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Hi Chloe, I too really like the idea of using lego spike, I think this will be a great way to keep the children interested, especially the children who may not like “book” work all of the time.
The paper, Unravelling STEM : Beyond the acronym of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics by Liston 2018 really highlights the importance of STEM in the classroom in my opinion. In the last few years STEM has become a buzz word and personally until I completed this module it was something I realised I didn’t know a lot about. I can now see that STEM shouldn’t be a stand alone subject but rather one that’s incorporated through many different lessons and subjects.
The ESA resources “Nose Up High In The Sky” and “Weather V Climate” are excellent to use in the classroom and provide endless opportunities for the children to learn and explore such concepts. The idea of setting up a weather station in the classroom is fantastic and allows the children to work in groups and record their data and after exploring all the resources in this module they will more importantly understand why there seeing such changes in the weather. I think a whole school weather station would be a lovely idea and the different class levels can explore age-appropriate designs etc.
Hi Katie,
This is a really interesting idea, i love using kahoot to make it interactive. I will definitely use this idea with my class.
Understanding Greenhouse Gases
What Are Greenhouse Gases?Imagine Earth has a big, cozy blanket around it. This blanket is made up of gases called greenhouse gases.
These gases include carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and water vapor. They help keep our planet warm by trapping some of the Sun’s heat.
How Do Greenhouse Gases Work?The Sun sends energy to Earth in the form of light.
The Earth absorbs this energy and sends some of it back into space as heat.
Greenhouse gases trap some of this heat, keeping the Earth warm enough for us to live.
Why Are They Important? Without greenhouse gases, our planet would be too cold for plants, animals, and people.
But too many greenhouse gases can make Earth too hot, leading to climate change.Being a Climate Reporter
Who Is a Climate Reporter?A climate reporter studies the weather and climate and shares information about changes happening to our planet.
They help us understand why our world is getting warmer and what we can do to help.
What Does a Climate Reporter Do?They measure temperatures, observe weather patterns, and collect data.
They use this information to predict future weather and climate conditions.
Tools of a Climate Reporter:Thermometer: Measures temperature.
Rain Gauge: Measures how much it rains.
Anemometer: Measures wind speed.Edwina, this is a fantastic lesson plan, I’m sure the children will find it very interesting and will come up with lots of different ideas on how to reduce the carbon footprint.
Question? How Does Climate Change Affect Our Weather in Ireland and What Impact It May Have on Our School Garden?
We are going to learn about how climate change can affect the weather here in Ireland and what that might mean for our school garden. Let’s discover how we can take care of our plants and help our garden thrive despite these changes.
What is Climate Change?
Climate change means the Earth’s weather is changing in ways that can last a long time.
It’s mostly caused by people burning fuels like coal and oil, which put extra gases in the air. These gases trap heat and make the planet warmer.How Does It Affect the Weather?
Climate change can make the weather hotter, colder, wetter, or drier than usual.
It can lead to more storms, heavy rains, and sometimes longer dry periods.Climate Change and Weather Changes in Ireland:
Warmer Temperatures: Ireland is getting warmer overall. Summers might be hotter than usual.
More Rain: There can be more heavy rainfalls, especially in the winter.
Storms: We might see stronger and more frequent storms.Impact on Our School Garden
Effects of Warmer Temperatures:
Plants might need more water because the soil can dry out faster in the heat.
Some plants might grow better with the extra warmth, but others might struggle.
Effects of More Rain:Too much rain can cause our garden to flood, which can harm the plants.
It can also wash away important nutrients in the soil.Conclusion:
Climate change can bring new challenges to our garden, but with a little care and attention, we can help our plants thrive. Remember, by taking care of our environment, like recycling and saving water, we can also help slow down climate change. Let’s work together to keep our school garden healthy and beautiful!Hi Martina, I really like your idea of getting the children to match the photos to the resource, this sounds like a really enjoyable lesson.
The EO Browser (Earth Observation Browser) is an online tool that provides access to satellite imagery and data from various Earth observation missions. It is developed by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Sinergise through the Sentinel Hub. The browser allows users to explore satellite images, create custom visualizations, and analyze environmental changes over time.
Key features of the EO Browser include:
Access to Multiple Data Sources: Users can access imagery from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3, Landsat 8, and other satellite missions.
Customizable Visualizations: The platform offers various visualization options such as true color, false color, and custom band combinations to highlight different features.
Time-Lapse and Time-Series Analysis: Users can create time-lapse animations to observe changes over specific periods.
User-Friendly Interface: The tool is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, including those without specialized knowledge in remote sensing or GIS (Geographic Information Systems).Using the EO Browser in primary school can enhance learning by providing interactive and visual experiences related to geography, science, environmental studies, and technology. Here are some practical ways to integrate the EO Browser into primary school lessons.
I really like your idea of the concept mapping Michael, especially when the video is so long its a good way to take the main parts from the section the children have just watched
“Home” by Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a powerful and visually stunning documentary that explores the planet’s diversity and the impact of human activity on the environment. The film is made entirely from aerial shots and is designed to give viewers a new perspective on the beauty of Earth and the challenges it faces. By incorporating “Home” into the classroom, teachers can inspire young students to appreciate the beauty of the planet and understand the importance of taking care of the environment.
Introduction to Climate Change:
- Begin by asking the students what they know about weather and seasons.
- Explain that climate is the usual weather of a place over a long time.
- Introduce the concept of climate change by explaining that the Earth’s climate is changing more quickly now because of certain activities.
Introduce the documentary, explaining that it shows many beautiful places around the world from a unique perspective and talks about how we can help protect these places.
Discussion:
- After watching the segments, discuss with the students what they saw.
Ask questions such as: - What did you find most beautiful or interesting?
- What are some things people do that can harm the environment?
- How can we help take care of our planet?
Simple Environmental Actions:
- Create a list of simple actions students can take to help the environment, such as recycling, conserving water, and planting trees.
- Make a classroom pledge to adopt one or more of these actions.
Sounds like a lovely idea Sean, I really like the cross curricular aspects of the lesson, this will really keep the children excited and interested.
Activity- Making Rockets
Students will learn about rockets and how they work by building and launching their own simple rockets.
Materials Needed:
- Balloons
- Drinking straws
- String or fishing line
- Tape
Introduction to Rockets:
- Begin by asking the students, “What do you know about rockets?” and “What do rockets do?”
- Show picture cards or posters of rockets and space exploration.
- Explain that rockets are powerful machines that help us travel into space and explore other planets.
- Discuss how rockets work: they use fuel to create thrust, which pushes them up into the sky.
- Explain the basic parts of a rocket: the body, fins, and nose cone
Making a balloon rocket:
- Thread a piece of string through a straw. The string should be long enough to stretch across the room or yard.
- Tie one end of the string to a chair or doorknob and hold the other end tightly.
- Inflate a balloon but don’t tie it. Instead, tape the balloon to the straw.
- Pull the straw to one end of the string and let go of the balloon. Watch as it zips along the string like a rocket!
- Allow the children to decorate their rockets using different art materials.
Discuss how the air escaping from the balloon creates thrust, propelling the rocket forward.
Launch Time:
- Take the students to an open space for launching their balloon rockets
- Allow each child to launch their rockets and observe the results.
- Encourage them to experiment with different designs and see how changes affect the rocket’s flight.
Discussion:
Gather the students and discuss what they observed during the rocket launches.
Ask questions like, “What made the rocket go?” and “How did different designs change the way the rocket flew?”This is such a lovely idea and could be a lesson done at anytime of the year. There are so many opportunities for each child to use their own imagination, its a lesson with huge potential I think
The activity I would choose would be different types of houses and where people live.
Introduction: Ask about various types of houses, do we all live in the same type of house or do people live in different kinds of homes, and recognize that homes can vary based on location and cultural differences.
Materials Needed:
Picture cards or posters of different types of houses (e.g., apartment, house, igloo, hut, castle, etc.)
A world map or globe
Construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers
Internet access for showing videos or animations (optional)
Notebook and pencil for each studentIntroduction to Homes:
- Start by asking the students, “What is a home?” and “What type of home do you live in?”
- Explain that people around the world live in different kinds of homes.
Show Different Types of Houses: - Use picture cards or posters to show various types of houses. Briefly describe each one.
Interactive Activity – Where Do You Live?:
- Show a world map or globe.
- Point to different regions and discuss the types of houses commonly found in those areas.
- Cold Regions: Igloos.
- Urban Areas: Apartments and houses.
- Rural Areas: Huts and houses.
- Historical Areas: Castles.
- Water Areas: Houseboats.
Encourage students to think about why different types of houses are built in different places.
Discussion:
- Have a group discussion about why people live in different types of houses.
- Consider factors like climate, culture, and location.
Ask questions like, “Would you like to live in a treehouse? Why or why not?” to encourage critical thinking and sharing of ideas
There are many ways in which this lesson could be expanded for example the children could create there own dream home using different art materials.
