Exploring Our World: Local and Global Connections · 2nd Year

Active learning ideas

Coastal Features and Activities

Active learning is essential here because comparing different coastal environments helps students connect geography to real lives. Moving beyond facts to discussion and investigation builds empathy and global awareness, which research shows strengthens understanding of cultural diversity.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Coastal environments
• NCCA: Primary - Environmental awareness

• 25–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 3 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 25 min · Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: A Day in the Life

Show a video or photo story of a child in Kenya. Students think of one thing that is the same as their day (e.g., going to school) and one thing that is different (e.g., walking a long way for water).

Differentiate between a beach and a cliff, explaining how they are formed.

Facilitation Tip

During Think-Pair-Share, give students a clear 3-minute timer for each step so quieter voices have space to contribute.

What to look for

Provide students with images of different coastal features. Ask them to label each feature and write one sentence describing how it might be formed or used by people. For example, 'This is a beach, formed by waves depositing sand, and people use it for recreation.'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Inquiry Circle
• 30 min · Small Groups

Inquiry Circle: The Water Challenge

In the yard, students try to walk a short distance carrying a container of water on their shoulder or head (using a small, light plastic bottle). They then discuss how this would feel if they had to do it for an hour every morning.

Analyze how human activities like fishing and tourism depend on coastal features.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Imagine you are a visitor to our local coast. What are three things you might do, and how do those activities depend on the coastal features you see?' Facilitate a class discussion, encouraging students to connect activities to specific features like cliffs, beaches, or the sea.

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Self-Management
• Self-Awareness

Activity 03

• Gallery Walk
• 30 min · Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Kenyan Village Life

Set up stations with photos of Kenyan homes, schools, markets, and landscapes. Students move in groups to find 'clues' about the weather based on what people are wearing and what the houses are made of.

Design a plan to keep our local beaches clean and safe.

What to look for

Ask students to write down one coastal feature and one human activity associated with it. Then, have them suggest one way to ensure that activity does not harm the coastal environment. For instance, 'Feature: Cliff. Activity: Birdwatching. Conservation: Stay on marked paths to avoid disturbing nesting birds.'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should focus on concrete comparisons rather than abstract generalizations. Using real objects like local stones or photos of Kenyan homes helps students see practical adaptations. Avoid framing rural life as ‘simple’ or ‘poor’; instead, highlight resourceful solutions like rainwater collection or natural cooling systems.

Students will explain how coastal features shape daily life in both Ireland and Kenya with examples from homes, food, and work. They will use evidence from images, maps, and group discussions to show contrasts and connections respectfully.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Think-Pair-Share, watch for students assuming ‘Africa is all one place’ when they describe Kenya.

  Use a globe and local Kenyan photos during the activity to point out Kenya’s specific location and diverse landscapes, asking students to locate it together.

• During Collaborative Investigation, students may call Kenyan homes ‘poor’ because they lack modern tools.

  Have students analyze photos of Kenyan homes during the activity, noting how local materials like mud bricks keep interiors cool, then compare this to Irish homes built for rainy climates.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Inquiry Circle
• Gallery Walk