I’m Finuala and my favourite was space fact was the mission to Mars, was truly devastated when they kept pushing it out originally from 2022 to 2025 now. We had so much work done when I was teaching in 5th Class. Wonder what planet those kids think I’m on now!!
How would you use this in your jnr infant classroom?
Begin with a question: “Who has heard of the planet Mars? Show images of Mars and a short video clip to capture their attention. Explain that Mars is sometimes called the “Red Planet” because it looks red.
Read a picture book about Mars or space, such as “There’s No Place like Space: Solar System” by Tish Rabe. Discuss the story, focusing on what makes Mars special and interesting. The class could make a rocket to travel to mars. Each child would cut out a circle to represent mars and then decorate it with pre-cut out images of rockets, dust storm, volcanoes, and valleys
The class would take part in Imaginary Space Travel using the story of “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton.
After the story, ask them to close their eyes and imagine they are astronauts on a mission to Mars.
Guide them through a simple visualization: Describe the countdown, the rocket launching, the journey through space, and landing on Mars.
The children would share what they imagined and what they think they would see and do on Mars.