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Option 1:
To begin this lesson with my 5th class students we would explore the question ‘What is light pollution?’. I will use this as a guide to see what background knowledge my students have on the topic and I will alter my content based on gaps in their knowledge. Key vocabulary would include terms such as glare, skyglow, light trespass, and clutter. Children will then explore the Globe at Night website to count visible stars from school and they will compare with star charts. They will record their observations on a whiteboard and we will have a discussion as a whole class. We will then take our learning outside the classroom and we will go on a field trip around the local environment to check for light trespass. The children will use the app Lux Light Meter Pro to assist them with this. The final task the children will engage in will to be to create a campaign to help educate other classes/communities about light pollution, the impacts light pollution has on the environment and give ways that we can help reduce light pollution.Hi Aoife,
The ESERO resource sounds like a great idea and I always find that the children will remember more when they are actively involved in the learning.
Task 3 – Moon Observation for 5th Class: “Morning Moon Watch & Create”
Several days before the activity, I will set up a hands-on moon phase demo. Using a ball and flashlight in a dimmed room, we’ll act out how the Moon appears to change shape as it orbits Earth. This will be a hands on activity for the children and will provide a good foundation which will be built upon.Following on from this activity I will show the class a short video that clearly explains lunar phases (Phases of the Moon: Astronomy and Space for Kids by FreeSchool). This visual resource will reinforce the previous hands on activity strengthening the children’s learning.
The children will then be given the task of engaging in a “Morning Moon Watch”. For this activity the children will observe the waning crescent Moon from home—using binoculars, if available, and they will sketch its shape, brightness, and position in a Moon Logbook.
When the children come to school each pupil creates a small artwork (drawing, collage, or model) inspired by their Moon observations that day. This adds a creative reflection layer to their scientific work.
To conclude this lesson we will have a class discussion where the students will present their observations, thoughts and art to the class. We’ll explore together:
• Why the Moon appears to change shape
• How lunar phases connect to tides, calendars, and space science.Hi Rachel,
I love the layout of this lesson as it is engaging involves a variety of activities and would spark the children’s interest.
The activity I would chose would be option 3 where my 5th class students would observe and record the positions of the sun when rising and setting and at different times of the day. I would make this activity a part of our daily routine for a specified period of time (a week or longer if engagement is high). The children will be given the task of choosing an outdoor spot in the school environment with a clear view of the sky. During the specified period of time the children will note where the Sun rises and sets each day using simple drawings or notes in their science copies. The children can use a compass or compass app on a digital technology to note directions. We will vary the time of day where we complete this activity so they can observe and discuss differences. As an added activity we will use a stick in the ground to track shadows at these times to help visualize the Sun’s movement. To finish the lesson we will engage in a discussion on patterns observed, such as how the Sun rises in the east, moves across the sky, and sets in the west.
I like the idea of getting the children to create a climate change model using everyday materials. It gives the children an opportunity to get creative while also demonstrating their newly acquired knowledge.
Research Q: How has climate change impacted the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Ireland ?
Student Participation:
1. Brainstorm weather events that children already know.
2. Talk about what events are classed as extreme and allow a discussion about this to see if children can work out for themselves what an extreme weather is.
3. Recap on the issue of climate change.
4. Begin research using a variety of sources to determine weather patterns over a specified period of time .
5. Invite local environmentalists, meteorologists, or community members who have observed changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events to speak to the class. This helps students hear real-life experiences and understand the local impact of climate change.
6. Finish off with a group research activity where the children will pick a specific weather event and find as much data on this event in Ireland. This will help to show if the frequency and intensity of the event has increased.
The EO Browser is a tool which provides a wealth of data that can be used in the classroom to enhance lessons on climate and space. With this tool children can see first hand how the environment around them is changing. By using this tool in your classroom you are giving your students the opportunity to gain practical experience in satellite data analysis which leads to an enhanced understanding of Earth’s systems and the impacts of human activity. This tool can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. If I was to use this tool in my classroom I would use some of the images as a stimulus to get the children talking and thinking on a deeper level about the issue at hand. I would also use it for hands on projects and research for example I might get the children to pick a specific area and detail the changes that have occurred in that area over a specified period of time.
I like the idea of using an experiment as a hands-on activity to explore the greenhouse effect. These items are all readily available and it could be set up and carried out with great ease.
The video titled ‘HOME’ was a very powerful and compelling video which clearly shows the effects human are having on the planet. This video could be used as a stimulus to spark children’s interests in the topic. I would play the video for the children and then I would get them to complete a group activity where I present an open ended question for them to discuss. At the end of the lesson in order to assess the children’s learning I would use a Kahoot quiz. It is important to give children an opportunity to voice their opinions and I would use the TED talk which was delivered by Greta Thunberg to show the children that they have a role to play in trying to resolve global warming. The carbon footprint calculator seems like a fantastic resource to make the children truly aware of the impact they are having on the climate.
I agree that the Paxi video is more geared towards younger classes and it manages to make a very complex issue much easier for the children to understand.
After looking at lesson 3 initially I thought it seemed to be a very complicated lesson and that it would take a lot of explaining and teacher input and this could impact on the effectiveness of the lesson as it does not lend itself to self-discovery or inquiry based learning. What made me feel better was the fact that the lesson was accompanied by a teachers sheet which gives a step by step guide of what needs to be done. This lesson lends itself well for integration and if I was to use it in my classroom I would try to incorporate Visual Arts in some way in the form of a poster to show what humans can do to lessen the impacts of climate change.
I completely agree with Grainne that by incorporating STEM based activities it the classroom the children not only develop a range of skills and competencies but when asked to reflect on the activities many state they were ‘the best lessons ever’. As a teacher this is fantastic to hear.
STEM education has become a buzz word in many classrooms in recent years. It is evident from Listons paper how valuable STEM education can be. It affords children with opportunities to develop a wide range of skills and competencies. I place a strong emphasis on STEM based activities in my classroom as I have seen first hand how beneficial it is for the children. Engagement is high during these activities and they foster collaboration, encourage critical thinking and promote the children’s ability to problem solve. I teach 5th class and we covered the topic of weather and climate this year – it was a topic which really interested the children and they were eager to learn about both weather and climate. The resources in this module will be very beneficial when I teach this topic to my class next year.