Children are always very enthusiastic to learn about space and I love teaching Space through Aistear. One of our stations is usually junk art/ creative and I think the Design a Martian activity lends itself very well to this.
I would start with a book such as ‘Míp’ which is about space and discuss what the children perceive Martians to look like. I like some of the trigger questions in the activity as it encourages the children to think about the similarities and differences with Earth. (How are animals adapted for places that are very cold or very warm? (Polar bears have thick fur)• Are other planets the same as the Earth?
This lesson lends itself well to a three week theme like we have. I would give the children different materials to work with. They could then be extended to thinking about the surface of Mars and how their Martian would get around. Would regular wheels work? This gives lots of opportunity to use the Irish words the children know including body parts, numbers and colours.