[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Lorna

Welcome to the course. I really like how you have used stories as a starting point for creating maps. I have always loved picture books no matter what class I have been teaching. While Rosie’s Walk came to mind initially, the books you have mentioned are nicely illustrated and engaging which would allow the learners to create their own maps. I like how this is only a starting point and that you will continue to build on the concept of map making by using digital tools and then creating a 3D map after the walk.

Great ideas, thanks for sharing. I hope you enjoy the other modules in the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Niamh

Thanks for sharing the two sites linked in your post. I think that the Van Gogh one is great to inspire multimedia responses to his work rather than everyone creating a painting. I really like the Aboriginal Art also and would be a lovely one to explore with the class for another perspective on the night sky.

Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the summer break.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Laura

Well done on completing this course.

I really like how you are planning to let the 6th class choose their own inspirational art piece for project based learning next year. This is something I might try with my own class as it allows for lots of choice to support UDL and as you have mentioned it would allow for lots of discussion too.

Thanks for sharing and I hope you enjoy the holidays.

• This reply was modified 1 day, 16 hours ago by Michelle Mannix.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Chloe,

Thanks for sharing your reflection on your own learning in this module.

As with all resources, it is important to adapt and modify them to suit the learners in our own classes. As you have mentioned, it is important to adapt and consider the vocabulary and terms used in the lesson for the junior classes in the school. You have also outlined a very comprehensive integrated plan for teaching about the weather and it incorporates lots of playful learning approaches.  Thanks for sharing this.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Michelle

This resource is very engaging for all learners and as you have said it allows for collaboration and critical thinking. The integrated approach of this resource is great to make connections between different areas of the curriculum which can make learning more meaningful for the learners.

Thanks for sharing your feedback on this resource.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Eithne

Welcome to the course. Thanks for your feedback on the activity Planets Vs Stars using the framework for inquiry. I can see how this could be easily differentiated to suit the learners in your junior class. It would allow for lots of discussion on planets and stars and exploring space. I can see how this would work in your multi grade classroom also.

Stellarium is a lovely resource for the classroom and it is engaging for all learners, while some may look at the moon and the stars others may explore the planets or it may help them for their own observations at home.

As you have mentioned, the activities in this module allow for lots of curricular integration and are hand on which would be suitable and easily adapted for the different class levels. I hope you enjoy the other activities and resources across the other modules in this course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Claire,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your comprehensive plan for exploring bridges across all levels of the school. I like how you have planned for building toys and materials in the younger classes to incorporate digital tools in the older classes.

I also like how you have consider exploring different maths concepts with the different classes also and how this can be developed from class to class so this whole project could be repeated again in a few years. I can see how this would foster everything you have outlined mathematical thinking, engineering skills and collaboration too. Such a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Freda,

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your own reflection on Liston’s paper. The pen analogy is great and I was reminded of the many pens that my own class dismantled during the year!

It was a great idea to collaborate with third class to study the weather last year. This would have been so beneficial for all the learners involved. I can see how you might build on the success of this in creating a weather station for the school this year.

It is great to hear your thoughts on the ESA resources in this module. I hope you enjoy the other activities and resources in the other modules.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Karolina

Well done on completing the course I hope you enjoyed it. Again, thanks for sharing your perspectives of all the different activities and resources in this course and how you would use them in your specific setting. Incorporating Lámh signs is a fabulous idea and so inclusive, something we could all consider.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Caitriona

It is great to hear you found this task interesting, we often think of the larger items in space and not the smaller satellites and the amount of them that pass over every day.

This might be a nice idea during Space Week and have different groups track satellites at the same time every day and for others to guess what the role of the satellite is.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Mark

Thanks for your feedback on the resource Nose Up High in the Sky. As a senior classes teacher I agree that it is very well structured and engaging. My class have enjoyed making the weather instruments and collecting their own data. Something I want to build on next school year with more connections to satellites as you have mentioned.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Ashton,

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your reflection on your own STEM work in school in light of Liston’s article. This module offers us the chance to reflect on what is working well and how we can develop STEM in our own teaching and learning. As you have mentioned, a starting point could be integrating the STEM areas together while also looking at making connections to real-life examples or projects. This would give a focus and allow for meaningful connections between curricular areas and to allow for problem solving, creativity and collaboration among the learners as you have mentioned.

I hope you enjoy the other modules in this course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Owen

Welcome to the course, it is great to hear your feedback on this module along with the resources in this module.

As you have mentioned, STEM is beginning to focus on cross curricular learning and this can be seen in the new curriculum framework with SEE and STEM allowing for inquiry based and project based learning. And yes, we can all be guilty of looking for tasks in a very tight timetable and monthly plan and not looking at a bigger concept or project. Something we can all reflect on and look at how we can make changes in the new school year.

Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Bernie

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video and how you could use it in your own class.

I agree that for any class level, there needs to be some vocabulary explicitly taught prior to watching the video to help engage the learners. It is great that you can then use the knowledge from the video and apply it to real life situations such as Green Schools. You could link the greenhouse gases and rising temperatures when the learners are in and out of the polytunnel as it would allow for connections from their experiences.

The Teal Tool is a fantastic resource but as you have mentioned, your class level would probably need to work with older pupils in order for them to engage with it but it will give them some knowledge and understanding of the concept too.

Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Orla,

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your moon observation plan. It is important to challenge their thinking that the moon is only out at night time prior to their observations. I like how you will encourage the learners to justify their thinking too, allowing for critical thinking and discussion.

It is great to have an idea of dates ready now for observations as the school year can become hectic. I think Stellarium would be a great starting point to show the students where the moon might be in the sky and also lead to the discussion of the shape and phases of the moon.

Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

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