[Sinead Duffy]

I agree about Microsoft co pilot. This course has given me the space to explore these apps and I think this one has great potential in the classroom. I look forward to using it this coming year.

[Sinead Duffy]

Lesson Plan: The Life Cycle of a Frog

Class Level
1st Class (6-year-olds)

Subject
Science (Living Things)

Duration
40-45 minutes

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Identify the four main stages of a frog’s life cycle.
• Place the stages in the correct order.
• Explain that living things grow and change.
• Use an AI tool with teacher guidance to ask simple questions about frogs.
• Understand that AI is a helpful tool, but its answers should always be checked by a teacher or trusted source.

Curriculum Links

• Science – Living Things
• Oral Language
• Digital Learning and Digital Citizenship

Resources

• Pictures of the frog life cycle
• Interactive whiteboard
• Computer/tablet with an AI tool (e.g. ChatGPT)
• Life cycle sequencing cards
• Crayons, scissors, glue
• Frog life cycle worksheet

Introduction (10 minutes)

Show a picture of a frog and ask:

• Have you ever seen a frog or a tadpole?
• Where do frogs live?
• How do you think a tiny frog begins its life?

Explain that frogs change as they grow, just like children do.

Introduce AI by saying:

“Today we’re going to use a smart computer helper called AI. It can answer our questions, but we always check its answers together.”

Development (20 minutes)

Teacher Demonstration

Use the AI tool to ask questions such as:

• What is a tadpole?
• Why do frogs lay eggs in water?
• How long does it take a tadpole to become a frog?

Read the answers together and discuss them using simple language.

Class Activity

Display pictures of:

1. Eggs
2. Tadpole
3. Tadpole with legs
4. Adult frog

Children work in pairs to place the pictures in the correct order.

Discuss what changes happen at each stage.

Independent Activity (10 minutes)

Children complete a worksheet by:

• Cutting and sticking the frog life cycle in order.
• Colouring each stage.
• Writing or tracing the names:
  • Eggs
  • Tadpole
  • Froglet
  • Adult Frog

Conclusion (5 minutes)

Review the lesson by asking:

• Which stage comes first?
• What grows on the tadpole?
• Where do frogs begin their lives?
• What did AI help us learn today?
• Why should we always check information that AI gives us?

Assessment

Assessment will be based on:

• Class discussion.
• Correct sequencing of the life cycle.
• Completion of the worksheet.
• Pupils’ ability to name the stages of the life cycle.

Differentiation

• Picture supports and vocabulary cards for pupils who need additional assistance.
• Extension activity: More confident pupils write one sentence describing each stage of the life cycle.

Success Criteria

Pupils can:

• Name the four stages of the frog’s life cycle.
• Place the stages in the correct order.
• Explain one change that happens as the frog grows.
• Describe AI as a helpful learning tool and understand that adults help us check its answers.

Artificial intelligence has the potential to enhance teaching and learning by making lessons more engaging, personalised and efficient. I plan to use AI as a teaching assistant rather than a replacement for professional judgement or student learning.

When preparing lessons, I will use AI tools to generate lesson ideas, create age-appropriate stories, produce differentiated worksheets, develop quizzes and suggest hands-on activities that support the curriculum. AI can also help simplify complex concepts, making them more accessible for young learners.

I will teach children to use AI safely, responsibly and ethically. They will learn that AI is a helpful digital tool, but that people use their own thinking, ask questions and rely on trusted adults and reliable sources to confirm important information. By introducing AI in an age-appropriate way, I hope to foster curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and digital literacy from an early age.

[Sinead Duffy]

I agree , I would be willing to explore Scratch junior with my senior infant class. Thank you for sharing the idea to watch some lessons on YouTube. Ive a feeling they would be beneficial for the children and for the teacher!!!!

Giving the children the correct language and concepts would be a very important area to cover first with the children.

[Sinead Duffy]

This module was very informative and I was able to explore some of the AI applications mentioned. Scratch Junior sounds really promising for the younger classes, the unplugged activities would definitely be the way to initiate this with the younger children so that they have a grasp of the directional language .

Having the children work with older children could be a nice way to demonstrate this programme for the younger children. This of course would allow for creativity, engagement, curiosity and differentiation. It would also give the children the time and space to explore AI applications  in a safe and ethical way.

 

 

 

 

[Sinead Duffy]

This module had a fantastic variety of AI tools that are available to educators. I look forward to using some of them in my classroom next year . Two that really stood out to me were Magic School and Diffit. I feel these kind of AI tools would be so beneficial for the teacher and the students. It is really amazing to see the support and time management that these tools can provide. I look forward to exploring and creating different resources over the holidays.

Diffit looks  brilliant and very user friendly. This will help teachers to create meaningful, purposeful and levelled materials for everyone in their class. It will be a very supportive way to engage all pupils in the classroom.

Part 2

This module highlighted the different AI resources that are available to teachers. It is lovely to get some information on what is available and to have some time to explore these tools further. I think they will be of great benefit to teachers both saving time and resources and also catering for all the children’s needs in the classroom. There is no doubt about the endless possibilities and positives  of using AI in the classroom setting. Of course teachers need to use their professional judgement and remember that it is a fantastic tool to support us.

[Sinead Duffy]

I agree with this post about screen time and the over reliance on screens. I feel there is definitely a space for AI and  screen time in our classrooms but it is very important for everyone to be aware that social interactions and talk is so important for everyone.

There is no doubt that the benefits of AI are huge but teachers /parents and students need to remember that it is a tool and should not replace social interactions.

[Sinead Duffy]

This module really opened my eyes to all the positives to AI  the classroom.

There can be no doubt about the potential  of AI in the classroom setting. the benefits are endless like the personalisation of learning for pupils and of course the differentiation. This is a major help to teachers who with the correct prompting can get a huge amount of individualised work for their pupils if needed.  When used thoughtfully an ethically AI can complement the expertise that teachers have. The benefits of AI such as personalised learning, early detection, enhanced learning, informing decisions and better outcomes are all hugely beneficial and supportive  to the teacher.  This module highlighted some great AI tools like Immersive reader, Microsoft Dream Space , Minecraft in education to name but a few. I can see these being very beneficial in the classroom setting while helping to engage inspire and help pupils.

I do , however feel  more education, and training is needed in this area to help teachers  going forward.

 

[Sinead Duffy]

I also had never heard of Pictory and Vidnoz and I look forward to learning about them an indeed using them with my students.

I think this poster made a very valid point that is up to the teacher to use their professional judgment and expertise on what to use.

Teachers need to be aware that AI is a powerful tool and that it should not replace  the curriculum or the teachers knowledge of their students.

• This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Sinead Duffy.

[Sinead Duffy]

There is no doubt about it AI has the potential to really help teachers and educators.It should be viewed as a tool that enhances professional practice rather than replacing teacher expertise and judgement.

This module was very informative on the different chatbots available and the importance of correct and accurate prompting.

AI tools can assist teachers in so many ways from planning , devising, supporting, explaining and overall reducing the time teachers have to spend on paper work thus allowing more time to spend with the actual students.

I think this course will be of huge benefit for me going forward as I continue to learn about AI and of course the risks and dangers too.

I have really enjoyed exploring Pictory in detail and look forward to using it with my students.

 

• This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Sinead Duffy.

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