This is a lesson I have done with a senior infant class during space week and the star projector was a huge hit!
I would begin this lesson by reading the story ‘The Hundred Decker Rocket’ by Mike Smith. The children would then go off into groups to start designing their rockets to bring them to space! I will print off some blue print paper and allow them to use our clip boards/hard hats/goggles from out Aistear station. Our theme in Aistear for that month will be Space so they will have some prior knowledge/experience. The children will use their prior knowledge of 2D and 3D shapes to help draw out their plans. We will ask the children to bring in cardboard boxes/other recyclable materials for the month prior to this. The children will use those materials to build their rockets. To make this more challenging each group will have a different ‘task’ to include. For example your rocket must have three circle windows, your rocket must have one square and one triangle window, your rocket must include a pattern somewhere in the design. When every group is ready they will get the chance to present their rocket to the class. I will turn off all the lights and use my star projector.