea and examining the whole area of fingerprints. it would be a fun activity in the classroom and perhaps inspire a future generation of Guards!
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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. Getting the children to work in groups is another aspect to the activity that I like. The Paxi video on greenhouse gases is very informative and would be attractive to the pupils. This could be used to introduce the topic and capture the children’s attention. The range of Paxi videos and animations will be a valuable resource when dealing with the whole area of climate/weather.
I found the Teal tool very interesting but also a little tricky and the information it produces too difficult for my own class group. I would need to simplify it before introducing with my class I feel. As other participants have noted I like that you can compare and contrast 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.
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Hi John
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module.
The Teal tool is very interesting and I like how you could explore the Teal tool with the pupils in your class from all across the world. Pupils can compare their own country with those of other pupils in the class and allow for critical discussion and critical thinking as they compare the results.
The Paxi videos are also attractive to the pupils as you have mentioned, it will engage the pupils and act as an introduction to the topic where the children can then show their own knowledge or allow for discussion on the topics in the video whether as a class or in groups to build on their knowledge.
I hope you enjoy the course
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This activity is a great starting point for helping young students explore the basics of climate change and the role greenhouse gases play. The animated Paxi video delivers key ideas in a playful and easy-to-follow way, making it perfect for early learners. To build on this, the TEAL climate tool adds a hands-on element, allowing students to experiment with data and see how human actions shape future climate patterns. I would use the video as a springboard for conversation, encouraging students to share what stood out to them and ask questions. Afterward, they could express their ideas creatively—by drawing, writing, or both—showing simple ways we can care for the planet. We could then gather their work into a colorful classroom display or film a fun segment with students acting as environmental reporters, giving tips on how to reduce emissions. To make the learning even richer, I’d add a climate-themed storybook or a simple science activity, helping students connect with the topic in multiple ways and reinforcing their understanding through both play and exploration.
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Hi Mikey,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on this module. The activities in this module are an ideal starting point for teaching about climate change and the Paxi videos are accessible and engaging for the pupils as you have mentioned.
The Teal tool has many learning opportunities also. As you have mentioned, opportunities for the children to ask questions and engage in their own inquiry based learning. I really like your idea of children becoming environmental reporters and sharing tips on reducing emissions. It is a creative way to demonstrate their learning in a meaningful way and could be shared with the wider school community.
I hope you enjoy the other modules.
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Your plan to introduce climate change to young learners is engaging and well thought out. Using the Paxi video as a springboard is a great way to simplify complex ideas, and pairing it with the TEAL climate tool adds a valuable hands-on, inquiry-based element. I especially like how your plan encourages creativity through drawing, writing, and role-play—it caters to different learning styles and helps make the topic personally meaningful.
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Activity 3 gives pupils a brilliant opportunity to really see the cause and effect of human behaviours, of their behaviour, on our climate. As I will have 3rd class next year I think The Paxi video is a great visual for them to understand the greenhouse effect, simplifying it in a way that is accessible for them to understand. Furthermore I feel a lot of group discussion will be necessary to reinforce the concept before completing the activity. I feel that the Teal tool might be a bit detailed and confusing for younger children so alternative teaching tools such as posters or even simplified written information may be more useful. Encouraging the children to imagine different climate scenarios in the future is really developing their skills of observing, analysing, inferring, communicating and problem solving
I have never heard of curious minds before and I feel that their template is an amazing teaching tool for many subject areas but Science in particular. It is invaluable to have that written instruction for a teacher to be able to really reflect on the lesson and consider how to further develop the children’s learning.
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Hi Avril,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources and activities in this module. The Paxi video would be an ideal resource for 3rd class next year, it simplifies the concept as you have mentioned. There are lots of opportunities for discussion to support their learning in this area. Green Schools also have a Green Schools Book Club with picture books on different global goals such as Climate Action which might help your class also.
Curious Minds is a fantastic support tool for teachers and the inquiry based learning template is a great support for any class teacher. There are lots of investigations and activities on Curious Minds which are outlined on the template to show you further examples of how to adapt it to your own planning in school to support the children leading their own learning through questioning.
I hope you enjoy the course.
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I thoroughly enjoyed engaging with Activity 3 from Module 2. There is such a vast array of skills which children are exposed to in this activity. Becoming paleoclimatologists sounds like such an abstract concept, however, when children work through the tasks associated with Activity 3 they are given a unique opportunity into how the history of climate and climate change has been adapting over decades. I would be hugely enthused about using this activity with my class. There is an excellent resource which was shared by RTE called ‘Will Ireland Survive 2050?’ This would provide an excellent method of comparing predictions made by Gerald Fleming, the infamous Weather Reporter and former meteorologist from Wexford. I feel this visual element would strengthen the children’s understanding of what the impacts of climate change were foreseen to be years ago and how our climate detective work can compare and contrast findings. A superb resource which the children will take a lot from.
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Hi Robert,
Welcome to the course, I hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module. Activity 3 supports the children to learn about climate projections. Thanks for sharing about the RTE resource from Gerald Fleming, this is definitely something I will look into for my own class for next year. It would be fascinating for the children to use the Teal tool and make comparisons with this work and as you have mentioned it would support the visual element of the learning. It would also develop their knowledge and understanding of climate change in the various activities.
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Hi Robert,
Thank you for sharing the resource RTE released about what Ireland may be facing in 2050. This is something I will look into using with my class this year. It’s always encouraging to know we can access educational videos all year round. I also like the idea of incorporating modern day weather reports into a view into the past as part of a History lesson also.
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Activity 3 provides an engaging and approachable introduction to the concept of greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change. Through the Paxi video, younger students can grasp the idea of how these gases trap heat in the atmosphere, thanks to its clear explanations and effective visuals. The inclusion of the interactive temperature prediction tool allows learners to see firsthand how varying emission levels might influence future global temperatures, highlighting the urgency of reducing carbon emissions.
This activity can ignite meaningful classroom discussions about sustainability, encouraging students to explore real climate data and brainstorm practical ways to reduce emissions in their daily lives. To further enrich the learning experience, incorporating a hands-on experiment or simulation alongside the digital content would offer students a concrete understanding of the greenhouse effect.
Additionally, pupils could collaborate in groups to create an action plan focused on combating the negative impacts of greenhouse gases. This project would challenge them to think critically about actionable steps their local community can take to reduce emissions. Not only does this deepen their grasp of climate change, but it also empowers them to become proactive contributors to sustainability initiatives.-
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I really like your ideas here. I agree that the Paxi video and the prediction tool are great for sparking discussions about climate change in a way that feels clear and manageable for children. I think your suggestion to add a hands on experiment is a great idea. It would help make the learning feel more real. I also love the idea of creating an action plan as a class. It’s a nice way to show pupils that their ideas matter and that they can actually do something to help.
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Introducing junior infants to the effects of greenhouse gases and climate change should be gentle, visual, and story-driven. The ESA Paxi video is a fantastic tool to use for this purpose as it is well pitched for all age groups.
Children will begin to understand:
The Earth needs just the right temperature to be healthy.
Greenhouse gases act like a warm blanket.
Too much of this blanket makes the Earth too hot.
We can help by taking care of our Earth.The children will then watch the Paxi video, pausing the video to ask questions such as What is Paxi wearing? Why? What happens when the blanket gets too thick?
Ask the children once the video is over what do they think we can do to help? Record the answers and lets commit to doing one everyday in our classroom
Simple actions:Turn off lights
Walk or cycle
Plant a tree
Don’t waste water -
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I really enjoyed the Paxi video on Greenhouse gases. It was quite thought-provoking and I can see a number of ways in which I would incorporate this video into my teaching with my classes in the future. The video was very child-friendly but extremely informative in giving children an understanding of what causes the greenhouse gas effect. The impact of humans in factories, cars and using harmful gases is explained on a level that will suit children of a range of abilities.
I can envisage myself using Activity 3 as part of a larger scale Countries of the World Project. Aside from the traditional medium of students researching facts about a country, the class would focus in on the specifications of climate and weather using the tool for predicting future temperatures. In establishing roles as climate reporters, students are presented with the autonomy to choose a country or region of their own interest and really delve into how the climate has maintained consistency over a period of time and compare to the research of their peers of a country whose climate has been altered. This opens up an avenue for cause and effect – the role of human activity, greenhouse gases and global warming.
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I think the activity 3 is a fantastic activity. I think that children would love the idea of being reporters and making both predictions and recordings. I think the activity as it stands would be best suited to senior classes but could be differentiated and made easier and more accessible for junior classes. I also think the children would really enjoy watching the PAXI video and learn a lot from it. It is a child-friendly, factual video in which children would be engaged and engrossed in and most children respond well to visuals. I think the use of video is effective as it grabs children’s attention and is a nice change from listening to teacher! The grid is a great way of integrating maths into the lesson and also the thought-provoking questions are great for oral language and literacy development. I also think the children would love predicting the temperatures in the future and providing their reasoning (this could also be a great debate topic)
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I love the Paxi resource. It is accessible, entertaining and engaging, particularly for visual learners. Concepts such as climate, weather, greenhouse gases can be explored in a meaningful way. The resources allow for these potentially challenging topics to be delved into by younger learners without making them so simplistic that the meaning is watered down.
In our society, our pupils are seeing and hearing so much about climate change, rising temperatures and sea levels etc. I think it can be overwhelming to grapple with all of the information. The material in activity 3 provides accessible engagement that really helps children to understand everything, from the origin of a fossil fuel right up to its impact on the environment. The David Attenborough video is a must see for every class, every home in reality.
The Earth under the Lid project would be especially useful as it clearly explains and demonstrates the effect of greenhouse gases. I think the pupils would benefit from working collaboratively on this and their learning could be consolidated through presenting their work to the next class (up or down a level) or at school assembly.
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Activity 3 “climate reporters” is a well-structured and engaging activity for students, it offers an excellent opportunity to explore the greenhouse effect and climate change. By using the Paxi video as a visual hook, this provides an accessible entry point for all learner types. Using the C3S Climate & Energy Education Demonstrator adds a valuable real-world element, allowing students to engage with authentic data and think critically about possible futures.
In my classroom, I would use this activity over several lessons to give students time to grasp the vocabulary and confidently work with the data. Group discussions and presenting local adaptation ideas would promote teamwork and problem-solving skills. To support all learners, I would add guided examples and visual vocabulary cards to ensure they feel confident engaging with complex scientific ideas. Overall, This is a rich and engaging activity which I will definitely be using in my classroom next September.
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Hi Nicole,
Welcome to the course. I hope you enjoy the different modules.
I agree that this resource could be used over several lessons across different curricular areas. As you have mentioned the vocabulary within the video and the resource would take time to fully grasp to engage fully with the activities such as Paxi video. I like how you plan to support this with vocabulary cards also. Children will become more confident in sharing their work and projects and will be able to use this new vocab in context as a result.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this task and I hope your students enjoy it next year.
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This is a fantastic lesson to introduce children to future modelling scenarios and see how their actions can affect future change. I can see how the PAXI video would engage children in the senior classes in clear and easily understood language. I think the David Attenborough clip mentioned in module 2 would be a great introduction resource to use in the same lesson, and I would most likely use this as a stimulus to the lesson.
There is such great scope here to discuss how the lockdowns due to COVID 19 made a significant impact on the level of CO2 emissions, and how small changes can make such a big impact. I would refer back to the David Attenborough video during the lesson to show that there are significant, achievable changes that can be made in our lifetime to counteract the effects of climate change-
I agree that there is so much scope to discuss how the Covid lockdowns made such a big impact of the level of CO2 emissions. I think it could lead to great discussions and reflections on issues such as travel. I also really like the David Attenborough video and the fact that it shows that are changes we can make that can have actually counteract the effects of climate change- I find that while children are really interested in the topic they can sometimes see it as something we can’t change or improve.
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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 house 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 represent the weather. Each day we would compare their predictions with the weather.
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Hi Karen,
I like the idea of showing the children images of car exhausts, factory smoke and cow methane have a negative impact on the world. It could also be an opportunity to discuss how there was even a time in history where polystyrene containers were used commonly and could have been seen to be better for the environment as it would save paper/cutting down trees! It would give the children hope that it’s not all doom and gloom and that every little change matters and we can rectify the mistakes of the past and keeping the global warming effect to a minimum.
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Paxi is a child-friendly educational video produced by the European Space Agency (ESA) featuring Paxi, a cartoon alien character who explains science topics in an engaging way for children. Paxi explains what greenhouse gases are, how they are increasing, and how they affect Earth’s temperature by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
Climate Reporters is a story-based, interactive learning tool that introduces children to the science of weather and climate using ESA’s Earth observation satellite data. Children play the role of climate reporters investigating environmental and climate-related issues around the world.The tool doesn’t necessarily predict future temperatures in the way a scientific climate model would, but it helps children understand trends in, global temperature rise, sea level changes, ice sheet melting and deforestation and land use.
In the classroom children can compare historical temperature data (e.g. 1980–2020), identify trends and patterns in temperature over time. They can then relate these trends to climate impacts, such as extreme weather or habitat change. It also helps them to understand how global datasets are used in climate prediction models.
They can explore temperature maps to describe changes. It lets them create simple graphs showing how temperatures have changed over 30+ year and it allows children the opportunity to do role play and become “Climate Reporters” and to then create a report for their local area. -
I believe the Paxi video is an excellent video for introducing younger students to the concept of Greenhouse Gas emissions and the impact they have on our planet.The interactive and visual nature of this video will be appealing to teachers and students alike. When teaching an abstract concept it can be difficult to find the appropriate resources to support your lesson. This PAXI video is excellent in that it delves into important topics but also is relatable for children.
I think I would focus on comparing temperatures over specific timeframes. Activity 3 provides teachers with an appropriate activity to enable the children to be climate reporters. I would give 4 groups of 6 different decades to work through where they can analyse past temperatures. After analysing the results of this data the class could follow up with a discussion and then make informed predictions about how temperatures may change over the next five decades.
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Hi Niamh,
I really like your idea of breaking the class into groups to look at temperature changes over different decades. It’s a great way to get kids interested and thinking about climate change. Making them ‘climate reporters’ sounds fun and helps boost their confidence. I also agree with you, the Paxi video is awesomeit makes a tough topic way easier for younger kids to get.
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On reflection, Paxis video is definitely a resource I could see myself using in my classroom. It is abe appropriate, informative, and engaging. It definitely meets the needs of younger classes. I think often as a teacher who has more experience in the junior end of the school, I can shy away from exploring big topics such as climate change as I fear ideas are too abstract and may go over the children’s heads. However, a video like this provides an important starting point to overcome this challenge and to introduce these abstract topics in a more child friendly way. It is a good stimulus for lesson to encourage discussion and questioning and allows me as the teacher to elicit the children’s prior knowledge and to see where they are at and where I can go with the lesson. The video provides children with clear and concise explanations of such important topics. It too encourages children to become critical thinkers which is core to curriculum values. I think these activities do just that! There are lots of opportunities for project and group work and meaningful links to other subjects. I particularly liked the Earth under the Lid experiment and look forward to trying it out with my students next year !
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I really enjoyed reading your reflection Alyson. I completely agree with your point about the Paxi video being a great resource for making complex topics like climate change more accessible to younger learners.
It’s so reassuring to hear how it helped you feel more confident about tackling these abstract ideas—especially coming from a junior class teaching background. The way you described using it as a springboard for discussion and questioning is spot on; it’s such a valuable way to gauge students’ understanding and build from there.
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Activity 3, A Climate Reporter, is a very interesting activity for children, particularly in the older classes to complete. It will show that they have a grasp on the green house effect and that they will be able to see the cause and effect of our actions regarding reducing fossil fuel consumption and therefore reduced impact on the planet. The TEAL tool as a predictor of the impact humanity might have on the sea levels rising and the melting of the ice in Greenland is impactful. The Paxi video is a clear and concise clip which would be perfect for use in a classroom. While Paxi explained the importance of using solar and wind power to reduce the need of fossil fuels, these are out of children’s hands. At the same time, he also offered a more attainable measure that children could do themselves, by recycling everything that is possible. With the Return facility of returning bottles for money in almost every large shopping centre in the country and widespread recycling, the children can be empowered to make a difference, no matter how small the gesture. They then could be encouraged to take more action themselves, but writing letters to local councilors and politicians to bring global warming issues to the fore.
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Hi Doireann,
Welcome to the course and I am glad that you found the activities in this module interesting for children. The Paxi video provides a child-friendly explanation of climate change and as you have mentioned it provides ideas for children to take action themselves such as recycling. It is important for the children to recognise the importance of taking action, even if they feel is a small step. The Teal Tool would also raise awareness of the changes to the climate and highlight the importance of the children taking action in their local community.
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I thought Activity 3 was a brilliant way to help children understand the greenhouse effect in a way that isn’t too complicated. The Paxi video was clear and child friendly. I liked how it used simple language and fun visuals to explain how greenhouse gases trap heat. I think it would be perfect for introducing the topic to younger classes who might find this a bit abstract otherwise.
The temperature prediction tool was really interesting to explore. For younger children, I’d probably keep it as a teacher led demonstration rather than asking them to use it alone, maybe by showing them a few examples and talking through the results.
I would follow up with a class discussion about what small actions we can do ourselves to help the planet, like walking to school, recycling, or planting trees. To make the lesson more hands on, it could be good to do a simple science experiment like the Earth under the Lid activity so they can see how trapped heat works. I think this activity would really get the children thinking and help them see that everyone has a role to play in protecting the environment, even small steps can make a difference.
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After watching the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, I would use it with my 6th class to introduce the concept of climate change in a child-friendly and engaging way. Paxi explains complex ideas simply, making it ideal for helping pupils understand how human activity contributes to rising global temperatures.
After the video, we could use the TEAL tool to explore predictions about future temperatures. This would allow the class to engage in critical thinking and data interpretation, skills important across the curriculum. Students could compare different climate scenarios based on varying carbon emissions and discuss what actions could change the outcome. We could link this with Maths through graphing data, Geography by looking at global impacts, and SPHE through discussions about responsibility and sustainability. It would also encourage group work, discussion, and digital literacy. Overall, this activity would foster awareness, curiosity, and action around a real-world global issue.
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I found the Climate Reporter activity would be an excellent resource to use with my 5th class when studying Climate and Climate Change. The Paxi video on climate change, greenhouse gases and melting ice caps is a simple, engaging video. I feel the children in my class would enjoy watching this video as an introduction or trigger to the topic of greenhouse gases.It would lead to lots of I wondering and exploring. As other participants have noted, the Teal tool to explore predictions about future temperatures is very interesting and a tool which could be used to investigate not only the changing temperatures in Ireland but of countries and regions where other children in our class have come from. I enjoyed the melting ice caps activity and will try them out next year. I am very interested in looking at Curious Minds in more detail as it appears to be a good resource.
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Hi Jane,
Welcome to the course and I am glad that you liked the resources outlined in this module. Curious Minds is a fantastic bank of resources for the Irish primary classroom.
The Climate Reporter and Paxi video activities are child friendly and explore the concept of climate change in a child friendly way. As you have said the video would be a great introduction to the topic and lots of discussion following the video would show what prior knowledge the children have and also lead to wondering and exploring. I also like how you plan to use the Teal Tool with children in the class from other countries. It would allow more diverse discussion and critical thinking.
Thanks for sharing your ideas on these resources.
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After review anctivity 3, which includes the Paxi video on greenhouse gases and the temperature prediction tool, I found it very engaging to teach climate change to the children. I think my students would found it fun and will be helpful to understand complex concepts related with this topic. Also the interactive tool encourages students to think about future temperature changes.
In my class, I would have students work in small groups to promote collaboration. Kids could create a short video demonstrating common daily activities and then show how these actions can be changed to be more environmentally friendly. For example, the video might depict someone using a car for a short trip, followed by scenes suggesting alternatives such as biking or walking instead.This hands-on and creative task helps students apply their learning and understand how small changes can benefit the environment.
Including a project like this would make the activity more hands-on and enjoyable, while also encouraging teamwork and helping students understand the topic better.
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Activity 3 is a highly engaging and hands-on opportunity that promotes practical pupil involvement. I can easily see this activity being enjoyed by my 4th class pupils, as well as by older classes. In my classroom, I would begin with a KWL chart to assess the pupils’ prior knowledge and stimulate curiosity. Following this, I would show the Paxi video to the class, allowing time afterwards for a guided discussion to deepen understanding and draw out key concepts.
During our allocated ICT tablet time, I would have pupils work in pairs to explore the ‘Teal’ simulation tool. This approach encourages collaborative learning while allowing students to independently investigate the resource and its real-world applications. Through this, pupils not only develop their inquiry and digital literacy skills but also see the relevance and potential of ICT in a meaningful and contemporary context.
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Hi Niamh,
Thanks for your thoughts on activity 3. It does allow for lots of practical pupil involvement as you have said. A KWL chart is a great way to assess the prior knowledge of the pupils and to establish a starting point to explore the concept of climate change. The video allows for lots of discussion too.
Allowing the pupils time to explore the Teal tool initially will then focus them when given a specific task. Pupils could then explore their own local area with a contrasting area in the world to compare the results and as you have said this will also develop their digital literacy skills.
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I think Activity 3 would be an excellent lesson for the children in my classroom. The Paxi video is so child friendly and explains the complex concept of the greenhouse effect very clearly. The discussion around how scientists make predictions about what the earth’s climate will be like in the future will tie in nicely with collecting data from our classroom weather station.
The Teal online tool is an incredibly educational resource to show the pupils. They would love exploring this tool and finding out about climate and predicted climates all around the world. I would show them how to use this on the interactive whiteboard, and then in pairs let them explore it themselves on the iPads. The worksheet for this activity could be more suited to senior classes (I have 3rd class for context), but it could be something that we read and complete together.
It will be very beneficial for pupils to discuss how a future increase in temperature may affect their lives. This will deepen their understanding when they apply these scenarios to their own lives.-
Hi Cathy
It’s great that you liked the resources in this module and can see their value for use in your classroom. As you said there is a great tie in between the Paxi video and the hands on collection on weather data that clearly demonstrates some of the processes that meteorologists use when gathering short term weather data and combining this data to assess long term changes in climate. The Teal tool is easy enough for pupils to use and as you said, the worksheet can be completed as a class rather than individually to make it more accessible for younger learners.
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The visual element of the video helps make the topic of weather and climate more accessible and engaging, supporting students with different learning styles. By incorporating a digital tool to explore future temperature changes, the lesson becomes interactive and encourages inquiry-based learning. This approach not only fosters curiosity and critical thinking but also helps students understand the real-world impact of climate change. It connects science with technology and mathematics, enhancing cross-curricular learning and building environmental awareness from an early age.
Suggestions for Improvement:
To improve the lesson, key vocabulary should be introduced beforehand to ensure students grasp important terms while watching the video. The video itself could be paused at key moments for discussion or clarification, helping students stay engaged . The prediction tool used should be age-appropriate, ideally featuring visuals such as graphs or interactive maps to make data analysis more intuitive. Incorporating structured worksheets can guide students’ exploration and provide opportunities for reflection. Finally, a follow-up activity where students suggest climate-friendly actions could help them connect the science to their own lives and feel empowered to make a difference. -
Activity 3 offers a fun and educational experience by combining a Paxi video with a simple data modeling tool that helps learners explore how greenhouse gases affect Earth’s temperature. The video is engaging, age-appropriate, and does a great job of explaining complex processes like the greenhouse effect in a way that’s accessible for younger audiences.
The temperature prediction tool adds an interactive, hands-on element that helps students make the connection between human activity, greenhouse gas emissions, and long-term climate trends. This supports inquiry-based learning.
How I Would Use This in My Classroom:
I’d begin the lesson with the Paxi video to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases in a fun, friendly way that appeals to younger learners.Students could then work in pairs or small groups using the prediction tool to explore different emission scenarios and discuss the outcomes. This would promote collaboration and critical thinking.
After exploring predictions, I would lead a discussion asking: “What choices could humans make to change these outcomes?” This encourages environmental awareness and personal responsibility.
Possible Additions:
Including a follow-up task or challenge that asks students to design their own “climate action plan” could help translate learning into practical thinking.
Providing curriculum alignment or teacher guidance notes for different age levels would make the activity easier to integrate into diverse classrooms.
Subtitles or transcript options for the Paxi video in multiple languages would make it more inclusive. -
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Activity 3 with the paxi video offers an engaging cartoon which students will find engaging and retain focus during the lesson. It helps to simplify the understanding of the greenhouse effect with the Earth’s atmosphere retaining heat.
The teal temperature prediction tool is a historic timeline of global warming in the world which students will find fun seeing the coloured heat maps rise throughout the decades. A class discussion on student findings can reinforce the key learning objectives when using this tool; such as the pronounced effects on different continents and its rapid progression.
I would integrate activity 3 with a further expansion of the teal temperature tool with students designing a future warming prediction tool for the next 50 years. This tool can be a timeline on A3 sheets or using computer software for high tech students in older classes.
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Hi Shane, I agree I found teh cartoon very engaging and think the students would enjoy watching it. Greenhouse gases are a challening concept to teach to children so the video certainly would help with their understanding. I like your idea of getting the students to desgin a future warming prediction tool for a certain time span. It makes it more accessible for the students.
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Activity 3: Climate Reporters.
Prior to starting this lesson I think I would first look at assessing the children’s prior knowledge on the topic of both climate, the greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases. The Paxi video on the Greenhouse effect is a super way of introducing this topic to the children and I find videos such as these are a great way of peaking the children’s interest in the topic. We will then discuss the climate and what changes they think might happen in the future. We will look at the different ways in which scientists use different observations to monitor and understand how the climate is changing. The children will then be put into groups and told that they will be acting as scientists looking at different scenarios where they will need to calculate monthly average temperatures. They will be told they need to work together to create a presentation on how future temperatures can effect their lives and also come up with ways to lessen the impacts of climate change within their area.-
I agree Laura important to assess children’s prior knowledge on green House effect climate change etc before this activity. In my small school I could imagine doing these activities as a whole school and dividing into small groups to complete worksheets or maybe do art based on what we are doing now that is effecting our climate and what we could do differently. I would keep it visual especially for the younger learners. I would you the teal tool also to help them understand the effects of climate change over time. This again could be done in small groups on the ipads after the teacher demonstrates on the whiteboard
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I really liked the paxi video. I felt it was childfriendly and engaging. I would use it in my school as a whole school as the older children could help the younger children. We are a green school so I would tie it in with that too. We are currently working on a creative cluster project which would involve knowledge about coal mining (we are in an old mining area) so i would link it with that project too. I feel this integration is important for consolidating learning and also with 4 class groupings in terms of getting the curriculum covered. I feel the teal tool could also be used in small groups on the ipads.I know these are activities and resources i will use to teach this really important topic.
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Activity 3 – Climate Reporters is an engaging way to help pupils understand the concept of climate change and their role in communicating scientific ideas. The inclusion of the Paxi video on greenhouse gases makes the topic accessible and age-appropriate, breaking down complex concepts through animation. Using the future temperature prediction tool adds an interactive, inquiry-based element that allows pupils to visualise the impact of climate change over time, linking well with the maths and science strands of the curriculum.
I would use this activity with 4th–6th class, asking pupils to create their own weather or climate report (written, video, or podcast), integrating literacy, digital skills, and cross-curricular learning. To enhance the activity, it would be useful to include more scaffolding for differentiated needs—such as sentence starters or visual aids for EAL and SEN learners. A collaborative follow-up task, like presenting at a school “climate assembly,” could deepen understanding and foster a whole-school climate awareness initiative.
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I really appreciate how you’ve highlighted the strengths of the Climate Reporters activity, especially its ability to make complex scientific concepts like greenhouse gases accessible through the Paxi video. The interactive element with the temperature prediction tool sounds like a fantastic way to engage students and tie in important curriculum links across Maths and Science.
Your idea of having pupils create their own climate reports is excellent for fostering creativity and integrating digital skills with literacy. I also appreciate your thoughtful consideration of differentiated support for EAL and SEN students, which is so important to ensure all learners can fully participate.
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The idea of weather reporters is great and easily relatable to all pupils. Having an in depth study of weather using these tools provided would give them a better understanding. I like your idea of a podcast episode as the pupils have to combine their research to create the script for the podcast. A brilliant activity for the older classes.
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As we delve deeper into this topic, a wide range of engaging resources emerge—each one helping to bring STEM learning to life in dynamic and meaningful ways.
The Paxi video is a standout resource that I believe would truly capture the interest and imagination of pupils. Its visual appeal and clear explanations make complex concepts more accessible for younger learners, and for those with learning difficulties.
To build on this, the ESA “Earth Under the Lid” experiments offer a practical, hands-on way to further explore Earth science. These experiments are both manageable and effective in reinforcing key scientific ideas in the classroom.
Another excellent tool is TEALtool, which students can explore using iPads. This interactive resource supports the development of data interpretation and geographic awareness, particularly around global climate trends. Pupils can:
Predict future temperatures and precipitation patterns
Explore climate projections for different countries
Investigate climate zones and their unique characteristics
A further powerful resource is the David Attenborough documentary, Save Our Planet. This video reinforces the core message that humans must take meaningful action to protect the Earth. It serves as a strong foundation for:Class discussions about environmental responsibility
Pupil reflections on what changes can be made at home, in school, and in their communities
Linking learning to broader global citizenship goals and potentially the school’s Green School Flag challenge
These resources also lend themselves naturally to cross-curricular integration and not only deepen understanding of climate and environmental science but also offer rich opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and skill development across the curriculum.-
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Hi Ciara
Welcome to the course and I’m glad you are finding the resources useful. Earth Under the Lid is a lovely simple and practical way to demonstrate the Greenhouse effect especially when combined with the Paxi animation. If you have a greenhouse or polytunnel in the school, this is a nice way to continue with this idea but if not, there are many small pop-up greenhouses available that can be placed over a vegetable bed or planter and putting a thermometer into a covered bed and an uncovered one can be a nice way of scaling up this investigation, particularly if you use max-min thermometers, available in most garden centres, to show how the greenhouse holds on to the heat
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In Activity 3, I watched the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, which offers a simple and engaging explanation of how greenhouse gases contribute to global warming. The Paxi video is visually appealing and effectively communicates complex ideas in a way that’s understandable for primary-aged students. It uses animation and storytelling to maintain attention, making it ideal for younger learners who are just beginning to understand climate science.
In my classroom, I would use this activity as a springboard for project-based learning, where students brainstorm actions they can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also ties in well with math (interpreting graphs), literacy (writing reflections or persuasive pieces), and geography (understanding human-environment interaction). Extension activities such as a short quiz based on the Paxi video could be added. A real life connection could be made by including a short case study of a community already seriously impacted by climate change.
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Hi Marie-Anne
You have some great ideas for project work based around the Paxi video and understanding the Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change. You have some great examples of cross curricular links. I love the idea of the case study. Mary Robinson’s book Climate Justice might be a good source of inspiration here or you will find many other examples online as well as examples of young people taking positive action.
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I was very impressed with the Paxi video and how it outlined the main points about climate change in a child friendly manner. It’s very important to expose our students to videos like this and make them wise to the climate change that is happening in our world at present. When the students have knowledge on the situation involving greenhouse gases etc they can then brainstorm ways in which they can help to make a positive impact on our environment e.g. reduce, reuse and recycle. They can make posters and display them around the school to encourage everyone to be more mindful as regarding climate change and what we can do to help. Activity 3 will definitely increase the students comprehension of greenhouse gases and how they contribute to climate change. The temperature prediction tool can be used to explore as a class what could eventually happen if temperatures continue to rise.
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I think there a lots of ways to integrate learning from activity 3. In this activityl, we watched the Paxi video. It is a great resource that will allow the children to develop a better understanding of greenhouse gases. I love teaching students about our impact on the enviornment and so it would provide a great link for previous lessons taught about climate change, and taking care of our planet. I rather like that it could be a project across the entire school year, giving the children opportunities to develop their knowledge.
Activity 3, suggests getting the student to be climate reporters. I love the worksheet provided and think senior classes would really enjoy it. I would use the worksheet to support the students learning. I think it would be lovely to get the kids to complete a project and use activity 3 as a stimulus and support to further their learning. I think this would be a great opportunity to encourage the students to use digital technologies.
This activity could also be done with younger kids through simplyfying the worksheet. I have done something similar with 1st class before.
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Hi Robyn
It’s great that you are already teaching the children in your class about Climate Change and encouraging them to think about our impact on our planet and that you are finding useful resources in this course to support you in this. It is great to have simple resources such as the Paxi video that make the science around greenhouse gases and Climate Change accessible to a younger audience. Hands on activities such as weather observation combined with the weather vs climate activity from module 1 and the digital models such as the Teal Tool bring all that knowledge together and connect their everyday weather observations with the broader topic of climate and climate change
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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 think 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 the school’s Eco Team.
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After viewing the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, I would use it with my 6th class as a child-friendly introduction to the topic of climate change. Paxi presents complex concepts in a simple and engaging way, making it easier for students to understand how human actions are contributing to global warming.
Following the video, we would explore future climate predictions using the TEAL tool. This would give students the opportunity to practise critical thinking and interpret data—skills that are valuable across many subjects. Pupils could analyse various climate scenarios depending on carbon emissions and discuss what choices could lead to more positive outcomes.
This activity could be linked to Maths through graphing data, Geography by examining global effects, and SPHE through conversations about personal and collective responsibility. It would also promote collaboration, discussion, and digital skills. Overall, the lesson would help spark curiosity, build awareness, and inspire action around this important global issue
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Activity 3 is an insightful resource that I can easily envision using with my 4th class in September. The accompanying video is clear, informative, and well-suited for visual learners, offering a comprehensive explanation of the topic. It also encourages active discussion and questioning, making it a great tool for classroom engagement. The TEAL model serves as a predictive tool for future temperatures, helping students understand how human actions can influence the planet and their future lives. After we engage with the video, we could use the TEAL tool to explore, in groups, predictions about future temperatures. This would allow the class to engage in group work with problem solving and we could show the data on various charts or scales. Pupils could work in groups to explore and present the effects of rising temperatures at local, national, and global scales. They could also evaluate each other’s findings and collaborate on an action project focused on ways to reduce the impact of climate change. This activity is flexible enough to allow for differentiation, catering to various learning needs. Overall, it’s a highly engaging way to get students thinking critically and meaningfully about climate-related issues.
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Activity 3 is a fantastic way to get children thinking ahead and connecting their learning to real-world issues like climate change. It also encourages critical thinking by asking pupils to compare future projections with today’s conditions. It promotes discussion around cause and effect, and environmental responsibility. Activity 3 also allows for cross-curricular integration. It blends science, geography, digital literacy, and even persuasive or report writing. The group work and climate summary tasks encourage collaboration and creative thinking.
How I would use it in my third class:
• Show the video Paxi’s Greenhouse Effect (linked in the resource). We would then have a discussion around climate change.
• I would then use teacher-guided modelling to navigate the online tool.
• In groups, the pupils could create short presentations or posters based on their climate scenario.
• To support writing, I would provide a sentence starter template for the climate summary (e.g. “In 2050, our town might be…”).
• Group project: Group Project: “A Day in 2050 – Climate Detectives”- To help pupils understand how climate change could affect their community by the year 2050 and to explore ways they can help protect the planet.
What could be improved or added:
• Simplify the online tool: While Teal tool is a valuable resource, the interface may be too complex for lower/middle classes without strong teacher guidance. A child-friendly summary table or screenshots could help.
• Include more visuals: Simple illustrations explaining emissions scenarios and their effects would make the topic more accessible.
• Add a creative extension: Pupils could create a comic strip, diary entry, or “weather report from the future” to show what life might be like in 2050—this brings the science to life in an age-appropriate way.-
HI Annette,
I like how you have broken down activity step by step. I think that the TEAL tool may be too complex and that a child friendly summary or screenshot would help. I love the idea of creating a comic strip this would really engage learners express a problem and find a solution. They may even develop a class superhero that is powered through renewable energy and no to keep clear of fossil fuels!
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Activity 3 is a well-structured activity to introduce pupils to the concept of climate change. The students will love the inquiry-based learning as well as working collaboratively to explore different climate scenarios. In my class, I would begin with a discussion or quiz to assess prior knowledge and spark curiosity before proceeding to the activity. Watching the Paxi video is a great idea, especially for younger students—it makes a complex topic more accessible and explains it in a clear, simple, age-appropriate manner. After the video, I would then guide pupils through the Climate & Energy Education Demonstrator tool, using it as a hands-on opportunity to analyse temperature projections under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. One thing that could be added to the activity is to integrate it with more cross-curricular subjects—for example, using maths lessons to focus on interpreting climate data, or art/ ICT lessons to create charts or posters.
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Activity 3 is very engaging. The Paxi video is a great starting point. It simplifies what is often regarded as a complex topic into a child friendly tool. The use of visuals and clear language explains how the greenhouse gases trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere. I also enjoyed the video by SEAI ‘The Story of Energy’. The activity by ESA called ‘Earth Under a Lid’, the Esero 47 activity ‘The Ice is Melting’, and the SEAI activity ‘Model the Greenhouse Effect’ are very child friendly and would ignite the interest of the children. I would certainly use these.
The Teal tool introduced a digital element and helps the children to predict future temperatures around the world. The instruction video would need to be watched and reviewed in order to engage properly with it. I had to watch it a few times to grasp it.
The video by David Attenborough ‘Save Our Planet’ reinforces the message that we must all play our part. A follow on from this would be a class discussion on how we can adapt our activities to reduce emissions such as walking or scooting to school, turning off lights and appliances when not needed. Artwork could reinforce these messages around the school.-
Hi Mona
It is great to hear that you enjoyed the videos and resources in this module and that you can see their usefulness in your classroom. Climate Change can be often be portrayed as a very complex topic and media reports are so often presented in such complicated language that many people don’t understand the basic message, so it is great to have a range of plain language resources and practical demonstrations to use with children. I agree that the Teal tool takes a bit of work to get started, but once you start playing around with it, it is very engaging and accessible.
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Activity three is an engaging and interavtive lesson for children to explore more about the effects of greenhouse gases. The Paxi video is a child friendly explanation of a big concept.The greenhouse effect can be hard to grasp, but Paxi uses visuals and storytelling to make it clear. The video shows how the Earth stays warm like a greenhouse, helping children see the connection between gases and temperature. Using the SEAI activity “Model the Greenhouse Effect” in the classroom is a fantastic way to help children understand how greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. I think this is an activity I will use in my classroom next year. I think a way to improve this activity would be to look at the use of TEAL. While the TEAL tool is a great structure for teaching children about environmental change, it could be improved for classroom use—especially at the primary level—by making it more visual, interactive, and age-appropriate.
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Hi Rachel,
Thanks for your post. I am a big fan of all of Paxi’s videos as they really help make these topics so accessible, through visuals and storytelling, as you said. For very young learners, it can also be a fun opener to lay all of the class’s coats on one learner who represents planet Earth and compare the coats to the additional greenhouse gases being added to our atmosphere by various industries, transport, energy, etc.
TEAL does have a lot to offer, but of course, it depends on the age and capabilities of each class, and some may need a demonstration and significant support in order to navigate its functions. It may serve as a starting point that the teacher only showcases, or can be used by all learners on tablets to conduct research. It is one of many tools on offer to support learning about climate change..
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Activity 3 provides a clear and engaging way to introduce students to the concept of greenhouse gases and their role in climate change. The Paxi video is particularly effective for younger audiences, as it uses animation and simple language to explain complex processes. For senior students, it could serve as a good recap or a springboard for deeper discussion. The interactive temperature prediction tool is a great visual way for pupils to explore the impact of different CO₂ emission scenarios on future global temperatures. It allows them to see immediate consequences of human action, making the learning experience both relevant and urgent.
In my class, I could integrate this activity during our science or geography lessons, pairing it with data collection from our school’s weather monitoring project. This would help students connect global climate issues with local data.
One improvement could be to include a downloadable worksheet that guides students in recording their predictions and findings. Many videos do this now.
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Hi Shannon
I agree that pairing the data from the Teal tool with classroom weather collection is a really good way to use this tool. The more integration we have between online tools and practical classroom investigations, the better it is all around. In this way, children get to see how their own small scale investigations and data collection follow the same basic processes as the work of scientists and engineers working on much bigger projects and get to understand how this data is collected. It also makes the online data more real and avoids the trap that we may inadvertently fall into of relying too much on digital tools and video without engaging in the necessary hands-on STEM work. A downloadable worksheet would be a great addition to the Teal resource. Perhaps you could create a very simple one to start with and then get older children involved in free exploration of the tool and get them to come up with their own questions to create a worksheet for a younger class.
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The Paxi video is a simple and clear method to teach young children about greenhouse gases and climate change. It is age appropriate for young children as it teaches them the facts without putting fear in children. There is lots of activities that can be used with a class such as temperature prediction- what will happen if the temperature continue to rise, what will happen to animals, what will happen to the ice.
After the class watches the activity- older classes could write reports on climate change or greenhouse gases. With a younger class, I would ask them to draw a picture and create posters on climate change and greenhouse gases. We could also start a walk on Wednesday or cycle campaign. The children can see how little decisions can help the environment
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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 as I will have Junior Infants this September. 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.
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The climate reporter’s activity is another useful resource that I would use with an older primary class after a thorough study of climate and weather patterns. With this foundational knowledge, they would have a deeper understanding of how climate crisis may present over the coming years, and a better understanding of human impact on climate patterns.
I would use the Paxi video to ensure the students had an in-depth understanding of greenhouse gases and their effect on climate. I would again plan a STEM activity around the ESA Weather and Climate resource for activity. I think to focus the students, I would either assign them a country or ensure that all groups choose various countries so that in the end presentation, the students are seeing the impacts of climate change across the globe. In completing the data and using the prediction tool, students are collecting data and citing data sources. In order to build on their analysis skills, I would then ask my students to create a digital action plan, outlining how they can use their findings to teach people about the climate crisis and the need for change. The students would present these projects to classes across the school and use it to promote events such as ‘Sustainability Week’, creating posters that share their most important findings.
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After completing activities 1 and 2 of the Climate vs Temperature pdf, I would move on to activity 3. This activity facilitates children to be able to use and share their knowledge from activity 1 and 2 and begin to look for ways to apply their learning in everyday life.
I would use the PAxi video to start the lesson, this will act as a hook to discuss and questions what are greenhouse gases and what impact are they having on our planet. I would also create a Greenhouse gas example that the children can look at (if time permits I would encourage them to make their own Greenhouse model).
I would then set the children a project to explore and research a country and how it is be effected by climate change. I set them a task of researching and designing a presentation to communicate this back to the class ad the wider school community. I would set them the challenge to come with one way to make a change and combine all these ways into a poster for the children to spread the word on dangers of climate change and what little actions we can take to make a big difference.
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This lesson helps children learn about climate change in an easy, hands-on way. I would like them to discover:
How greenhouse gases warm the planet
How scientists predict future climate
What different future climates might look likeThis could be a very effective lesson as there are informative videos and pictures to give the class a good understanding of the lesson. The class would be divided into groups. The resources show real climate data that scientists use and it compares positive as well as negative future scenarios in regard to the climate globally.
I would introduce the lesson using WALT and WILF.
Start with a quick discussion about what the class already know
Watch a fun cartoon about climate (like the Paxi video)I would divide the class into groups
Each team studies a different place using a climate website
“What will our area’s weather be like in 50 years?The class could present their findings, see below for an example:
Teams make short “weather report” videos or posters
Show how their area might changeTo conclude the lesson the class could make posters with tips to help the planet and they could share ideas for how families can reduce pollution and be more mindful of the environment.
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Hi John
The Paxi video would help to build pupils knowledge and understanding and this could be further developed with the use of the Teal Tool. I like how you plan to get different groups to explore different areas using the Teal tool and presenting this information in different ways to allow for multiple means of representation (UDL). Pupils can also show their learning and encourage others to make small changes and as you have said to be more mindful of the environment. I think it is important to focus on the positive actions pupils can do to empower them to make changes and encourage others to do so too.
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I think Activity 3 has lots of great information about Climate and the Greenhouse effect. The video is engaging and easy to follow and there is plenty of information to help teacher with this activity.
The tealtool is a great digital,interactive visual for young people to explore and compare the different elements of our climate historically and seeing future predictions.
My biggest concern with this activity is that the worksheet has much more reading and writing compared to Activities 1 and 2 which I feel a lot of my young people will struggle with. It might just mean some adaptation or careful consideration of how I group them to keep it engaging for all.
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Hi Amelia,
I totally get where you’re coming from. The video and Tealtool are super helpful, really clear and visual which makes a big difference when you’re trying to explain something as complex as climate change to younger students. I agree, it’s brilliant for showing how climate has changed over time and what the future might look like.
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I think Activity 3, Climate Reporters, is a really fun and creative way to get my class thinking about climate change. Asking them to imagine life in 2050 and create weather reports based on possiblle future temperatures makes the idea of long-term climate trends feel more real and personal. I like that it mixes Science with storytelling and how it’s not just about looking at numbers, but about understanding what those numbers could mean for the students for everyday life. It’s also a great way to show how climate is different from weather, since students havve to use long-term data and make predictations. I think the role playing aspect helps keep students engaged and makes the topic feel less abstract. I think the students would enjoy using the Teal Tool and comparing temperatures in different parts of the world too. One thing that could make the activity even better is including some real data or climate models, so that my class would know their predictations are based on actual Science. I teach 4th class and I find at this age, the children love to debate and get their point of view across, it might be helpful to end with a group discussion about what these changes could mean for people, animals or the planet. Activity 3 is a great way to get students using their imagination while also thinking critically about serious environmental issues.
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Hi Cliodhna
I agree that role playing and building a story around the issue of climate change can really help to turn the real life data from the Teal tool and the predicted future weather data from an abstract concept into something they can begin to understand. The past weather data in the Teal tool is real life data and the future predictions also have a very strong scientific basis as they are based on computer models of climate so if they are using the Teal tool to base their future predictions on, then they are based on real scientific data.
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I completely agree that it’s such an engaging way to bring a complex topic like climate change into the classroom in a meaningful and age-appropriate way. The creative angle of imagining life in 2050 really helps students connect emotionally to the issue, and I love how you’ve highlighted the blend of science and storytelling. It makes the learning more holistic and accessible, especially for 4th class (which I will have next year).
I also like your idea of a group discussion to wrap up the activity. At this age, giving students space to express their opinions and debate ideas not only builds communication skills but helps them process the bigger implications of climate change. It’s great that you’re thinking about ways to make the activity even more impactful.
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Activity 3, Climate Reporters, is a great way to help junior infants learn about weather, climate, and how our world might change in the future. Before starting, we watched the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, which was fun and easy for young children to understand. It explained how gases like carbon dioxide trap heat and make the Earth warmer.
Using the temperature prediction tool, we looked at what the weather might be like in 2050 if we take care of the planet or if we don’t. I would use this with my class by keeping it simple—looking at pictures, using colour-coded thermometers, and talking about hot and cold days.
To make the activity more suitable, I would do it in small groups with lots of support and hands-on materials. We could also use our school weather station to compare today’s weather with the future predictions. Sharing our ideas in circle time would help build confidence and understanding.
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The Paxi video is a brilliant but simple visual for pupils to understand and learn about the Earth and its protective atmosphere. It gives great tips on what we can do to help reduce impacts on this and links in brilliantly with our Green School programme. It highlighted the impact bigger companies and factories have also but ways they can reduce their carbon. It would be reassuring for children to learn that countries are working together to slow the damage.
I would use it in my class when learning about the weather and climate. It would be a great visual to show the effect global warming has on our world weather systems and the knock on effect and impact these weather events have on local communities. It would be good to focus on comparing temperatures – Activity 3 offers teachers a suitable activity to allow the children to be climate reporters which can also be linked to drama. In groups the children would examine past temperatures of certain decades and use this data and trends to help predict future temperatures in the next few decades.
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Activity 3: Climate Reporters
This is a great group work activity where the children will discuss and predict the effect global warming will have on our planet in the future. The Paxi video is a lovely way to open the lesson, explaining what can be a complex topic, in a child friendly way.
In planning this lesson for 2nd / 3rd class I’d be aware that 2050 will seem like a long way off to an 8 or 9 year old and it could be hard for them to relate current human behaviours to results that far into the future. However, the activity and subsequent sharing of information and group discussion, should give them food for thought and help them to reflect on the causes and effects of Climate change, Greenhouse gases and the Greenhouse effect. It should help them realise that current human behaviours are causing global warming and climate change but that there is something we can do now to slow this effect down and awareness is the first step in achieving this. -
This video is perfect for use in the classroom. It is short, powerful, and age-appropriate, making it an excellent springboard for a range of learning activities on sustainability. First, after watching, you could facilitate a class discussion: What are the problems the video points out? What actions can even children take? This encourages listening comprehension, empathy, and critical thinking.
I would do some hands on activities: ask pupils to design one small thing they can do at school or home to help the planet—like reducing waste, saving water, or planting a seed. They could draw a poster or create a short presentation (also building literacy and creative skills).
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The Paxi video shown in Activity 3 was engaging and age-appropriate, using animation and simple explanations to introduce the concept of greenhouse gases and their effect on Earth’s climate. This made the science accessible and enjoyable for younger learners.
The interactive tool allowed students to adjust levels of carbon dioxide and other gases to see how these changes could influence global temperatures over time. This hands-on component will help children to understand the connection between human actions and climate outcomes.
I would use this activity in a science or geography lesson focused on climate change. The video serves as an excellent introduction, sparking curiosity and discussion. Afterward, students could use the prediction tool in pairs or small groups, fostering collaboration and critical thinking. I might extend the activity by having students record their results, make graphs, or present short reflections on what actions could reduce emissions and why that matters.
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Activity 3, ‘Climate Reporters’, is an engaging way to increase pupil understanding of the Greenhouse effect and its impact on climate across the world. The Paxi video is ideal for teaching younger children about the impact of greenhouse gases on our climate. This is an abstract concept that many children find difficult to fully understand so having it presented in such a clear, child-friendly way would be beneficial.
I liked the fact that the activity focuses on exploring the distinction between weather and climate through data interpretation. The activity would really develop critical thinking, group work skills and mathematical skills. The use of TEAL as a predictive tool is a really good way of helping children to connect the data, our every day actions and the changes we could make to tackle climate change.
In the classroom I feel that the Climate Reporters activity would work really well as part of an integrated thematic approach to weather and climate. Presenting and recording weather forecasts could be done as part of Drama or Gaeilge. The topic integrates well with all aspects of SESE, Maths and the Myself and the WIder World strand of SPHE. Persuasive writing on making changes to tackle climate change could be done in English. Drawings and posters could be created as part of Visual Arts.-
I really like how you’ve linked the Climate Reporters activity across so many curriculum areas—using Drama and Gaeilge for presenting forecasts is a brilliant idea. The integration with SPHE and persuasive writing in English also makes the learning more meaningful. Your cross-curricular approach brings great depth to the topic.
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Hi Nicola
Welcome to the course. I agree that the Paxi video presents the Science about Greenhouse gases and Climate change in an easily accessible way. Often Climate Chang is presented in a very obscure way and while the science is complicated, the basic concepts can be explained in a simple way that is understandable to all. The Paxi video is a good way to start and then involving the children in hands on weather collection and data gathering to explain the difference between weather and climate builds on this as does interpreting the data from the Teal tool. You have also identified lots of different curriculum links which makes this a great cross curricular project.
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Hi Nicola, I completely agree that climate change is an abstract concept for students and that the video is a great way to simplify the idea for students. I love the idea of cross-curriculum integration and getting the children to present as Gaeilge – a superb idea that ties in nicely with the new language language curriculum.
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Activity 3 – Climate Reporters is an engaging and creative way to help 5th class pupils understand the causes and effects of climate change, while also building communication and presentation skills. The Paxi video is an excellent introduction to the greenhouse effect—it’s age-appropriate, visually engaging, and explains the concept clearly. Using this as a launch pad, pupils can work in pairs or small groups to research climate change topics using tools like the TEAL website, and then present their findings as “climate reporters” through posters, news scripts, or short videos.
I would enhance the activity by giving students clear success criteria or a reporting template to help structure their research and presentations. Including a fact-checking element would also encourage critical thinking. To deepen impact, pupils could present their reports to other classes or parents, linking science with literacy and digital media. This activity fosters teamwork, research skills, and a sense of responsibility for our planet.
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Hi Andrew,
I really like your idea of giving pupils a reporting template to help guide their presentations. That would definitely make the task feel more manageable, especially for kids who aren’t as confident. I also think getting them to share their reports with other classes or parents is a brilliant way to give their work a real sense of purpose. Thanks for the inspiration I’ll be borrowing a few of these ideas! -
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The Climate Reporters activity is a great way to get my 5th class boys thinking about climate change in a real-world context. It encourages them to explore future scenarios using actual data, which helps build digital research skills and supports learning in science and geography. I really like how pupils become climate scientists themselves by working with temperature and precipitation data, spotting patterns, and imagining what life might be like in 2050. It also gets them thinking about how rising temperatures could affect their own lives, which makes the learning feel more personal and relevant.
I’d use this activity as a group project where each team explores a different emissions scenario, using online tools or teacher-provided data. They’d complete their climate summary and present it to the class. This creates lots of opportunities for discussion and reflection. To improve the lesson, I’d suggest including a creative element such as maybe designing a “2050 poster” showing how their local area might look in the future climate scenario. This would bring an artistic and imaginative side to the task and help visualise the science in a fun, memorable way.
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Hi Katie
Every opportunity that we can give students to act as real scientists and engineers is a valuable learning experience and using real life data makes it a lot more real. I like the idea of the pupils using the data from the Teal Tool and other online sources to complete group projects and then present them to the class. They will learn a lot of useful skills from this and the addition of a creative element such as a drawing, poster or even a creative writing piece of their area in the future is a nice way to consolidate the learning.
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I think Activity 3 is a really engaging way to introduce children to climate change and greenhouse gases. The Paxi video is ideal for younger pupils as it explains a tricky concept clearly and keeps them interested with the animations and accessible language. I’d definitely use it as a way into the topic before having a whole-class chat to unpack what we’ve learned together.
To help consolidate the learning, I would ask the children to draw everyday actions we can take to help the environment, like turning off lights, walking instead of driving or recycling. These could be combined into a class display or poster to give a visual sense of our collective responsibility and show that small changes add up.
For older learners, I’d use the temperature prediction tool to explore how emissions affect future climate scenarios. We could compare outcomes, discuss the differences and present findings in groups either as posters, news bulletins or slide shows. This would give them the chance to work with real data, think critically and explain ideas to others, all while building digital and collaborative skills. I’d love to expand this into a cross-curricular project in the future.
One small improvement might be including a suggestion for a follow-up storybook or video that builds emotional engagement, especially for the younger pupils.-
Hi Megan,
I agree, the Paxi video explains the greenhouse effect clearly and simply and is an ideal resource for the younger classes. I hope to use it as a stimulus at the start of a lesson and to elicit prior learning and knowledge through class discussion. I think your point about everyday simple steps children can do is very relevant and taking action to help the environment should start early and with simple, practical everyday actions.
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Hi Megan! I really like your approach to Activity 3 starting with the Paxi video is a great way to introduce the topic to younger pupils in a fun and accessible way. The drawing activity and class display are lovely ideas to reinforce the learning and highlight individual responsibility.
Your plan for using the temperature prediction tool with older learners is also very effective. It’s great that you’re encouraging real data use, critical thinking, and collaboration. I also agree that a follow-up storybook or video could really help younger children connect emotionally with the topic.
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I really liked Activity 3, Climate Reporters, and found it to be an excellent way to introduce students to data handling and climate issues. The Paxi video on the greenhouse effect was pitched just right, visually engaging and informative, without being overwhelming. My pupils enjoyed it and were able to explain what greenhouse gases are in their own words afterwards.
The temperature prediction tool made the idea of climate change more concrete. It sparked some great questions and discussions in class. Pupils were especially interested in how small changes in temperature can lead to bigger environmental effects.
If I were to extend the activity, I would add a writing element where students write a climate report or a short news segment based on what they learned — linking with literacy. I’d also consider creating classroom displays with graphs and climate tips to keep the learning visible. -
The Paxi video explains greenhouse gases and climate change in a very child-friendly manner. It would act as a great prompt for a lesson, and could be used as a starting point to elicit the children’s prior knowledge on the topic. A KWL chart could be made through engaging the children in whole-class discussion. The children could predict what they think the climate might be like in the future by working in groups to discuss changing temperatures, precipitation and CO2 levels. They could then use the TEAL Tool to see how accurate their predictions were, and to collaboratively develop a climate report for a year in the future (each group could be assigned different years to investigate). The children could be given the option to record their climate reports on video, audio, in interview format, as a Powerpoint presentation etc to suit individual learning styles. The children would then listen to each other’s climate reports and provide feedback in the form of 2 stars and a wish.
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Hi Andy
I like the idea of using the Paxi video to assess the children’s prior knowledge of Greenhouse gases. Some breaks during the video with questions could help with assessing their understanding of the topic and also identifying any misconceptions they may have. One misconception that I come across in many classrooms is the idea that climate change is caused by holes in the ozone layer. Through explaining the cause of global warming, the Paxi video can help to correct some of these misconceptions. I love the idea of assigning different future years to different groups and having them record their climate reports in their own chosen format.
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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 what it would mean for monthly 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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I found Activity 3 to be a really valuable resource that I can definitely see myself using with my class. The video that goes with it is clear and detailed, making it especially useful for visual learners. It also opens up lots of opportunities for class discussion and questioning. TEAL is a great tool for helping students understand how current actions can impact future temperatures. It gives children a chance to explore how climate change might affect their own lives.
In groups, children could investigate and present the effects of rising temperatures at local, national, and international levels. They could then review each other’s work and take part in an action project to explore ways we can reduce the impact of climate change. The activity also allows for differentiation, so it can be adapted to suit different learners. Overall, it’s a very engaging way to get children thinking deeply about the topic.-
I completely agree—Activity 3 offers a great balance of clear explanation and interactive learning. The video really does support visual learners, and TEAL is such an effective way to make abstract climate concepts feel real and relevant. I love your idea of group investigations at different levels—it’s a great way to build research, collaboration, and presentation skills. The potential for differentiation is definitely a strength too, making it accessible for a range of abilities. It’s inspiring to see how the activity can lead into real-world action and reflection!
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I think Activity 3 ‘Climate Reporters’ is an excellent, engaging way to introduce pupils to climate change and the impacts of greenhouse gases. activity contains cross-curricular links (science, maths and geography), as well as encouraging critical thinking and discussion. The Paxi video is a great additional resource that I think children would find very engaging and informative, and that would really benefit visual learners. The TEAL temperature prediction tool is a great visual resource which would help reinforce the impacts caused by rising temperatures.
In my classroom, I would introduce the lesson by having a classroom discussion, asking prompt questions like ‘What do you already know about greenhouse gases?’ I would then play the Paxi video for the class. After this I’d split the children into small groups and assign them each a climate scenario, and get each group to design a poster which raises climate awareness on their topic. The groups would then present their findings and have a whole-class reflection. The children could display their posters in the corridor of the school in order to share their ideas with the school community.
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Activity 3 is a well-designed, engaging lesson that effectively introduces students to greenhouse gases, climate change, and the impact of human actions on future climate scenarios. The use of the Paxi video simplifies complex concepts, making them accessible for younger learners, while the temperature prediction tool provides an interactive way to visualize climate outcomes. I would use this activity as part of a cross-curricular project on climate change, beginning with a discussion or quiz to assess prior knowledge, followed by guided exploration of the tool in small groups. Incorporating real-world or local weather data would deepen students’ connection to the material, and using our classroom weather station could offer a hands-on link between weather and climate. To enhance the activity further, I would add a collaborative element—such as students presenting regional climate “news reports”—and integrate basic digital tools for graphing and analysis. A hands-on experiment or simulation could also enrich the learning experience.
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Activity 3 offers a well-designed and engaging lesson that introduces students to essential climate change concepts. These include current climate modelling vs future climate modelling and greenhouse gases. Climate and climate change in particular are abstract concepts for many adults let alone children. Therefore, these resources are an excellent way to help the children grasp the concept of climate change. Activity 3 also promotes key skills like data analysis, critical thinking, collaboration, and real-world environmental awareness. As a 6th Class teacher, these are vtal skills for students to grasp as they move to secondary school. The inclusion of digital tools brings an interactive, hands-on dimension that supports group-based and interactive learning. Finally, the video also provides strong opportunities for cross-curricular integration. For example, after watching the video, students could explore related topics in Maths (e.g., data), science (e.g., water cycle), or even art (poster campaign to raise awareness) and writing (e.g. persuasive writing/debate writing all about climate change).
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Activity 3 is a great way to introduce children to what greenhouse gases are and to deepen their understanding of what they are and how they have a massive influence on our current climate.
Paxi’s video is great for a younger audience and shows them how we contribute to the increasing levels of greenhouse gases.
TEAL is a great tool that students can use. I would use it in the younger classroom to explore how TEAL affect weather in different parts of the world.
We would look at the weather where we are today,
I would start with a role play and introduce weather props sunglasses, scarf, umbrella etc.
I would get the students to draw how the feel today’s weather eg. Sun, raindrops, their clothing etc.
Discuss which part of TEAL they felt most today.
Compare weather that is closer/further from the equator/ why is it hotter closer to the equator.
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