[Rebecca Behan]

I love the idea of the spider lesson Shirley! I think my junior infant class would love it. Thanks for sharing!

[Rebecca Behan]

I can clearly see how incorporating AI tools will benefit both my role as a teacher and my students’ overall learning experience. We have gained valuable, hands-on understanding of how to use these tools effectively. This knowledge will be extremely useful going forward, as tasks like creating worksheets, assessments or PowerPoint slides can be quite time-consuming for teachers. I have created a junior infant maths lesson plan.

Class level: Junior infants
Curriculum subject: Maths – Number/Counting

Lesson Plan: “AI the Counting Robot”

Goal:
Show how AI can recognise, count, and sort things — but needs our help to get better.
1. Meet “AI” (5 min)
Introduce a friendly robot character (puppet, picture, or teacher pretending).
-Show the children the robot and say:
“This is Robo. Robo is learning numbers and shapes, but sometimes gets them wrong. Can you help teach Robo?”
-Briefly explain that AI is like a smart helper that can learn from people but isn’t always right.

2. Counting Challenge (10 min)
• Give each child a small pile of mixed objects (blocks, beads, buttons).
• “AI” tries to count them — but makes silly mistakes (e.g., counts too fast, skips numbers, counts the same thing twice).
• Children correct AI and count the objects properly.
Key idea: AI needs clear instructions and checking.

3. Sorting Game (10 min)
• Give picture cards or toy animals in different colours/shapes.
• Ask “AI” to sort them by colour, then shape, then size.
• Occasionally “AI” sorts them wrongly — children spot and fix the mistake.
Extension: Let children “teach” AI new sorting rules (e.g., “All animals that live in water go together”).

4. Pattern Play (5 min)
Create a simple ABAB pattern with objects (e.g., red-blue-red-blue).
Ask “AI” to guess the next colour — sometimes right, sometimes wrong.
Children correct and explain the rule.
Invite the students to create their own patterns for Robo to guess.
Math concept: Recognising and extending repeating patterns.
AI concept: AI can guess patterns if it has enough examples, but we need to help it see the rule.

5. Conclusion (5 min)
Ask:
• “What did you teach AI today?”
• “Why do we have to check AI’s work?”

Core Math Skills Covered:
• Counting accurately
• Sorting by attributes
• Recognising and continuing patterns
• Comparing quantities
• Explaining reasoning (why something is right or wrong)

Assessment
• Observe children’s accuracy in counting.
• Check their ability to sort shapes correctly.
• See if they can continue and create simple patterns.

[Rebecca Behan]

I agree Ronan, I have been exploring Khan Academy Kids app also and think it will be a really useful tool for young learners.

[Rebecca Behan]

I am excited to use AI in my classroom starting in September. I have junior infants for the first time but we do have a scheduled iPad time slot. I would be eager to use the Khan Academy Kids app with the class. The app has bright visuals and short activities that are appropriate for junior infant learners.
For a phonics lesson with Khan Academy Kids I would aim to cover letter recognition whereby the children can use the app to trace the letters, learning their letter sounds with the plethora of songs and chants available on the app, there are also matching activities available where children can match sound to letter. A follow up activity could be simple CVC word building where the students are shown an image and tasked with finishing the cvc word to match the picture.
For a maths lesson with Khan Academy Kids I would cover number recognition, shapes & patterns and counting objects. For counting, the app has counting songs in addition to counting games where children must count the objects shown on the screen. For number recognition there are number tracing games and shape recognition games where the students must complete tasks such as ‘tap all the triangles’. There are pattern games similar to topmarks available also.

[Rebecca Behan]

I am in the same boat, David. I never thought much about using AI tools in the classroom, but I am really intrigued to get back to school and test them all out!

[Rebecca Behan]

Part 1:

I have junior infants for the first time in September so I think the Magic Schools AI tool will be very beneficial in creating social stories and clear instructions for the students. I feel that Gamma will be an extremely helpful tool to help me create presentations for my class and will ensure that I input clear and detailed prompts and check the finished product critically. I have no doubt I will get a lot of use out of co-pilot for image generation.

Part 2:

The range of impressive tools introduced in this module was truly astounding! Although most of them were new to me, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending the time exploring them. I can clearly see how these tools could greatly enhance teaching and learning across all school environments. Microsoft Learning Accelerators, along with Diffit, Gamma, and those covered in Part 1, have the potential to address diverse student needs, promote inclusive practices, and assist with lesson planning. I can foresee myself creating social stories for junior infants who are attending school for the first time using the Magic Schools tools. Additionally, the co-pilot picture generator could be used for a wide range of curriculum topics. This will save me time as a teacher because I won’t have to search for the right materials to help my students better understand a given subject, and I can tailor it to be exactly what I need. It’s also worth noting that integrating AI tools should be done ethically and gradually, following the school’s Digital Learning Plan. As teachers, it is our responsibility to constantly assess the content to make sure it satisfies our learning goals.

[Rebecca Behan]

I agree completely with you, Shauna. I think AI would be a great aid to the children you teach in the special school. Considering special class teachers are really left to their own devices and are tasked with creating all their own resources to support the curriculum, I think if teachers understood how to use AI to create these, it would take away one of the stresses that come with being a teacher in a special school.

[Rebecca Behan]

Upon the completion of module 2, I think AI can significantly transform the teaching and learning experience in the classroom.
AI can provide personalized learning paths for students. AI platforms like Khan Academy’s AI tutor or Century Tech can adapt content to each student’s level, providing extra practice or accelerated tasks based on real-time performance. This supports differentiated instruction, helping all students progress at their own pace.
Automated Feedback and Assessment. Tools like Gradescope or Edmentum can automatically grade assignments and quizzes, freeing up teacher time to allow teachers to focus on instructing.
AI can enable teachers with intelligent content creation. AI can generate quizzes, summaries, and lesson plans using tools like ChatGPT or Quizizz AI, helping teachers save time while maintaining high-quality instruction.
AI can also be a great support for diverse learners. Text-to-speech, real-time translation, and AI-powered reading assistants can support ESL students or learners with reading difficulties, making the classroom more inclusive.

I believe one of the main challenges in implementation would be teacher training and confidence and the potential development of overreliance on technology. While AI can support learning, it should not replace critical human interaction, creativity, or the emotional intelligence teachers bring to the classroom. This was evident in the video of the Chinese students.

[Rebecca Behan]

I totally agree with you Jacqueline, one of the main reasons for choosing this course as I felt I needed to upskill in the world of AI as it is not something my current school uses too much.

[Rebecca Behan]

I believe artificial intelligence will play an essential role in teaching by enhancing teaching, learning, and assessment in the classroom. In teaching, AI can personalize instruction, which allows teachers to tailor content to each student’s learning pace and style, adhering to the UDL used in the prompt. For learning, AI can foster engagement through interactive platforms and adaptive learning technologies that adjust in real time to student needs, providing students with immediate feedback and allowing them to grasp complex concepts. Assessment is also evolving, with AI enabling automated grading, data-driven insights, and formative assessments that help identify learning gaps early. In the future, AI could handle administrative tasks, allowing teachers more time to focus on instruction and student engagement. However, we as educators must be mindful of ethical concerns such as data privacy and algorithmic bias. Used responsibly, AI has the potential to create more inclusive, efficient, and personalized learning environments that better prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow.

[Rebecca Behan]

In first class we would create our very own rockets using household materials. We will begin by discussing what we think the key components to rockets are on the whiteboard using a mind map. Children will use think, pair, share to discuss their ideas in their table groups for a few minutes.
We will then investigate through pictures what real life rockets look like and compare their components to our mind map checking if we have missed anything. Then the teacher will ask the children how they think they could design a rocket. The teacher will give out some blank sheets and the children will come up with their very own rocket design. They will compare their ideas with their peers.
There will be a whole class discussion about what materials we could use to create our rocket ships.
The teacher will show the students the video of the rocket mice on YouTube to give them some insight into how we may make the rockets blast off to ensure their design aligns and will work (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUKCT2L3DjA&t=14s)
In the next SESE lesson, the students will have the materials that they need to build their rocket. They will each have a piece of card that can fold into a cone shape (linking with 3D shapes lesson), some markers, feathers & glitter, scissors, tape/glue, and spare pieces of paper if they wish to add some wings to their design. Once the children have finished building their rockets, they will get a chance to make them blast off using different containers to investigate how high they can shoot their rocket and what causes this different in height.
The lesson will conclude with a whole class discussion and each table getting a chance to present their finished deign to the class. We will discuss their findings and the children will give 2 stars and a wish if they were to do the design again.

[Rebecca Behan]

The passport to space is such a creative idea! Thanks so much for the super lesson inspiration.

[Rebecca Behan]

I really enjoyed space as an aistear theme in a senior infant classroom. It is so engaging and opens up some great discussions among the children. Thanks so much for the photo inspiration!

[Rebecca Behan]

https://www.sciencekids.co.nz/space.html

I would use the science kids website for some quizzes to complete after the lessons. There are also some amazing projects and experiment ideas on this website to give the teacher new ideas. The website includes super videos for the children to enjoy and resources are easy to find as they are grouped into topics.

https://wowscience.co.uk/

Wow science has some interactive games and activities for the children to complete. There are some apps linked on the website, one which the children can monitor and investigate the sun and complete hands-on DIY activities to give a greater understanding of the sun. I would use this online resource to do a lesson on investigating the sun and moon – linking with maths night and day in the junior classroom.

https://www.getepic.com/

I would use GetEpic! for storytime in the classroom. This website has a plethora of science themed books that are very engaging for children as it highlights the words as you read along with it.

[Rebecca Behan]

The activity set I would explore in the junior classroom is Stars. I would introduce the lesson with the book ‘How to catch a star’. We would then brainstorm how the students would go about catching stars. Then we will make our very own shooting star in a jar.
Materials needed:
-Food colouring
-Water
-Small Jar with lid (one per table)
-Large clear glass jar, bottle, or vase
-vegetable oil

Method:

Fill each small jar half way full with oil.
Drop food colouring into the oil (these droplets will be the stars)
Shake the jar. (Shake up high, shake down low, blast off like a rocket ship, but don’t let go!!)
Add the contents of the small jar into the bigger jar filled with water.

The gravity will bring the colours down into the water as they pull away from the oil creating a shooting star like pattern.
The children will enjoy seeing the speed at which the ‘stars’ are moving and this can be used to expand on with discussions of the galaxy and milky way etc.

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