1st Class Plan to Incorporate Space Week:
English:
Reading:
Explore space-themed picture books and read-alouds, including titles such as Aliens Love Underpants, Laura’s Star, and the inspirational storybook Shooting for the Stars by aspiring astronaut Norah Patten.
Writing:
Children can enhance their questioning skills by brainstorming questions they would like to ask Norah Patten or the space station. The children could use a KWL chart to help them.
The children could also create a travel brochure for space, practising descriptive writing by detailing the excitement of space travel, essential items to bring depending on which planet, and share new space facts.
Oral Language/Drama integration:
The children could role-play as astronauts, scientists, or aliens. They can have conversations about their “space missions,” describe their roles, and answer questions from their classmates.
Pair students up to conduct mock interviews where one plays the role of an astronaut or alien and the other is a reporter. They can prepare questions and practice responding in character, enhancing their speaking and listening abilities.
Maths – Children create their own star constellations by arranging star stickers or cut-outs on paper and connecting them with string or yarn to make patterns. They learn about distance by measuring how far apart the stars are with rulers and practice counting by tallying stars in pre-drawn constellations on worksheets. Outside, they can use star-shaped cut-outs and chalk to create constellations on the ground, measuring distances between stars with measuring tapes. They count stars scattered around the playground and play a star distance game, finding and measuring distances between star markers.
Irish – integrate weather/travel with the theme of space. Counting down a rocket launch as Gaeilge.
Geography – Children explore facts about the planets by learning interesting details about each one, such as their sizes, colours, and unique features. They use books, videos, or pictures to gather information and discuss what makes each planet special. After learning, they create their own planet dioramas using shoeboxes, paint, and craft materials to represent the planets and their features. They arrange their dioramas to show the planets in order from the sun. Each group could present their diorama to the class, sharing interesting facts about their chosen planets.
Science – Children could explore crater formation by creating their own models. I have witnessed a teacher doing this lesson before using a tuff tray, flour and coco powder. Drop different-sized balls from various heights into the tray to see how craters form from impacts. Talk about how the size and height of the balls affect the craters. Afterward, children compare what they observed and discuss their findings.
History/Art Integration – Children learn about the history of space exploration by discovering how astronauts first traveled to the Moon. We could explore Neil Armstrong and the Apollo 11 mission, highlighting his famous words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” They could watch a short video or look at pictures of rockets and spaceships from the past. Children create their own space rockets/rocket mice using craft materials.
Music/PE integration – Listen and respond to the theme tune of StarWars/Rocket man. The children could make their own “space music” using rice shakers and other instruments.. They can also dance or move like astronauts or aliens to the music
