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• How you would engage your learners to explore biodiversity in your local area and
the possible impacts of light pollution on local biodiversity.We would start by exploring the nature all around our school. We have made lots of bird feeders around the school so it will be a wonderful to watch the birds and their activity .We would go on a bug hunt and discover the insects in the area. We will discuss the link between the species and how they rely on each other for their survival. I would next introduce the theme of light pollution and how bugs and insects are drawn to the light and how many die as a result. Therefore there is less food for the bird and animals. We would discuss the variety of ways that we can help with light pollution. Use down lighters, yellow or orange lighting ect. We would create posters for around the school to help raise awareness about light pollution and we could create stories on book creator to show to each class.
I love the idea of investigating into the wildlife around the school and the sensor night cameras would be a big hit with any class I’m sure. Great ideas thank you.
Detail how light pollution is impacting your local area and how would you engage your learners to explore this.
Lesson: To understand the term light pollution and recognise how the actions of people can impact their environment.
Class: 5th/6thStep 1: KWL with whole class to see prior knowledge of light pollution.
Step 2: Explain what light pollution is. Light pollution is “the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light” We would watch a short youtube video to explain light pollution and help prompt questions and engagement in the topic.
Step 4: Explain that Light pollution falls into four categories…..
Glare: Excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort
Sky glow: Brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas
Light trespass: Light falling where it is not intended or needed
Clutter: Bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light source
Step 5:I would create a matching activity with a variety of pictures from the above categories. I would ask the children to discuss the pictures in groups and place into the category they think it matches.
Step 6: We would next discuss the visual affects of light pollution. Light pollution can be costly, and effects people, wildlife, and outdoor environments. Blue light scatters far wider into our atmosphere, Over 50% of the Irish population can no longer see the Milky Way from their own homes, Almost 20% of the Irish population use colour vision at night due to the level of brightness from light pollution.
Step 7: We would look at the lightpollutionmap.info to look at the data from our area. We will be able to recognise areas that have a greater population and areas of less population that may need to be protected from light pollution.I love the idea of giving access to the school yard for viewing it would be a lovely way for children to come together and learn about the planets together and it would instill excitement and enthusiasm for the project.
Create an Observing Plan for autumn that shows which planets are visible in the evening sky.
The children would love this lesson. I would start by discussing what planets are visible from Ireland and explore some viewing apps like stellarium and skyview apps.
Step 1: Choose a clear night as this is essential for viewing and choose a location away from street lights ect to optimize the darkness and make viewing clearer.
Step 2: Stellarium and Sky view apps are a wonderful way to help us identify planets more easily and it’s a fantastic way to get parents involved in their child’s learning and to give them an idea of the topics being explored in school. It would be a fun home activity.
Step 3: The use of binoculars or a telescope would give greater viewing however they are not essential as there are some planets that are visual with the naked eye. Some planets will look like stars so with the use of the stellarium app is very beneficial in identifying these. Parent support is necessary for this activity.
Step 4: Use a notebook to record your findings and observations the date and time over the Autumn period and notice any changes.
Step 5: Research and learn about the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Present your project. Create a project around this. The children could create a kahoot quiz for the class around the planets they found.
I am looking forward to using these apps in my class next year.Hi Marie,
I love the demonstration of the three ways the earth moves in relation to the sun. It is very visual using the balls. I also love the art element of the lesson.
4th/5th Class lesson
Following on from exploring the theme of the sun, I would engage the children in a group activity where they have to observe and record the positions of the sun when rising and setting at different times of the day. I would ask the children to collaborate and discuss the varying ways we could record this using shadows eg, using the trees in the yard, using a meter stick, using their bodies ect. I would encourage different methods for each group for variety and motivation for the project. I would use tools like chalks to draw around shadows and rulers to record length and width of shadows at the varying times of day. We would discuss safety when observing the sun. We would choose a certain location within the school yard and three specific times within the school day to record. We could incorporate the use of an Ipad to take pictures of the position of the sun. Each group could use bookcreator to input their findings and record the things they noticed about the position of the sun. The sun is lower in the sky in the morning and higher in the sky during the day time. We would link the movement of the sun’s position with how the earth rotates.
Following on from the observation we would create a project to showcase our findings through art or media presentation we would share with other classes.
