Activity set: Space and Aliens
I really love this as a theme that could be used and explored for a month or more in the classroom. There are so many subject areas you can dip in and out of under this heading and I think children have quite a natural curiosity for space and the concept of aliens is such a fun way to explore space, tapping into their imagination and creativity while basing all of it in fact.
I’d like to explore this in our thematic play set up and spread it across some stations, for example:
1. Construction: Build a spaceship/home for an alien or martian.
2. Literacy: Explore heart words and CVCC or CCVC words around the theme of space – word to picture matching, sentence building, decodable readers around the theme, spelling activities.
3. Arts and Crafts: Make/draw your own alien or martian. These could be laminated or made from concrete materials and then used in the construction area.
4. Roleplay/Socio-dramatic area: This area could be a spaceship, set up with a control station, astronaut costumes, templates for writing/drawing for the children to document their journey in space etc.
5. Play doh: Play doh mats can be used to encourage children to make their own aliens or spaceships.
Disclaimer: As best practice advises, I would set these areas up for the children but ultimately they decide how to engage with the resources and topics.