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Hi Valerie, I think this is an excellent question as you mentioned that the beach is local so the children will be able to collect the data with ease. Looking at the data collected and making their own observations will be an excellent way to take on answering this question.
Research question:
How do we as a class reduce our carbon footprint to contribute to climate change?
I think the above question would be most suited to my autism classroom as the children can work together collaboratively. The children can begin by using the carbon footprint calculator tool that is available on the slides in this course to calculate their carbon footprint. The children can also ask questions to the SNA’s and teacher present in the class to calculate their carbon footprint too. This information will be a baseline data that the children can work off. The children can then identify what elements of their lives are contributing to their carbon footprint. Once this information has been identified, the children can then come up with a list of strategies for them to engage with to help reduce their carbon footprint collectively.
I think this is the most suitable question and data collection method for the children in my class and a project that they will enjoy engaging with.
The EO Browser seems like a great tool that would be very beneficial in the classroom. The children can learn so much as well as tracking weather variables. This fun learning will engage the children and in turn hopefully enable them to want to learn about the topic.
Task 1 -Satellite Tracking
I used the website ‘Havens Above’ to look at the satellites that are currently orbiting the Earth. The following 5 satellites all passed over Ireland during the timeframe in which I was watching the satellites moving live:
STARLINK – 4530 (53393)
STARLINK – 3958 (52535)
STARLINK – 2166 (48558)
STARLINK – 3795 (52264)
STARLINK – 2738 (48668)
Each of the above satellites crossed over Ireland as the travelled from west to east. I couldn’t find much information about the satellites on this website other than the position they were in and the degree in which they were orbiting, however I loved the live element and how you could see exactly where the satellites were moving in real time. This website would be excellent to use with the children in school as they can zoom in and out and move the screen around the Earth as they look at the different satellites travelling in real time.
Hi Padraic. Yes I agree that these videos are a perfect way to show the children exactly what the climate change crisis looks like. I think the TED Talk is an excellent way to engage the children as it is a youth activist which they should engage well with. The combination of the different elements to the lesson will engage the children well and I intend on doing the same in my classroom.
The film ‘Home’ was an amazing watch and shows the beauty of the world while also showing the damage that is being caused to the environment by humans and the effects of climate change. This film is excellent but may be too long for my children to watch in school. I enjoyed the other shorter clips throughout this module and I see how the children would engage with these within the classroom to enable them to better understand the concept that is being taught to them. One video in particular that I loved was the TED talk about school strike for climate and it really resonated with me because this was coming from a child. I think that the children in school would enjoy this video and listen attentively for the same reasons, that it is coming from a child. The children could discuss or debate whether they agree with her statements and why or why not. This will engage the children in conversation around climate change.
Hi Valerie,
I agree with you about the group work approach as I feel this will engage the children more. It is definitely a perfect activity to engage with technology on. Visualisations and diagrams will definitely be beneficial and it is a great way to include all learners in the lesson.
Activity 3 is a very practical, engaging activity that is also an excellent tool in the assessment of learning. I enjoyed watching the video and know that my class would also find this good. The children are fascinated by the climate and this activity gives them the opportunity to be a climate reporter which I know they will love. I would begin the lesson by getting the children to ‘Think, Pair, Share’ to elicit their prior knowledge. I would then discuss the activity with the children and allow them to complete this in small groups as a collaborative activity. The children could use the school iPads to look up further information on climate that they think would be relevant to their report and this inclusion of technology in the lesson will enhance their engagement levels.
I find that there is quite a lot of reading and writing involved in this activity which I would change slightly to meet the needs of my children, but it is an excellent, engaging activity for the children to complete.
Hi Eric,
I agree that this paper does offer lots of beneficial ideas. The weather station is a great idea and the fact that it is a hands-on project allows the children to engage with the content in a meaningful way. I do like the skills that the children get to experience from engaging with this project and these will stand to them.
I love your idea of making it a UDL to include all children in the activities.
Activity 1:
Dr. Liston’s article highlights the concept of STEM and how it is already being implemented in schools and how it has recently become a more popular concept. STEM can be seen as another ‘subject’ or ‘topic’ that we need to find time to implement but as it is cross curricular we can complete activities within the STEM bracket while ticking boxes for multiple subjects. I enjoyed the weather vs. climate activity as this engages the children with the fact that there are differences from the beginning as the identify these.
Activity 2:
Setting up this weather station would certainly be welcomed in my school. As a teacher in an Autism class, the children would enjoy the hands on and engaging activity. The link to the maths curriculum will also afford time during the school day to give to this collecting and analysing of data in relation to the daily weather.