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Some great ideas here for songs, poems and artwork that I will use with my class in September. I have taken note of them and will use my local library to find some of the books you mentioned.
If I was creating a version of ‘Design Your Own Dark Sky Place’ in my school, I would make it a whole school project that encourages children to appreciate the beauty of the night sky. We would begin by learning about light pollution and discussing simple ways we can reduce it at school and at home, such as switching off unnecessary lights. Each class could create artwork, poems or stories inspired by the stars, moon and planets to display around the school. We could organise an evening ‘Star Watch’ where families are invited to observe the night sky together using binoculars or a telescope borrowed from a local astronomy group. Older children could teach younger classes about constellations, while younger children could enjoy songs and picture books about space. We could also plant a quiet outdoor area where children can sit and observe nature during the day and imagine the night sky. This project would help pupils develop curiosity, creativity, and a greater appreciation of our natural environment. As the Green Schools Co-Ordinator in our school, I would love to link this to Green Schools and would talk to our Green Schools Committee about this in September.
I love the idea of the ‘Dark Sky Detective’ observing the night care and the nocturnal wildlife. I will definitely use this idea in my infant classroom, and I think this would make it a fun activity for the children and their families.
Biodiversity in the local area –
In my classroom, I would encourage children to explore biodiversity by looking closely at the plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife around our school and local area. We could go on nature walks, use simple checklists to spot different species, and keep a class nature journal with drawings and observations. I think young children learn best by experiencing nature first-hand.
To introduce light pollution, we could compare daytime and nighttime habitats and talk about animals like bats, moths, and hedgehogs that are active after dark. We could discuss how bright lights can make it harder for these animals to find food, travel safely, or avoid predators. I would encourage the children to think about simple actions we can take, such as switching off unnecessary outdoor lights or using lights that point downward.
These activities would help children to see the connection between caring for local wildlife and protecting dark skies. It would also encourage them to become more aware of how everyday choices can make a positive difference.
I am the Green Schools Co-ordinator and never thought to talk about light pollution with the committee over the years. However, I will be using this as a discussion topic in September. Looking forward to digging into this topic a little more.
How light pollution is impacting the local area –
Living in Louisburgh, Co Mayo, I am lucky to have access to beautiful dark skies, especially along the coast and in the surrounding countryside. However, I have noticed that outdoor lighting has increased over the years. Brighter street lights, security lights, and lights from homes can make it harder to see the stars and may also affect local wildlife, such as bats, moths, and birds. Learning about light pollution has made me more aware that good lighting should only be used where and when it is needed.
With my Junior Infants, I would introduce this topic through stories, songs, and simple discussions about day and night. The picture book ‘Owl Babies’ would be a lovely resource to use here to talk about both night and wildlife. We could compare pictures of dark skies and bright city skies, create artwork of the night sky, and go on a walk around the school to spot different types of lights. I would also encourage families to look for stars at home and talk about ways to reduce unnecessary lighting. This would help the children develop curiosity, observation skills, and an appreciation for protecting our natural environment.
I had never heard about this app either and looked it up and see what an excellent and fun resource it would be to use in the classroom. I added it to my assignment to use to observe the night sky as part of the observation of the planets in autumn.
Observing Plan for Autumn –
For my autumn observing plan, I would focus on the brightest planets that are easiest to spot with children. In early autumn, Saturn is usually visible after sunset, while Jupiter becomes brighter in the evening as the weeks go on. I would encourage families to spend a few minutes outside together on clear evenings and see if they can find these planets. Children could draw what they see in a simple ‘Sky Watch’ diary and note the date, weather, and time. Back in class, we could compare observations and talk about how the planets seem to change position over time. I would also use Stellarium to show the children where the planets are before they observe them, helping them feel more confident when looking at the night sky. This activity would encourage curiosity, careful observation, and discussion, while also helping children make connections between what they learn in class and what they can see in the real night sky.
I wrote my assignment on constructing a sundial, but I love the idea of the poem and the teaching on shadows, especially for the younger classes, where the idea of a sundial may be more difficult to understand.
Cobstruct a sundial –
For this activity, I would work with my class to make a simple sundial in our school yard. First, we would talk about what a sundial is and how people used the Sun to tell the time before the invention of clocks. I would ask the children to predict where they think the shadow will fall at different times of the day.
As a class, we would place a stick or pole in a sunny area and mark the position of its shadow using chalk or small markers. We would return at different times during the day to see how the shadow changes. The children would compare the length and direction of the shadow and discuss why it moves. We would record our observations with drawings, photos, and simple labels.
This activity would encourage curiosity, observation, and teamwork while linking with Science, Maths, and Geography. It would also help the children understand that the Earth’s rotation causes the Sun to appear to move across the sky. To finish, we would reflect on what we discovered and discuss how a permanent sundial could be added to our school grounds for future classes to use.
Cobstruct a sundial –
For this activity, I would work with my class to make a simple sundial in our school yard. First, we would talk about what a sundial is and how people used the Sun to tell the time before the invention of clocks. I would ask the children to predict where they think the shadow will fall at different times of the day.
As a class, we would place a stick or pole in a sunny area and mark the position of its shadow using chalk or small markers. We would return at different times during the day to see how the shadow changes. The children would compare the length and direction of the shadow and discuss why it moves. We would record our observations with drawings, photos, and simple labels.
This activity would encourage curiosity, observation, and teamwork while linking with Science, Maths, and Geography. It would also help the children understand that the Earth’s rotation causes the Sun to appear to move across the sky. To finish, we would reflect on what we discovered and discuss how a permanent sundial could be added to our school grounds for future classes to use.