[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Linda,

Welcome to the course, thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Paxi video.

This video would be a good visual stimulus as you have said and would allow for discussion on the greenhouse gas effect. Having a positive outlook allows for children to look at changes they can make so as not to create an anxiety around it. As you have said every little step will help.

I hope you enjoy the course and the many resources that can be used in the classroom.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Alan,

Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this module.

I am glad that you have enjoyed the supporting videos in the course. There are many great videos and resources across the course that can be used in the classroom.

The weather and climate resource allows for lots of discussion and to get a clear understanding of the difference between weather and climate. Having a weather station would make connections between the classroom and real life and also gives the opportunity to record real life data that could be used in maths.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 1 month ago by Michelle Mannix.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi David,

I really like your idea regarding the piseógs of the night. The Dúchas Schools Collection is be a great starting point to source stories from your own local area. While they might not be specifically about the night, it might be a great introduction to stories and folklore. And I agree, the handwriting is just beautiful in this collection.

It is also an ideal link to History to explore stories from the lives of others, pupils could ask older relatives and I also like how you could use this project to explore folklore from other cultures also..

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Fiona,

I really like your idea of taking photos at night without a flash and comparing the rural and urban photos in the classroom. It is a great example of using the world around us while also making connections with the concept of light pollution. It also encourages the pupils to look at their own local area and the sources of light and what changes could be made.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Victoria,

Thank you for sharing your ideas on using this resource in the classroom. The photos in this resource allow for lots of discussion and critical thinking. It is also an ideal opportunity to integrate with Geography.

I like your idea to take photographs around the school from a different perspective and encourage the children to become active in their own learning.

I hope you have enjoyed the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Marian,

Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on Liston’s paper. It sounds like you have a very good approach to project learning in your class which would incorporate STEM based activities too.

The weather station activity would be great in every classroom, allowing the children to build their own instruments so that they could record real life data and also learning about meteorological concepts as you have mentioned. I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Caitriona,

Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Teal tool and the map work in it. I agree that there would need to be some work on topic specific vocabulary initially and then the pupils could use this vocab in a meaningful context while using the tool.

There are many resources across this module and you can easily adapt them or change them to suit the many learners in your classroom. You could also use some resources to provide a challenge for others.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Mary,

The Folklore collection is a fabulous resource and also asking older members of the school community to come in and share their own weather lore with the children is a lovely idea to bring History to life in the classroom. I agree with David, that by not sharing these stories they could get lost.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks for sharing your own experiences of the night sky. Living in rural France must have been great to really experience the night sky. Having grown up in a rural area myself, I began to appreciate the night sky when I moved to urban areas for work.

I like how to want to assess the children’s prior knowledge of pollution and to also introduce the concept of light pollution. I also really like your idea to create a model streetscape where the children can determine for themselves how to reduce light pollution.

I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Aaron,

Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your ideas for observing the moon in the classroom.

It is important to explicitly teach about the phases of the moon first and introduce the topic specific language. In this way when children do get to observe the moon they can use this topic specific vocab in a meaningful context and can apply their learning.

I like the idea of a moon journal to record their observations over time. I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Stephanie,

Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your ideas on a sun dial as a classroom activity. Through linking the sun dial with history and maths as you have mentioned, the pupils be creating meaningful connections between the subject areas.

Through exploring the materials, the pupils can then develop these connections and apply them to real life by constructing a sundial. There are many opportunities for skills development such as measuring skills that you have outlined.

I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Roisin,

Thank you for sharing your list of songs, poems and stories and including links too.

I also am a big fan of Oliver Jeffers and always try to incorporate one of his books during our Science Week read alouds. This list would also support thematic planning for a night sky or space theme.

I also like your idea to use the songs as a stimulus or trigger for the pupils to respond to in an art lesson.

I hope you enjoyed this course and have lots of resources to bring back to your own class in September

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi David,
Thank you for sharing your ideas and your approach to biodiversity using the Irish Schools Sustainability Network. I agree that it is essential for pupils to encounter the organisms that they had learned about in class. It allows for meaningful connections with their learning.

As the class have explored the creatures in the local area, they could then observe these creatures from a light pollution perspective. Having pupils living near the school would allow for even more observation of the school environment that would be relevant for all pupils.

I hope you enjoy the course.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Carrie,

Welcome to the course, thank you for sharing your ideas on moon observation. Using a KWL chart will allow for the pupils to share their own knowledge before you start. This can be a good opportunity to address the misconception that the moon only comes out at night also.

Having covered the phases of the moon prior to observing the moon will allow for the pupils to use the specific language in a meaningful context, and I am sure they will enjoy eating biscuits or jaffa cakes to explore the phases of the moon also.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the course, there are many great resources for the classroom.

[Michelle Mannix]

Hi Doireann,

Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this resource. In middle and older classes it would be great to explore how seasons differ across the world. As you have said, there are options for meaningful discussions and also making connections with pupils who may have family living in other countries.

Thank you for your feedback on the curious minds framework also, it does provide for a very useful structure to guide children and allow them to lead their own learning in STEM based activities.

I hope you enjoy the course.

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