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Weather Detectives would look at which area has the most rainfall.
• Children would identify a friend or relative of a similar age that lives in a different part of Ireland to them or in another country.
• Explain about having a rain gauge jar to collect the rain that falls.
• The children would collect the results each month and compare and contrast with their classmates.
• These results would be graphed and they can compare and contrast which county or countries had the most rainfall.
• A zoom call could possible be arranged with a class from another school to discuss what type of weather they are experiencing.
• They could discuss if they have a Weather Station in their school and demonstrate the various ways they have to measure heat, wind spend and rainfall.Nose high up in the sky activities.
In general these activities are excellent because the pupils will learn how their senses can be used to describe weather conditions. Pupils will also build a small meteorological station and take weather measurements of rain, wind speed and air temperature. They will learn that scientists need to have access to reliable instruments to make precise weather forecasting.
Activity 1
In doing this this activity on the proverbs is excellent as it allow children to connect the meaning behind proverbs to actual weather activities eg
“A ring around the moon or sun and rain approaches on the run” this may indicate that a change in weather is on the way. In summer months it may be an indication of approaching storms.Activity 2
Sensing the weather is a useful activity in that you can do it by just sight, hearing and sensing how hot and cold the weather is. You come to realise that more accurate equipment is needed to produce precise measurements of weather eg thermometers and instruments to measure rainfall.
Activity 3
I like the activity on measuring wind speed because the equipment can be assembled very easily at home or school with plastic cups and wooden sticks.
Home Video
This video explains the different CO2 emissions. It explains how humans have destroyed the life that was given to us. Humans have disrupted the balance of life on earth. The video HOME a depiction of how Earth’s problems are all interlinked due to the pressure humanity has placed on the environment and the consequences of climate change.
4 billion years ago. Humans have destroyed it in 200,00 years. I would introduce this video to the class by asking them how they can help to restore the balance of life on earth.Climate Aid Video
It outlines that what we do in the next two years will profoundly effect what happens for the next few thousand years.
We need to take action to prevent
• Forest fires
• Loss of wild life
• Loss of natural habitats
Gretta Thurnberg outlines that we have run out of excuse and time.I would introduce this video to the children by asking them what they predict our planet will look like in 20 years time if we don’t take action.
The Climate Action Plan Video
This out lines a roadmap to net zero green house gas emissions by 2050.
• By 2030 70% of energy used will be renewable energy.
• Homes will be graded to a B2 level
• One use plastic packing should be reusable or recyclable.
• 600,000 heat pumps will be installed.I would introduce this video to the pupils by asking them how you can help with climate action at home and school.
The first Paxi video looks at how the Green house keeps the temperatures right for the plants.
On planet earth gases work just like green house gases – this is what is called The Green House Effect.
The earth is getting warmer too fast. Green House gases have increased to dangerous levels especially carbon dioxide
· By burning oil, coal and natural gas for energy
· Driving cars
· Raising animals for the food industry
· Cutting down trees to build houses
· Cutting down trees – less carbon dioxide absorbed
· Reduce carbon dioxide
We can help the above by walking more, recycling more and Using less energy
Activity 3
This activity is based on Carbon Emission Scenarios. The youtube clip looks at
Air Temperature in Manua. It projects future levels and also looks at what they were like in the 1950s.
I would ask the class to base a discussion around this. The children would discuss 2 different scenarios.
· How life in the 1950s reduced carbon dioxide emissions
· How our current lifestyle increases carbon dioxide emissions and how they look for the future.
Unravelling STEM. This is a very useful resource as it outlines that STEM lessons should incorporate the following;
• Allowing for innovation and critical thinking (Jolly 2017).
• Integrating real-world, rigorous and relevant learning experiences for students (Vasquez, Comer and Sneider 2013).
• Inspiring creativity, problem solving inquisitive thinking, and teamwork (Roberts 2012).
• Integrating and applying a deeper level knowledge and understanding of mathematics & science to create technologies and solutions for real-world problems using engineering design approach (Jolly 2017).
Some lessons only contain elements of the above and not characteristics. We as educators should endeavour to maintain the full characteristics of a STEM lesson.Looking at the ESA lesson for children on measuring air temperature. The Met Station should be in a place that is accessible to the whole school community. It should also be in a shaded area so the sun isn’t directly heating the thermometer. The temperature should be taken at the same time every day.
The ESA lesson highlight that weather conditions we are referring to short periods of time, such as hours, days or weeks; when we talk about climate we are implying long periods, such as 30 years or more. A good way for children to understand the difference between this is to ask their parents what the weather was like on their birthday over the years.The Nose High up in the Sky is an excellent activity because;
• There are cross curricular links with Geography, Maths and Science.
• It incorporates taking weather measurements of wind speed, rain fall and air temperature.
• The weather station is easy and cost effective to make- thermometer, jar for rain measurement and plastic cups to measure wind.
• The whole school can use the data in different ways ie Infant classes can compare and contrast the rain measurement. Senior classes can calculate he differences in temperature.Thanks Colin. Its an excellent idea to install a weather station. It can help children to understand the difference between climate and weather.
Reflect on how Climate Change is impacting on your own local area and how you would engage your pupils to explore this further. Suggest three actions that you can do to make the world a better place and slow down climate change.
Firstly I would try to help the children in as many activities as the can to help deal with climate change.
It would be a good idea to set up a Green Flag Committee. Firstly they would tackle waste in the school. The would measure how much waste was going out, attempt to reduce it and then reflect on the reduction.Secondly the would attempt to reduce water usage. This can be done by inserting water hippos in the toilets and having push taps installed in all the bathrooms and classrooms.
Energy usage can be reduced by having children become monitors in the school to ensure that light switches and appliances were turned off when not in use. Sensor lights can also be installed to make the school more energy efficient.
The school can reflect on how much the have reduced the energy usage and waste in the school. Children can reflect and discuss with each other on how to make the school more energy efficient.
Research if there are any organisations working with refugees in your community. Post a reflective piece (150 words minimum) on the forum as a reply to this post, on how your school and students could take action to support refugees or welcome them to the community.
Please also comment on at least one other participant’s post.
Think about School Self-Evaluation (SSE) and how Development Education can feed into SSE.
DORAS is an organisation in Limerick that offers support to migrants, refugees and to International protection applicants. It also helps them assess their rights and entitlements. It centres their work on human rights for other and how to uphold them.
We as part of a school can welcome these children into our school community. We can offer them EAL classes and also differentiation and translation in the area of work within the curriculum.
For children form the Ukraine there is a helpful starter guide to help explain about the detail of the war and how to help children to cope with it. Barnardos is another organisation that can help children deal with trauma.
Plan International displays an interesting lesson on Migration and Refugees. It can allow children to learn about n becoming global citizens. The lesson deals with how migrants can help to contribute to the country that they settle in.
Children can reflect upon how migration can help our country. The school can evaluate how best to welcome refugees to our school and country.Choose a topic related to the Sustainable Development Goals and consider how children might be affected by it at both local and global levels. Post your response (150 words min.) as a reply to this post on how you would encourage your students to take action to support the SDGs in Ireland in support of ESD to 2030 Priority Action Area 5: Accelerating Local Level Actions
A lack of education can affect children at a local and global level. Educational inequality can occur in many different ways. Occasionally it may happen locally as parents may not have the resources to put their children through third level education in particular. More often globally educational inequality may occur
*When parents need children to work as they do not have enough money.
*Parents may not own a car to drive them.
*A suitable school for children with additional needs may be too far away for them to drive to.ESD is grounded in principles of social justice. It motivates people to take action towards a more sustainable future.
I would encourage children to learn form each other and collectively. I would encourage them to participate in global citizenship education. I would children to gain knowledge, skills and values to become better Global Citizens.They would strive to become active in maintaining Sustainable Development Goals locally and globally.
