Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I think recording the rainfall every day is a great way for children to see how scientists collect and use real data. Comparing your results with another area would be a great way to get children thinking about different weather patterns across Ireland.
A climate change question I would investigate with my class is ‘How is our local coastline changing, and could climate change be affecting it?’ As our school is in a rural area on the west coast of Ireland, this is something the children can easily relate to because many of them visit the beach or live close to the sea.
To investigate this, I would ask the pupils to compare older and newer satellite images of our local coastline using the EO Browser. They could look for changes such as coastal erosion, movement of sand dunes, flooding, or changes in vegetation. We could also take a trip to the beach to make observations, take photographs, and record what we see. Pupils could interview parents or grandparents to find out if they have noticed any changes over the years. I think this would be a really engaging investigation because it connects learning to the children’s own environment while developing observation, critical thinking, and scientific enquiry skills.Hi Edwina
The use of satellite images makes learning meaningful and shows real-life applications, such as monitoring weather and environmental change. I would also use this resource in my classroom because it is engaging, practical, and encourages curiosity.
Earth Observation Browser is a free online tool that lets you explore satellite images from all over the world. You can look at almost any location, compare how places have changed over time, and use different views like true colour to see things like vegetation. It makes satellite data easy to understand and is a great resource for learning about the environment.
I would use the Earth Observation Browser in my classroom to make geography and science lessons more interactive for the class. Students could compare images of the same place from different years to investigate topics like climate change, deforestation, coastal erosion, or how cities have grown. They could also use NDVI to look at plant health and discuss why changes have happened. I think using real satellite images would make lessons more interesting and help students develop observation, critical thinking, and digital skills while learning about real environmental issues.Hi Amy,
Your ideas for hands-on activities, like recycling projects and planting projects are lovely. I also agree that teaching children their small actions can make a difference is such an important message.
The videos HOME, the Climate Aid 2020 video, and Greta Thunberg’s speech at the UN COP25 highlights how important it is to teach children about climate change from a young age. The Climate Aid 2020 video shows the need for people to come together to help the planet, this would help children see that even small things, like recycling or planting flowers, can make a difference. Greta’s speech would be more suitable for older primary classes & shows the children that they have a voice and they can make their voices heard.
In my classroom, I would use short clips from the videos to start a chat with the children and get them asking questions. After that, we could do simple and fun activities like planting seeds, going on a nature walk, making posters about recycling, or even doing a litter pick around the school. It is important for the children to know they can do their bit to help look after the world around them.Hi Eleanor,
Using the Paxi video as a hook to get the children interested is a good idea. The picture book log is a lovely way to keep the learning going & linking it to daily weather chats is a great idea too. I agree that keeping the topic simple and hands-on is the best approach for Senior Infants.
Activity 3 is a really good way to help pupils understand climate change and how scientists predict what our climate might look like in the future. The Paxi video explains the the greenhouse effect in a simple and engaging way that pupils can easily understand before moving on to the main activity. The activity encourages group work and discussion while helping pupils see the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.
For pupils in my SET class, I think using the C3S Climate & Energy Education Demonstrator could be quite challenging, especially interpreting graphs and comparing different climate scenarios. I would use simplified graphs, provide visual supports and model each step before asking pupils to complete the task. I would also pair the children or have small-groups work together so pupils could support one another. This would allow all pupils to take part and build their understanding at a pace that suits their needs.Hi Valerie,
Having the children create their own weather and climate sentences after sorting them into groups is a lovely way to reinforce their learning while encouraging discussion and active participation. I could definitely use this activity in my SET class and modify it by providing picture cards & simple sentence starters to support the pupils.
These activities are a great way to introduce the difference between weather and climate because they relate the topic to the pupils’ own experiences. Asking them about the weather on their birthdays makes the lesson more interesting and encourages discussion. I would use these activities in my class to promote group work, critical thinking, and active participation. The extension on climate zones helps pupils understand how weather differs around the world. I would include more local examples, short videos, and a few quick quizzes to check understanding.
The “Weather Detectives” activity gives pupils the chance to collect and analyse real weather data themselves. It helps develop observation, maths, and science skills in a practical way. I would use this activity to encourage teamwork and make learning more hands-on. The children could try using digital thermometers or different weather apps like Met Eireann or accuweather, comparing results with local weather reports, and having pupils keep a simple weather diary. This would make the activity even more engaging and help pupils see how weather changes over time.I think this would be a great activity to use in my SET class because turning the experiment into a space adventure would make science more fun & engaging for my students
I could use the rocket launch activity in my SET class as an enjoyable way for students to learn about forces and movement. My students would really like this activity because it is hands on & engaging. Instead of just learning about rockets from a book, they would get the chance to carry out an experiment and see the science happening in front of them. I would begin by looking at a video of a rocket launch and explain to the students that we are going to make our own rocket launch by blowing up a balloon & releasing it. I would ask the students what they think will happen when the balloon is released and encourage them to make predictions. Afterwards, we could discuss why the balloon moves forward and how this connects to how real rockets work. I could also encourage them to change different variables, such as the amount of air in the balloon, and observe the effects. The activity could be adapted to suit different abilities within my SET class, allowing everyone to take part and experience success.
Hi Irene, I think starting with the weather is a great way to get the children talking. Asking the children about cows wearing coats adds some humour to the lesson! The matching game and the animal movements outside would also engage the children and make the lesson fun, active, and easy for all children to get involved.
I would use the ESERO Animals in the Cold lesson because it is a fun, hands-on way to teach science and can easily be adapted to suit the different needs of the pupils I work with. I would start by talking about different types of weather and showing pictures to get everyone thinking and sharing their ideas. We would then look at penguins and polar bears and chat about how they manage to stay warm in freezing temperatures. I think the Vaseline and water activity would really engage the children as they could see for themselves how the greasy layer keeps water off. I would break the lesson into smaller steps for the children, use lots of visual supports, and give pupils different ways to show what they have learned, whether through talking, drawing, or practical activities. I like that every child can take part, build confidence, and enjoy learning science in a way that is meaningful and accessible for them.