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When I watched Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s ‘Home’, I was struck by the stunning aerial images of forests, oceans, animals and people around the world. The film explains how all life is connected and how human actions, such as burning fuels, cutting down too many trees, and polluting, are damaging our planet. It also shows the effects of climate change, such as melting ice and droughts, while ending with the hopeful message that people are working together to protect nature. In my classroom, I can see ‘Home’ being a useful tool to start a conversation about caring for the Earth. However, I think the full film would be too difficult for a lot of children and instead I might choose short clips to share with the class and then guide discussion in an age-appropriate way. Depending on the class level, videos such as the Paxi ones might be more effective at helping the children to understand climate change and our role in protecting our environment.
Hi Lorraine, I really like your idea of following up the lesson with a local trip to show the children some real life examples of environmental action. It’s a great way to make the learning come alive and help them to see how these concepts are applied in their own community.
Weather and Climate activity 3 has some great resources for helping children understand climate change and the greenhouse effect in a way that feels engaging and fun. The Paxi video is a brilliant starting point and it explains greenhouse gases in simple terms that the children can easily understand. I can definitely see myself using it with my class next year and it sparking some interesting discussions. I also really like the TEAL tool. It gives the children the chance to explore different scenarios and see the effect each one has on the climate. The strong visual element makes the concepts easier to follow, and it works well for group work where pupils can compare ideas, share observations, and discuss the wider impacts of climate change together. It shows how the choices we make today can influence the future, encouraging children to think about the bigger picture and see themselves as active participants in tackling climate change.
Hi Katie, I love your idea of having students compare Ireland’s weather and climate with that of other countries. It’s a brilliant way to deepen understanding and connect STEM to the wider world, and as Sinéad mentioned, choosing countries that the children have personal connections to would make it even more meaningful.
Module 1 Assignment:
Dr. Liston’s paper, Unravelling STEM: Beyond the acronym of Science, Technology , Engineering and Mathematics, looks to emphasise integrated real world learning over isolated subjects. She highlights benefits such as critical thinking, problem solving, ethics, collaboration and technological literacy. She maintains that authentic lessons should connect science, technology, engineering and maths to meaningful applications that prepare students for the future.ESA Resource- Nose High Up in the Sky
This is a brilliant resource to help students explore and understand weather through observation and measurement in a fun and engaging way. The hands-on activities, such as building rain gauges and anemometers, will be great for helping the children explore weather in a tangible and practical way. It also clearly shows how scientists gather, record and use data to understand weather patterns and make accurate forecasts. I’m looking forward to using it in my classroom next year and think the children will really enjoy and benefit from it.