The resource kit is a series of four lesson plans with an associated video series. The lesson plans are suitable for primary schools (2nd to 6th class).
The lesson plan are invaluable for teaching about nature's cycles and they reinforce learnings through activities in nature.
The Climate Action Resource Kit for primary schools is designed to empower educators and engage young minds in the critical topic of climate action. We understand the importance of equipping today’s youth with the knowledge and tools they need to make a positive impact on our planet.
The lessons with corresponding videos on Climate Change, explain natural cycles, the atmosphere, the carbon cycle, and the water cycle, emphasizing the interconnectedness of life.
The first video introduces balance as key to understanding how natural systems sustain life, with later lessons helping children grasp the importance of equilibrium in processes like the carbon and water cycles. Teachers are encouraged to integrate videos and activities, adjusting for class needs, with younger students advised to study the water cycle before the carbon cycle for better relatability.
When discussing climate change, it's crucial to acknowledge and validate children's feelings, teach age-appropriate facts, and inspire them to take meaningful action, while focusing on positive, hopeful stories and spending time outdoors.
The lesson focuses on teaching balance and its importance in both physical activities and the natural world. Students engage in activities like balancing objects and their own bodies to explore the concept of balance.
The climate change video explain the balance in relation to natural cycles, such as the life cycles of animals and plants. The lesson encourages students to identify factors that keep cycles in balance (e.g., stable habitats) and those that disrupt them (e.g., habitat destruction).
The idea of interconnection between cycles is reinforced through group activities, where students link cycles and explore how disruptions affect the whole system. Key vocabulary includes terms like balance, cycles, equilibrium, and climate change.
The lesson on "Our Atmosphere" introduces key concepts about the Earth's atmosphere, its composition, and its role in sustaining life. Through experiments and discussions, students explore air pressure, the balance of gases, and the Greenhouse Gas Effect. Simple activities, like squeezing a plastic bottle and covering a thermometer with cling film, demonstrate how atmospheric pressure works and how greenhouse gases trap heat. The lesson emphasizes the atmosphere's protective role and highlights carbon dioxide's contribution to global warming. Students are encouraged to reflect on reducing carbon emissions and make a class carbon pledge.
The lesson on the carbon cycle introduces students to carbon's role as a vital element in all living things and its continuous cycling through the environment.
Students explore how carbon is present in various materials and learn about the carbon cycle through experiments, video content, and discussions. The lesson explains how plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, while animals breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. However, the burning of fossil fuels has disrupted this balance, increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
Students also engage in role-play and brainstorming activities to better understand and communicate the carbon cycle and its impact.
The lesson on the water cycle explains how water moves through various stages: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection. Through experiments, students observe water molecules escaping into the air from a wet cloth and condensation forming on a jar. Using maps and visual aids, students explore local water sources and understand how the water cycle operates globally. The lesson includes discussions, drawings, and a video that breaks down each step of the cycle. Students create a drama or comic strip to depict the water cycle and learn key vocabulary such as condensation, transpiration, and groundwater. Key takeaways include the interconnectedness of natural cycles and water's vital role in sustaining life.
To ensure that educators are well-prepared to use our resource kit effectively, we provide a instructional video featuring Susan Adams from Education for Sustainability. Susan offers valuable insights and tips on how to make the most of our kit in the classroom.
Our unique resource kit features an animated video series narrated by the renowned science communicator, Dr. Niamh Shaw. Dr. Shaw’s expertise and passion for science communication shine through in these captivating videos. With her guidance, complex concepts related to climate change, the carbon cycle, and the Earth’s atmosphere are presented in a way that is accessible and engaging for young learners.
We are thrilled to announce an exciting addition to our Climate action resource kit for primary schools: The Antarctic workshop series with Dr. Niamh Shaw! This unique opportunity allows your students to connect with a true explorer, scientist, and ESA Champion for Space Education. Dr. Niamh Shaw is embarking on a remarkable mission to the Antarctic as part of a global leadership program focused on climate change. And she wants your school to be a part of her journey!
Scheduled video blogs: Throughout her Antarctic mission, Dr. Niamh Shaw will share a series of video blogs highlighting her experiences of life in extreme conditions and the fascinating experiments being conducted in this unique environment.
Experiential learning: These video blogs will serve as an immersive educational tool, allowing your students to witness first-hand the challenges and wonders of Antarctic exploration.
Post-Mission Workshop:
Partnering with Laois County Council and the Laois Education Centre, Dr. Niamh Shaw created the ‘Antarctic Project’ for Laois schools. This programme includes online workshops and classroom activities showcasing her experiences and experiments in Antarctica. Schools can still engage by watching the recorded videos and using the accompanying resource kit: