My name is Aaron and I will have 2nd class for the coming year.
My favourite space fact is that precious metals like gold and silver are forged when dead stars collide.
An inquiry based lesson I like to do with junior classes is to look at how forces act on an object and make a parachute/container to protect an egg from a fall.
I like to use the story of Humpty Dumpty to introduce the topic and begin a conversation on what happened Humpty Dumpty and why his shell broke. I then steer the conversation onto what could have been done to protect Humpty Dumpty.
I will then split the class into groups of 4 or 5 and have a range of different materials including plastic bags, string, containers such as pringle cans etc, and some cushioning materials like cut up sponges, cotton wool etc.
I then allow the children ample time to make their parachutes/containers. Once complete we throw them out of the window on our second floor classroom and see which eggs survive. This always creates great excitement. Once all eggs have been dropped we discuss which parachutes/containers worked and why we think they worked so well.