I would choose the theme of Space and Aliens for teaching a 2nd class
Trigger – teacher as alien that has arrived on earth and everything is new and needs explanation. I would do this as a Drama game called out ‘come out little alien’ where teacher is in role as shy, nervous alien hiding at desk and children in pairs persuade the alien to come out by describing to the alien how nice life is on planet earth.
This drama game allows children to work collaboratively and use persuasive language and skills to convince the alien to emerge form hiding and embrace planet earth. I think it ties with the activity described in the module where children are asked to identify what makes life on earth nice. Teacher in role as alien can coax children with prompt questions ‘is it very hot here on this planet? what can i drink when i’m thirsty? would hope that children will be able to describe factors like temperature on earth and that 70% of earth surface is covered by oceans.
It would link to SESE and writing to allow children create posters and design reasons why maybe the alien is better suited to living on another planet. Working in groups I would ask children to imagine what life on Saturn/Mars/Venus might be like and what type of life forms may exist there. Pupils in groups and draw the aliens that may exit there and also describe what life may be like there on other planets. Pupils could research known facts about planets and use that; for example absence of water on Mars.
Art – create Aliens using playdough and clay.
Music – listen to classical music that has been used in films about aliens. Excerpts of music from ET and close encounters. Allow the children to engage in a listening and responding activity where they describe what the music makes them think of. They could illustrate what they imagine is occuring when listening to this music