Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I like this question. Wildfires seem to have become far more common now and are regularly on the news. It would be a very interesting topic to research.
Research Question:
How do extreme weather events affect outdoor sports participation rates among children aged 6–12 in Ireland?
To begin this topic with my class, I would survey all of the children to find out how many of them are active in outdoor sports. We would then spend time discussing how being a member of a sports team affects them and benefits them in their daily lives. We would also discuss the factors needed to ensure games and matches go ahead. This would then lead us into the area of pitches and facilities and how weather dependent this is. This research would likely take place over the course of the year. We would discuss how children are feeling about an upcoming match throughout the week, make a word wall to note their feelings. If and when matches are cancelled, we would then discuss feelings and knock on effects such as , what was done as an alternative etc. I accept that this would be a difficult topic to get concrete answers for but I do think that by the end of the year, there would be some data to show how often children’s weekend games are disrupted and what type of feelings this gives them.
1. Starlink Satellite Trains
These were launched to provide global broadband internet via thousands of small satellites.
2. EIRSAT-1
It’s a UCD-built CubeSat carrying three experiments:
GMOD – a gamma-ray burst detector
EMOD – a test for thermal surface coatings
WBC – a new wave-based control mechanism for satellite orientation3. International Space Station (ISS)
The ISS conducts scientific research and technology demonstrations in low Earth orbit while orbiting Earth approximately 16 times per day.
4. Starlink
these are Starlink satellites entering and deploying into their orbits to expand internet coverage globally.
5. NOAA-15, -18, and -19
These NOAA satellites, frequently observed passing overhead in Ireland, circle Earth in polar orbits, enabling full global coverage over time. They transmit live weather data—including atmospheric and temperature readings—which can be received and decoded using amateur radio equipment.
I love the idea of the children producing posters. Keeping children creative whilst working on such serious topics is very beneficial.
The first thing I felt after watching this video was a sense of helplessness at the direction our planet is going in. The scenarios and facts presented in the video are quite simply, frightening. Due to the nature of the video the facts would have to be introduced very carefully to pupils and in an age appropriate manner. The first thing that I would do would be to inform parents/guardians and to encourage them to watch the video in advance of my lesson. I would then introduce it to the children as a talk and discussion activity. I would try and get as much prior knowledge and information from the children as I could. My aim would be that we would have already discussed most of the facts and topics prior to watching the video. By doing this, watching the video and seeing the facts would reaffirm the class discussions and I think the children would buy into the lesson objectives more.
I really enjoyed the Paxi video on greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas the human effect on it has been a constant topic throughout most of our lives. I feel that this video made the topic very engaging for young children and I think that it would certainly keep a class very interested. The animation in the video was particularly impressive.
I had never come across the TEAL tool before. I really like how it incorporates so many different parts of the curriculum. It would open up the opportunity for children to discuss the topic with their parents and grandparents and therefore, raise awareness of the topic across different generations. I would incorporate this into my class by inviting older members of the community to come to the school and share their thoughts on climate change with the children. I would have to be prepared, however, for some contrasting and possibly, controversial opinions on it.
I completely agree. Publicising the children’s findings through ICT would also raise awareness of the topic within the wider school community.
Both of these activities were very enjoyable activities to complete. This is such an interesting and relevant topic that I think any class from 3rd to 6th would thoroughly enjoy it and would get a lot out of it. Activity 1 was a very basic lesson but I could see myself using it early in the school year. It raises awareness of facts that you might think were obvious but it’s not until you sit down and thin about them that they become obvious. That, for me, is the best part of this activity. It creates a situation where students have to think about a topic that is real to them, that they experience all the time but rarely think about. This activity would then lead students to activity 2 where they become weather detectives. To improve this lesson, I think I would set up a committee in the class to complete a weather chart displayed on the wall. This could rotate throughout the year to ensure that all children get a chance at it.