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Hi Katie,
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this module. I agree that as teachers we need to give the learners lots of opportunities to explore new concepts through hands on practical tasks and inquiry based learning. While we can give them the information and discuss the concepts, practical exploration allows them to make sense of it and apply their learning. I hope you enjoy the other modules across this course.
Hi Michael,
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the video and the Teal tool. I agree that using the video allows for knowledge of the concept and then the Teal tool provides for practical exploration of the tool and also critical thinking as they make connections with the content of the video and the results of the Teal tool exploration. Learners can also consider the consequences of the rising temperatures. It is great to integrate this with maths also through the real life use of data.
Hi Niall,
It is a lovely idea to allow the learners to compare the night sky from two different areas as you have suggested. This will allow them to make critical comparisons and then discuss the reasons for difference and even to identify changes that can be made to reduce light pollution and the importance of these changes. I also like how you plan to get families involved in observing the night sky and also contacting other family members to compare the night sky in their own area. This will also raise awareness among the school community.
Hi Kevin,
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on light pollution. It is important for the learners to explore their local area initially and then to compare to images from the Dark Sky Reserve to allow for comparison, critical thinking and to introduce the concept of light pollution. As you have said it would increase learners’ awareness and empower them to take action. You could consider a survey of the school grounds or area around the school regarding the type of lighting etc to further enhance their understanding and support them in identifying strategies to reduce light pollution in the school, at home and even in the wider community.
Hi Paddy
Welcome to the course and thanks for your feedback on the resources in this module. They would support your plan to develop a school based weather station. As you have mentioned learners could record the data using instruments or digital tools. You could also consider asking the learners to make weather instruments to give them ownership of their learning. Have you considered how the concepts of weather and climate could be developed using the weather vs climate resource?
Hi Clodagh.
What a great learning opportunity for your class to research Alice Perry and her legacy. What a trailblazer she was to graduate from university as a civil engineer at that time. I also like how you are planning to establish links with history as you explore the timeline of Alice Perry.
As you are exploring civil engineering, there are lots of activities to explore in the class such as bridges that you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Marguerite.
Welcome to the course. It is great to hear your feedback from this module and that you are looking forward to using the resources from this module with your own class.
I am interested to know more about the JDO project and it sounds like it links to practical use of Google maps to allow for development of skills. I must look into the Take a Walk lesson and JDO further.
I also hope to use the GeoHive resource more effectively in my class this year. We are a rural school but it would be interesting to see how the land has changed with housing and also new roads and to also make more use of the biodiversity maps which would also link with Green Schools.
Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.
H Clodagh.
Welcome to the course. I really like how you are planning to use storybooks to explore the concepts of maps. I love picture books and Rosie’s Walk or The Jolly Postman are fabulous picture books that allow for map making and discussion about maps.
I also like how you are planning to walk around the school to encourage the learners to observe and record what they can add to their map. It would be interesting to see what are the important landmarks for each learner. Great ideas to link with digital technology too. Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.
Hi Rachel.
Welcome to the course. It is great to hear your feedback on this module and how you will apply this to your teaching.
Having taught infants for a number of years, I agree that the wondering and exploring concepts from the Curious Minds Framework are easily linked to the junior classes. We can focus on teacher led or demonstrations in the infant classes but as teachers we need to focus on the child-led inquiry and even facilitating this in child-led play. For example, having magnets available during play time. I agree that the rainbow spinner is a great opportunity for integration and I like how you plan to identify the colours as Gaeilge freisin.
Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.
Hi Paula,
Thanks for your feedback. As teachers we can often look beyond the local area when exploring topics in science and geography. This course reminds us of the beauty of our own local environment and how we need to support and protect the biodiversity and heritage of our local area. And I agree we need to draw the children’s attention to this also so they don’t become oblivious. I had a little giggle at your Hairy Mary comment, where I’m from we called them Hairy Molly! But must keep a look out for them all the same.
Hi James
Welcome to the course. I am delighted to hear of the practicality of the resources in this module. The Curious Minds framework provides a clear structure and as you have mentioned the focus is on answering questions and not just telling the facts. It allows for lots of critical thinking and discussion and child-led investigating too. It is great to hear that the framework will help you in planning for teaching and learning and keeping the class engaged. I hope you enjoy the other modules and enjoy the course.
Hi Linda
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your feedback on using a sundial with the class. I agree that it gives the learners ownership of their learning and allows for rich and memorable teaching moments.
However, you could consider revisiting this post to ensure it addresses the assignment tasks. You are asked to outline how you would engage your students in creating a sundial task.
Hi Andy
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on 3D constellations. I have completed the 3D model of the Plough with classes before and it has been a great opportunity for skills development as they create the 3D model. I agree that Stellarium is a great resource to allow pupils to explore the different constellations prior to the creative activity.
I also like the constellation in a box that is shared in this video and it is something I will make with my own class during Space Week in October. I like how you have given the pupils the choice on which constellation to make and to encourage others to guess the constellation when the activity is completed. Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.
Hi Grainne
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your plans to increase the learners awareness of light pollution. I think it is a good opportunity to get parents/guardians involved in the observations as it will raise awareness of light pollution at home and this could also support the learners as they identify changes they could make to reduce light pollution at home also such as the Light Wise posters you have mentioned.
Comparing photos from the night sky that the teacher or the learners have taken to those from Dark Sky Reserves will also explore the concept of light pollution and increase critical thinking as the learners consider the effect the light pollution may have on nocturnal animals in an age-appropriate way as you have said.
I hope you enjoy the course.
Hi Grainne
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your plans to increase the learners awareness of light pollution. I think it is a good opportunity to get parents/guardians involved in the observations as it will raise awareness of light pollution at home and this could also support the learners as they identify changes they could make to reduce light pollution at home also such as the Light Wise posters you have mentioned.
Comparing photos from the night sky that the teacher or the learners have taken to those from Dark Sky Reserves will also explore the concept of light pollution and increase critical thinking as the learners consider the effect the light pollution may have on nocturnal animals in an age-appropriate way as you have said.
I hope you enjoy the course.
