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I chose assignment 3, ‘Nose High Up in The Sky’.
There are three activities:
• Talking about weather
• Sensing the Weather
• Build Your Weather StationI thought that this was a great, hands-on, engaging resource and very practical. A lot of STEM skills would be used for these activities. I found the activity sheets to be nicely presented and easy to follow. Children are encouraged to observe, discuss, ask questions, and interpret data. There are so many opportunities to learn and have fun.
I thought using weather proverbs was a really clever idea. The children would enjoy them and remember them easily. Since we talk about the weather so much in Ireland, this would be a fun and useful topic for them to learn about. It also shows that we don’t always need technology to understand the weather. There are lots of signs all around us in nature that can tell us what’s coming. I really enjoyed hearing the proverbs and learning what they mean. Weather is such a big topic in Ireland, so this fits in really well.
I really enjoyed the simplicity of the Sensing the Weather activity sheet. It is so relevant to the children and simple to understand. The children use their own senses to observe the weather.
In the activity Build your Weather Station there are so many opportunities to get creative and be hands-on all the while exploring ways of doing things. I think the children would love planning and developing theses simple instruments and then using them in their very own Weather Station. The children would have so much fun seeing the results using the instruments which they made themselves.I look forward to using this resource in my classroom.
Research Question: Can our school reduce it’s carbon footprint?
Brainstorm the question as a whole class. Identify the various issues which need to be investigated.
Split the class into groups. Each group will find out information about a different topic. For example, one group could look at how much rubbish and recycling the school is creating. Another group could check how much energy is being used in the school, like heating and lights. Other groups can choose different areas to investigate based on what the class discussed.
Each group will think of ways to improve the school’s carbon footprint based on the topic they studied. For example, they might suggest ways to reduce waste, increase recycling, or use less heating and electricity in the school.
The targets will be shared with each class, and the plan will be put into action. All targets will be tracked and checked over a period of 3 to 4 months to see how well they are working.
The information will be gathered and the results will be graphed on bar and line graphs which integrates nicely with the maths curriculum. Results will be analysed. Conclusions will be drawn from the analysis of the data and a final report will be drafted.
The children could present their research project at a whole school assembly. Hopefully, the plan will lead to positive results and help the school become more environmentally friendly.The film Home is a powerful and eye-catching documentary that shows how human actions are harming the planet. Home is directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. It uses amazing aerial videos from countries to show both the beauty of Earth and the damage we are causing to nature. The film also explains why it’s so important to take action on climate change. I am really looking forward to using this in my classroom. This was the first time I came across this film, Home. It is so impressive. I think you would have to be careful when using this resource in the classroom as I can see how it can be effective yet could be over whelming for some children.
To introduce this topic to the children I would begin with a short class discussion: “What do you already know about Earth’s beauty? How are the actions of humans affecting it?” Then, I’d choose carefully, some segments of HOME—for example, scenes showing disappearing ice caps or sprawling mega cities to stimulate visual awareness. We would discuss what impact we have on our earth and how we can reduce or improve our impact.
In small groups, the children would work together to make posters, research their own mini projects or write reports, and share their ideas on how to help the planet. This helps them understand the facts better and shows them that they can make a real difference. They could work together to create a whole school presentation on one issue from the film for example water use, farming or deforestation.Activity 3: Climate Reporters
I would begin with The Paxi video. This is such a brilliant starting point for introducing the concept of greenhouse gases to younger learners. It’s clear, engaging, and perfectly pitched for primary school age, using simple language and fun visuals to explain a complex topic in a way that makes sense to them. By presenting the information through a friendly character like Paxi, it captures their attention and helps them understand how greenhouse gases work and why they matter. It’s a great way to spark curiosity and start meaningful discussions about climate change and our role in protecting the planet.
In activity 3, Climate Reporters we look at future climate scenarios and analyse how these will impact temperatures. We will discuss actions to help lessen or raise awareness of the impacts caused by an increase in temperatures. Children should acquire some understanding of how a future increase in temperatures may affect their lives. I would get the children to work In groups. They can come up with ideas and suggestions on how to lessen the impacts of climate change in their area. They would present their ideas and conclusions to the class.
The temperature prediction tool is a great hands-on activity that helps the children think about how human actions can affect the environment. By changing variables like emissions, they can see how the decisions we make today might impact the climate in the future. It’s a powerful way to link science with real-life decision making and helps them understand that their choices matter.
I would have the children present their findings to the class. I might extend the activity by having them share their findings at a whole school assembly or create posters and projects to display around the school. This would help spread awareness to the wider school community and give the children a greater sense of purpose and pride in their work.Hi Lauren, I love your question! It’s great how a simple question, like the difference in rainfall, can spark curiosity and lead to bigger discussions and learning. I like how you’re using real-life things to get children thinking and talking.
Hi Lauren,
I completely agree! Learning what each satellite does and watching them pass over Ireland in real-time was really interesting. It’s a fun and visual way to learn, and it also teaches a lot about space, geography, and technology. I think students would find it both exciting and educational.
Hi Brian, I think it’s a great idea to show Greta Thunberg’s TED Talk and COP25 speech to the students. She speaks with a lot of passion, and since she’s young and standing up for change, it helps make the issue feel more real and relatable to them.
STEM education in my classroom involves lots of questioning, testing, experimenting, predicting and problem solving. It involves lots of group work promoting teamwork. Listening skills and presenting skills are to the forefront. Active learning and scientific investigation are very important in my classroom.
Activity 1: Is it weather or climate?
This activity effectively explains the difference between weather and climate using everyday examples for meaningful discussion. The sorting exercise works on children’s powers of observation, reasoning, and critical thinking. Including a “birthday weather” prompt is particularly clever. It’s personalized and meaningful to children, helping them naturally connect short-term weather events with long-term climate patterns. I would start this lesson with a class discussion and then get the children to work in small groups.Activity 2: Weather Detectives covers lots of STEM basics. Children can become real investigators by taking daily temperature readings and making sure they record them at the same time and place each day—this helps them learn to collect data accurately. Drawing their results in graphs teaches them how to show information clearly, spot patterns, and work out averages. Comparing what they record in class with data from the internet builds digital know how and helps them understand how to interpret real-world info. As a class we could bring our findings to whole school assemblies.
I completely agree – The Paxi video on the greenhouse effect animation, is a delightful and visually rich resource that simplifies a somewhat complex topic into something that is fun, clear, and highly engaging for children. It’s a great idea to share with staff too.
I would be interested in designing and setting up a weather station too. I have used a rain gauge before but I’ve never used the anemometer or thermometers. The children would love observing and recording their findings daily.
Class Plan to Engage with Space Week
My goal for Space Week is to create a fun-filled, action-packed experience that sparks curiosity and fosters a love of space through hands-on, imaginative learning. I aim to inspire a sense of wonder and awe in the children while using a cross-curricular approach to connect learning across subjects.
Day 1 – Launch into Space: Build a Rocket
Objective: To introduce space exploration and kick off the week with an exciting hands-on challenge.
• Discussion: What do we know about space? What would we like to learn?
• Activity: Build and decorate mini rockets using recycled materials (plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, foil).Day 2 – Meet an Astronaut (Imaginative Interview)
Objective: To explore life as an astronaut and develop questioning and speaking skills.
• Activity:
o Watch a short video interview with a real astronaut
o Children brainstorm and write questions they’d ask if an astronaut visited the class.
o Role-play: one child pretends to be the astronaut, others ask their questions.Day 3 – Space Science Fun
Objective: To explore space through simple, fun science experiments.
• Experiments:
o Crater Impact Simulation: Drop small balls into flour and cocoa to simulate meteor impacts.
o Rocket Fuel Experiment: Vinegar + baking soda in a small container to simulate propulsion.
o Gravity Drop Test: Compare falling objects heavy vs light to discuss gravity.
• Discussion: Why is gravity important in space? What is a meteor?Day 4 – Planet Explorers
Objective: To learn facts about the planets in our solar system and express learning creatively.
• Song Time: Learn and sing “The Planet Song” or “We Are the Planets.”
• Group Work: Assign each group a planet to research.
• Art Activity: Create a papier-mâché model or poster of their assigned planet.
• Presentation: Each group shares facts about their planet with the class.Day 5 – Space Celebration Day
Objective: To celebrate learning and showcase the week’s work.
• Dress-Up Day: Children come dressed as space-themed characters (astronaut, alien, star, sun, moon, etc.)
• Space Quiz Game: Fun team quiz using facts from the week.
• Classroom Gallery Walk: Display rockets, planet projects, writing pieces, and experiment photos.Activity Set: Online Resources and Tools
There is such a wide range of excellent online resources available to support teaching about space and STEM in the classroom. These tools offer exciting opportunities for both teachers and children to deepen their understanding through engaging, interactive, and up-to-date content.
I am particularly interested in exploring the following resources:• Astronomy Picture of the Day
This daily resource offers a new and captivating image from space each day, often accompanied by a brief explanation. I see great potential in using this as a daily discussion prompt, a stimulus for oral language, or a visual writing activity. It’s an accessible and inspiring way to keep space learning current and engaging.• Marvin and Milo
This is a fantastic collection of short comic-style stories and simple science experiments, ideal for younger learners. The characters of Marvin and Milo provide a fun and relatable way to introduce scientific thinking through storytelling and role play, which I believe would really resonate with my pupils.• Stellarium Web
Stellarium is a powerful, interactive tool that allows pupils to explore the night sky in real time. It includes detailed, user-friendly views of planet visibility, constellations, and star maps. I’m excited to use this as a digital extension to our space unit, allowing pupils to make real-world connections and build visual understanding of the solar system.These are just a few of the many online tools I plan to incorporate into my teaching. I’m really looking forward to using these interactive resources to enrich STEM learning in my classroom this year and to inspire a deeper interest in space among my pupils.
Activity Set: Stars “Create Your Own Constellation”
Stars are a fascinating part of space that naturally capture children’s curiosity. One engaging and educational activity I would use in my classroom is “Create Your Own Constellation”.
Introduction & Discussion
To begin, I would gather the class together and ask:
• What do you know about stars?
• Have you ever seen stars in the night sky?
• What do you think constellations are?
I would then explain that constellations are patterns or pictures made by groups of stars in the sky, and people long ago created stories about them.
We’d look at some simple, well-known constellations (like Orion, the Big Dipper, and Leo) using pictures or a short video, discussing what they look like and the stories behind them.
Main Activity: Create Your Own Constellation
Materials:
• Black or dark blue paper
• Star stickers or white chalk/crayons
• Silver or gold pens
• Glue and glitter (optional)
Instructions:
1. Each child places star stickers (or dots with chalk) on the paper to form a pattern.
2. They connect the stars to form a picture, creature, or shape using lines or drawing.
3. Once the constellation is formed, they give it a name and create a short story or legend about it.
After the artwork is complete:
• Children share their constellations with the class.
• They explain what their pattern represents and tell the story they created.
We would display the constellations on a classroom “night sky” wall to celebrate their work and continue referring back to it during the space unit.That sounds like such a fun lesson! I completely agree Cathal – teaching the “Make a Rocket” activity is a fantastic way to get children excited about space. It’s creative, hands-on, and definitely captures their imagination. I’ll be teaching this lesson too because I think the children will love it and it’s such a great way to spark curiosity about space and rockets. Can’t wait to see how they react!
I completely agree! This module offered fantastic ideas and engaging stimuli that are perfect for promoting hands-on learning. Incorporating them into a STEM unit on weather sounds like a great way to bring the subject to life for the children. I’m also excited to try out some of these activities in my own classroom!
