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Activity: Rocket Mice
Skills: Exploring and wondering
With infant classes I would begin with the story Mice in Space as a read aloud to the children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWzfjI99KPg
Designing and making: Children would engage in making their own mouse using card and markers, sticky eyes etc – art and craft activity.
Investigation: Next I would work through questions of how might we launch our mice – what could we try – with a box of items for the children to try to use themselves – active exploration and wondering put into action.
We would look at each attempt and discuss what works well and what doesn’t – what happens to the mice and what we want to happen.
I would explain with basic language about a force to make the mouse launch – using straws next, allow the children try to move their mouse along their desk by blowing through the straw. After this, looking at how a lot more air might be better.
Using the milk carton, demonstrate for the children how the force is exerted.
Designing and Making: Children then experiment with their own rocket launcher using cartons.
Applying knowledge – children practise using rockets with their mice.