There is so much that we can cover using all of these resources. A month long theme of Space is definitely needed. This could be preceeded by the Where do I live and Weather lessons.
We would start with a book like Where we Live or even the Three Little Pigs – I feel that a Homes theme might be a good introuction before we discuss the world around us.
The children would discuss their homes, types of houses, gardens, country versus city, etc. Then they could choose to draw or make a 2d or 3d version of their own home or the home they’d like. This could take a few days and involve lots of oral langugae and discussion / planning.
Each child could then stand up and tell the others about their home. I have one non national in my class, so it would be beneficial for that child and the others to learn about homes in another country. The child would need to do lots of prep work on the language needed, with the SET.
Another week’s work could start with the weather where we live and how we adapt to that weather – our homes and clothing.
We could do the Animals in the Cold lesson, where we compare living in the polar regions and how animals and even humans adapt. I love the fact mentioned above about the Inuit’s having different shapes on their coats to identify themselves!
We could follow up the next week with the clothes we would wear in these conditions and in other places around the world. The dress up race would be a fun way of getting the children to think about different weather conditions.
Finally, as the chidlren would connect the sun with hot climates, we could focus on the Hot and Cold lessons – hotter in the sun and cooler out of it. The ice cube lesson could consolidate this.
The above would probably take place over a month, as there is so much in each topic and we know how children love to ask questions and find out more!
There is lots of scope for OL, writing, art and song in these lessons. Geography is an integral part of the lessons. It is so broad.