[Helen O Sullivan]

Lesson: The nutrition of mussels

The Arc lessons are fabulous. I particularly loved the Nutrition of Sea food. So much beautiful and very useful information here. So much that lends itself to cross curricular links starting with nutrition. I always alike the food we put in tur bodies to the type of fuel we put into our cars. Bad fuel and that car with splutter, stop and cause engine damage. This is the same as our bodies. Good information about food will help the body to keep going and use its energy in the correct way.

I would love to start with the information about the intertides and how mussels and oysters are found near the top as their hard shells can help them survive when they are out of water during low tides. I found this fascinating especially the fact that they can store seawater in their shells during this time. It would be so interesting for the children to explore this. It would really spark their interest to learn more about this.

Hopefully this would stem their interests (if you pardon the pun) in stem activities. This will lead on to exploration in Geography re locations on the coastlines/calculating high and low tides/effects of gulf stream winds etc.

The science factor of this can be explored through the effects of eating mussels and the body benefitting from this through healthy red blood cells and transport of oxygen through the body

The healthy benefits from eating salmon and omega 3 and vitamins will all tie in.

History: Well the salmon of knowledge story is where it all begins!!

 

So much exploration can take place from this which should lead to exploration of stem in a very practical way.

Rather than STEM activities being an isolated entity I think when discussing the SSE process to include these activities through the subject being explored. This way STEM is seen as being interrelated throughout the primary school curriculum and the children will benefit more from this

 

 

 

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

The jobs they provide is invaluable .Its really important to keep these communities alive

[Helen O Sullivan]

First of all, I really enjoyed this module. The content was so interesting, the video clips were informative and beautiful to watch.

I am all the better for doing it and learnt so much

Location

Aquaculture takes place mainly on the western seaboard, on the Atlantic coastline in bays and inlets as well as on the shoreline.

Like the fishing industry aquaculture supports local coastal communities directly and indirectly.

Muscle, oyster and salmon farming are the main sources of aquaculture in Ireland. This impacts very positively on the socio economic welfare of the coastal community. First and foremost, it provides yearlong employment which will provide regular income and thus encourage the area from dying out.

This is hugely important.

Also these areas will attract people with an interest in the Arts to settle here as it will greatly inspire artistic works in Music/Art and Drama

You now have a rich tapestry of people here providing employment and the Arts thus attracting tourists to the area

So from a socio-economic point of view it will help a community, which might otherwise die away, to thrive.

So directly through employment and indirectly through the Arts etc.  aquaculture helps the community to thrive

[Helen O Sullivan]

You are so lucky to live right accross from the ocean !!!!!

Ideal for this module !

[Helen O Sullivan]

I am so delighted with myself for choosing this course. It is so interesting, beyond interesting even, that I am watching the video clips over and over again. I had no idea so much material was available online. I know the children will be enthralled by it all.

The children will benefit so much from the educational and nutritional benefit of the content. The historical aspect will interest them very much. Cross curricular links are so easy to match up such is the variety in the content. Most important I think will be the nutritional aspect. This will have the largest impact. For an island population we don’t teach enough about the benefits of fish.

The Arc is the tool which I want to use. I was total enthralled with this and without doubt the children will love it. The non-classroom aspect of the set up will immediately engage them. I have already signed up for it and so look forward to whenever we are lucky enough to get a visit.

The Taste the Atlantic model a Seafood Journey is a great way to introduce the joys of fish in a gradual way through salmon, mussels and oysters. I’m glad it has just focussed on these four fish types so that it won’t overwhelm the children …or myself!!!

The abalone is a new one for me. As well as the joys of fish they will also be able to trace the Wild Atlantic Way. Being able to emerge themselves in tracing the source of these fish will be so interesting.

I very much look forward to using the material and introducing this to the sch

[Helen O Sullivan]

Really loved your Space week activities. So many interesting ideas here

[Helen O Sullivan]

This was a really exciting module Children will be really intrigued by rockets and going to Space

The rocket mice idea is a lovely hand on activity to do with small children.

I would use it as a science experiment to begin with and then use it as a cross curricular approach integrating it with the curriculum as a whole to make it very real for the children. From literacy to numeracy there are so many opportunities here to expand on the original beautiful idea.

I would particularly love to link it with IT. We would video the children doing the activity on an iPad and allow the children to have fun with it by adding in their own edits and colours. I would then show them the video on the large class screen. This would become the basis for lots of interactive discussion. They love to see themselves on screen so I am sure they would enjoy it

[Helen O Sullivan]

The Stellarium is really fascinating isn’t it. I really can’t wait to explore this myself and introduce it to the class

[Helen O Sullivan]

I loved and really enjoyed the online activities in this module, The Picture of the Day would be a fun and interesting way to begin each day. It would open up the children’s mind to the natural world first thing in the morning when they are wide awake and alert.

I really enjoyed the Stellarium .org. This gives the children an almost 3 D look at the sky right above them in real time. I was totally fascinated by it and I can only imagine what the children would make of it. Even on a cloudy day, even during daylight it tells you what is going on in the sky above us!!!

This will most certainly will be used by me every day in my classroom. It would certainly open up a discussions and information that will fascinate them for life!!

The ESA Ed is a really interesting online resource that’s is sorted by age
,There are so many  interesting topics and themes in this resource .It could be used in a cross curricular context .

 

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

I love the idea of introducing Music into the lesson via the Planet Song on U tube .There are so so many songs and poems available re the theme of the stars .The children already have an interest in the stars because of all of these songs

[Helen O Sullivan]

Teaching space to Juniors: Lesson 3

Act Set: Stars

I would use the material provided on this module re drawing your own constellation. I think the children would really enjoy this.

The night sky is really a source of wonder for children and adults alike. The resource provided gives great ideas: I used to be a saucepan …. now I am a…….

Though the course suggests that the making of the star lantern is for older children I think in small groups this would enhance the lesson for the children. I love the idea of making a constellation of their own imagination. Children have an enormous suitcase of imagination and it wold be really interesting to allow them to open this up and see what they would do with this.

Music and Drama can be so easily brought into this lesson. There are so many songs about the stars not least the old favourite Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!!!!!!

Dance and interpretative dance could also feature in this lesson.

Drama: There are so many possibilities of exploring their creations through Drama. I would place the children in small groups and allow them the time to create their own story around their imaginative constellation!

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

love the idea of doing the dance ,This would be really lovely to do with the junior class.They could really get involved in this activity !

[Helen O Sullivan]

Activity Set: The Planets: Senior Infants

I would teach this by beginning with a song. There are so many songs around this theme. It would be a great way of working up an interest.

It would be and fun then to elicit from the children what they know about planets. They are sure to have some interesting answers!!

From this and the song we would discuss the names of all the planets. This would be a great way of linking literacy with this topic.

We would also discuss in an age appropriate terms the appearances of the planets

I would then show the children images of the planets.

To integrate with Art work, I would give these images to the children and

After much discussion we would arrange the planets in order of distance from the sun.

This work could then be displayed

To finish we would sing the chosen song again.

With their new found knowledge this song will then make a whole lot more sense!

[Helen O Sullivan]

Inquiry based Activity

My children loved this

It provides plenty of scope for discussion and oral language. There is scope for worksheet activity after where they can write, label and draw their activity.

Title: Chemical Bonds: stretch when freezing so that ice becomes less dense that water

I have great fun asking them to explain how they can watch this property in action!

Activity

So we pour the water into a plastic bottle

We note where the water level is at.

After leaving in a freezer

We compare the volume of the liquid and solid after freezing.

I then ask them how can this work in reverse/where should we leave the water/how long should we leave it there for

 

We make a jug of ice water. Again mark the level the water is at.

Allow the ice to melt and note the new level

 

This whole activity allows the children to see two activities around one concept

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

Hi

My name is Helen O  Sullivan .I have been teaching since the year dot !!!I am teaching Senior Infants and I love it !!

Science fact :The tide doesn’t go in and out ….its the earth that moves!!

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