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I really enjoyed Activity 3 and found it to be a useful way of showing pupils how greenhouse gases work. The Paxi video looks fun and engaging ffor kids, and I think younger children in particular would really enjoy the characters and visuals. It makes a tricky topic much more approachable and is something I would come back to in future lessons to help with revision or to build on the idea of climate change.
The temperature prediction tool is also very effective because it gives children the chance to experiment and actually see what happens when emissions increase or decrease. It turns the science into something they can interact with, rather than just being told about it. I think this would really spark good discussions in the classroom about choices we make today and their consequences in the future.
In my class, I would extend this activity by asking pupils to think about their own habits and ways they could reduce their carbon footprint. We could create posters, short presentations, or even run a small campaign in school to encourage simple changes like saving energy or cutting down on waste. To improve the activity, I’d suggest adding a short reflection sheet so pupils have a chance to connect what they see in the tool with what they do in their daily lives.Reading Unravelling STEM (Liston, 2018) reminded me how STEM isn’t just about teaching contentand more about helping children make sense of the world around them through curiosity, problem-solving, and real-life applications. In my own classroom, I’ve seen how much more engaged children are when learning is hands-on and connected across subjects.
I plan on using the Weather and Climate resource—particularly Activities 1 and 2. .” For Activity 1, I would turn the statements into a walking debate where children have to physically choose “weather” or “climate” corners. This would led to great discussions, especially about things like “It’s usually warm in Spain.” Some weren’t sure if that counted as weather or climate, so we explored it further using maps and weather data online.
Activity 2: “Weather Detectives,” seems a great outdoor learning session. The class could bring their clipboards and spent the lesson observing clouds, wind direction, and temperature. I would pair this with a simple experiment—placing cups of water in sun and shade to see which evaporated faster. This could be linked to the water cycle. To extend the learning, I would have the class build simple rain gauges using plastic bottles and set up a mini weather station in the school garden. We’ll tie this into data handling in maths and even produce our own weekly weather reports for the school newsletter.
Hi Carmel, I love your idea starting with weather proverbs. it seems a lovely way to bring in oral tradition and get families involved. Your Climate Committee is such a great way to give students real responsibility and make the learning long-term and meaningful. I might borrow that idea for our Green Schools committee!