[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Susan,

We got solar panels installed in June so it will definitely be an area of focus this year, there is a panel in the office which displays all the information similar to that on the app for solar panels on your house. It will be interesting this year to compare electricity usage and how much we can generate.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Fiona,

Thanks for sharing your comments on this resource. Having used it with my own class, there was lots of discussion on the different features and critical thinking when they had to match the photos. Images like these always provide for such great stimulus for the pupils and engage them in the task. Looking at the photos from the astronauts Flickr would be a great activity, I might include that for Space Week with my own class.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Orla,

Thanks for sharing your plan to observe the moon with your class. I like how you plan to explore the vocabulary with the children initially, this will ensure they can use the correct vocabulary in a meaningful context when they are observing the moon themselves.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Orla,

I think that focusing on one area such as food waste is a great opportunity to make children aware of it and give them options to reduce it such as baking banana bread as you have mentioned. I also agree that there can be a level of anxiety in children around Climate Change and it is important to maintain a positive outlook and make them aware of small changes they themselves can make.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Jacinta,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the video and activities you would complete in your class. I really like how you would get the children to create a mind map as they watched the video. It is a great skill and they can also add their own prior knowledge to the mind map too. I hope you enjoyed the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Hannah,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Nose High Up in the Sky resource. There are many activities within this resource which allows for active learning and encourages critical thinking among the pupils. Through building their own weather instruments and weather station the children can become more engage and take responsibility for their own learning.

I agree that many pupils are fascinated by the ISS and life on board the ISS, there are lovely videos to explore life on the ISS during Space Week.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Susan

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video, there is some terms and vocabulary that you could explore with the pupils prior to watching the video to support the pupils and engage them.

I agree that it is important to acknowledge all the small changes we can make, even in the junior classes and reduce the anxiety around climate change for our pupils.

The Teal Tool is a great resource to explore with the senior classes and give them scenarios so they can use the prediction tool and then support their critical thinking.

I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Emma,

Thanks for sharing your lesson idea to use Stellarium with your own class. I like how you plan to allow for exploration and elicit prior knowledge to engage the pupils. Through demonstrating Stellarium it allows the pupils to learn about specific constellations initially before exploring the tool themselves. I like how you plan to get the pupils to then draw the constellations to share their own learning.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for sharing a comprehensive list of ideas to explore the night sky in visual arts and poetry. I wasn’t aware of the resource to explore Van Gogh’s art in 360 degree view and it is something I will use with my own class this year. I also covered The Daffodils with my own class last year, I too learned it in primary school and always remember it. So many great ideas here.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Aisling,

Thanks for sharing your own ideas relevant to the pupils in your class to ensure the lessons are relative to them to engage and support them. I like how you plan to get videos and photos of the pupils local areas to make the topic of biodiversity meaningful for them. It is also a great idea to explore the sensory garden within your school to allow the pupils to find different insects and record this using photographs.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Catherine,

Thanks for sharing your own thoughts on light pollution in Killarney. People can underestimate the effects of light pollution from an area and how this could impact animals in the national park. I think that getting the rangers in to talk to the pupils would be a great idea and allow the children the opportunity to ask their own questions to guide their learning and understanding of light pollution. I also really like your plan to use different materials to make light shields to further support their learning and apply it on a design and make task.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Robyn,

Thanks for sharing your ideas on observing the moon. I like how to plan to get the pupils to draw images in their copy to represent the phases of the moon. Teaching the specific vocabulary for this topic explicitly will ensure they are engaged and can use the vocabulary in a meaningful context when observing the moon themselves. I also like how you plan to extend the activity at home with observations of the moon at night.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Laoise,

Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on module 1. O agree that there are many opportunities for cross curricular links in the many resources in this module including ESERO 30 Day and Night in the World.

I also agree that the visual supports in this lesson are very engaging for all pupils and they are easily adapted depending on your own class. I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Katie Jo,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on light pollution in your own local area. I like how you plan to explore aspects of the local area and identify any issues with light pollution in these areas. By writing letters to the council you are also encouraging the pupils to take action and identify what changes that could be made and they can also transfer this knowledge to their own homes and local area.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Michael

Thanks for sharing your ideas on piséogs. It is a great idea to link with Grandparents Day and get the wider school community involved. It would also integrated with History of the local area. I like how you plan to put these in a book also so that it can be a record of history in the local area and shared with other classes too.

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