Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I agree, Tom, through discussion of local weather and associated events, and then collecting data, children can see first-hand the impact of climate change in their own area. This will bring home how climate change is not just about far-away events like melting icebergs, hurricanes and dried-up lakes and rivers.
Research question: How has monthly rainfall in Carrick-on-Shannon changed since 1941and how has this impacted the land surrounding the river Shannon?
I would start with a brainstorm on general weather in Carrick-on-Shannon and guide this to visible evidence of weather events. Without doubt, children will highlight certain areas around the town that are prone to flooding. To start, we will create rain gauges and place them in different areas in the school, and also close to the river. We will keep monitor these for monthly rainfall and compare with records for the town from the 1940s.
They will research and examine satellite photos of the Carrick-on-Shannon area from different seasons using tools like the EO browser and photos from local and national archives. Pupils can also work on getting local anecdotes on recent flooding from their extended families, neighbours, friends etc.
In comparing photos from different times, pupils could contact Leitrim County Council and request information on the Carrick-on-Shannon Flood Relief Scheme.After several months, data can be compared and some conclusions extracted, to compare rainfall amounts from 80+ years ago and potentially to see if the flood relief scheme has been effective thus far.
I downloaded one or two satellite tracking apps but found they were not very easy to navigate. I have tracked the ISS before and pupils have found it, but I found it difficult to find out what a lot of the satellites actually do. Maybe someone else had more luck?
The “Nose Up High in the Sky” is a great resource for introducing children to weather recording and analysis. The lesson on proverbs is a lovely way to incorporate the history of weather forecasting in an informal way. It highlights also how people long ago were able to predict reasonably accurately what weather conditions were going to be like without any of the technology we have now, relying solely on signs in nature.
It is a great way of getting them to involve older family members in their research and can help create an awareness and appreciation of how resourceful and smart people were in the past, making use of the meagre resources they had.
It can also enable them to make their own predictions, based on these proverbs.
This is a very good resource that is simple to use and is relevant from Junior Infants up to sixth class.Hi Emma, I also really liked the carbon footprint calculator. This is a great resource for showing children how each individual can impact climate change on earth, for good or for bad. It is one thing to show and analyse the damage the human race is doing – it is even better when we can examine our own individual contribution.
ThThe film “Home” is breath-taking both in its beauty and in its message. Its statistics are mind-blowing and staggering, and combined with stunning imagery cannot fail to have an impact on the viewer. Like David Attenborough’s video, in the previous module, it starts with the creation of the earth and gives this a lot of time. I like the way the movie is segmented as this would be very useful for showing clips to children. It is a great tool for introducing the effects of climate change to children.
I think I would approach this firstly without mentioning climate change, but solely as a Geography or SPHE lesson on earth, allowing the children to appreciate & marvel at the origins of our amazing planet. The gradual approach in introducing the modernisation of the western world seems at first as an homage to humans’ creativity and ingenuity. Pupils will undoubtedly be shocked at the frightening statistics that follow.
The Greta Thunberg Ted Talk is also worth a watch and something children would relate to.
e film “Home” is breath-taking both in its beauty and in its message. Its statistics are mind-blowing and staggering, and combined with stunning imagery cannot fail to have an impact on the viewer. Like David Attenborough’s video, in the previous module, it starts with the creation of the earth and gives this a lot of time. I like the way the movie is segmented as this would be very useful for showing clips to children. It is a great tool for introducing the effects of climate change to children.
I think I would approach this firstly without mentioning climate change, but solely as a Geography or SPHE lesson on earth, allowing the children to appreciate & marvel at the origins of our amazing planet. The gradual approach in introducing the modernisation of the western world seems at first as an homage to humans’ creativity and ingenuity. Pupils will undoubtedly be shocked at the frightening statistics that follow.
The Greta Thunberg Ted Talk is also worth a watch and something children would relate to.I agree that a very important and necessary part of this exercise is to relate our findings and conclusions to the daily lives of the children. A lot of lip service is given to recycling and other worthy activities, but it is important for the pupils to see the direct correlation between our actions and climate change and to realise that each individual action can have an impact.
This is a very interesting activity. I would start by brainstorming the topic of greenhouse gases. Following this I would introduce certain vocabulary which would be heard or read during the lesson. The Paxi video is effective in demonstrating the greenhouse effect in a clear and concise way and I would use this to illustrate further the meaning of the greenhouse effect and how it impacts the earth. I also really liked the David Attenborough video in this module and feel it would have a great impact on this lesson, particularly for senior pupils. There is a lot of content between both, so I would suggest dividing this over at least 2 lessons. A further activity could involve research on weather events in recent times which have been caused by the rise in the earth’s temperature.
After discussion and research, I would introduce the temperature predictor. This would be a very interesting exercise for the pupils. I would end by reinforcing how we can help to change the trajectory of the earth’s temperature. Both videos were effective in this.
I agree Seamus, these activities provide opportunities for all types of learners to be fully engaged. Children are hearing lots about climate change – it’s good for them to become actively involved in recording weather. It can only lead to an increase in their awareness of what’s happening, and hopefully, to them becoming more proactive in the struggle to combat climate change.
Maeve Liston’s paper, ‘Unravelling STEM: Beyond the acronym of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics’, makes very interesting reading. We are all very aware for the last number of years of the importance of providing our pupils with the opportunities to use and develop their skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and creativity. What resonated most with me was her assertion that “Engineering is the glue that integrates science, mathematics and technology and forces them towards workable solutions.” She had previously pointed out the “Stem mania” that has gripped the educational world in recent years, and is probably right in saying that we are falsely labelling a lot of activities as STEM, that are not actually that.
The ESA resources, “Nose Up High in the Sky” and “Weather vs Climate” are excellent and provide opportunities to use literacy and numeracy with active learning and creativity. The videos are very well-pitched and engaging. Setting up a weather station in school would certainly integrate engineering into the pupils’ learning. I would really like to try this using rain gauges and anemometers. It would be interesting, though challenging, to make these ourselves. Finding a suitable place for a weather station would be a good exercise for the children, having to take lots of factors into account. This could be used by the whole school.
The Weather or Climate and Weather Detectives activities and worksheets are very good and would be well worth doing in class. It provides for active, outdoor learning and is suitable for pair or group activities.
