[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.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Jack,

Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module. I like how you plan to use the Teal Tool with visual supports for younger classes. This will allow them to recognise and explore the changes in temperature and encourage discussion, using the visual of the green house will also help the pupils to understand the concept. I had not heard of Dr Binocs on YouTube, but I will check it out. Thanks for sharing.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Shauna,

Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on this module. Liston’s paper would encourage reflection of our own approach to STEM education in the classroom to fully integrate all areas within STEM.

Weather V Climate is a great resource to explore and teach the difference between the two concepts. Setting up a weather station in an outdoor area would ensure that it is accessible for all, as you have mentioned. I also like your idea of a weather journal for pupils to keep a record of the data.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Niamh,

Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module. There are many great resources in this module and across the course that can be adapted and used in different classes.

I like the integration with maths also, I always feel that my own class engaged better when it was real life data and with the weather station they can collect their own data. There are many opportunities for class discussion across the lessons/resources and will provide for opportunities for critical thinking also. I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Shane,

Welcome to the course and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the resources in this module. It is important to teach the differences between weather and climate and as you have said the resource is very teacher friendly to explore this concept and relate it to the lives of the pupils in your class.

I agree that proverbs and weather lore allow for integration with History and getting older members of the family involved to recall weather lore they may have known. I did this with my own senior class this year and it worked really well. Our favourite one was Rain by seven, fine by eleven. Just in time for break.

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