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I really like the idea of observing weather patterns, this would link in really well with our SESE curriculum.
In our local area, costal flooding is a real threat. There has already been a number of floods in Clontarf nearby which has caused damage to property and businesses. There is an organisation which has been trying to address this for over ten years but unfortunately, due to local complaints, none of the plans have been implemented. Our school community is very nearby this area and is very much also at risk. This is an issue to many of the families in the school community and would form a fantastic basis for active engagement by the children in the school on the issue. The children could start a campaign to help slow down climate change by three small steps. They could implement a strict recycling programme in the school, they could do classroom and school checks that electricity is not being used when not needed and they could raise awareness though engaging in a project to learn about climate change and how it would effect our community.
Children are fantastic at seeing the similarities between themselves and others instead of surface differences. Children in Primary school are at an ideal age to really connect with refugees as people from other cultures and communities and to make them feel welcomed and included in our community.
School is a perfect place to learn more about other cultures and the lives of people from other lands. I believe that education is the key to resolving the problem of inequality and injustice. Through education, through a deeper understanding of the culture and place of origin of refugees into our country, children can gain a connection to refugees and develop an interest in learning more about them and their lives. This is where a desire to help and to include can be fostered. In school, we could launch a project on the different countries and cultures that the refugees from our community come from. This could be done on a whole school level with shared learning throughout the different classes about different places and cultures.Very nicely put, I agree and have also found the green schools programme to be very engaging and relevant to young children.
I believe that Development Education is of vital importance in the Irish Primary School classroom. Children need exposure to these global issues which effect our world from an early age in order to develop a sense of empathy and understanding of the issues. Children are naturally empathetic in my experience and have a keen sense of justice. Through learning about global development issues, children can become engaged, active citizens who care enough about the world they live in to wish to resolve these inequalities. I would like to encourage colleagues to engage with Development Education in our school as it would benefit the whole school community. Children would support each other in their learning and understanding of these global issues. A whole school approach is very important in order to get full buy in from students and teachers alike in committing to learn about and explore these global issues. Climate change is something that our school has been focusing on a lot in recent years, there are many other areas that we could expand to also.
I believe that a really important area for Global Sustainable Development, which is highly relevant to the children in our schools, is equal access to quality education. A number of the lessons in this programme will allow the children to gain an appreciation of how privileged they are to have free and equal access to an education here in Ireland. This is something that many of our children here would take for granted. It is important for them to realise that they are in a very lucky group to have access to this and to learn to appreciate the opportunities this affords them. The lessons in this programme would be a great starting point to develop awareness of this in the classroom. THis could be extended through a programme of connecting with a school in the developing world and reaching out to the staff there to establish a pen-pal system of communicating with children in this developing community. This would deepen children’s understanding of the importance of quality education and enhance their level of empathy and connection with those less advantaged.
I think a really important area for Global Sustainable Development, which is highly relevant to the children in our schools, is equal access to quality education. A number of the lessons in this programme will allow the children to gain an appreciation of how privileged they are to have free and equal access to an education here in Ireland. This is something that many of our children here would take for granted. It is important for them to realise that they are in a very lucky group to have access to this and to learn to appreciate the opportunities this affords them. The lessons in this programme would be a great starting point to develop awareness of this in the classroom. THis could be extended through a programme of connecting with a school in the developing world and reaching out to the staff there to establish a pen-pal system of communicating with children in this developing community. This would deepen children’s understanding of the importance of quality education and enhance their level of empathy and connection with those less advantaged.
This is a great idea Andrew. I would particularly like to do something like this as I teach in a sea-side town where flooding is a very real near threat.
I agree and it’s important to use these incidents as opportunities to educate children about these gender stereotypes and how they limit a person.
In my class this year, teaching 5th class, there has been a clear gender divide around what music artists the children favour. The majority of the girls are huge Taylor Swift fans. On the other hand, in what I believe is a direct reaction to this, the majority of the boys claim to be Kanye West fans. It is interesting that the boys chose this person as someone to favour, considering the open disrespect he had shown to Taylor Swift when she was a young girl at an awards ceremony. This type of misogyny, openly played out in the media, has a big influence on young minds. It is incumbent upon us as educators, to educate children about issues of gender discrimination to help prevent it. Development Education is a key tool in this process. It can provide the structure around which a more meaningful understanding of gender and equality can flourish.
