Hi my name is Fiona and I teach 2nd class in a Gaelscoil. My favourite space fact/piece of information is often a table quiz question; where is the sea of tranquility? The moon.
I would use this question to begin my inquiry-based activity about the moon.
I would make use of a KWL chart to determine what the children already know and what would they would like to know as well as recording what they have learnt.
My focus for the first lesson on the moon would be laid out as follows;
Resources:
KWL chart
PowerPoint on the moon
Faces of the Moon book
Black paper and chalk
I would display the question about on the board and ask the class to discuss in their groups.
When or if someone comes up with the answer I will then ask them to discuss any other facts they know about the moon and to record them on their group kwl chart.
I would then show the class a PowerPoint presentation which introduces the moon; fun facts, short videos and photographs.
We would then focus on the facts etc in the PowerPoint and discuss the new information or delve in their previous knowledge about these facts where applicable.
The next part of the lesson would focus on what the class would like to know about the moon in future lessons we would undertake.
Our final task for the introduction of the moon and prepping for a follow up lesson on the phases of the moon; I would read the book ‘Faces of the Moon’ to the class and ask them to create a piece of art (black paper and chalk) in response to it.