Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Like many others, I grew up looking up at the night time sky. We used to look out for The Plough or The Saucepan, as we called it – seven stars – four stars making the pan and the remaining three forming the handle. It is a lovely memory!
In the city I rarely look up at the night time sky. Therefore, I think it is valuable for the children to be given the opportunity. I have taught senior classes for the past few years and I have shown the children how to use Stellarium Web, a useful web-based planetarium tool. Stellarium can be used to navigate the night sky, as well as find key celestial objects, such as the North Star, planets, the Moon, and the seasonal constellations. The children will see that the night sky never stays the same throughout the night, or from day to day. I usually ask the class to:
1. Watch the video for information on how to use Stellarium Web.
2. Looking at the night sky tonight in Stellarium at your location, where is the Moon? Look for the Moon in the night time sky, turn on the constellations, and see what constellation it is in front of.
3. What is the phase of the Moon? (Zoom in to better see its phase.)
4. Skip ahead three days. (Change the date to three days in the future.) a) Where is the Moon now? What constellation is it in? b) What is its phase? (If you can’t find the Moon just by changing the day, change the time also. It might only be visible later at night.)
5. What is another name for the North Star?I like the idea of involving grandparents or cairde na scoile and asking or interviewing them for old piseógs and traditions. The collection of old stories and traditions would make a nice display and a talking point, and could be used to tie in with grandparent’s day, which I know many schools host.
Songs/Poems/Art:
The night can influence culture and inspire art. Artists capture the mysterious beauty of the night sky. ‘Starry Night’ by Van Gogh is a famous painting depicting the sky just before sunrise. The swirling patterns give energy and movement. Children enjoy creating their own version and they make a lovely classroom display.
Dark skies influence literary writings, and there are many to choose from. ‘The Moon’ by Robert Louis Stevenson, where the poet pays tribute to the moon, is a good poem to explore with senior classes. I also really like the poem ‘An Ghealach’ by Caitríona Ní Chléirchín. She calls the moon ‘banríon na spéartha’.
Videos are good triggers to introduce a new topic. The cultural connection that music has with the night sky is demonstrated in some of these videos. The cover version of David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ which was produced for Spaceweek 2018 could be used to get the children thinking and wondering. We could compile a list of songs that includes the theme of space or night sky. My sixth class love a karaoke session and we could pick a song from our list and have some fun and entertainment at our ‘Am Órga’ on Fridays. One of my own personal favourites is ‘Meet You at the Moon’ by Imelda May. ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’ by Chris de Burgh is a festive favourite, where the star of Bethlehem is a space craft, it sets the nativity scene, which the children like and connect with.
The night sky inspires science, art, music and literature. Until recently our ancestors experienced and enjoyed a clear night sky full of stars. Hopefully it will keep on giving!
Biodiversity:
Our school is located in an urban area and we have very little green space. However, over the years, we have incorporated small changes to our biodiversity plan. As suggested in the video by Laois County Council, we can feel helpless when it comes to biodiversity, but we can all do something to help it and it starts on our own doorstep. It is good to show the children that changes can be made even in limited and challenging circumstances. Our school, as part of the Green Schools programme, has installed bird and bat boxes to the school building. We have had birds nesting and it is joyful to hear and see birds in our school surroundings. We hang bird feeders outside classroom windows or on the balconies. One of my colleagues had a wormery on the balcony, which got children and teachers from all classes involved. Growing vegetables in window boxes is something that is in our plans to create ecosystems. We are and want to do more to promote biodiversity in our urban school, they may be small changes, but very worthwhile for the school community.
We know from module 3 that light pollution has a big impact on our nocturnal birds and animals, affecting their breeding and migration. They don’t know night from day. They have disturbed sleep and can get disorientated. They can end up being preyed on, trapped or even killed.
I agree Claire. Over night school tours give the children an opportunity to look up and see the night time sky. I have done these tours with my class, but never thought to bring them outside when it is dark and do some star gazing. I will next time!
Light Pollution:
Like many others on this forum, I grew up looking up at the night time sky. We used to look out for The Plough or The Saucepan, as we called it – seven stars – four stars making the pan and the remaining three forming the handle. It is a lovely memory!
In the city I rarely look up at the night time sky. When I first lived in Dublin I think I was so caught up by everything else going on around me, I forgot to look up, day or night! As Fred, the astronomer, said in the video, too much light stops us seeing and interpreting the magic of the night sky, for example, street lighting, light from homes, sport pitches lighting etc…
I would like to use the short video of Fred, as a trigger for my class. The information and tips shared by Fred applies to us all. I think the children would hate to see the effect light pollution has on nocturnal animals, affecting their breeding and migration. The Dark Sky Planning Guidelines are simple, effective ways for the children to get thinking and to be active – switching off lights, directing light downwards, only using light when and where needed and using environmentally friendly warm coloured light bulbs. It is important to reiterate to the children that every action we take will help improve visibility in the night sky. Small changes can have a huge impact.
In the past I have used cheap white circular pop up lamp shades from Ikea and allowed the children to get creative. We have designed the entire solar system using these. It looks great!
Stellarium:
In this lesson, the children will learn how to use Stellarium Web, a useful web-based planetarium tool. Stellarium can be used to navigate the night sky, as well as find key celestial objects, such as the North Star, planets, the Moon, and the seasonal constellations. The children will see that the night sky never stays the same throughout the night, or from day to day.
1. Watch the video for information on how to use Stellarium Web.
2. Looking at the night sky tonight in Stellarium at your location, where is the Moon? Look for the Moon in the night time sky, turn on the constellations, and see what constellation it is in front of.
3. What is the phase of the Moon? (Zoom in to better see its phase.)
4. Skip ahead three days. (Change the date to three days in the future.) a) Where is the Moon now? What constellation is it in? b) What is its phase? (If you can’t find the Moon just by changing the day, change the time also. It might only be visible later at night.)
5. What is another name for the North Star?
Zodiac signs are based on the constellations seen in the night sky. From past experiences children have a keen interest in zodiac signs and like looking at their shapes and designs. They often have prior knowledge and want to learn more about ancient traditions. To finish off this lesson, the children could do some art and draw/paint their own personal zodiac constellations. Once again, as in module 1, there is linkage to other subject areas – creative writing, Maths, Art and Geography.
I like the idea of sharing with the rest of the group or the wider school community, as you mentioned Valerie, at assembly or science or space week. Giving presentations encourages and motivates the children, and gives them a greater sense of achievement and success.
Gravity/Weight:
To trigger curiosity, I would show an ESA video with Paxi and the Solar System.
In this practical activity, children experience how the force of gravity varies around the solar system by feeling how the weight of a tube of Pringles, would change on different planets.
I would ask the children to collect 8 tubes of Pringles, and I would split them into groups of 3, which allows input from everyone in the group.
1. Label the full, unopened tube of Pringles ‘Earth’.
2. Fill each of the other empty tubes with sand/rice (gravitational field strengths from online research)
3. Seal their lids securely using tape and label each tube with the name of the planet it represents.
4. Decorate each tube to indicate the planet it represents.
5. Children can then lift the tubes to feel how heavy a tube of Pringles would feel on different planets; they can compare the planets and think about how heavy they would feel on different planets too.
I think this activity is very enjoyable, and children like being creative and would like to research and design the planets. While researching, they begin to get curious and want to explore and wonder more. The planet tubes would make a really nice display in the classroom also. The cross curricular linkage is very valuable and different subject areas touched on is always advantageous to the children.
