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in my classroom, I use this activity as a springboard to explore concepts such as the conditions necessary for life, planetary environments, and what makes Earth habitable. I begin by asking students, “What would an alien really need to survive?” Students then work in small groups to design a life form that could live on a specific planet or moon in our solar system. They research the temperature, gravity, atmosphere, and surface conditions of their assigned location and must justify how their alien’s features help it survive.
This activity fosters critical thinking and creativity. Students develop their own questions, make evidence-based decisions, and collaborate on a final model or drawing. They often use digital tools like Canva, Google Slides, or 3D modeling software to present their alien’s adaptations. At the end of the unit, we hold an “Alien Expo” where students present their life forms and the science behind their survival design. I document the process with photos, student reflections, and short videos of presentations, which I share on our class website.
Beyond just being fun, this activity builds foundational understanding of planetary science and helps students recognize how life is influenced by environmental factors. It also opens up powerful discussions about astrobiology and how scientists are searching for life beyond Earth. It’s always rewarding to see how excited and engaged students are when given the freedom to explore and create with science as their guide.
To implement the activity, I have students work in pairs to observe and record the length and direction of a shadow cast by a stick (or sundial) at several points throughout the school day—morning, noon, and afternoon. We mark the shadows with chalk or tape on the ground and take photos at each time point. Over several days, students collect data and begin noticing patterns in how the shadows shift and change. They start asking their own questions, like: Why are shadows longer in the morning? What causes them to move? How is this connected to Earth’s rotation?
In the classroom, we use this real-world data to build graphs, write reflections, and compare results with classmates. We also use digital tools such as simulation apps (e.g., PhET’s Sun, Earth and Moon simulator) to visualize how Earth’s rotation and tilt affect shadow movement.
This activity promotes curiosity, collaboration, and deeper thinking. Students aren’t just memorizing facts about the Sun—they’re actively discovering how sunlight interacts with Earth in observable ways. It also opens the door to larger discussions about time, seasons, and Earth’s place in space. Most importantly, it gets them outside, moving, and thinking like scientists. I often compile their shadow charts, photos, and reflections into a digital slideshow or class blog post so families can see their learning process and discoveries.
Hello everyone! My name is Odhrán.
One of my favourite space facts is that neutron stars are so dense that a single teaspoon of their material would weigh about six billion tons.
Reflection:
Inquiry-based learning is a cornerstone of how I approach teaching science because it empowers students to take ownership of their learning through questioning, researching, and discovering. One inquiry-based activity I love to use is the “Design a Space Mission” project. In this activity, students are challenged to create a mission to explore a planet, moon, or asteroid of their choice. They begin by formulating their own questions—such as what they hope to discover, what challenges they might face, and how they’ll collect data. Then they research their chosen celestial body’s conditions (e.g., gravity, temperature, atmosphere), and use that information to design spacecraft, instruments, and goals for the mission.
This activity promotes collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. It’s open-ended enough to allow for creativity, yet grounded in real scientific principles. Students become active participants in their learning process, engaging in meaningful discussions and learning how to apply knowledge in a practical context. Most importantly, it encourages a mindset of curiosity and wonder—something I believe is essential in any science classroom.
Hello everyone! My name is Odhrán.
One of my favourite space facts is that a day on Venus is longer than its year! Venus takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis, but only about 225 Earth days to complete one orbit around the Sun. That means the Sun rises and sets fewer times in a Venusian year than you might expect. It’s such a fascinating and counterintuitive idea that sparks lots of questions and wonder in students.
Reflection:
Inquiry-based learning is a powerful method to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding. One activity I would use in my classroom is a “Planetary Conditions Survival Challenge.” Students are placed in small groups and given a hypothetical mission: they must design a shelter for astronauts on one of the planets in our solar system. Each group researches the environmental conditions of their assigned planet (temperature, gravity, atmospheric composition, solar radiation, etc.) and proposes a solution for human survival using this data. This activity taps into inquiry because students are not given all the answers—they must investigate, evaluate credible sources, collaborate, and present their findings.
This kind of activity promotes scientific thinking, teamwork, and creativity. It also allows for differentiation, as students can explore the depth and complexity of their planet at their own level. Most importantly, it helps students make real-world connections between abstract science concepts and practical human challenges, which increases engagement and retention.
Hi Michaela. I completely agree with this statement. Understanding the nutritional benefits of seafood is vital not only for our own well-being but also for shaping the health habits of future generations. Seafood is a powerhouse of essential nutrients—high-quality protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins like D and B12, and minerals such as iodine and selenium—all of which are critical for brain development, cardiovascular health, and overall growth. For children, whose bodies and minds are rapidly developing, these nutrients are especially important.
Hi Dolores. I completely agree that Ireland is exceptionally well-suited for aquaculture, and the benefits it brings to coastal communities cannot be overstated. The country’s extensive and rugged coastline, combined with its clean, temperate waters, creates the perfect conditions for the farming of fish, shellfish, and seaweed. This natural advantage has allowed Ireland to develop a thriving aquaculture sector, particularly along the western seaboard.
Hi Aaron,
I think that this is a brilliant question and investigation. My class would love this investigation and would find it extremely interesting.
Research question: How do we as a class reduce our carbon footprint to contribute to climate change?
I teach sixth class and this investigation would be suitable to my class as the children in my classroom love collaborating and working together in groups. I believe the aforementioned question would be best appropriate for my class. The kids can start by figuring out their carbon footprint using the carbon footprint calculator that is included on the course slides. In order to determine their own carbon footprint, the kids can also pose questions to the teacher in the class The students will be able to work off this knowledge as a baseline. After that, the kids can determine which aspects of their lives add to their carbon footprint. Following the identification of this data, the kids can develop a list of actions that they can take as a group to lessen their carbon impact.For the kids in my class, I believe this is the best question to ask, the best way to gather data, and a project they will be interested in working on.
An excellent resource for a climate change class project would be this tool. This tool offers imagery of the changes that have occurred on Earth over the past 30 years as one of its features. Students can use the comparison feature or a time-lapse to analyze the changes. They can also estimate the extent of a deforested area and investigate how the landscape varies with the seasons. This resource is a fantastic interactive addition to the classroom, particularly when studying climate change.It is an interactive and user-friendly tool that provides a step-by-step guide on how to use it. You can select your area of interest and narrow down the criteria of what you are specifically looking for, for example cloud coverage, and inspect the resulting data from different sources. It gives options for different activities based on whether you are a beginner or advanced. This is useful in the classroom for differentiation. It is a fantastic tool that I will be using down the line in my own classroom, especially with the senior classes.
Hi Aoife. I totally agree that small changes that will make changes and this will contribute to will lead to bigger changes which are required for future generations.
Yann Arthus Bertrand’s videp ‘Home’ illustrates the ways in which human activity and the environment are interacting. It displays indicators of climate change, including melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and rising greenhouse gas emissions. It also emphasizes the depletion of natural resources including water, fossil fuels, and minerals, as well as the extinction of species. It encourages the application of sustainable practices and renewable energy sources.I would present these facts about climate change to the kids in a variety of ways.I would present these facts about climate change to the kids in a variety of ways. carrying out tests to show the effects of climate change. I would discover some interactive tales about the effects of climate change on kids around the globe. In addition to asking students to make drawings and posters illustrating the effects of climate change, I might assign a class project in which students must come up with ways to lessen their personal carbon footprint. I would also look for some kid-friendly internet games and quizzes.
Using a tool to forecast future temperatures and viewing a Paxi film on greenhouse gases comprise Activity 3 of the Weather and Climate offering. Through the efficient use of interactive tools and visual learning, this activity raises student interest and comprehension of greenhouse gases and how they affect climate change. The prediction tool helps students to use their knowledge and see possible future scenarios, while the film makes complicated subjects more approachable. Adding a discussion element to the exercise, where students examine various prediction models and their underlying presumptions, could enhance critical thinking even further. Furthermore, supplying additional resources on actual climate policies and mitigation tactics would highlight the relevance of their education and provide useful insights. By including these components, the exercise may encourage students to think critically about potential solutions and provide a more thorough understanding of climate change. I would really like to set up a Zoom conversation with a representative from Met Eireann to emphasize the effects of rising temperatures and climate change.
