Engage: I would engage the children by reading The First Hippo on the Moon by Davis Walliams or Ted’s Great Space Adventure by Elizabeth Avery or watch the cartoon episode of Paddington on Netflix about space.
Wondering and Exploring:
We would explore how dinky toys move on different surfaces using different force and wonder how rockets make it into space.
Rocket Mouse – children would each make a rocket mouse and see how high they can propel him/her, wonder how to exert force to make it fly higher.
Balloon Rocket – as a class we would set up a balloon rocket and wonder depending on the amount of air in the balloon how far/fast it will travel.
Next step: look at other objects that fly.
In PE look at objects we can propel and which one travels the furthest and (maths) measure using a metre stick.