The website ESA- Space for Kids is a very practical online tool that can be used in the younger years of primary school. With games, news, activity ideas and even competitions, there is great scope for new STEM- focused learning opportunities in SSE that can also tie into other subjects such as literacy, music, drama and Visual Arts. I could utilise the tools from this website for a lesson’s stimulus, main activity or for an extension activity. For example, the multimedia tab could be a good source of a picture or video to prompt discussion on prior knowledge. The Things to do tab offers age-appropriate activity ideas that could be child-lead. The games tab has a range of engaging end-of-lesson activities that could reinforce new learning, such as the Milkyway matchup game or the space cleanup. One additional tool that this website offers is the language tab- I think this could be a very nice way to promote and celebrate any EAL students’ home languages, an important means of integration.
Whilst using websites such as ESA can be a helpful tool in the classroom, it is important to be cognisant that these lessons should also allow for some child-lead learning and discussion.