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Climate question : how is the greenhouse effect changing the conditions for plant growth?
<p style=”text-align: left;”>As part of answering this question, I would explore the term greenhouse effect and discuss this meaning with the class. We would analyse data collected which shows the trajectory of effects on the atmosphere, growing conditions, global climate. We would then set up our own in class experiment to collect and analyse data on a small scale, by growing plants inside plastic bottle domes. We would place thermometers inside the bottles to monitor the temperature. We would set these up in different conditions, eg sunny spot, shaded spot and ascertain any differences as we collect our data over days and weeks. At the end we would analyse our data and refer back to our opening question. We would then be able to refer back to looking at this issue on a global scale.</p>Great idea to start with school and local landmarks, making it relevant and personal for the students.
I really like the From the Ground and from the Sky resource and would definitely use it with my senior classes. I think it is really interesting to look at and compare the different images and to identify similar features between them, such as identify factors as mentioned in the pupil activities. There are great opportunities for linking with some of the apps mentioned in the module, allowing student to further explore satellite imagery of varying locations.
I also really like the idea of monitoring which satellites have been travelling across Ireland and checking in with the work goi g on in the ISS. Overall I think these lessons provide the perfect starting point for exploring the use of satellites with students.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Really like the idea of using circle of control here to help ease any anxieties and help children to understand that there are many elements outside of their control, especially when it comes to this issue.</p>
<p style=”text-align: left;”>’Home’ was a really powerful way of delivering a powerful message, and affording lots of practical questions and discussions in the classroom, especially with Senior classes, however perhaps in snippets. A few other have mentioned eco anxiety here and I think that is a really concern in this area. It is important for children to understand the impact we are having on the planet and that we can work to effect change, however the thought that this hinges on the efforts of the next generation could be hard for some children to digest, especially those who are already anxious or literal thinkers. Caution is necessary, but a really useful resource to pull from.</p>
I really like the visual information available using the online tool exploring the rising temperatures linked with greenhouse gases explored in the video. I think this makes for a great practical activity for students to actively engage with the topic and I like the idea of groups exploring different emission levels and the effects of this on climate. I would progress to encourage groups to present their information to the class so as to spark further debate. I think actively exploring some of the hands on ideas mentioned during the module, like the experiment to explore rising temperatures through varied conditions, would compliment this well.
I really like the suggestion of providing students with climate policies and strategies from different countries around the world to open discussion on what they think is working/will work to effect positive change and /or suggest ways to re-imagine these from a different perspective.
Both of these resources provide lots of engagement activities for children to learn about temperature and climate in the classroom. The Nose High in the Sky resource has some lovely, practical hands on stem activities to really engage children in measuring different elements of weather patterns, while supporting their skills of collecting data in meaningful waysand would really help students u deratand the purpose of setting up a station in school to collect and measure data (wind, rainfall, temperature) relevant to their locality so that they might be able record local weather patterns over a designated period of time.
Likewise the lessons on Weather V Climate are very practical, with lots of scope for extension and cross curricular links, eg the history of weather data collection and mathematics strand for different to types of data representation and anylisis. I also really like the creative writing aspect of the last lesson based on imagining how climate will look in 2050, especially with our growing concerns over climate change, etc. I think this really supports students to see themselves as active participants in the climate change debate, which will continue to be of relevance as they get older.I also really like the idea of keeping a weather journal which can be used to develop an understanding of weather patterns over time and comparing at different times of the year across different seasons, etc. It could also be used as a resources for future years to measure changes in weather in the locality over time.