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Lesson Plan: The Amazon Rainforest
Subject: Geography / Science
1st/2nd class.Topic: Amazon Rainforest.
Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to name and describe the four main layers of the rainforest.
Students will be able to identify key animals and plants from different rainforest layers.Introduction
Begin with a hook by playing rainforest sounds and asking students to guess where we are. AI video of rainforest animal speaking and giving intro to the rainforest.
Collaborative questions as a class and use AI tool to ask these questions e.g. gemini. (teacher will have trialled 3 chat gbt first and decide which is best to use for this topic.)Main Activity 1: The Layers of the Rainforest
Explain the four layers: Emergent Layer, Canopy, Understory, and Forest Floor. These will be explained on gamma presentation made by teacher.
split class into 4 groups, each given a layer and a ‘Diffit’ worksheet on it. they will share their answers with class.Main Activity 2: The Sounds of the Amazon
Explain that the rainforest is full of different animal sounds. Introduce the AI concept of pattern recognition, explaining that computers can learn to identify things by their patterns. Play a series of distinct animal sounds and have the students “recognise the pattern” and guess which animal it is before revealing the answer.
Conclusion
Ask students to name one animal or plant from each layer. Conclude the lesson by asking them why it’s important to protect the rainforest and what they can do to help. Get the children to participate in ‘Kahoot’ quiz on rainforest.
I love the presentation on gamma clare, it has encouraged me to play around with this myself as I think my children in my class next year would love this! thanks so much for sharing
To introduce Khan Academy Kids to my class I would start with a “Big Idea.” To increase their interest , I would frame it as a special adventure where they’ll play learning games.
I’d use the whole class whiteboard/ screen to introduce the app’s characters This helps students feel connected and excited.
I would demo and navigate the app together as a class. Showing them the “Library” for stories and the “Playground” for different subject games. Explain the “Learning Path” as their personal adventure map where they can earn stars.
It would then let them have some hands on learning experience Let students try a simple activity independently on their devices. Then, give them some free time to explore what interests them most.
I would Bring the class back together for a brief “sharing circle” to discuss what they found. Finally, set clear expectations for when and how they will use the app in the future.
it’s amazing isn’t it shirley, going to be a game changer in september! i am also really finding this course one of the most beneficial I’ve done!!
By incorporating these AI tools, my classroom can become an even more dynamic and responsive learning environment, allowing me to focus more on the art of teaching and less on the repetitive tasks, ultimately benefiting my students’ learning journeys.
i would use copilot image creator and magicschool.ai to improve my own primary school teaching, learning and assessment.Copilot image creator:
I would do a range of crosscurricular lessons, for example. when using it for my younger classes for descriptive writing, report writing, newspaper articles. Some of these benefits is that it will help more visual learners, it will allow me to differntiatite and most importantly for younger classes, it will be visually and aesthetically engaging and appealing for the learners. This really helps with assessment too as encourages children to recall and apply their kowledge in a creative but hands on way!MagicSchool
I can’t believe I have never heard of this! I will definitely be using this in future for creating social stories and I am going to be speaking about thsi at my next staff meeting. it can be used across the board from mainstream to SET to autism classes in my school. I have made up my own social stories before for classes and specific students, so this is golden for saving time! it will literally help children so much and again can be modified to suit each indivisual child!We are really not making the most out of AI in my school! This course is showing me many tools and benefits, I was particularly impressed by immersive reader which can reads texts aloud and translate ! This is amazing differentiation and can support students massively in my class. I had no idea that there was an AI national strategy either and I found this very interesting. I liked how AI can really better the learning for students but also help teachers in their work.
I will also be looking into using both flipgrid and minecraft for education in my classroom next year.I would use flipgrid for language learning. I was also use it for formative assessment in the way that i can gauge student understanding based on their responses, i could therefore use it to identify the students who made need additional help. I like the way it provides differentiated feedback.
I like minecraft for education as this game based learning platform can engage the students by bringing abstract concepts to life!
Some challenges that I may face include data privacy and security , the teacher training and ensuring that we don’t become over reliant on it!
Already I can see the many potential opportunities to use AI in education and the classroom. oftentimes as teachers we can feel ‘stuck’ or even a ‘creative block’ . AI is beuilt to mimick human creativity and it could Suggest class activities based on topics and curriculum areas. Often as a teacher my powerpoints and presentations can be bland and basic and I know now that AI could be used to improve said powerpoints!! Which is exciting. Overall I see that a benefit of AI in the classroom is that now as a teacher I can be more productive, by using AI I can also get advice on Preparation delivery and some help with evaluating my lesson!s
AI can really create some engaging and interactive content which in turn will stimulate learners curiosity!! Assessment will become more insightful too and teachers time can be freed up to focus more on student engagement as opposed to correcting!I feel the same Claire! I think this course is going to be super beneficial and I am going to learn a lot hav ing not used AI before!
I like the ideas you have here claire especially about shopping local and buying in season! I never would have thought of that!
Reflecting on climate change in the dublin/ finglas area, we can see many ways that is affecting the local community. As a teacher, helping pupils connect global climate issues with their own surroundings makes the topic more real to them.
Some visible effects of climate change we / the pupil will see include:
The weather : More frequent storms, heavy rainfall, and even heatwaves.
Local parks: some of the parks and green areas like our local Tolka Valley Park are under pressure from changes in rainfall and temperature. Certain species of plants and animals may be struggling to survive.Here are some things i would do as a teacher to help children understand this further:
-Class discussion: We’d discuss changes they’ve noticed — more floods, unusual weather, fewer birds or bees — and then connect that to global issues.
-Invite local climate activists, community garden leaders, or council workers to speak about real initiatives in Finglas
-Use Project-Based Learning and take a trip to local park to spot changes and evidence of climate changeTo help Slow Down Climate Change we do also do some Class Activities
We already have Create a School Garden, here we would grow pollinator-friendly plants and vegetables. integrate this into the curriculum where pupils will learn about biodiversity and carbon absorption.
We would Organise a ‘Walk or Cycle to School’ Week. This will help to reduce car emissions and promote healthy habits.
Pupils can make posters, write letters to local TDs, or even present to younger classes about what they’ve learned.
By helping students understand and act on climate change in their own area, we empower them to become informed and responsible.Hi Ciara,
I agree I am also working as HSCL and it is crucial that we work closely with these outside agencies and take action alongside our staff to support refugees in our communities.
There are some organisations active in supporting refugees in Finglas that my school and students could connect with. One that I have experience with is the
Finglas West Family Resource Centre who support families including refugees through community programmes and wellbeing services.Our school community in Finglas has many opportunities to make a genuine difference in the lives of newly arrived refugees by building relationships with organisations e.g.g with Dublin City of Sanctuary or the Finglas West Family Resource Centre, students could volunteer alongside mentors from these organisations— and support the local English-learning clubs or assisting with the homework clubs.
We could engage in fundraising, awareness‑raising activities, or help arrange welcome packs for refugee families in school. These activities could be integrated into our SPHE and geography lessons/curriculum by inviting guest speakers or organising awareness‑raising workshops.
Through project-based learning, students could also research the journeys of refugees, celebrate cultural diversity.
By combining all these ideas: curriculum integration and building community partnerships, our school could empower young people and continue to build an inclusive empathetic community!
One Sustainable Development Goal that resonates strongly with students Climate Action. Climate change impacts children directly both locally and globally. In Ireland, children see heavier rainfall and flooding, while globally, children in the Global South face even harsher extreme conditions—such as drought and food insecurity
To help children connect to take meaningful local action, I would begin by relating the issue to their own lived experience—I would encourage them to track local weather changes or interview grandparents, older family members about how the seasons have changed over the years. I would use age-appropriate stories from children around the world to highlight shared challenges and empathy.
I would guide students in creating and participating in local sustainability projects, such as a “Green Schools” initiative or tree planting. Through these activities,the students should then feel empowered to make a difference while understanding their role in a global movement for climate justice.
