As a reply to this post, introduce yourself on the forum:
Hi all, I’m Siobhan, I teach in a special education school. I didn’t know what class I would have before I signed up to this course, and it turns out I’ll be in resource. However I carry out projects with some small groups and I have decided to use space as my theme this year. Teaching in special education means that despite this course is aimed towards infant level- it will have much relevance across the board in my school.
Share your favourite space fact:
Hmmm, my favourite space fact, I have become quite the “feminist” (i use this word in the lightest sense) in my later years, and I have always loved the fact that Valentina Nikolayev (Yes I had to google how to spell her surname) was the first woman to fly into space in 1963 (the year my mam was born, so I always remember this). I remember teaching this to the equivalent of second class in my school. We did a KWL chart about what we wanted to know- which was everything- but I remember the children asking the most interesting of questions (the nitty gritty) like, was she married, did she have children, what age was she when she passed, how did she pass, what did her husband do for a living etc. etc.
Anybody we studied over the course of the year we put up on a display board with a fact file. It was a great way to see and remember all the interesting people we learned about.
Add a reflection (150 words min) on how you would use one inquiry-based activity in your classroom:
(Assuming we have been covering the topic of space and the children are familiar with it)…
Using Buzz Lightyear figurine as the “teacher” giving instruction, the children would explore the wonders of the night sky. (Bearing in mind I come from a special ed setting).
I would create a starry night sky sensory bin. I would fill the bin with black rice to act as the night sky, and add glow in the dark, star shaped wall tiles, for the children to find amongst the rice. This lesson is tactile allowing the children to touch and feel “the stars”, whilst learning about the concept of of stars in space. during this interactive play teacher will explain how stars twinkle in the sky and exist far far away. The children can explore this with their eyes closed and then open. By closing their eyes it will stimulate their sense of touch.
I would darken the room, according to needs and project the night sky onto the ceiling of the room, whilst playing the lullaby of twinkle twinkle little star music in the background adding space themed cuddlies, to help ensue a comforting experience. the children would each have their own blanket and cushion to lay on to experience the night sky.
By using a multi sensory approach the children are more likely to engage and grasp the concept.