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I really like the idea of talking about how people in different places may see the night sky differently
I agree with Katie using a KWL chart is a really good idea and will also remind children of the information they already know
Introducing an activity for 5 year old in the classroom can be fun and engaging so to spark curiosity in the children and foster their imagination. The following is how I would approach this lesson.
introduction: begin by discussing the moon with the children. I will show them pictures, videos, or books about the Moon and explain that it is a celestial body in space, the Earth’s only natural satellite.
Moon Walk: Set up a creative Moon Walk station where the children can experience walking on the Moons surface. I will create a simulated lunar landscape using cushions, foam maths. I will show them how to take small, slow steps mimiking an astronaut.
Lunar Art: Art supplies such as paper, paints, crayons and glitter will be used. T he children will create their own lunar landscapes. The class will chat about colours and shapes a need what they notice in pictures of the moon.
Dress-up: I will set up a pretend play area with astronaut costumes and props. The children will dress up and engage in imaginative play while pretending to be on the moon.
Moon Rock Exploration: the children will receive a rock each. They will touch and examine the rocks. The teacher will encourage the children to talk about the colour, feel and shape of the rock.
Moon books and songs: read age appropriate moon books and sing songs. The group will create a simple rhyme together about the moon.Enquiry based learning
Floating and sinking
Floating and Sinking – Enquiry Activity (Senior Infants)
Ask the children: “What do you think will float? What do you think will sink?” Show a bowl of water and a selection of safe objects (e.g. cork, spoon, leaf, toy block, stone, plastic lid).
Children predict whether each object will float or sink by giving a thumbs up (float) or thumbs down (sink). Record a few predictions.
One child at a time places an object into the water while everyone observes what happens. Discuss the results using questions such as: “What did you notice?” “Was your prediction correct?” “Which objects floated? Which sank?”
Sort the objects into two groups: Floating and Sinking. Finish by asking children to name one object that floated and one that sank, reinforcing the vocabulary float and sink.Hi my name is Karen and next year I will be working in the junior end of my school. My favourite space fact is that it is completely silent
This is a lovely lesson, I really like the idea of the younger children working with the older classes
Question: How do trees help keep our school playground cool on hot days?
Seven-year-olds are naturally curious and enjoy learning about the world around them. They can easily observe their surroundings and notice how weather changes affect their daily lives. This research question is designed to help young students understand the role of trees in moderating temperatures and making outdoor environments more comfortable, even on hot days. By focusing on a familiar setting like their school playground, the topic becomes more relatable and engaging.
Temperature Observation:
How does the temperature feel in the shade of a tree compared to areas without trees?
Can students measure temperature differences using simple tools like thermometers?
Tree Characteristics:
What types of trees are found on the playground?
How do the leaves and branches of these trees provide shade?
Cooling Effect of Trees:
How do trees help cool the air? (Introduce the concept of shade and transpiration in simple terms.)
Why is it more comfortable to play under a tree on a hot day?
Other Benefits of Trees:
Discuss additional benefits of trees, such as providing oxygen, homes for animals, and beauty.
Discuss the characteristics of each tree, such as leaf shape and size.This is a really well planned lesson which I feel the children will engage with when its based around there own homes.
This seems like a interesting and simple way to introduce the EO Browser to the younger classes, Sometimes i feel the younger children can get lost in all the information
Five satellites that have recently passed over Ireland are
International Space Station: this staion is a space environment research laboratory.
Sentinel-1: provides all weather, day and night radar imagery for land and ocean services.
NOAA-20: This satellite provides data for weather forecasting, extremem weather predictions and environmental monitoring.
Terra: It carries instruments that monitor Earth’s climate and environment, including the atmosphere, land, and oceans, and is crucial for understanding long-term climate changes and environmental shifts.
MetOp-B: This is a European meteorological satellite operated by EUMETSAT. It provides data on atmospheric temperature and humidity, ocean surface wind speed and direction, and data for climate monitoring and weather forecasting.“Home” by Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a visually stunning and powerful documentary that provides an overview of the environmental challenges facing our planet. With its breathtaking aerial footage and poignant narration, the film explores the interconnectedness of Earth’s ecosystems and highlights the impact of human activity on the environment. It’s a compelling call to action for sustainable living and environmental stewardship.
In the classroom i would begin by explaining that you are going to watch parts of a beautiful film about our planet. Emphasize that it shows many different places on Earth and talks about how important it is to take care of them. Ask the students if they have ever thought about how all the different parts of the world are connected. For example, how the trees in a forest far away can affect the air we breathe here.
After showing each part, pause and discuss:
What Did You See?: Encourage children to describe what they saw in their own words.
How Did It Make You Feel?: Talk about the emotions the footage evoked.
Why Is It Important?: Explain in simple terms why it’s important to take care of the places and animals they saw.
When introducing Climate to 7 year olds I would explain that the world’s weather is changing in ways that can sometimes be harmful to people, animals, and plants. Use examples like “Have you noticed how some summers are much hotter than others?” or “Sometimes it rains a lot more than usual.” Read stories or show pictures of animals and plants affected by climate change.I would begin the lesson by showing the children the Paxi video on greenhouse gases, engaging in talk and discussion with the children. I would show pictures of common greenhouse gases like car exhaust, factory smoke and cow methane. We would then do a science experiment to explain how the green hose effect works. For this experiment I would place a container under a lamp and cover it with plastic wrap, this will represent greenhouse gases trapping the heat. I would then ask the children to predict the weather. I would give them a blank weather prediction chart for the week. They would then draw a symbol into each box which represented the weather. Each day we would compare their predictions with the weather.
Irene I really like the idea of getting the children to input there own ideas on how they can make changes to the earth
Having review the paper ‘Unravelling STEM: Beyond the acronym of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’ I can see clearly the STEM that I use in my class and areas where I can introduce STEM to use it cross-curricular. Also the amount of resources that I now have banked from this Module that I plan to incorporate into my lessons next year.
Weather or climate? I really liked this activity. It works well that straight away the children learn the difference between weather and climate. When this is made very clear it allows the children to learn more about each topic without confusion. I would use this daily as a talk and discussion exerciseWeather Detectives: I like that the children are the ones who are collecting the data. This allows them to have ownership over the exercises and helps retain their interest for longer. The children will also be able to make comparisons between different locations.
