[Doireann Ní Mhurchú]

I think this lesson would be hugely enjoyable for all students as it would engage STEM and Arts. The concept of having different weights on different planets is a ‘far out there’ concept, so broadening perspectives on how things can drastically differ based on gravity and density is amazing when it can be done in a classroom. It is a great chance for students to be engaged in scientific thought without being burdened down with facts and figures.

[Doireann Ní Mhurchú]

One Year on Earth – Understanding the Seasons Resource (ESA)

 

Having read the One Year on Earth PDF and having seen the images, I felt they would be good trigger points to engage a meaningful discussion about the seasons and having an awareness of the wider world around us. I think it also is a good open-ended concept that seasons differ throughout the world regarding how many months are in each season and duration of the seasons.

I think that the lessons in the PDF are clear and practical allowing the children to guide their own learning based on prior knowledge and also steering the discussion in accordance to the level of interest.

I also think discussion of the seasons would work as a stepping stone to delve into other scientific concepts like gravity and density as, on face value, it seems like an ‘easy’ topic that the students just take for granted that they know, but unravelling the science behind the ‘obvious’ is empowering. Like stated in the recommendations on STEM and the Arts in Education, we are encouraging knowledge, skills and values- going from knowing what the seasons are, to knowing how the seasons change in different parts of the world, and finally knowing why that occurs.

Finally I think the curious minds framework, encouraging children and teachers to engage, investigate, follow on and reflect, will be hugely beneficial as to how I will structure my SESE/ STEM lessons next year.

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