[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Tommy

Welcome to the course. Thanks for your feedback on the day and night activity. Thanks for sharing how you would adapt the lesson to suit the learners in your infant class. I agree that you can adapt it to allow for more language and play based approaches to explore day and night at this level.

I like how you plan to explore day and night across the world and introduce the learners to the concept that it can be day time here and night time somewhere else. Lots of ideas, thanks for sharing. I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Patrick

Welcome to the course. It is great to hear your feedback on the activities in this module and how you really enjoyed Activity 2. I agree that this activity gives the learners lots of responsibility of their own learning as they collect and record weather data and this allows them to think and work like scientists.

It is a good idea to record this data over a number of weeks and compare their own predictions with Met Eireann. You could also consider repeating the activity in another season to compare the results such as Autumn and late Spring.

I agree that it is important to differentiate the tasks for the learners and ensure they are specific to the needs of your class. Multiple ways to engage or show their learning would allow for this also.

Thanks for sharing and I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Louise,

Welcome to the course, thanks for sharing your lesson ideas following the Paxi video. As you have mentioned some guided discussion following the video it would allow the learners to understand the causes and impacts of climate change.

I agree the TEAL tool would be most suited for older learners to explore, while I do think it would need some teacher demonstration initially, this would lead to discussion and critical thinking before they explore the temperatures in other areas. I agree that these activities would develop the learners’ awareness of environmental issues.

I hope you are enjoying the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Sinead,

Welcome to the course. I agree that some adults can have misconceptions about the difference between weather and climate and it is important that the learners in our class explore these concepts and discuss each one and the difference between them. The weather v climate resource helps to explore this in a very age appropriate way. As you have mentioned the video resources are very helpful for this. I agree that there are lots of vocabulary development opportunities when teaching about weather and climate and specific terminology as you have mentioned. I agree that there is lots of potential for cross curricular integration too. Gaeilge and An Aimsir is a natural progression and can offer more meaningful activities when exploring it in other curricular areas too.

Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Helena

Welcome to the course. I can totally agree with you regarding the dismantling of pens in the classroom. Definitely something I saw lots of last year but as you have said it is the learners way of exploring how the pen worked. I like how you are planning to use this as an introduction to STEM next year. It is great to hear your reflection on the roller coasters project you did with your class. It can be nervous giving the learners freedom to guide their own learning but as you have said it can be rewarding to see their finished work and see the learners take pride in their roller coasters. I did roller coasters with my class for engineers week and to see their creations was great. Once we can overlook the noise, there is amazing learning going on.

Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Louise,
Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on how the activities in this module can be adapted for the infant classes. I agree that lots of picture cards and oral language would be needed to support their learning.

Activity 2 allows for lots of hands on activities and recording the weather each day, this is also something you could consider in Gaeilge to make more cross curricular links. To make it more accessible you would need visuals as you have mentioned, you could also consider a dress the bear activity to further support their learning.

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

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Deirdre,

Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing the satellites orbiting earth now. It is fascinating the number of satellites orbiting us and the different roles each satellite has also.

I agree that learners would really enjoy tracking them and I think this would be a great idea during Space Week in October and get students to check at a specific time each day to allow for comparisons across the week.

I hope you are enjoying the course, thanks for sharing.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Blaithin,

I think it is a great idea to use all the information and knowledge from the different activities across this module in designing a model of a dark sky place. I can see how the information on light pollution and biodiversity for nocturnal animals along with star gazing and spotting planets is brought together by the learners in a meaningful way in designing their dark sky place.

I like how you will integrate with literacy in creating stargazing tips and checklists too. As you have mentioned creating this plan will allow for creativity and will help learners appreciate the beauty of the night sky.  Thanks for sharing, I hope you have enjoyed the course.

 

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Bríd-Síle,

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your idea on constructing bridges with the learners in your class. I like your discussion and prompt questions to allow for lots of discussion on bridges they know whether in their local area or around the world. You could also consider images of bridges in the local area to further engage the learners specific to their own local area.

I like how you have considered multiple materials for the learners, I would also consider some time for the learners to explore the materials and consider a specific plan before they get to making their bridges. They could also consider some materials from home to help them in their task also.

I like how you are allowing for critical thinking when considering the designs and predicting which would be the strongest. You could consider using specific weights or recording the weights of the coins and objects used for testing the bridge to further enhance mathematical thinking and maths skills.

It is a great opportunity for integration with other curricular areas too as you have mentioned. I hope you enjoy the other modules.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Majella,
Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your observation plan along with the dates that would allow for observation of the moon.

It is important to address the misconception that we only see the moon at night time and observing the moon during the school day will address this and allow for lots of discussion and critical thinking about the moon.

I also really like your plan to create an observation journal to record their observations and consider the different variables as you have outlined. As your observation dates are for the last quarter you could also consider exploring the other phases of the moon using photographs or resources such as Stellarium to further enhance the learners knowledge.

I hope you enjoy the other modules in this course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Siobhan

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your own observations and thoughts on the night sky in rural Ireland v Dublin. It is unfortunately true that for some learners, they may never experience the dark sky with stars. You could consider taking photos of the night sky in your own local area of the west of Ireland to share with the learners as the photos you have outlined in your post and allow them to make connections and comparisons with what they have experienced themselves. I like how you are planning to make connections with home and allow for more observations at home which would raise awareness of the light pollution at home also.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Naomi,

Welcome to the course. I like how you plan to use Stellarium to help with observations of the night sky at home. This will help the learners to identify the planets of Jupiter and Saturn in November and December as you have outlined. While we can often see the lights in the sky we may not know that it is different planets that we can see which would allow for learning for everyone at home.

I like how you are planning for an observation record where they note the time, direction and weather as this can impact observations too. I like how you have planned for the learners to notice how the planets have changed position in the sky during this time. Thanks for sharing this observation plan.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Niamh

Welcome to the course. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on creating a sundial for your class level. I agree that the bamboo stick in the pot allows for the task to be accessible for all learners. It also allows for trial and error from the learners as they make their own observations and compare them as you have mentioned. I like your shadow game as the learners engage in playful learning experiences while observing the sun’s location during the day. Sunflowers are also a lovely idea to track where the sun has moved during the day. Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the other modules in this course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Karolina,

Welcome to the course, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the observation plan based on your education setting. I know of the importance of preparing the lesson and trips outdoors to allow for transitions and reduce anxiety as you have said.

I like how you plan to get the learners involved with the help of the SNA where needed to trace the shadow of the pot. I like how you plan to record yourself with photographs to allow for comparison and to sequence the photos which allows for concrete meaningful learning as you have mentioned. Thanks for sharing your plan for your educational setting. It reminds us of what we can do to support all learners in our class to engage in meaningful learning tasks.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Daniel,

Welcome to the course. I also live in rural county cork but can see the impacts of developments on the night sky. You could consider taking photos of the night sky around you and asking learners to do the same to allow for comparisons, depending where the learners live. This might allow for comparison of housing developments v rural housing. It would then allow for the discussion on light pollution in the area as you have outlined. I think it is great to open the discussion on reducing unnecessary lighting and allowing the learners to consider ways to do so. As you have said it would encourage the learners to reflect on real environmental issues in their own local area and consider ways to take action themselves. Thanks for sharing, I hope you enjoy the course.

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