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I really like the idea of scavenger hunt, I think this is a great way to get the kids involved and active and also having the litter clean up element so they can see the immediate difference they can make.
Using the Climate detectives research question planner I would look at an issue that is relevant and to the forefront of my students everyday life to try and bring this topic closer to home. Our school is situated near a lake and we regularly do habitat studies with all classes looking at different elements of the local habitat. There has recently been lots of construction in the area surrounding the lake so I would query: What impact does urbanization have on freshwater habitats/ mini-beast habitats/ local flora and fauna.
I would begin the project here but with the children’s help we would narrow down our question. We could conduct field studies, use satellites and images and even look back on work completely in previous years to explore the topic. I think because of the close proximity to this issue, it would really garner the children’s interest in the climate detective project.
Here are five satellites that have recently passed over Ireland. They are all involved to various degrees in scientific research and data collection. They each, excluding Space X satellite, seek to observe environmental changes and activities.
EIRSAT-1 which is Ireland’s first satellite. It is designed to carry out a range of experiments and for research and educational purposes, focusing on space science and technology
International Space Station (ISS) which conducts scientific research and technological development in space.
Sentinel-2A – as explained in the previous video we watched, it is part of the ESA Copernicus program and this satellite provides images for land monitoring whereas other satellites study weather/ocean activity etc.
NOAA-19 – this is a weather satellite which collects information on the atmosphere, ocean and land. It helps to monitor climate change and weather forecasting. It also tracks extreme weather activities.
Starlink Satellites from Space X Starlink Project – seeks to collect data in its aim to provide global satellite internet services.
Hi Simon,
I wasn’t familiar with the term eco-anxiety but agree that this is an important point. I found the video Home overwhelming at times and I did think of a few students who over the years could have found this very anxiety inducing so it is something to be very mindful of.
I really like the first video on the Climate Aid 2020 introduced by David Attenborough – I would use an ‘I notice, I wonder’ structure with this video. I would have the children watch it twice and write two statements minimum and then share this with the class. It is a useful stimulus as it is so visual and the images are vivid and thought provoking.
Personally I found the ‘Home’ video very interesting and informative. I found the statistics shocking in relation to the number of people still living how we live 6000 years ago.
However I would use clips from this in the classroom as I found it hard to watch the entire thing in one sitting myself and I would consider it too long for the classroom. I do think if I spent more time re-watching I could narrow down excerpts and you could plan very interesting units around different segments.
Sarah I agree that the Paxi videos are child friendly and interesting. I had never heard of them before either but I look forward to looking further into them. I am always taken back by how many resources are out there that we don’t know about. It would certainly save a lot of time having a bank of useful resources easily accessible to teacher for planning.
Best of luck with your school garden! We have found it a very enjoyable and beneficial activity for the students.
Having reviewed Activity 3, I think it has huge potential for use in the classroom. Again I would be thinking with the Senior classes in mind but I like the idea of each group working on a different climate scenario – this gives potential to complete the lesson more than once and facilitating reflective practice and key critical thinking skills. We are very lucky to be getting a set of Chrome- books this year and I think this activity provides enough guidance that it could be a very child led lesson.
Again I think there is so much opportunity for integration with complex math skills and it makes the study of data a genuinely meaningful activity. I think by the time we get to the senior classes we have done a lot of the generic lesson and this allows for a fresh perspective. It also appeals to a multitude of learners with the video and allows access to children of different abilities.I found the article interesting and what stood out to me was the crossover between the STEM skills we seek to promote and the new Math curriculum. The importance of fostering an inquiry mindset and the potential to problem solve is evident.
Having read through the lessons and worksheets ‘Climate v Weather’ and ‘Weather Detectives’ again the possibility for integration between Maths and STEM was very evident. We will be seeking ways to maximise time next year and this topic leans itself very well to the new Math goals.
I do find the worksheets very literacy heavy in places and challenging. While I think a 6th class would be able for graphing and averaging measurements, it would take a lot of support. If I was to use these lessons in class I would possibly create my own worksheets based off these with more visual supports and accessible activities to allow any students with literacy difficulties to access the material easier.
I think these lessons should be completed in a block also so I would probably create the weather design instruments over a week and then begin the measuring etc.
I think a Weather Station would be a lovely way to explore the topic of Weather and Climate and to foster an interest in the topic too. We purchased thermometers last year but after reading through the posts I do think that making the other tools would be much more engaging and would lead to more vested interest from the kids.