[Carmel Haynes]

Research question: How has our climate changed in the last 20 years in our local area?

Phase 1: Introduce the children to the research question. Ask the children what the difference is between climate and weather. Discuss the seasons and what the weather is typically like in each season. Check to see what the current weather is like; rainfall per month, average monthly temperature. Get the children to record this on posters, in relation to rainfall and temperature. Introduce the children to met.ie. I really loved the idea of setting up weather stations in our school. We could actually measure the rainfall for the month of June and record the daily temperature with our instruments. This would really make it much more meaningful and real for each child.

Phase 2: Gather data. Children will research the temperatures and rainfall for the month of June over the past 20 years. Children can also speak with their parents and grandparents and get some personal views on our topic. Children will then record the data. They will then proceed to organise and manage the data.

Phase 3: Classroom Discussion- Children can discuss their findings and compare the results. Visitors from the local community, eg. Farmers may be invited in to talk about how the climate has changed and how it has made farming more challenging.

Phase 4: Presentation of work- Children will present their findings to other classes throughout the school.

[Carmel Haynes]

Definitely a very interesting topic to research, the findings would spark up great discussions.

[Carmel Haynes]

I found the “Nose High Up in The Sky” resources very interesting and think they are fantastic activities for middle to senior classes. The visual aids are excellent and very eye catching which the pupils would love promoting many discussions and questions. The different pictures from the ground, space station and the satellites would encourage very interesting conversations. They are also very stimulating in colour, quality and size. Children would learn a lot in relation to perspective and how people see things differently and have different opinions. I would integrate the topic with an Art lesson to recreate in their own eyes the beautiful photographs that portray the majestic world around us.
I love the place the proverbs have to play in the lessons of both module 1 and 4, I focus very much on proverbs and idioms in my class and find that the children used it naturally and fitting in everyday conversations.

[Carmel Haynes]

I also loved the proverbs and how they are used inadvertingly in many day to day conversations.

[Carmel Haynes]

The video ‘HOME’ was a very powerful video which clearly shows the effects human are having on the planet. This video could be used as a very important resource to help promote children’s interest in climate change and the devastating affects of it. I would play the video for the children and then I would get the children to discuss the video, introduce a debate, assign a project, quiz and art work.
I also think that the TED Talk video from Greta Thunberg is very inspiring where young people may get involved in the worrying concerns of climate change.
I would ask the children with help and support from the green school committee to promote recycling, encourage smart sustainable living through our everyday habits and shopping. I would also encourage to plant more trees. It is so important to instil a positive attitude for the environment in the next generation and for them to appreciate the beauty in the word around them. By doing this positively, they may have a huge impact on the future planet.

[Carmel Haynes]

I totally agree about focusing on positivity and moving forward to promote and implement effective plans to help with climate change rather than the adverse damage that has been done as it definitely is overwhelming for children as they try grasp the complexities around the concerning topic.

[Carmel Haynes]

I found the the Paxi Video about greenhouse gases and the TEAL Tool to teach children about climate and greenhouse gases very informative and great learning tools for kids. The activities are both easy to teach learn and solve. There are many hands-on activities to get children of all ages involved in the importance of looking after our local environment and climate.

The Teal tool is a great option for the middle to senior classes to help develop numeracy skills thought the exploration of data, graphs and collecting data as they compare and contract many regions. I would get the children involved in talks and discussions first as a whole class and brainstorm all the important subjects as they watch the Paxi video. Their evidence and findings could be presented to the whole school in many hands-on, interesting and creative ways. The use of IT and i-pads would further stimulate the pupils interest, cognitive skills and research skills. The green school committee with a representative from each class would report back to each class, display work on at the entrance notice board and allow for whole school/parental feedback.

[Carmel Haynes]

yes the idea of the kahoot quiz is brilliant as children love it.

[Carmel Haynes]

I love the idea of getting the green school involved in the topic of tacking and understanding climate and climate change.  A representative or two from each class would get the whole school involved and provide the essential feedback to everyone.

[Carmel Haynes]

The ESA Nose up high in the sky resources were excellent tools to link and integrate all subjects areas together. The idea of including proverbs and senses is excellent to get the children involved in the ever-changing discussions of day to day weather. The lessons develop the children’s conversational skills, cognitive thinking, appreciation of the world around them as they compare weather and climate as well as problem solving skills.
I loved the idea of the children comparing weather on their birthdays or comparing weather in one country to another during the different seasons. Using their birthday in the subject matter fosters a sense of pride and importance to motivate the children to enjoy reflecting on the lessons as a class.

I found the Weather V’s Climate resource very useful to help differentiate and compare the two, as it can be confusing for children. It’s also a great tool to develop the children’s geographical skills and become more aware and appreciative of the world around them. The activities and experiments based on this is very hand-on and stimulating.

The idea of the weather station is fantastic and as mentioned by a participant could prove a great success if implemented and monitored by the green school committee with a representative from each class.

[Carmel Haynes]

I agree with the idea of the weather station to help stimulate and encourage the children to get actively involved in the importance discussion of weather and climate. It’s very hand-on and can be incorporated into all subject areas and as a whole school with efficient and effective planning and monitoring.

[Author]

Posts