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I used the Satellite Tracker app to discover what satellites have passed over Ireland recently. I think my students would really enjoy this activity as it offers them an opportunity to really discover something new and interesting about space that relates to Ireland.
5 satellites that pass over Ireland are the following:
1. The ISS which is the International Space Station. The fascinating thing about this space station is that in fact it can be visible to the unaided eye, particularly after before the dawn or the hour or so after dark.
2. The second satellite that I will refer to are the Starlink satellites. These are a number of satellites that can be viewed as a string of satellites that almost resemble a train in the space.
3. Satellites that are particularly relevant to this course are the NOAA satellites; namely NOAA-15, NOAA-18 and of course, the NOAA- 19. These three satellites help us to understand weather, weather patterns, predict storms, heat waves (particularly relevant in Europe, alas, not the case in West Clare).I was immensely impressed by the video Home. It was truly thought provoking. The narrating element provided a beautiful narrative to some powerful images and scenes. I have always been a big fan of the Planet Earth productions and other nature programmes. As a viewer Home really brought me in to truly analysing what life ls really like on Planet Earth. Animals, humans, the sea, flora, insects and water systems are all so interconnected that we all rely on each other. By showing this video we can inspire our students to take ownership of protecting our planet in our own small ways. It would be a fantastic video to show the Green Schools and Student Council committees early on in a school year.
I also thought the Climate Aid video was extremely powerful. There were some gripping messages in this video which really grabbed my attention and would be suitable for older classes in developing a deep understanding of deforestation, wildfires and the dangerous impact they have on animal habitats.
I believe the Paxi video is an excellent video for introducing younger students to the concept of Greenhouse Gas emissions and the impact they have on our planet.The interactive and visual nature of this video will be appealing to teachers and students alike. When teaching an abstract concept it can be difficult to find the appropriate resources to support your lesson. This PAXI video is excellent in that it delves into important topics but also is relatable for children.
I think I would focus on comparing temperatures over specific timeframes. Activity 3 provides teachers with an appropriate activity to enable the children to be climate reporters. I would give 4 groups of 6 different decades to work through where they can analyse past temperatures. After analysing the results of this data the class could follow up with a discussion and then make informed predictions about how temperatures may change over the next five decades.
STEM plays a central role in my classroom. Over the past number of years I have really embraced the use of technology and ICT to support my teaching instruction. Partly due to the purchasing of additional resources purchased by my school but also owing to courses and an intentional direction of using cross-curricular integration to encourage extension activities in the area of STEM. STEM week has taken over from Science week and as a result teachers have come with many different ideas such as using Lego activities throughout the school. Activities 1 and 2 are very practical above. I would split my class in two and pair children off to learn about climate and weather. Students could research and then present about the differences between both terms. This could be followed up by a Blooket/Kahoot quiz. Using interactive resources will embed the students’ learning further in a fun and enjoyable way.
The research question that I would use with regard to this specific module would be the following: How has deforestation contributed to the desertification of the Sahel region in Northern Africa? Children in senior classes could examine the impact that the destruction of forests is having on habitats, farming and therefore the spread of the Sahara desert beyond its previous outer limits. I believe students would be really enthused by looking at how there is a significant consequence when human activity removes vital forest habitats on the lives of animals and indeed humans too. As the Sahara desert is such a famous desert, students could learn how specific animals have been affected by the spread of a barren landscape. Children could use chromebooks or ipads in a mini-project to examine how the desert has spread through time and the changes this has made to the landscape of Northern Africa.
Hi Sinéad,
Thanks for sharing all these ideas. Cork is an excellent example of a city that has suffered greatly from flooding. I recall recently a GAA club being flooded. It showed the impact flooding has on a community but also how a community can rally together to do everything in its power to help residents and build the club up again.
Hi Robert.
Thanks for sharing some satellites that have passed over Ireland recently. I think my students would be very interested to know how that the internet they use at home is being supported by satellites!
Hi Louise,
I agree with how you would incorporate the videos into your teaching. The PAXI videos are definitely more suitable for younger children. In saying that, there are a lot of elements of the HOME video that would also be suitable for younger children.
Hi Robert,
Thank you for sharing the resource RTE released about what Ireland may be facing in 2050. This is something I will look into using with my class this year. It’s always encouraging to know we can access educational videos all year round. I also like the idea of incorporating modern day weather reports into a view into the past as part of a History lesson also.
Hi Colin,
Identifying the difference between weather and climate is an excellent starting point in demonstrating a deeper understanding for all students about both terms. I think it can be daunting taking on new STEM activities but as you have mentioned, students can learn a range of new skills using technology that is associated with temperature, wind speed and precipitation.
