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ASSIGNMENT
Choose one of the activities or activity sets outlined in this module – How would you use the activity in your classroom? or consolidate your experiences and action plans in the course by creating a class plan to engage with Space Week. Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to the forum as a reply to this post. You may include digital records of the activities.
Please also, respond to at least one other participant’s post.
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Shooting a rocket into the air activity
I would use this fun and hands-on activity in my classroom to introduce basic scientific concepts such as air pressure, force, and gravity. We would begin by decorating empty milk cartons, which instantly engages the children and gives them ownership over their “launchers.” Then, using rolled-up pieces of paper as “rockets,” we would take turns pressing down on the sides of the milk cartons to launch the paper into the air.
Before starting, I would ask the children to predict what they think will happen when they squeeze the carton. After testing, we would discuss why the paper flies up and then falls back down, introducing simple ideas like pushing air, pressure, and gravity in a child-friendly way. To build on this, we would experiment with different sizes of containers—such as juice boxes, large milk jugs, or plastic bottles—and observe how the size affects the height and speed of the launch.
This activity would naturally lead to a class discussion full of wonder and inquiry, helping the children make connections between cause and effect. It also supports oral language, motor skills, and early science exploration in a playful, accessible way.
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Margaret,
Rocket Mouse is a staple of my infants workshops for good reason – inexpensive materials, re-usable bottles (once you’ve collected them you’ve got them until they are too cracked to hold air) and a simple task with an open ended solution.
I like to add in: “what top tips would you give to someone who isn’t here today?” and focus on finding out the children’s best ways to launch. Some children will provide the base instructions, others will say – “to make it go high – do XX” I’ll then ask – “did you try to launch it another way? Then how do you know – go back and try the other way….”
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I love the idea of Rocket Mouse. Such a fun idea with lots of thinking, predicting and decision making behind it. Our Friday Box would definitely come in handy here to collect the bottles from home and get the children involved in the process. Also to support their peers who were not in school that day and to suggest ideas of various way to launch the rocket.
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Margaret I am very excited about using the milk cartons now and as you suggested it is hands-on and a great way to introduce or begin to explain ideas and concepts such as force, and gravity. Beginning with an Art related task is always a good way in by decorating empty milk cartons, which as you said ‘instantly engages’ them and allows ownership. Prediction at the start is key and allows the teacher to assess what the children know already. Thinking about what will happen when they squeeze the carton is a good means for explorations and paired or group discussion.
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This sounds like such a creative and engaging way to introduce scientific thinking to young learners! I love how you incorporate art and play right from the start by having students decorate their milk carton launchers—what a wonderful way to build ownership and excitement. The hands-on nature of this activity is perfect for helping children grasp abstract concepts like air pressure and gravity in a concrete, memorable way.
I especially appreciate how you include prediction and discussion as part of the process. Encouraging students to hypothesize and then reflect on their observations really helps deepen their understanding and develops those early critical thinking skills. The idea to vary the container sizes is a great extension that adds a layer of experimentation without making it too complex for young minds.
This would be a fantastic STEAM activity to spark curiosity and open the door for more exploration. Thanks for sharing—I’d love to try this in my own classroom!
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I would create a class plan that includes hands-on, inquiry-based experiences linked to space exploration, with a focus on engaging and exciting STEM activities.
One of our favourite annual traditions in our school is our rocket-making competition, where children design and build their own rockets using recycled materials. Next year, I’d like to introduce a new concept: launching rockets. Children could use simple balloon rockets or mouse rockets. We would observe how far each rocket travels, compare designs, and ask questions based on their creation.
As part of the Space Week plan, we would also read space-themed books, sing songs, create astronaut role-play stations, and use art to design starry skies or planets. These activities integrate STEM with literacy, arts, and play.
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I would like to do a lesson on rockets. Its hands on, fun and engaging.
I would start by showing the children some rocket launches. We will discuss what causes the rocket to launch and the effect of gravity.
We will then make our balloon rockets by inflating balloons and attaching a peg to stop the air escaping. The balloon is then stuck to a straw which has a taut string running through it between 2 chairs. The children remove the peg and see how far their rocket travels.
To add scope for more discussion and predictions, various sizes of balloons can be used or balloons with different amounts of air.
To add a fun element 2 sets of string, parallel to each other can be set up. The children can then race their rockets against each other or measure which rocket went further.
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I love the fun element idea at the end of your lesson. A rocket race is a great way to get the children involved and motivated to make a good rocket. It also opens up discussion before and after the race. For example the children can make predictions on which rocket they think will win the race. After the race the children can reflect on discuss on what made one rocket faster than the other.
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That sounds like a well-thought-out lesson, Patrick. I really like how you’re starting with real rocket launches. It’s such a powerful way to capture the children’s imagination and spark curiosity before moving into the hands-on part. The balloon rocket activity is perfect for making abstract ideas like force, motion, and gravity more concrete and child-friendly.
I also think your idea of varying balloon sizes and air amounts is excellent, as it naturally invites prediction, observation, and discussion. Adding the racing element is such a fun twist too. It makes the activity playful and engaging while also encouraging teamwork and problem-solving. I can just imagine the children being so enthusiastic and fully absorbed in this lesson.
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I love the idea of rocket mouse. I would begin this lesson by reading the book Aliens In Underpants to introduce the topic to the children. I would ask the children to bring in soft plastic bottles and I would bring in extra to ensure their was a good supply of soft plastic. Each child would make their rocket mouse and choose a bottle to use for their first launch. After a few minutes I would encourage the children to swap around bottles and watch each others launches. We would discuss which bottles work best and why? The force of the bottle squeeze, etc The children could work together to find the top 5 launchers.
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Grainne,
I once did this with a class of senior infants, and had the children work in threes, but gave each child in the trio a different colour – so one had blue, one green, one yellow.
After a bit of play I asked “which colour rocket mouse goes highest?” and each group shared their results. I then asked — “is it the mouse or the person? How can you find out?”… and left them to swap the mouse around and see was it the push (the person) or was it some feature of the mouse.
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I would introduce the lesson of rockets by reading the story Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket”. We would discuss rockets, why we have them, how they work and where they go.
I would use cardboard rocket model or a drawing to introduce parts:
· Nose cone (goes first!)
· Fins (help it stay straight)
· Body (holds fuel/astronauts)
· Engines (make it go WHOOSH!)
Interactive Game: “Rocket Simon Says”:
· “Touch the nose cone!”
· “Flap your fins!”
· “Blast off!” (everyone jumps up)
I would then build the rocket mice launcher with the children or get them to design their own rockets in pairs.
We could test them to see which rocket goes the highest, stays in the air the longest or travels the furthest.
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Michelle,
thanks for the reminder of Sadie
https://youtu.be/apDmGRqOsME?si=0ZzrQcgP2k4p22jn
A trip to Mars by rocket is always exciting and I love* a rhyming story. *enough that I can just about forgive her zooming past stars on her way back to Earth, and managing to get to Mars in 100 days!!
If children are designing their own rockets, would you expect them to fly?
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I would start the lesson by showing the children a rocket launch https://youtu.be/eqn-JjTmAps
We will discuss what they think a rocket is, what they do, where they go and who/what is in them?
I will bring in a space rocket toy (https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/garden-games-and-accessories/garden-games/air-powered-rocket/p/240781) and show the children the different parts. We will discuss and predict how to use it and what will happen. The children will predict how far it will go by different forces. The children can take turns to see whose rocket stays up the longest, goes the furthest etc. We will discuss what made the rocket go further and what we can change for our next turn to make it go further than than the last time.
We will then use the rocket mouse activity for the children to have a chance to create their own rocket and blast it. -
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I have chosen to create an action plan for space week for the junior classes in the school. The concept would be (A Day of Space Travel for Space Week). All the junior classes and teachers would be involved. Each class teacher would be given a planet and would have some time to prepare some information and an activity based on space. On the day of Space Travel each class would visit at least three planets. The children would carry Space Passports and receive a stamp on arrival to the planet(classroom). Junior and Senior Infants could base their Aistear the week before on Space and design a spaceship for them to travel in and also design alien consumes. The activities and information would be tailored to suit class level. Rocket mouse experiment could be done with Junior and senior infants as it’s a quick and fun experiment. Marvin and Milo cartoons could also be read in big book format. All classes could learn the mnemonic (My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Noodles) Mercury/Venus/Earth/Mars/Jupiter/Saturn/Uranus/Neptune to help memorise the planets.
First and second class could tackle some Aline Chemistry and make some fizzing and foaming rockets and learn about how to find constellations such as the Plough and the north star.
The concept would be that all children get excited about the day of Space travel and come back to their home classroom with a full passport, having participated in a fun space activity and also learn something about the planet they visited.
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Kevin – that sounds like a lot of fun, don’t forget to register it as an event on spaceweek.ie.
Check there for suggestions from past participants, including this guide for Space Week Whole Week Plans.
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Kevin, I love this idea of Space Passports and getting the whole school involved in the Planets. Such a fabulous idea on Space Travel and one children would talk about for a long time. Even the idea of having a passport, as some children/adults may not have an actual real passport. Thank you for sharing.
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Hi Kevin,
I love your idea of “A Day of Space Travel”! It’s such a creative way to make learning about the planets exciting and interactive. The use of Space Passports and rotating through different “planets” is a brilliant way to involve all classes and teachers. I especially like how you’ve included activities like Rocket Mouse and alien chemistry that are both hands-on and fun. It sounds like a day the children will never forget! Thanks for sharing. -
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Objective:
To engage students in learning about space, the Solar System, and related concepts through interactive, hands-on activities. The goal is to spark curiosity about space, introduce the names and characteristics of the planets, and explore the concept of space travel in a fun and accessible way.Day 1: Introduction to Space
Objective: Introduce the concept of space and the Solar System.
Activity:
Start with a story about space (e.g., There’s No Place Like Space from The Cat in the Hat series).
Use a large visual chart of the Solar System to introduce the planets and their order from the Sun.
Sing a song about the planets (e.g., “The Solar System Song”).
Interactive Activity: Have students create a simple Solar System mobile with pictures of the planets. Discuss each planet briefly as they place it in order on the mobile.
Day 2: The Moon and Stars
Objective: Learn about the Moon, its phases, and basic star facts.
Activity:
Storytime: Read a story about the Moon (e.g., How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers).
Discuss the phases of the Moon using a moon phase chart and simple props (e.g., a ball to represent the Moon).
Craft Activity: Create a moon phase wheel or starry night paintings using black paper, white paint, and glitter.
Song: Sing a song about the Moon and stars, like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
Day 3: Astronauts and Space Travel
Objective: Introduce the concept of astronauts and space exploration.
Activity:
Discuss what an astronaut does and how space travel works. Show a short video clip or images of astronauts in space.
Dress-Up Role Play: Let students pretend to be astronauts, using homemade helmets or cardboard boxes as space capsules.
Interactive Activity: Build a rocket ship from cardboard, which students can decorate and “launch” in the classroom.
Craft: Make a simple rocket ship craft using paper tubes, construction paper, and markers.
Day 4: The Sun and Shadows
Objective: Learn about the Sun and how it affects shadows.
Activity:
Discuss the importance of the Sun in the Solar System.
Perform a shadow experiment using a flashlight and toys or objects to demonstrate how shadows are formed.
Outdoor Activity: Go outside (weather permitting) and trace the shadows of objects throughout the day to see how they change.
Craft: Create sunshine handprints by painting students’ handprints on yellow paper and adding rays with markers or glitter.
Day 5: Space Week Celebration
Objective: Wrap up Space Week with a celebration of learning.
Activity:
Review the key concepts of space by revisiting the Solar System chart, moon phases, and rocket ships.
Space Show-and-Tell: Students can share any space-related projects or drawings they’ve created during the week.
Space Party: Have a small “Space Party” where students eat star-shaped snacks (like star-shaped cookies or sandwiches), and listen to space-themed music.
Space Certificates: Award each student a “Space Explorer” certificate to celebrate their participation.
Materials Needed:
Books about space (e.g., There’s No Place Like Space, How to Catch a Star)Solar System chart
Craft materials (construction paper, scissors, glue, markers)
Glitter and paint
Flashlight for shadow experiments
Cardboard boxes, tubes, and paper for rocket crafts
Star-shaped snacks for the party
Evaluation:
At the end of Space Week, I’d assess students’ engagement and understanding by observing their participation in activities and discussions. I would also encourage them to reflect on what they learned by asking simple questions, such as: “What’s your favorite planet?” or “What does an astronaut do?”This week would foster curiosity and provide a hands-on, creative approach to learning about space, helping students connect with the topic in a memorable way.
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For Space Week, I would love to use the “Make a Spacecraft” activity with my first class pupils. Young children are naturally curious about space, so this project would be a great way to spark their interest and help them learn by doing. We would start by talking about different kinds of spacecraft, like rockets, satellites, and space rovers and what each one does. Then, in small groups, the children would design and build their own spacecraft using cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and other recycled materials from home.
As they build, I would ask questions like, “How will your spacecraft travel?” or “What will it need to survive in space?” This would help them think like young scientists and engineers. We could link it to other subjects too, writing about their spacecraft, measuring materials, or drawing designs on the iPads.
I think this project would make Space Week really fun and meaningful, helping students work together, ask questions, and enjoy learning about science.
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I love the idea of introducing different sizes of containers to observe the effects of the size of a container on the speed and height obtained. We made rockets last year with our junior infants and sixth class pupils as a collaborated lesson and the children all used large 1 litre bottles however introducing varing sizes of containers would add greater interest and excitement. This is definitely something which I would love to do with the pupils in our school in the coming year.
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Margaret, I have found your input to the forums invaluable and full of great ideas, including the rocket launch activities and almost being child led by the predictions and evaluations. This is so interactive and shows great scope to link STEAM with oral language, comprehension skills not to mention estimation in numeracy skills.
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Using Shooting a Rocket into the Air in My Classroom
To support inclusive, hands‑on learning, I’d choose the balloon-strung rocket v. This simple design involves attaching a balloon to a straw threaded on a taut string—students inflate the balloon, release it, and observe how it zooms along the line, propelled by escaping air.Materials & Setup
Balloons, straws, fishing line, tape, clothespins
Stretch the line across the classroom or corridor, 1–2 m long
Students work in pairs to build the rocket and plan trialsStructured Inquiry
Pose a question: How does the inflation level or launch angle affect the rocket’s distance or speed?
Hypothesize: e.g., “More inflation equals greater thrust” or “A slanted launch travels further.”
Test & Collect: Conduct multiple launches, measuring distance traveled or time along the line
Vary Conditions: Include horizontal vs inclined strings, varied balloon sizes twinkl.co.nz+10teachengineering.org+10reddit.com+10
Analyze: Chart results, discuss Newton’s Third Law, air resistance, and thrustDigital Records
Students use phones or tablets to video the launches—later, they can review frame-by-frame in software like Tracker to measure velocity or observe patterns. This doubles as both data analysis and engaging digital literacy.Reflective Commentary
Implementing this activity in my SET-inclusive classroom is ideal because it combines tactile engagement, visual evidence, and structured inquiry—essential elements for accessible learning. Students collaborate to design and test variations, fostering teamwork, communication, and executive functioning skills. The clear, visible thrust of the balloon rocket and sound of escaping air provide immediate sensory feedback, supporting retention and concept reinforcement for diverse learners.By documenting experiments with video, students can self-assess and reflect without relying solely on written reports. This suits learners who prefer multimodal expression, and it enriches scientific literacy as they measure, annotate, and draw conclusions collectively. Reviewing video footage in small groups promotes peer learning, meta-cognition, and language development—key for SET students.
Furthermore, exploring changes in launch angle and inflation levels encourages higher-order thinking: students plan fair tests, control variables, and interpret graphical data. Linking this back to real-world rocketry (e.g., how angled launches enter orbit) gives authenticity and deeper meaning.
Overall, the Balloon Rocket activity supports inquiry-based STEM learning while honoring individual learning styles. It demonstrates how simple, low-cost materials—and thoughtfully scaffolded reflection—can inspire curiosity, confidence, and scientific thinking in every learner.
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That sounds like such a fantastic and engaging way to introduce big science concepts in a child-friendly manner! I really like how you’ve built prediction and discussion into the activity—it’s a great way to spark curiosity and get children thinking like young scientists. The decoration stage is a lovely touch too, as it gives them ownership over their “launchers” and blends creativity with STEM.
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For Space Week, I planned a playful, exploratory series of activities around the theme of rockets and space travel to suit the developmental stage of Junior Infants. Children at this age learn best through hands-on, imaginative experiences, so our class plan included storytelling, art, simple science experiments, and movement-based activities.
We began the week by reading “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton, which introduced key space vocabulary in a fun, accessible way. Children then created their own rockets using recycled materials in our art station. This was not only a great fine motor activity but also sparked lots of discussion about what rockets do and where they go.
To explore basic science, we launched simple balloon rockets along string lines, helping the children observe cause and effect. We linked this to early oral language development by encouraging them to describe what they saw.
In Aistear, the role-play area became a space station where children acted as astronauts, engineers, and aliens, expanding their language and imaginative play skills. Songs like “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon” added a musical element that tied in with movement and rhythm.
Reflecting on the week, I found that integrating the rocket theme across multiple curriculum areas deepened the children’s engagement and enthusiasm. They were curious, excited, and asked meaningful questions, which showed their learning was active and connected. Going forward, I plan to incorporate more thematic weeks like this to make learning contextual, playful, and memorable for young learners.
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Title: Exploring Rockets
Activity 1: Introduction to Rockets – Show pictures of rockets and discuss their purpose, engaging children with questions.
Activity 2: Rocket Picture Books – Read age-appropriate books about rockets, sparking discussions and imagination.
Activity 3: Rocket Construction – Provide supplies for children to create their own rockets using construction paper or cardboard tubes.
Activity 4: Rocket Building – Encourage children to use building blocks or cardboard tubes to build their own rockets for imaginative play.
Extension Activities: Show videos or online resources about rockets, create a rocket-themed play area.
The objective of this lesson is to Encourage curiosity and foster a love for rockets and space exploration in a fun and interactive way!
Various books to incorporate in to this lesson:
“Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton
“There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System” by Tish Rabe
“The Darkest Dark” by Chris Hadfield
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For Space Week, I planned a hands-on STEM activity where junior infants designed and launched their own paper rockets. We began with a story, Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton, to capture their imaginations. Then, we watched a short clip of a real rocket launch, discussing the smoke, flames, and countdown.
Each child decorated a paper rocket template with crayons and stickers, then attached it to a straw. Using another straw as the “launcher,” they blew into it to send the rocket flying. We measured the distance each rocket travelled using non-standard units (e.g., footsteps) and compared results.
Digitally, we recorded short slow-motion videos of the launches and played them back on the interactive whiteboard, which the children loved. This activity integrated art, science, maths, and digital literacy while encouraging teamwork and curiosity about space. It was a highlight of Space Week and an excellent example of playful STEM learning in action.
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For Space Week, I would design a class plan that combines elements from the Moon and Stars activity sets to create a week-long exploration of space. Each day would focus on a different theme, blending science with creativity. We would begin with “What Does the Moon Look Like?” where children keep nightly Moon journals and share their drawings. Mid-week, we would shift to constellations, using black paper and star stickers to design personal constellations, then writing short stories to explain them, linking science with literacy. Towards the end of the week, I would use Stellarium-web.org to virtually explore the night sky with the class, allowing students to compare their own constellations to the real ones.
This plan allows for integration across subjects: science (astronomy), maths (patterns, spatial reasoning), art (star lanterns, constellation drawings), and history/culture (stories of the Moon from different traditions). Reflecting on this, I see Space Week as an opportunity not just to teach facts, but to cultivate curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. By bringing together observation, digital tools, and cultural storytelling, students engage in a holistic learning experience that shows science as living, accessible, and inspiring.
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Rachel,
You’ve described a variety of activities to engage children across space week, and I like that you have considered integration across many subjects.
This year Space Week starts on a Saturday, so you might want to prepare the Moon journals to start then, since the Moon will be full on 7 October, rising at sunset just before 7pm, and rising later each day after that. By the end of the Space Week on October 10 I’d suggest looking for the Moon in the morning sky as it will set at 1 pm in the afternoon.
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That sounds like such a lovely activity, Margaret. I really like how you combined creativity with science by letting the children decorate their launchers firs. It’s such a clever way to give them ownership and spark excitement right from the start. I also think it’s great that you included predictions and discussion- encouraging kids to wonder and share their thinking makes the learning experience so much deeper.
I also love the idea of experimenting with different-sized containers, too. It naturally introduces comparison, problem-solving, and scientific inquiry in a very hands-on way.
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From this module, the activity set that I would be most interested in teaching is the set entitled ‘Rockets’ I can already imagine the fun and excitement this set would bring to my classroom. I would begin this set by engaging my pupils through the use of a book. My pupils would love the Aliens in Underpants books and so I feel this would be a great way to spike their interests. We would also look at some photos of rockets in our groups to elicit any prior knowledge or questions we might have at this point. We would then explore how to make a rocket by experimentation. I think for my class level, the balloon rocket or rocket mouse would work best as they are both accessible to infants. Each group would be tasked with coming up with an ‘I wonder what would happen if…’ question. As a class we would select one of these questions to investigate and test. Pupils could draw their predictions at this point. For me, the next steps would be to extend our learning. I would teach javelin throwing in PE using foam javelins with fins to link to our rockets. We could investigate other things that fly, with a focus on Amelia Earhart and her flying Canary. The possibilities for integration here are endless. This set would also lend itself nicely to a socio-dramatic play station on space exploration and launching a rocket.
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Hi Louise, the use of the ‘Aliens in Underpants’ series is a great way to engage the class from the beginning, especially if they love those stories. You could then get them to do Art by designing their own underpants for an alien and exploring various materials that would be suitable too and then they could use Fabric and Fibre to make their own. The balloon rocket and rocket mice would work great with your class and you could even invite your buddy class or one of the older classes in to help whilst carrying out the experiment? I love your ideas for integration with P.E and SESE too as well as tying it in with Aistear and play!
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I love the idea of getting all the children to write a ‘I wonder what would happen if…’ question. What a great way to start your inquiry based learning. I have found in the past that it can be difficult for the children to come up with a question to being their work, but giving them this scaffold is a great suggestion. Thank you.
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Mary – the inquiry framework is built around children’s questions, but to ask questions they need some familiarity with the topic, which is where the wonder and explore come in.
As my college lecturer said: the child who says “I got it” (because they are bored and want to move on), is the child who hasn’t understood a topic. Once you master a bit of a topic, you’ll have lots of questions!
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Hi Louise, I really enjoyed your post. I love how you’ve built such a rich and imaginative learning experience around the ‘Rockets’ activity set. Using the Aliens in Underpants books is such a fun and engaging way to enage younger pupils, and your integration across subjects, especially linking PE with javelin throwing is so creative. Thanks.
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I love the idea of PE integration with the foam javelins – maybe adding in non uniform and uniform measure also. I do love a good book for a hook and Aliens in Underpants is a favourite – I love using drawing from the children after they listen to the story and a word wall to see what they come up with to further the options and give them ownership on their ideas/ big questions.
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Hi Louise,
What a fantastic and engaging approach! I love how you’re starting with a story the children already enjoy to spark their interest – Aliens in Underpants is such a fun choice. The use of group discussion and “I wonder” questions really promotes curiosity and ownership of learning. Linking it to javelin throwing in PE and integrating Amelia Earhart adds such depth and cross-curricular richness. I completely agree – the opportunities for integration with this set are endless!
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I have chosen to reflect on Rockets from Module 5.
To introduce rockets, I would start by reading the book; Aliens in Underpants Save the World. To further spark their interest and engage them in the topic, I would show colourful images and short videos of rockets blasting off. I’d ask, “Where do rockets go? What do you think helps them fly so high?” This would spark curiosity and allow the children to share their ideas about space and flight.
We would then create simple straw rockets. Each child would decorate their own rocket, then blow through a straw to launch it. We’d observe how far and how high the rockets travel. I’d encourage them to predict, “What happens if we blow harder or softer?” or “What if we make our rocket longer?” By testing different designs and blowing strengths, children explore basic forces in a playful, hands-on way.
To build on this, we could compare whose rocket went the farthest, introduce simple measurements, or explore making rockets from different materials. This activity lays a foundation for understanding push and pull forces, while developing questioning, predicting, and recording skills — essential early STEM practices. -
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The activity I have chosen from this module is Rockets,
I would introduce the topic by reading the book alien’s in underpants save the world. From here I would show the children some of the living in space Chris Hadfield videos on YouTube to spark the discussion on how astronauts gets to space, what helps the rocket go so fast.
we would then create our own rockets from lots of different materials and test them to see which is heavier, faster etc. The children can predict which rockets they think will work the best and why.
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Irene – have you a particular rocket style in mind that would suit your Jnr inf?
I’d recommend Rocket Mouse, and if you wanted to try a more complicated (requiring fine motor skill) type, then ask a senior class to join you as buddies. They can assist with cutting and sticking.
Use Curious Minds https://www.sfi.ie/engagement/curious-minds/teacher-resources/classroom-resources/
and search for space activities, junior classes.
Rocket Launch is also good one, with balloons.
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This is a very engaging activity! I like the idea of starting with Aliens in Underpants Save the World as a fun and imaginative way to hook the children’s interest, and using Chris Hadfield’s videos adds a real-world connection that makes space exploration feel exciting and accessible. I love how you’re incorporating hands-on learning with the rocket-building experiment—encouraging predictions and testing different materials is a great way to build scientific thinking and curiosity.
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To celebrate Space Week in my infant classroom, I would plan a week of integrated, playful, and hands-on learning experiences based on space. We would begin by reading simple, engaging stories like Whatever Next! and How to Catch a Star, which would help build background knowledge and spark curiosity. From there, I’d introduce the planets using songs and visuals, followed by simple sorting or matching activities based on planet colours and sizes.
Throughout the week, we’d explore activities from the Moon and Stars activity sets, such as making moon craters using flour and marbles or creating star constellations with black paper and stickers. Art would play a big role — children could create their own planets or aliens using mixed media.
I would also incorporate oral language by encouraging children to describe what they might see or do in space. This thematic week supports inquiry-based learning and links science, language, and creativity in an exciting way for young learners.
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In this particular module the main activity set that I would be interested to use is the set entitled -Rockets! There would be great imagination and fun from the beginning of this and when the excitement would set in. In the beginning I would use a high quality text such as Aliens in Underpants, one of my old time favourites. This would be the initial hook to spike their interest. Investigation of rockets would take place by looking at photos and allowing the children to come up with questions. The balloon rocket or rocket mouse would work well with the junior classes to include first class. Each grouping would be questioned with a ‘I wonder what would happen if… In groups or as a while class the children could select one question to investigate and then test. At this stage children would need to make predictions. There are many ways that this activity could link across subject areas.
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Planning for Space Week in the Junior Classroom:
To consolidate my learning from this course, here is my idea of a class plan to celebrate Space Week in the Junior classes. My goal is to spark curiosity and wonder about space through a week of cross-curricular, hands-on activities that are developmentally appropriate and engaging.
We’ll begin the week by exploring what the children already know and wonder about space. Each day will have a theme: Monday – The Sun and Shadows: We’ll go outside to trace our shadows and observe how they change. Indoors, we’ll use torches and toys to explore how shadows form.
Tuesday – The Moon: We’ll read a story like Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me and create textured moon art using tinfoil and paint.
Wednesday – Rockets and Rovers: Children will build simple paper rockets and test how far they fly. We’ll also watch a short clip of the Mars rover and discuss its job.
Thursday – Aliens and Imagination: Children will design their own aliens and describe the planets they come from. This will lead into creative writing or oral storytelling.
Friday – Starry Skies: We’ll explore constellations using star stickers on black paper and finish with a calming “spacewalk” meditation.
Throughout the week, we’ll use digital tools to document learning and share with the older classes. This plan brings together science, literacy, art, and play. Hopefully making “Space Week” a joyful, memorable learning experience that builds on this course’s themes.-
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That sounds like a fantastic Space Week! I love how you’ve given each day a theme . The activities are so hands-on and age-appropriate, and I especially like how you’ve included both indoor and outdoor exploration, like shadow tracing and the calming “spacewalk” meditation, such a lovely way to finish the week.
I love your idea to use digital tools to document learning. I might try using Blooket or Canva so parents can see what we’ve been up to during Space Week or maybe create a mini scrapbook. I like how you’ve included storytelling in your alien activity — such a fun way to build oral language.
One more idea could be to start each morning with a space-themed song like Zoom Zoom Zoom, Climb Aboard the Spaceship, or even a Danny Go! space video from YouTube to get everyone moving and ready for the day.
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I would like to reiterate what other participants have said-this is a lovely space week plan. I was drawn to it as I have infants this year. It has cross curricular links integrated throughout which is brilliant. It has given me food for thought-we have never done a space week in our school and I think we could achieve it and build on it each year. To start the junior side of the school could come together to plan for their classes and the same with the senior side.
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Hi Criona,
What a beautifully thought-out and inspiring plan! I love how each day has its own theme, making the learning feel fresh and exciting all week long. The balance between hands-on exploration, storytelling, creativity, and mindfulness is just perfect for Junior classes. The “spacewalk” meditation to end the week is such a lovely touch. Your approach really brings the wonder of space to life while connecting across so many areas of the curriculum – well done!
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Activity: Straw Rocket Launch
Materials Needed:
A drinking straw
Construction Paper
Tape
Scissors
Markers or Crayons
Safety Goggles
Begin by cutting out a triangle shape from the construction paper. This will be the main body of the rocket. Help the child to make it about 4-5 inches tall and 2-3 inches wide.
Encourage the child to decorate the rocket body with markers or crayons. They can draw windows, flames or any other design they like.
Once the rocket body is decorated, roll it into a cone shape and secure it with tape. This will be the nose of the rocket.
Cut small triangular fins out of the remaining construction paper. Three fins will be needed for stability.
Attach the fins to launch the rocket. Have the child put on safety goggles to protect their eyes.
Ask the children to place the straw at the bottom of the rocket, with the open end of the straw facing downwards.
Hold the rocket in one hand, making sure its pointed away from people and objects.
Instruct the child to blow forcefully into the straw, launching the rocket into the air.
Encourage the child to experiment with different blowing strengths to see how high they can make the rocket fly.
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Karen – is this slightly similar to rocket mouse (the cone shape), but uses a straw like the paper straw rockets? I’m afraid I can’t quite picture this rocket in action. Do you have a link to the original source?
Certainly with the paper -straw rockets the children can try blowing with different strength puffs, but that is a very hard quantity to measure. it might be easier to ask the children to try to blow with the same puff (using their own sense of how they blow) and vary some other aspect of the rocket design – such as angle of launch, length of rocket, placement of fins etc.
Don’t forget to respond to other participant’s posts as you go through each module.
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For this module, I’d choose the Alien Chemistry activity, in particular the ESERO “Fizzing and Foaming” experiment. It’s perfect for the junior classes — hands-on, messy, and full of excitement. I’d introduce it by saying we’d discovered some alien slime or mysterious space substance, and the children would have to investigate what it’s made of.
I’d follow the steps in the ESERO activity; mixing baking soda, vinegar, food colouring and washing-up liquid to create the bubbly, fizzing reaction. It’s a handy way to get the children observing, asking questions, and trying to explain what they’re seeing. I’d also ask them to draw what happened and try to imagine what planet the substance came from. This activity has a nice balance of science and creativity and it’s also a really fun way to start talking solids, liquids and gases.
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Your plan for using the Fizzing and Foaming activity is well suited to younger classes. I like how you’ve framed it as investigating a mysterious alien substance, it really adds a creative element while still keeping the focus on scientific observation and questioning. I know my pupils would really engage with this kind of task. The hands-on nature, the messiness, clear visual reaction, and opportunity to draw and describe what they’ve seen make it very accessible and intriguing to younger children. It’s a really useful way to start introducing early ideas about solids, liquids, and gases in a way that feels manageable and meaningful.
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(Prior to this Experiment I would ensure we had learned about the Moon Landing and Apollo 11- this is in our current Science Plan.)
I would begin the lesson by showing the children the Youtube clip “Peppa Pig flies to Space” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf-9H_uKzXk This would be followed by a class discussion: How do rockets blast off into space? and ‘What pushes them up?’ We could also review previously learned info about the moon landing.
I would then explain that we will be launching our own mini rockets, called “Rocket Mice”. The children will be given some time to decorate their empty plastic milk bottle. The children will then cut out the mouse template, decorate it and tape it so it makes a cone shape. They will then place the paper mouse on top of the milk bottle and they will count down: 3, 2, 1… BLAST OFF! The children will then squeeze the bottle with two hands and the sudden burst of air will push the mouse into the air!
The children will be encouraged to squeeze the bottle harder or softer to compare how high their rocket or ‘mouse’ will go.
To finish the lesson we will talk about the invisible push force (air) that made the rocket fly. I will explain that even though we can’t see air, it can move things when it’s pushed quickly- like the wind.
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I really like the activity set rockets. Looking at the slides it has given me so many ideas. In my junior infant class I would begin the lesson by showing a picture or video of a rocket launching. I’d follow this up by asking different types of open and closed questions such as; “What do you think this is?” and “Where do rockets go?” After the questions I’d explain simply that rockets go into space and carry astronauts. After the discussion I would read a short story or picture book about rockets e.g., Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton. After the story I would let the children make their own paper rockets using coloured paper, glue, and crayons. (In older classes I’d do a science experiment with vinegar and baking soda.) When the rocket is created I would let the children come up and show their rockets and describe them. key words: rocket, space, blast off. I can see great integration opportunities with maths by measuring how far your rocket can go.
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Space Week October 2025 Class Plan (1st Class)
Theme: Rockets, Space Travel & Alien Chemistry
Day 1: Launch into Space!
KWL Chart: “What do we know about rockets and space?”
Video: Watch the ESA “Vega Rocket Launch” clip
Activity: Design and build balloon or effervescent tablet rockets
Skill Focus: Predicting and observing movement
Day 2: Rocket Engineering
Read-aloud: “Zoom, Rocket, Zoom!”
Activity: Design and launch foam or straw rockets outdoors
Maths Link: Estimate and measure distance
Literacy Link: Procedural writing – “How to make a rocket”
Day 3: Alien Chemistry Day
Experiment 1: Fizzing and foaming (bicarbonate and vinegar)
Experiment 2: Dancing raisins (gas bubbles & buoyancy)
Skill Focus: Recording observations, identifying solids/liquids/gases
Literacy Link: Creative writing – “Alien Science Lab”
Day 4: Create an Alien
Discussion: Life on Mars (Terrain, temperature, comparison with Earth) – what might aliens need to survive?
Art Activity: Design and model aliens using playdough or clay Mars Rovers using LegoSpike
Digital Link: Record voiceovers with character descriptions
Drama Link: Hot seating – “Interview the Alien”
Day 5: Showcase & Home Connection
ICT: Use Stellarium to explore night sky (class and at home)
Performance: Present rockets and aliens to another class
Reflection: Class feedback session using sentence stems (“I loved when…”)
Planning for Space Week has allowed me to consolidate everything I’ve learned through out the course in a creative and meaningful, plus I have so many other ideas for the coming years too. This course has really inspired me and also provided me with a wealth of high quality hands-on inquiry activities for my pupils, but they are also easily adaptable should I change class level in the future. Space Week is a perfect opportunity to foster curiosity, imagination, and scientific thinking so I’ve structured our week to explore the big ideas of space travel, movement, forces, materials, and alien life through hands-on inquiry.
The use of rockets to explore movement and design is particularly engaging. Children love the excitement of launching balloon, foam or effervescent tablet rockets and these activities naturally build science skills like predicting, testing, and measuring. The cross-curricular links to maths (measurement), literacy (procedural writing), and drama (role-play and character development) make the learning rich and memorable.
I’m also excited to include “Alien Chemistry” experiments. These fizzing, foaming investigations will help children understand solids, liquids, and gases in an age-appropriate way. The messiness and wonder of these activities is a great hook for children while reinforcing science vocabulary and observation skills.
Using Stellarium is another key element of the week. While we’re not in school at night, Stellarium allows us to explore constellations and planets virtually and gives children something to explore further at home.
Space Week will hopefully build not just content knowledge but the skills and confidence children need to think and work scientifically. I always take part in Space Week with my class and it always creates an environment where learning is playful, collaborative, and full of wonder.
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This is a fantastic plan Veronica. You have listed lots of hands on activities. I think sometimes the fear of planning such events is not having the resources readily available but what you have listed here is all very practical and there is lots of cross curricular activities which ticks all the boxes.Thanks
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I was really impressed by all of the ideas linked to Rockets. I feel that the best suited activity for infants would be the ‘Rocket Mouse’ experiment as it is best suited to their level of ability.
As a stimulus, I would use a Space-themed Peppa Pig lesson: https://youtu.be/Kf-9H_uKzXk?si=grMMyClEVUGBhlJ5
Following this, I would do some rocket countdown activities, having the children performing different actions to the descending numbers.
I would then show the children the materials and ask them to predict what they might be doing. The materials would then be distributed and they could work in small groups. A variety of bottle sizes would be provided to allow the children to understand the concept in greater detail. We could also go outside, with the children first predicting if the wind would have an impact on the results of the experiment.
They could also be shown a video of the Fizzy rocket experiment, which they could try at home or in later class levels.
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I am excited to plan and celebrate Space Week in first class this year I am hoping that I can get all classes across first and second involved therefore I am planning to give an overview to all classes. I am hoping to plan activities that will be integrated across subject areas that are playful, and engaging. As there is such an emphasis on playful learning experiences in the new curriculum I think other teachers will be on board. Again I would begin with a key text for each class. Some books I intend to use are Whatever Next! and How to Catch a Star, which can be used as a hook. Furthermore I think the classes involved could use songs and different posters for instance or PowerPoints with visuals. I would set up stations in the hall maybe that all classes could access for example with sorting or matching activities based on information taught such as planet sizes. The children could explore the similarities and differences between the planets at an adult led activity.
I would use activities from the Moon and Stars activity sets, such as making moon craters using flour and marbling techniques to create paint effects for the planet Neptune. Throughout the week the children would be encouraged to orally rehearse their ideas and share thoughts on different aspects of learning covering many of the oral language learning objectives. Some writing activities could be built into the station activities through labelling and short descriptive guided writing.
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Amanda – sounds great. You could include this milk marbling activity from spaceweek.ie – we created it as a family activity, but schools can use it too!
https://www.spaceweek.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Gas-Planet-Clouds.pdf
Also check the book suggestions from previous runs of this course:
http://www.spaceweek.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/SpaceWeekJunior-1.pdf
http://www.spaceweek.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/SpaceWeekJunior2022.pdf
http://www.spaceweek.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/SpaceWeekJunior_2023.pdf
To match the school week, you might offer activities between 6 and 10 October.
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Thank you Sinéad. I love basing any learning around a high quality text. Always great to also include a writing activity linked to the topic. We are currently making a lst of high quality texts for each year groups to use for writing I think it would be good to build into the long term plan the cross curricular links and relevant subjects for example- space for Space Week and texts that have mathematical links for maths weeks and so on. Just a thought! Thinking out loud here. Wondering does anyone have any lists of books. It has really got me thinking about Science linked texts since doing this course. I don’t think it is something I considered before but I have so many ideas now!
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I was very impressed by all of the ideas given in relation to rockets.
I think that for infants, it would be best to do the rocket mouse experiment as it would be well matched to their level of ability.
I would start the lesson with a stimulus video, a Peppa Pig space episode.
https://youtu.be/Kf-9H_uKzXk?si=grMMyClEVUGBhlJ5
Following discussion and before the experiment itself, I would do some rocket countdowns with the children, having them doing different actions for certain numbers of the countdown. Following this, I would show them the materials that we will be using, asking them to predict what it is that we will be doing. The materials would then be distributed and the children would work in small groups to try get the mouse to go as high as possible. A range of different bottle sizes will be used to allow the children to form an understanding of the underlying process. We could also change the environment and go outside into the wind, first asking the children if they think that the weather might have an impact on the results.
Overall it would be a well-rounded lesson and many art and drama activities could also be linked across the week.
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Hi Emma,
I really loved all the ideas about rockets too. Something a bit different! I have first class next year but I will suggest to the infant teachers to use the Peppa Pig space episode. Although I hope to do that rocket mouse experiment with first as it should also be well matched to their level I hope. I loved the idea of using rocket countdowns with the children, having them doing different actions for certain numbers of the countdown! This is brilliant and showing them the materials that we will be using, asking them to make predictions also about what they are doing. I think predicting is just so important in Science as it also is in reading.
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Hi Emma,
I really loved all the ideas about rockets too. Something a bit different! I have first class next year but I will suggest to the infant teachers to use the Peppa Pig space episode. Although I hope to do that rocket mouse experiment with first as it should also be well matched to their level I hope. I loved the idea of using rocket countdowns with the children, having them doing different actions for certain numbers of the countdown! This is brilliant and showing them the materials that we will be using, asking them to make predictions also about what they are doing. I think predicting is just so important in Science as it also is in reading.
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My class for next year have a big interest in rockets so I would definitely use the “Rocket Mice” experiment for an Aistear station.
I would begin this experiment during Aistear by leaving the equipment (empty bottle, sticky tape and rocket mouse template) to provoke the children and let them question what we could do with these resources. After we have made the rocket mouse, I would ask the children to predict what will happen when the bottle is squeezed. We would then conduct the experiment, letting each child test what happens and question how the mouse is moving up and down again? We would experiment with different sizes and shapes of bottles and record any differences. The children could experiment with how high they can make the rocket mouse fly – keeping record of which rocket mouse flew the highest.
I really like this activity because it is also a simple experiment for children to recreate at home and share with their families. -
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The activity that I will discuss is Launching a rocket mouse. This is a great activity because the resources needed are easy to obtain for a class. I would introduce the topic of rockets by reading ‘Roaring Rockets’ by Tony Mitton. The materials I would need are: tape, construction card with the mouse template and a variety of plastic bottles. The children would be using a lot of scientific skills during this lesson- prediction, testing and evaluating. This lesson would involve a lot of discussion and testing- which containers were the best for launching the rocket? What happens is you use a smaller container? Which container launches the rocket the highest? This lesson allows for extension activities with maths- how high did your rocket travel?
The activity ‘ dancing raisins’ which is also featured in this module is a great one. I have often done this experiment with my classes and the children always enjoy it.
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For Space Week, I chose to implement the “Build and Launch a Paper Rocket” activity in my junior classroom (1st/2nd class). This activity was hands-on, engaging, and aligned perfectly with the children’s natural curiosity about space and how things move. We began with a simple discussion about rockets—what they are, what they do, and why they are important in space exploration. We then watched a short video showing real rocket launches, which sparked a lot of excitement and questions.
Next, the children each built their own paper rocket using straws, paper fins, and tape. We tested the rockets using puff power (blowing through a straw) and later added a launcher using a balloon or a rubber band. This introduced basic STEM concepts like force, motion, air pressure, and design. The activity was accessible yet rich in learning opportunities.
Incorporating this activity not only encouraged teamwork and creativity but also helped build basic scientific vocabulary like “thrust,” “launch,” and “gravity.” We extended the lesson by drawing diagrams of our rockets and writing short captions describing how they worked, tying it into literacy as well.
Overall, this experience was a huge success. The children were active participants in their learning and were genuinely curious to know more about space. I plan to use this activity annually during Space Week, possibly developing it further into a simple experiment comparing rocket designs or distances launched. I also captured photos and short videos of the launches to share with parents and to reflect on as part of our class STEM journal.
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Module 5: Dancing raisins
The experiment I like to do is a simple version of the dancing raisins it is clear, fun and child friendly and you don’t need many resources only a clear glass, fizzy water or lemonade (something bubbly and a few raisins.
How to do it:
Pour fizzy water into the clear cup ( ¾ full)
Drop the raisins in gently
Watch closely as the raisins sink to the bottom, then start to rise and fall-like they’re dancing.
The bubbles from the fizzy drink stick to the raisins and lift them up. When the bubbles pop, the raisins sink again. This makes them move up and down -dancing in the cup.
I will encourage the kids to describe what they see:
Are the raising jumping?
Do they look like they’re dancing.For extra fun the children will draw what they saw from the experiment- Maybe a picture of raising with happy faces and even draw bubbles around them.
I will prompt them with questions like;
‘Can you draw the raisins jumping?’
‘How do you think the bubbles look?’ -
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Rockets:
I am looking forward to doing this activity with the children as it allows me to alter and expand on the lesson which I have taught in the past. We can try to alter the force used, the size of the container and the size and weight of the rockets to predict, question, examine and explore how far they will travel. It will be a huge opportunity to open up conversations and to have the children actively engaged in their own learning as children learn best when allowed to investigate, explore and discover for themselves. It gives the children free rein to investigate and explore themselves and bounce their ideas around. It allows for prediction, testing, collaboration, investigating, observing, problem solving etc.
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Rockets
I found the activities on rockets very engaging.
Lesson: Build and Launch your own rocket.
Through engagement in this lesson, the children should understand:
What a rocket is and what it does
Describe the basic forces involved in a rocket launch
Follow steps to make a simple paper or straw rocket
Test their rocket and make observations
I like that there is so much scope for cross curricular integration with this lesson,e.g.
Science, Maths, Art and SPHE.
Using a stimulus, e.g. Story ‘Ailens in Underpants Save the World’ creates a nice introduction to a lesson or a conclusion.
The video links are very useful also, e.g.Launch of Vega.
The Rocket Mice video is a lovely resource to complement any lesson. There’s lots of scope for testing and predicting. It’s also cost effective and accessible to all
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When I first saw the topic on rockets in this module my heart sank a little as I thought it would require lots of resources. It was the most simple experiment and one that could be definitely used in my current class. It doesn’t require a lot of materials at all, just a milk carton and piece of paper. Cut the paper using the mouse template shown in the video. See which child’s rocket goes higher. They can make predictions and maybe design their own worksheet for this. They could even use a graph and link it to maths-1st/2nd class. They will notice how when they squeeze the bottle it will go higher due to air pressure. I also liked the idea of linking it to Marvin and Milo cartoon. They could extend this lesson by using different sized bottles and see which one is the best and launches the rocket the highest. Integrate it into art by designing their own cool rocket.
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I am looking forwward to doing the Rocket Mice activity. It seems to be highly appropriate and engaging for younger classes as it combines simple materials, movement, and fun to introduce early science concepts. Junior Infants learn best through hands-on, playful experiences, and Rocket Mice offers a perfect opportunity to explore cause and effect, forces, and motion in a way that’s both safe and exciting. The visual and physical nature of the activity captures their attention and encourages curiosity. It supports language development as children describe what they see and make predictions using everyday language. It also fosters social skills, such as sharing, taking turns, and working in pairs or small groups. The task is open-ended, allowing children to experiment and explore at their own level. Overall, Rocket Mice promotes engagement through fun while building a strong foundation in scientific thinking, making it ideal for early years learning across multiple areas of development.
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Topic Rockets:
Firstly, I would spark the children’s interests on rockets by doing a circle time and eliciting what the children know about rockets and what they would like to know about rocket using a KWL chart. I would also show the children images and short videos of rockets and rocket launches.
I like the balloon rocket activity from Marvin and Milo. The comic strip is very engaging for the children. We would make the balloon rockets, and I would encourage the children to explore with them and use balloons of different sizes. Pose the questions such as: Does the rocket fly further when it is a small/bigger balloon? How is the rocket moving? Is it being pushed or pulled? Etc.
This could be linked to the mouse rocket activity the children could experiment with using different size bottles and discover how far the mouse flies. I like the connection to real life in this YouTube video of the squeezing of the ketchup bottle. The children could think of other situations in which we squeeze objects.
I would return to my KWL chart and see if there was anything new that the children learned and if there were any unanswered questions that I would address these.
The children could end the lesson doing the Danny Go “Space Race Dance”, incorporating movement break into the lesson after all that learning!!
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Hi Caroline,
I have done a few of these rocket experiments with different class groups, including straw rockets with 5th class. The straw rockets were a great idea to integrate measuring distance in maths. Once they had made their rockets, they took to the schoolyardto measure the distance they could fly.
Another rocket experiment I have done is the balloon rocket for the whole class. This is a lovely experiment, as it shows clearly the propulsion and thrust of the air, and the visual effect of the balloon travelling on the string across the classroom is very effective.
I like your idea of the KWL chart on rockets. I think the children would have many interesting ideas on rockets and knowledge.
I would like to do the experiment of making mice rockets with junior classes and launch a rocket with a fizzy vitamin tablet.
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If I was using the rockets activity in my classroom, I would build it around a fun and engaging story eg: “Captain Karl,” a young astronaut whose rocket keeps failing to launch. He needs help from expert student scientists to figure out how to make it fly successfully.
After this introduction, I would present the balloon rocket experiment. Using string, tape, straws and balloons, students would work in small groups to create their own rockets. We would test them across the room, measuring how far they travel and discussing what affects their speed and distance — balloon size, angle and how much air is used. This would naturally lead into a class / group discussions.
To extend the learning, students would design their own “missions,” deciding what planet they’re traveling to and present their results through posters or short videos during Space Week. The children would have great fun recording their launches on tablets and then rewatching them with the class on the whiteboard.
This activity would support science learning while also encouraging teamwork, creativity and storytelling, skills that are also important to develop in the classroom.
There are so many ideas to take from this module of the course and the children would have great fun for the duration of science week studying different topics and carrying out different experiments.
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Activity Set: Rockets
I would use the Rockets activity set in my Senior Infants class. I find that using a story as a stimulus is extremely helpful so I would introduce them to the topic using Oliver Jeffers stories ‘How to Catch a Star’, ‘The Way Back Home’ and ‘Here We Are’.
We would then discuss ways in which we could travel back home from space, encouraging the children to ask and answer open ended questions and in groups, design their ideal ‘Rocket’ on the whiteboards and then present them to the class. They will then work in groups to create a rocket using Junk Art, explaining how their rocket works, how it may be suitable for space.
As a whole class we will investigate and explore how rockets launch, watching videos and a time lapse from NASA and then I will show them photos of when I went to the Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, encouraging them to ask questions as I enter in role as Neil Armstrong.
We would then complete the ‘Rocket Mice’ activity. Show the children the equipment needed to make the rocket mice first and encourage them to come up with suggestions as to how to create them, how can we ensure they ‘take off’. Follow the instructions and carry out experiments making the mouse fly in different places, outside in yard, in the hall etc. Compare different types of recycled bottles too, which ones make the mouse go higher? Record the distance by using chalk or post it’s and carry out a Rocket Race with the most powerful two Rocket Mice.
Use the iPad’s to record their experiment and make them into an iMovie with the 6th class buddy class. The children can then research a space-based experiment at home and do ‘Teach the Teacher’ where they come in and carry out their experiment for the class.
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I really like all the activities you have outlined here. The rocket mice activity is simple yet fun for kids in senior infants. Using the story at the start helps to engage them. They also love to design their own rockets using as much glitter and messy art as possible! I like your ipad idea and having a 6th class buddy to make an imovie with.
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Space Week Cross Curricular Activities
Literacy
Storytime- books based on space theme. Oliver Jeffers “How to catch a star” & “The Way Back Home” Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker “Papa please get the moon for me” by Eric Carle. “Aliens love underpants ” are just a few examples. Its great to liase with the local library and you can borrow books based on the theme.
Oral language -introduction of new vocabulary. Sentence building activities
Descriptive language – use the astronomy picture of the day and get the children to describe what they see. Describe what it would be like to go to space. Smell, taste, what they would see etc.
Character description activity- aliens or spaceman description
Make a passport for an alien.
Interview with an astronaut or an alien. What questions would you ask ?
Maths
Counting Stars -sequencing, grouping,counting activities.
2d shapes- build a rocket or space ship
Moon rocks- patterns & sorting different sizes and shapes and colour pebbles
Race to space – paired dice game
With the helping an older class you could use stomp rockets to measure lenght- how far they travel
PE
Obstacle course -astronaut training camp
Shadow tagMusic
Listening and responding The planets classical music
Make Space sounds -rocket launch, meteorite shower, shooting stars etc
SESE
History-myths and legends. The constellations
Night and day
Use stellarium to show the night sky
Discuss Astronauts or the story of Laika ,the dog that went to space
Drama and roleplay activities based on space
Art and craft
Design an alien or a rocket
Galaxy splat painting using dark paper and luminous paint.
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The activity I have chosen to hone in on during module 5 is Rockets.
Previously in science week, rockets and space themed experiments have always drawn a lot of interest. One which I always go back to is the ‘balloon rocket’ experiment which consists of string, straws, balloons and some tape.
Prior to conducting the experiment, I will carry out a whole class exploration on rockets. What is a rocket? Where do rockets go? Why do we use rockets? What kinds of shapes do rockets come in?
I also like to get the children to design their own rockets be it play dough, with other materials. This gets the children to really visualize and become invested in their design. From here we move into the main experiment.
it’s important to get the children to predict what they think will happen.
How will the rocket get from A to B etc.
I would use this experiment as part of a wider science week plan.
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Integrating a Rocket Launch into Space Week
During Space Week, it would be my aim to harness the excitement of a rocket launch to spark student engagement in STEM through a cross-curricular, inquiry-based approach. We will begin with a live or recorded rocket launch to ignite curiosity and encourage observational thinking. Before the launch, students will be prompted to write predictions and questions about what they think will happen, why rockets are shaped a certain way, and the purpose of the mission.
This event will serve as a springboard for a week-long series of activities, including:
Science: Students will explore Newton’s Laws of Motion using balloon rockets and design their own paper or straw rockets.
Math: They will calculate distances and speeds.
English: Creative writing will be integrated through space-themed short stories or astronaut diary entries.
Art: Students will create space missions of the solar system.
The rocket launch becomes more than just an event—it transforms into a real-world application of classroom concepts. Students could document reflections through digital science journals and possibly host a “Space Expo” for the school/parents at the end of the week to showcase their work. -
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I am really hoping that we can run Space Week 2025 as a whole school this year but if not I will be doing it with my class. My plan for the week is to focus on one space topic every day.
Monday: Earth, Our Home in Space. Understand that Earth is a planet in space and part of our solar system. It supports life.
Station set up :
1. Art station : Create collage of earth / use the earth moasic template from module 2.
2. Observation station: photographs, satellite image, oceans, continents etc.
3. Solar system: mini solar system model and globe
Tuesday: The Moon- learn some basic facts about the moon and it’s phases.
Station set up
1. oreo cookie station to model the phases with photos to help.
2. Crater station: throwing marbles/ balled up tinfoil into flour / coco powder to create moon craters
3. ipads- watching the moon landing
Wednesday: Astronauts – discover what they do and how the operate in space.
https://www.esa.int/kids/en/Multimedia/Videos/Astronauts/Why_do_astronauts_wear_spacesuits
Design a spacesuit
learn about Chris Hadfield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bCoGC532p8
Thursday: Rockets
Watch a rocket launch
Investigate rockets using balloon rocket experiment https://spark.iop.org/balloon-rocket
compare with Rocket Mice experiment https://youtu.be/GUKCT2L3DjA
Friday : Stars and Constellations
Station set up
1. Literacy station based on stars
2. Art, create your own constellation using back card and sticky stars – real photos for inspiration provided.
3. ipad station use stellarium to explore the stars.
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Activity set: Rockets
Aliens loves underpants and Alien saves the world are firm favourites in our preschool. In other years we have focused on the alien and the funny design the children make with underpants. This year I look forward to bringing a totally new insight into the vehicles the aliens travel in. Are they space ships? Are they rockets? How do you think they go up so high? Introducing balloon rocket experiments and rocket mice will facinate the children. Launching our rockets indoors and outdoors and comparing our findings will be both fun and educational. I will use a 5,4,3,2,1 countdown to launch our rockets. To further this using each number as a movement would be a fantastic activity for P.E. and garden play. We always use extremely large cardboard boxes to make various vehicles and homes for creatures but this year’s focus will definitely be on making large rockets for socio dramatic play.
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Theme: Exploring Space, Planets, Rockets, Aliens and the Moon
Day 1: Introduction to Space and Rockets
Begin by chatting with the children about what they already know about space. Ask them questions like “What is space?” and “Have you ever seen a rocket?” Then move into a craft activity where the children make simple paper or cardboard rockets, decorating them with crayons, stickers and stars. Before launching their pretend rockets, invite predictions such as “What do you think happens when a rocket blasts off?” to encourage imaginative thinking and discussion.Day 2: Exploring the Planets
Introduce the children to the planets using a colourful picture book or a fun planet song such as such as the Planets of the Solar System Song from Hopscotch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxjuDePdCI . Talk about each one, focusing on simple features like colour and size. For the art activity, children can paint or craft the planets using paper plates, tissue paper or playdough. During and after the creative work, have a conversation about how the planets are different from one another.Day 3: Discovering the Moon
Begin the day with a short story or video about the Moon. A great choice is Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle. Follow this with a hands-on Moon crater activity. Using trays filled with flour or sand, the children drop small balls from different heights to see how craters form. Introduce new vocabulary such as “crater” and talk about the Moon’s surface. For the creative follow-up, children can make Moon pictures using grey paper, foil, textured paint or chalk to represent stars and craters.Day 4: Aliens and Imagination
Open up a discussion by asking the class what they think an alien might look like and where it might live. Then move into a craft activity where children create their own friendly aliens using materials like playdough, pipe cleaners, googly eyes or coloured paper. This day can also include a role-play activity where children pretend to be astronauts meeting aliens.Day 5: Space Week Celebration and Review
Reviewing everything the children have learned. Talk together about rockets, the Moon, planets and aliens. Each child can present their favourite creation from the week such as a rocket, planet, Moon art or alien to the rest of the class. Finish with a sing-along of “Zoom Zoom Zoom We’re Going to the Moon” adding in actions and maybe even musical instruments. Close with a reflection circle by asking questions such as “What was your favourite part of Space Week?” and “What would you like to explore next?”-
Hi Deirdre, I absolutely love this Space Week plan! It’s so playful and imaginative! The way you’ve broken the week into themed days makes it really easy to follow and exciting for the kids. I can imagine the children being completely absorbed, especially with the crater-making activity and the alien creations.
The use of stories, songs and hands-on activities brings everything to life in such a lovely way. I really like how you’re encouraging the children to talk and think creatively throughout.
The celebration day at the end is a lovely touch too. It is a great way to wrap things up and give everyone a chance to share. -
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am excited to plan and celebrate Space Week in first class this year I am hoping that I can get all classes across first and second involved therefore I am planning to give an overview to all classes. I am hoping to plan activities that will be integrated across subject areas that are playful, and engaging. As there is such an emphasis on playful learning experiences in the new curriculum I think other teachers will be on board. Again I would begin with a key text for each class. Some books I intend to use are Whatever Next! and How to Catch a Star, which can be used as a hook. Furthermore I think the classes involved could use songs and different posters for instance or PowerPoints with visuals. I would set up stations in the hall maybe that all classes could access for example with sorting or matching activities based on information taught such as planet sizes. The children could explore the similarities and differences between the planets at an adult led activity.
I would use activities from the Moon and Stars activity sets, such as making moon craters using flour and marbling techniques to create paint effects for the planet Neptune. Throughout the week the children would be encouraged to orally rehearse their ideas and share thoughts on different aspects of learning covering many of the oral language learning objectives. Some writing activities could be built into the station activities through labelling and short descriptive guided writing.
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I would focus on Rockets with my class and introduce it by reading the book “There’s an Alien in my Book” by Tom Fletcher. It tells the story of a little alien who’s rocket crashed on to Earth and he has to think of a way to get back up into space. While talking about space, we could talk about astronauts and rockets taking off with their countdown of 5,4,3,2,1 bast off!!
We would then design our own plastic bottle rockets on paper before then turning our drawings into real rockets. This would be a great opportunity for Junk Art in the class. We would then predict which rocket would be able to shoot our little alien all the way bak into space. We would then test our our predictions and have a little marker used to mark our each of the distacnes the “alien” travels. We would compare the rocket that shot the furthest and see if we could make any improvements to the rocket that shot the sortest distance. -
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We have an annual rocket building competition during science week each year. It is amazing what creative pieces are entered. We give ideas and guidelines as follows to inspire the pupils but mainly leave then to their own devises to creat their own rocket. The pupils love it each year.
Rocket Making Competition Guide
Age Group: 1st /2nd class.
Theme: “Ready, Set, Blast Off!”
Duration: 1–2 hours
Goal: Design and build a fun model rocket using craft materials. Bonus points for creativity and teamwork! Learning Objectives:Understand basic parts of a rocket (body, fins, nose, etc.)Practice creativity, teamwork, and fine motor skills
Learn a fun, simple fact about space and rocketsPart 1: Introduction (10–15 minutes)Mini Lesson (Engaging and Simple):
“Rockets are special vehicles that blast off into space!”
Show a short video or simple diagram (NASA Kids or a cartoon rocket video)
Teach parts of a rocket:
🔺 Nose (top)
🧱 Body (middle)
🪭 Fins (bottom to help it fly straight)
🔥 Engine (pretend – makes it go up!)Part 2: Rocket Building Time! (30–40 minutes)
🔧 Materials (choose from what’s available):
Paper towel or toilet rolls (body)
Construction paper (decoration + fins)
Tape, glue sticks, scissors (child-safe)
Markers, stickers, foil, glitter (safe!)
Plastic straws or balloons (optional)
Cardboard cones or paper for nose
👩🚀 Rules for the Competition:Work in pairs or small groupsUse only the materials providedThe rocket must be able to stand uprightName your rocket!Add at least 3 parts: nose, body, fins -
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I would use the Rocket Mouse experiment with my class to help the children learn about how things move. It is a fun way to see how rockets fly up and come back down.
I would share a short story about a little mouse going on a rocket trip to make it fun. I would explain that pushing and pulling makes things move. We would do the experiment together and watch the rocket fly. Before we launch, I would ask the children to guess where the rocket will go or how high it will fly.
We would talk about what happened and ask questions like, “Why did the rocket go up?” or “Why did it come down?” This activity is great because the children get to try it themselves and have fun while learning.-
Making rocket mice is one of the most enjoyable aspects to Science Week for very young students. I usually use the mouse rocket I make as a little puppet who chats to me about why he wants to go to the moon (because it is made of cheese of course!) We then begin with a discussion on what we know of the moon, and whether we actually believe it to be made of cheese or not, and if not, what is it really made from? Then we chat about the best way to get our mouse there, and see can we design, make and try any of these ways. Then everyone makes their own mouse, tries their best to make him fly, and begins to use the milk cartons. It is really such a fun and engaging lesson or series of lessons.
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A lesson that I did before and worked well was Rocket Balloons. Materials we used were balloon, straw, string, tape, so very easy to get your hands on and not time consuming to prep for. We began the lesson discussing what the children’s previous knowledge about rockets doing a class brainstorm on the board. The focus of the lesson was to show the children how rockets move by pushing something out really fast. Just like when you blow up a balloon and let it go — the air rushing out makes it fly! We discussed the concept of a thrust — the force that pushes a rocket up. Children then made their own rockets using the materials and we went outside for our rocket launches and had great fun. We discussed our findings back in the classroom and explored the idea that the balloon flew forward because air rushed out the back — just like rocket fuel pushes rockets up and talked about how rockets use burning fuel instead of air to push off the ground. I found the children loved the hands-on aspect of the lesson and it got great conversations started between the kids.
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Thank you for sharing your response! I really like how you used such simple, accessible materials — balloons, straws, string, and tape — which makes the activity easy to prepare and focus more on the learning. I also love the balance you created between the hands-on rocket launches and the follow-up discussion. Giving the children the chance to build and test their own rockets, then talk through the idea of thrust and how real rockets work, is such an effective way to spark curiosity and deepen understanding.
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Action plan to engage with Space Week.
Every year our whole junior school makes a huge effort to engage with Space Week events. We sign up to the website and organise a week full of engaging activities for all the classes. We begin the week before space week (usually at the end of September) learning all about the planets, about the sun and moon, about different kinds of rockets and projectiles. Many of our students make a space themed home project which is then brought to school and displayed for other classes (who in turn also make space themed home based STEM projects). Many of our other subjects run parallel activities with a Space Week theme:- stories, poems, rhymes, other literacy activities, songs, art work, Gaeilge, maths, history, geography, PE.
Classes often double up when making a projectile or flying a rocket (air, water, fizzy, balloon, mice, foam, stomp rockets etc.) Investigations are done around the themes of gravity, craters and the demise of the dinosaur, volcanoes, projectiles and the angle of launch etc. Usually the week finishes with one or more classes running an “open day” for the whole school, showcasing a space display, demonstrating experiments and flying rockets and projectiles. The highlight of this display day culminates in the whole school turning out for the launching of the larger water rockets and air rockets in the yard or in the nearby field. We also engage with space experts via zoom and last year we were delighted to welcome astronaut Steve Swanson to visit us. What an absolute treat for all of us and an unbelievable event for those of us interested in space. Let’s see what Space Week 2025 brings. I can’t wait!-
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Jane- it sounds like your school does an amazing effort for Space Week and we love to hear that. I’m glad to hear you were one of the lucky schools to get a visit from Steve, he is so good at engaging the children with his stories from the International Space Station. I especially like how you do a school wide rocket launch and open day. Great work!
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I know all of the children in my class will love the topic of rockets so I will take that as my focus for this lesson.
In previous lessons we will have discussed space and through our play and exploration will will have learnt the necessary language.
we have toy rockets on our classroom so while playing with the rockets i will ask the children -why does it not fly? Hopefully the answer will be -because its a toy.
Maybe we could make our own rockets?
I will have a balloon rocket set up to go in the classroom and allow the children to see it fly across the room. Unfortunately as the children are so young they cannot blow up a balloon and would struggle to carry out the steps necessary to make their own balloon rocket.
Because of this I have decided to go with the mouse rockets. I will give the children different sized bottles and some sparkly paper etc to decorate them. Then I will provide pre made mouse rockets(as again they’d struggle to make them themselves) and we can play with blasting them off. In my experience all children love a countdown so we will countdown from 5. -lets see whose rocket can go the highest? A great opportunity to introduce the maths language higher, lower, faster, slower? we can also experiment with squeezing our bottles softly or really hard to introduce the concept of cause and effect.
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Space week would be a great opportunity to introduce a wide range of play and activities in the infant classroom.
One group I would complete the simple activities of dancing raisins.I would start the lesson with a discussion- What do you think will happen to raisins when the liquid enters the container. Will the raisins float, sink, move. The children will complete the experiment and record the results through pictures. I would also allow the children to see raisins in another liquid and how the results change.
Then I would complete another experiment Rocket mice. I feel children will love this hands on activity. Children always love rockets and will love creating rocket mouse containers. They can create them using empty bottle containers, tape and rocket mouse templates. I would show the children various bottle cartons and get the children what happens when I squeeze them. The children will need to predict will the mouse move up or down. The children will record the results using a wide variety of containers and record the results of which rocket mouse flew the highest.
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Space Week offers a learning experience that sparks children’s curiosity through the well-loved theme of space. In English, children could engage in creative writing activities such as space-themed acrostic poems, diary entries from an astronaut’s perspective, postcards from aliens, and descriptive writing using prompts that encourage them to imagine what they might see, hear, or feel in space. Role-play areas with passports, logbooks, and checklists (things I will need in space!) encourage imaginative play and vocabulary building. Space-themed stories like Whatever Next! and Aliens Love Underpants enhance reading sessions and inspire writing.
In Maths, children explore numbers through hands-on activities such as building rocket towers with cubes, space race dice games, and space themed board games like bingo and memory. A planet scavenger hunt helps reinforce problem-solving and observational skills. Science lessons focus on light sources, shadow investigations, and exploring planets through interactive discussions and fact file creation. Children also learn about materials by designing, building, and testing rockets, with a supervised rocket launch experiment bringing science to life.
Creative skills are encouraged in Art through making space-themed collages using mixed media such as foil, sequins, and dark paper to create starry skies and rockets. Children also craft large papier-mâché planets for a hall display. The week concludes with a Space Exhibition where other classes/parents are invited in to view the work, including art, rockets, and writing. Throughout the week, children develop teamwork, creativity, and develop a wealth of knowledge in science and literacy, making learning fun, meaningful, and memorable.
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That sounds like a truly inspiring and immersive week! What a fantastic way to combine creativity with science and literacy—those hands-on projects like the papier-mâché planets and space-themed collages must make such a lasting impact. The Space Exhibition is a brilliant idea for celebrating the children’s hard work and sharing it with the wider school community
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Space Week Class Plan
Throughout this course, I’ve explored a range of engaging, inquiry-based activities centred around space, and I’m excited to bring it all together for a meaningful and interactive Space Week in my classroom.
My class plan for Space Week will span five days, with each day focusing on a different theme:
• Monday – The Solar System: We’ll start with the planets song and a large outdoor layout of the solar system. Students will learn fun facts and compare planet sizes.
• Tuesday – Moon and Shadows: We’ll observe and draw shadows at different times of the day, discuss why the Moon changes shape, and read Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me.
• Wednesday – Stars and Constellations: Using the “Lots and Lots of Stars” activity, students will create constellation maps and tell their own constellation stories.
• Thursday – Life in Space: We’ll explore the ISS, watch astronaut videos, and complete a “Design Your Own Alien” activity that considers gravity and environment.
• Friday – Space Art and Reflection: We’ll create astronaut portraits (with student faces!) and rocket models, followed by a sharing circle where students reflect on their favourite part of the week.
This week not only integrates science, literacy, art, and drama but also puts student inquiry at the centre. I’ll use journals, photos, and voice recordings to document learning. Space has proven to be an excellent theme for encouraging curiosity, and I can already tell this will be a highlight of the term! -
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As I have not ever planned a Space week, I would be guided by the ESERO resource How to Plan and Run Your Own Space Week. I would consider topics for assemblies e.g. ‘Older than the stars’ – Karen C Fox & Nancy Davis and ‘Katie and the starry night’ – James Mayhew. I would plan fun whole school activities e.g. as well as a teachers Solar System Race and individual class activities based around themes e.g. Stars and Planets. I would research guest speakers from the local community, perhaps those working in third level colleges or factories manufacturing technology etc. I would read the guidelines for visitors and appraise them of them from a safety point of view. I would welcome parental involvement e.g. in STEM Detectives Think of a time inviting parents to be STEM Detectives on behalf of the children and asking them to share how they are using STEM in their workplaces and helping children discover STEM in their local environment.
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Mary – a teacher’s Solar System Race sounds fun – particularly if the teacher is dressed as a planet, and their class has made the costume!
Each year BCO offers “ESERO Space goes to school” where we match schools with speakers from the broadest sense of “space industry” over Zoom. It is a popular programme, with great impact.
You can find out more about it and register your interest here.
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Space Module 5
Choose one of the activities or activity sets outlined in this module – How would you use the activity in your classroom?
The activity set I would look at in the classroom is Rockets.
I’d start with exploring the idea of rockets- starting with the ‘real life’ clip of the launch of Vega and then showing this short Youtube clip (or something similar) https://youtu.be/QCj66nGiKpU?si=Iid4Yju0X_osVHyD
I think the ‘mouse rocket’ would be the simplest one to make for infant classes. In our school we often pair our infant classes with an older class (shared reading, laptop time) so pairing with a 5th or 6th class for the actual making of the rocket would be helpful.
Once the rockets are made, we could start the investigative piece. Maybe a starter question like ‘ Do different size bottle launchers change the height the rocket travels?’ Firstly, the predictions- maybe a simple yes or no thumbs up/down first, followed by asking pupils why they gave their answer and what do they think will happen when the launcher is changed.
Then the investigation can begin, with a variety of bottles and cartons. For a 1st/2nd class there could be the added element of measuring and comparing the height each launcher causes it to travel(and maybe an informed prediction each time based on the previous answer).
Then an examination of the results to see if our original question has been answered.
Finally a discussion about other things that fly through the air followed by one of the stories mentioned like ‘Aliens in Underpants’ or ‘The Way Back Home’.
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SEN class plan for space week
Sensory activities
- Sensory exploration: Feel textured ‘moon’ rocks – rough / smooth, smelling moon dust (glitter)
- Galaxy slime: Make slime with blue, purple, and black colors, adding glitter and star confetti for a visually appealing and tactile activity.
- Create planets using playdough. Put them on lollipop sticks putting them in order from distance from the sun
Craft activity
Building a Space Station:
Provide various construction materials (cardboard boxes, building blocks, playdough, etc.) and encourage students to build their own space stations.
Offer visual prompts and step-by-step instructions for students who need them.
Focus on fine motor skills, spatial reasoning, and collaborative play.Maths
- Shapes and the solar system:
- Sort a variety of 2d shapes for their use in rockets / planets/stars.
- Build a simple rocket with 2d shapes (alternatively introduce a fine motor activity by cutting out 2d shapes).
Online resources
- Spaceweek.ie – Watch space week tv shows / get resources by topic
- twinkl.ie – lots of fun lesson ideas and displays
- https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ Explore Nasa’s Space place
- Kahoot quizzes
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I would like to try the activity ‘Dancing Raisins’ with my class to help them understand how the gas powers the rocket. I would use this as a follow on from the creating a rocket mouse as a whole class. I think I would also carry out this activity as a whole class an make sure we are all watching for the changes. I would start by introducing the resources and maybe discussing what the difference between the still and the sparkling water and making a few predictions as to how this may effect the raisins. I think to see the raisins in the fresh water sink to the bottom and the raisins in the fizzy water sinking and then rising again will be really fascinating for the children. I would then allow them to carry out the activity on their tables and to start drawing some of their own conclusion before coming back together and discussing how the raisins are collecting gas in the fizzy water and using this to move. Weighing the raisins before and after the activity will also be an interesting development in the discussion and applying it to rockets launching.
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Hi Áine,
Dancing Raisins is such a lovely and accessible way to introduce children to the science behind gas and propulsion. I love how you’re planning to link it with the Rocket Mouse activity; it makes the learning feel connected and purposeful. Starting with predictions about still vs. sparkling water is a great way to engage the class and encourage scientific thinking right from the start.
I also like your idea of first observing the activity as a whole class before letting the children explore it themselves—this sets a strong foundation for careful observation. Allowing them to draw their own conclusions and then linking it back to rocket launches is a brilliant way to make a real-world connection.
Weighing the raisins before and after is an excellent extension—it adds another layer of enquiry and reinforces key STEM skills.
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To introduce rockets, I would show a short video of a rocket blasting into space. Then I would read the book; Aliens in Underpants Save the World.
I would create a class discussion by asking questions such as I’d ask, “Have you ever seen a rocket? What do you think helps them fly so high? What do you think they are made from?” This would spark curiosity and allow the children to share their ideas about space and flight.
We would then create straw rockets. We would have a class contest- who’s rocket can travel the furthest, who’s goes the highest? I would encourage them to predict and question what happens if we blow harder or softer? Does the size affect the outcome?
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The Activity I have chosen for this module’s assignment is ‘Rockets.’
A balloon rocket lesson teaches basic physics concepts like force and motion through a hands-on experiment. The children will build and launch balloon rockets, observing how air pressure propels the balloon forward. Measurements and data collection, can be integrated into this lesson.I would begin by reading the book Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton to the children. I would ask the students questions about rockets and how they work. I would explain that they will be building their own rockets using balloons.
I would guide students through the construction process:1. Create a Path
Secure the string at two points, e.g. tie one end of a long piece of string around the back of a chair, creating a taut path.
2. Prep the Balloon
Inflate the balloon, but do not tie off the end. Tape a straw to the balloon, parallel to the opening, and thread the string through the straw (the infants classes may need their balloons blown up by an adult).
3. Ready, Set, Launch!
Release the balloon and watch it speed down its launch path! Observe how the air pressure propels it forward.I would encourage the children to experiment with different balloon sizes and tape positions. The children could use a measuring tape to measure how far the rocket travelled. They could then record the distance on a sheet. The children could repeat the experiment, varying the amount of air in the balloon.
When the experimenting is finished, the children will discuss their observations. Sample questions are as follows:
Did the amount of air affect the distance travelled?
Were there any differences between the rockets?
What forces were involved in making the rocket move? -
I loved the activity set on Rockets and would aim to follow the following sequence as I teach the topic.
What Is a Rocket?
Introduction to rockets and their purposeIdentify what rockets are and why we use them
Recognise basic rocket parts (engine, fuel tank, nose cone, fins)
Activities:
Read “Roaring Rockets” aloud
Watch a short video of a rocket launch
Label parts of a rocket on a diagram (cut-and-stick or drawing)
How Do Rockets Work?
Forces and motion (push, pull, gravity)Understand how rockets lift off using thrust
Identify gravity and air resistance in simple terms
Balloon/carton rocket experiment: Blow up a balloon, tape it to a straw on a string and release. Rocket Mice.
Predict, observe, and discuss what happens.
Introduce key vocabulary: thrust, force, gravity
Build Your Own Rocket
Focus: Design & Make (STEM)
Objectives:Apply understanding of rocket parts to design a simple model
Work in groups to plan and build a paper or recycled rocket
Design and build a paper rocket (either paper straw rocket or cardboard model)
Use a template for younger groups, or let them design their own
Decorate using art materials
Launch Day! Experiment and Measure
Testing and observing rocket launches
Objectives:Conduct a fair test
Measure and compare distances
Activities:
Launch paper/straw rockets using puff straws or simple stomp rockets
Measure how far they travel using metre sticks
Discuss what affects how far they go (angle, force, weight)
Launch area (school yard or corridor)
Measuring tape or metre sticks
Chart to record distances
Create a bar graph with results for Maths integration.
What’s It Like to Be an Astronaut?
Focus: Empathy and dramaExplore life in space
Reflect on what it would feel like to be an astronaut
Read Mae Among the Stars
Role play: Pretend to be astronauts on a mission – walking in zero gravity, floating, eating in space
Write a postcard from space: “Dear Earth…”
Space music or sound effects for atmosphere
Postcard template
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I think that my class next year would really enjoy the Rocket Mice experiment. They love doing space based experiments and creating their own rockets and launching their mice would be something they’ll really enjoy. To begin we would do a song such as We’re Going on a Rocket Ship. We will then discuss what we know about rockets and how they work. For the experiment itself, I would put the children in pairs. Within their pairs they could create their own individual mice but work together on the experiment itself. I would provide different sized bottles for the children to choose from and also let them experiment with different sized bottles asking them to predict what will happen with the different bottles and then check whether their predictions came true. Weather permitting, we would also experiment with launching their rocket mice outdoors and see if their predictions and results changed by being outdoors.
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Trying the Rocket Mice Experiment in pairs would be a very good idea Laura especially as it adds to the competitive aspect to the rocket experiment.
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The activity set that I was interested in was the Rocket launching. WE have always made rockets in Maths with 2d shapes and we have also made 3d rockets with old cardboard boxes, bottles, and whatever other junk or paper the children bring in from home. Next year I will definitely introduce the idea of a rocket launcher. I think the rocket mice is a simple yet very clever idea! The resources are very easily got and I think the children would be very excited about the rockets launching. You could also record the distance travelled by the rocket mice linking in the topic of measures in Maths. WE could also link it to literacy where the children could write or draw – My rocket went…. My rocket travelled ——- this distance. Making rockets with infants is a fantastic way to combine science, creativity and fun.
I also think it is very important to involve parents so they could be involved with a night-sky project where children and parents draw what they saw in the night sky. We also have a number of parents working in the field of science and engineering so they could be invited in as a guest speaker during Science Week. I think it is so important to harness the talent within the school with all the stakeholders. -
For this module, I chose the Dancing Raisins activity as it’s a simple, engaging, and visually exciting way to introduce young children to scientific observation and early understanding of forces. I plan to use this activity with my Junior and Senior Infants during our science time, as part of a broader focus on materials and change.
We’ll begin by predicting what we think will happen when we drop raisins into fizzy water. I’ll use visual prompts and simple language to guide discussion, supporting children’s oral language and reasoning skills. As we carry out the activity, we’ll observe how the raisins sink, then slowly rise as bubbles collect around them. Children love the surprise and movement of this experiment, and it provides a great opportunity to model scientific language like “float,” “sink,” “bubbles,” and “gas.”
We’ll follow up with a simple drawing of what we saw and discuss why the raisins moved. This activity is a perfect example of inquiry-based learning for this age group. It builds curiosity, encourages close observation, and invites children to explain their thinking in age-appropriate ways. -
Activity Set: Rockets
I really like the rocket mice experiment, and think this would be the most suitable experiment from this module to use with my senior infant class, so I am looking forward to trying this on returning to school. I also had the idea of using the picture book ‘Roaring Rockets’ to introduce the children to the different features of a rocket. The book introduces the key features of a rocket — boosters, control panels, space suits, etc. — in a fun and engaging way. The children would then have a great visual and vocabulary base to build and decorate their own rockets, using toilet paper holders and a variety of arts & crafts materials – coloured paper, crepe paper, stars stickers, glitter etc. We would have a show and tell entitled ‘”My Rocket Adventure”, where the children would present their creation to their peers and come up with their own story about an adventure they would like to undertake in their rocket that they have created. We would link this to literacy by writing our simple stories over the course of a few days. 🙂
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For Space Week, I would create a use the Spacecraft Activity Set to spark curiosity and engage my class in hands-on STEM learning. One of the main activities would be a “Design and Build Your Own Spacecraft” challenge using recycled materials. I would begin with a short video and discussion about real spacecraft like the ISS or Mars rovers to give the children context and inspiration. Then, in small groups, they would plan and build their own spacecraft, thinking about the features needed to survive in space.
This activity would promote teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, while also supporting key skills in science (space and materials), maths (shape and measurement), and literacy (labelling and presenting ideas). To conclude the week, we would host a “Spacecraft Showcase” where each group could share their designs with the class. I think this project would make STEM fun and accessible for all learners, while encouraging collaboration and imagination.
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I really enjoyed this idea of building your own real spacecraft as inspiration is a great way to build context and spark curiosity. This would also be a great topic for Aistear. There would be great station activities that could be used eg. Role-play (build a giant rocket ship as a whole class prior to Aistear time)
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Olivia,
check out this Aistear station with checklists, countdowns, and a bit silver rocket in the corner
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I would definitely be keen on exploring Rockets as an activity with my class. I have previously launched vitamin tablet rockets with great success.
Firstly I would reach out to parents to collect and source a vitamin tablet tube for each child. I collect them myself to have enough for a rocket per child. This takes a little bit of planning so just be prepared for that.
Once you have enough for a class set, the children can decorate their vitamin tube/rocket. I like to use the rectangular name labels for design and decoration as they stick easily to the outside of the vitamin tube. Other materials don’t take as easily to plastic casing. They can also design fins and cone shaped tops to the tube to make them look more like “rockets”.
Decide on a launch day. I like to organize the class into groups and do a round of launches. They can then observe or make adjustments as a team based on launch results. The success and failures are a really great learning experience as they can try again and adjust the experiment as they go.
Go through the instructions carefully before the launch. Explain the method and safety precautions that are needed. Vitamin tube need to be firmly sealed to have a good launch.
1. Break up effervescent tablet into smaller pieces.
2. Place pieces of effervescent tablet into the “basket” of the upside down vitamin lid.
3. Fill the vitamin tube about 1/3 with water.
4. Tightly seal the lid onto the tube and place upside down in the launch area.
5. Step back and time how many seconds it takes for tube to launch.
Discuss observations, results and record findings of each team afterwards.
I love this activity so much and I know the kids do too. Definitely one to try I think!
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Hi Orla I love this idea of a vitamin tablet tube rocket! I use these tubes myself so I will start collecting them now and try to have a few before going back to school. Great tip about the labels too as they would love to design their own. I think I will have to start a ‘STEM donation box’ in my classroom this year. If we have the materials to hand it would make activities like this easy to set up when needed.
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We have not done Space Week as a whole school activity up to now but hopefully we can start this year and be part of a very exciting activity week.
Here are a few ideas which teachers can use or modify, according to class ability and age group.
Monday: Our Planet the Earth; Rotation day and night, Climate and weather, clothes, food, activities etc (Activities : Children facing the light and vice versa,drawing one another’s shadows,comparing coats, building a sun dial)
Materials:Universe in a Box, Bear Shadow kit with lamp, sundial diagram and chalks/stones to mark the yard at different times, globe and lamp to denote making different seasons and Journey Through the Solar System (Esero lesson 01).
Tuesday: The Sun and the Solar System; various planets, names, attributes, orbit time, interesting facts about the planets.
Activities; Children with hoola hoops in yard to mark out various orbits and solar system, falling things and gravity,children carrying out tests in schoolbags, classroom, school to verify magnetic materials, solar bead bracelets.
Materials: as above and magnets , Family of the Sun (Esero 1), Sun Activity Set.
Wednesday:Moon and Moon Phases, the moon’s orbit of the earth, calendar months and days, childrens’ birthdays, solar eclipse, lunar eclipse.
Activities: Collage/artwork of moon phases, making craters in flour/sand.
Materials: Activity Set The Moon, Paxi Video, Man in The Moon (Esero lesson 2 and 22), various photos of the moon and moon craters.
Thursday: The Dark Sky: Night time, stars, constellations, galaxies, asteroids.
Activities: My Sky Tonight; Making constellations; the Plough, locating the North Star and other constellations, night animals and birds, bats.
Materials: Dark Space, My Sky Tonight video, red and blue bear ,globe and lamp, Space Week Resource book.
Friday: Stellarium a view of the day sky or night sky. This can be amended using zoom , dateline, timeline, place etc to compare and contrast what can be seen in terms of the moon, planets and constellations. This can be shown on an interactive whiteboard to make is more real and exciting for the children.
We would finish the week by Compiling a Class Mind Map and a wall map of new space vocabulary words where each child is invited to add his /her favourite space item/fact/word learned during the week.This could be followed by The Planet Dance video, where the children can dance or it could be followed by an art activity using pastels/chalks on white or dark paper. The school has a wide range of books both in English agus as Gaeilge which could be used as a starting point for any space lesson.
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Caitlin,
your plan has something for everyone, with a range of science and cross curricular activities. Sounds like a lot of fun, and I hope that the resources shared in this course can easily be used by your colleagues to deliver a whole school experience in early October.
Don’t forget to register with spaceweek.ie to share the news, and you might find more ideas there under https://www.spaceweek.ie/for-organisers/for-teachers/
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I look forward to teaching the topic of Rockets to my Second Class pupils in the next academic year. I will introduce the topic by allowing the children to watch a rocket launch from the NASA Space Station.
Next we will explore how rockets works and then proceed to build our very own balloon rockets! We will watch the ‘Marvin and Milo’ cartoon, where the characters ask various questions which will spark curiosity amongst my pupils.•
The children will then play with their rockets, understanding different concepts though hands-on investigation. I will pose different questions such as ‘Do you think the rocket will go further if you blow harder?’. The students will make predictions and then carry out investigations.
We will discuss the science behind the launch, focusing on thrust and propulsion. This lesson blends engagement, hands-on activities, active learning and scientific inquiry, making learning about rockets an exciting experience for all.
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Edel,
rockets can be a great investigation topic – and the marvin and milo cartoon strips can be printed out and shared. I’d leave out the last frame where they usually describe what is going on – let the children generate their own prediction based on their own understanding.
If you wanted children to explore if a rocket went further if you blew harder, then you would be looking at the puff rocket instead – and you could use this image from the ISS Education Kit (page 21).
Second class should have the fine motor skills to make the rolled up paper of this rocket – if they find it tricky, then get some of the paper covered straws, and use the bit of paper as the “rocket”. https://www.tommyvarden.ie/products/wrapped-paper-straws-box-of-500
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I really liked the Marvin and Milo cartoon strips, I had a good look around the site and I thought it was a great way to teach reluctant pupils who either are not interested in classwork or have difficulty with the written word on the page, it is much easier to follow it in cartoon form. It is more pleasing to the eye, and it is funny and they don’t realize they’re actually learning from it. Drivers I love the title “Do try this at home”
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That sounds like a fantastic and engaging way to introduce rockets to your class! Using the NASA launch video is a great hook to spark curiosity, and I love how you’re incorporating the Marvin and Milo cartoon to prompt questioning and discussion. The balloon rocket activity is a brilliant hands-on investigation that makes abstract concepts like thrust and propulsion accessible to young learners. Your use of prediction and inquiry-based questioning will really support critical thinking and scientific skills. I’m sure your pupils will be buzzing with excitement during this lesson—what a memorable way to learn about forces in action!
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For Module 5, I looked at how I could bring maths and science together through the theme of Space, focusing on rockets. A brilliant way to kick this off is with Reaching for the Stars by Dr. Norah Patten — she’s Ireland’s first astronaut-in-training and a really inspiring figure for children. I’d also show the clip of her on the Late Late Toy Show to make that real-world connection.
We could try building a rocket for Dr. Norah using balloon rockets or even the “rocket mouse” from the Science Museum in London — both are fun and easy to set up. After testing them, we’d have a go at predicting which might travel furthest and why, and measure the distances, tying in maths through estimating and recording results. It’s a great way to explore forces in a hands-on, exciting way.
We could link this into SESE by looking at birds’ wings and how planes fly, and develop literacy skills by writing questions for Dr. Norah Patten or even pretending we were interviewing her. For drama, I might go into role as a visiting alien and get the children to explain what rockets are and how they work. We’d also learn the song Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon – it’s simple and fun, and would be a lovely way to finish a space-themed day/week.
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Hi Shauna,
Using Dr. Norah Patten as a real-life inspiration is a brilliant idea. She is a wonderful role model for students. I love how the rocket activities link naturally to maths skills like estimating, measuring, and recording. It’s such a creative way to explore space and forces while keeping it exciting and meaningful for young learners.
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I would use the story Aliens in Underpants Save the World as a fun and engaging introduction to our space theme. The book is full of humour, bright illustrations, and silly moments that really capture young children’s imaginations. It introduces the idea of aliens and space travel in a playful, non-threatening way, making it perfect for junior infants. We would read the story together, pausing to talk about the characters, the setting, and what the aliens are doing. This is a great way to build language and comprehension skills.
After the story, we’d explore some of the themes—aliens, rockets, and outer space, through discussion and creative activities. I’d then follow up with the Rocket Mice activity, where children make their own “rocket” using a paper mouse and a plastic bottle. This hands-on experiment introduces basic science concepts like force and air pressure, while also developing fine motor skills and encouraging curiosity. -
I would start the lesson with making paper airplanes. They could decorate their planes whatever way they want, and then we would all stand at the same line and one by one they can throw their airplane to see which airplane will go the furthest. We would mark the landing of each plane with a line of chalk and the child’s name on the line. The second time we do this we would be sitting on the ground, and let them compare the distance that the airplane will travel when they’re standing to when they’re sitting (marking the landing of the second throwing with a different chalk colour), we would discuss the energy that is used on both occasions.
We would then have a discussion on traveling through the air. What travels through the air in nature you’ve got seeds, how do they travel through the air and show some of the sycamore seeds (we called them helicopters). Discuss what propels them through the air.
Then we’d also talk about animals that fly through the air:
(a) insects: look at how many wings they have and the width of the wings.
(B) birds: how do they fly? Which birds can’t fly discussing why they can’t fly if they have the same characteristics as the birds that can fly.
(C) animals: that glide through the air (squirrels, flying fish, snakes etc)
(D) bats: they are the only mammals that can fly, how do they fly and how do they use echolocationThen we would start our work on rockets. Rockets have their own sensors on board to navigate around the Earth just like the bats navigate around there environment. Each group of pupils would make their own rocket give it a personal name and using a variety of resources try and make the rocket fly themselves.
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Wendy,
for an older class there is the opportunity to compare the fins of a rocket that offer stability to the wings of an airplane that offer lift. A superb resource for teachers is the NASA rocket educators guide at: https://www.nasa.gov/stem-content/rockets-educator-guide/
There is a helicopter activity as part of Curious Minds – it is in English and Irish.
Which rocket variant appeals to you the most?
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One of my favourite activities from this module is the Rocket Mice experiment, and I believe it is the most suitable and exciting experiment to try with my Senior Infant class. It’s hands-on, active, and clearly demonstrates basic science ideas like force and motion in a way that young children can understand. I’m really looking forward to trying it out when we return to school. To build on this theme, I plan to use the picture book ‘Roaring Rockets’ as a fun and engaging way to introduce the children to the different parts of a rocket. The book presents terms like boosters, control panels, and space suits in simple language with colourful illustrations, making it perfect for supporting vocabulary development in an infant classroom. After reading the book, the children will design and build their own rockets using lots of recyclable materials (e.g., toilet paper rolls) and a variety of craft materials like coloured paper, crepe streamers, star stickers, glitter, and foil. This creative task will give them a chance to apply what they’ve learned, make choices about materials, and use their imaginations. To finish the project, we’ll hold a show and tell, where each child presents their rocket to the class and shares a short imaginative story about where they would travel in space. We’ll then link this to literacy by helping the children write simple sentences or draw and label pictures to create a short story based on their rocket adventure, working on this over a few days as part of our writing time. This activity links science, literacy, and art really nicely.
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As this year’s theme for Space Week is ‘Living in Space.’ I have chosen to outline a weekly cross curricular plan because I think it would be a fun theme to explore with lots of opportunities for learning.
Learning Outcome- To name the planets of the solar system. Understanding what it’s like to live, work, and travel in space.
Skills – A Sense of Place and Space.
I would begin by using pictures and videos of space & astronauts in space (e.g., NASA Kids: life in microgravity) to encourage discussion on what it is like in space. I would encourage the children to close their eyes and imagine they are in space- use the 5 senses- what they imagine it feels like, tastes like, sounds like, smells like and looks like.
We would use the large chart paper to do a class KWL at this point.
As a literacy lesson- I would give the children a prompt such as “If I went to space, I would…” and ask them to write a short creative paragraph.
We would follow this up with a video on how astronauts sleep and eat without gravity- youtube kids.
As an art lesson the children could create a menu for an astronaut dinner (with silly or real foods!).
In Drama, the children could explore how astronauts feel putting on and wearing spacesuits. The children could act this out – how difficult is it to use objects etc wearing a spacesuit.
In SPHE the children could explore how the astronauts stay connected to their families and what they do to keep their mind and body healthy in space.
We would wrap the lessons up by completing the L in the KWL. -
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The activity I have chosen from this module is Rockets. We would start the lesson by reading the story Peter and his Rocket Ship and discussing where we might go on a rocket. We will have a whole class discussion on how we would make our very own Rocket and what would be best materials to use. We will use a cardboard tube for the body of the rocket which they can choose to paint any bright colour of their choice. While the paint is drying, they will make the top of the rocket, using a different coloured card. They will cut out a circular shape which can be rolled into a cone for the top of the rocket. Using tinfoil, they will then cut out three circles to stick on the one side of the rocket. Out of the open end, they will cut and stick red, orange and yellow crepe paper as the fire from the rocket.
To finish off the lesson we will attempt to fly our rockets! -
For Space Week, I would base my class plan around the exciting hands-on activity of shooting a rocket into the air, which is a brilliant way to introduce the concept of forces and motion to primary pupils. I’d begin the week by sparking curiosity with real NASA launch footage and a class discussion around rockets—what they are, how they work, and why they’re used. We’d then explore basic science concepts like push and pull forces, gravity, and air resistance through simple demonstrations.
The highlight would be building and launching paper or straw rockets in the yard. The children could test different designs to see which flies furthest and reflect on why. We’d encourage predictions, measurements, and group discussion—developing both STEM and literacy skills.
To wrap up the week, each group would present their findings and write or draw their own “Mission Report.” This activity not only celebrates Space Week but embeds scientific thinking in a fun, memorable way
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Spaceweek- Senior Infants
Day 1 – The Moon
Word Wall fill
Book stimulus: Zoom to the Moon
Tuff tray moon craters in sand/ sensory rice moon play
Spaceman photograph art
Day 2- The Sun
Book stimulus: Say Hello to the Sun
Activity: Shadow art outside with toy animals
Sun snacks with cheese and crackers
Paper Plate paint sun hanger
Day 3- Earth
Book stimulus: The Earth Book
Playdough Earth with grass and flowers
Sensory walk
Day 4- Rockets
Book stimulus: Maisy’s Rocket
Activity: Mouse Rocket experiment
Art: 3D rockets using recycled materials from home
10 things to take to Space worksheet
Day 5- Aliens
Book stimulus: Aliens in Underpants Save the World
Activity: 3D dough alien models
Film treat: Space Dogs: Adventure to the Moon
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The activity I would choose from this module is Rockets. I think this would be a very exciting topic. I would use a story as an introduction in Irish if possible, I had a book called Míp last year which was about a space rocket. This would lead into the initial interest and investigation. A quick KWL chart would be next to assess prior knowledge followed by a discussion on how we could make our own rockets. What type of materials would move fastest etc. I would then use the tried and tested balloon rocket, an old one but a good one, the class always enjoy! We could predict which rocket moves fastest. On reflection we might discuss what we could change nect time so it might move faster, further and so on. There are many links for integration- art lessons, maths (estimation ,predictions). We could build our own rockets using recycled materials, 3d shapes in the classroom, the possibilities are endless.
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I would choose to use the activity set Rockets. I think anything to do with rocket ships and making things fly around the room is an instant hook for any child!
I would introduce the topic by asking the children first what they think happens in the lead up to a rocket launching and I would write down their thoughts on the board. Then we would watch one of the NASA rocket launch videos and compare what takes place in the video to what we had already written. We would discuss what it is that makes the rocket actually launch.
For a senior infant class, I would ask all the children to bring in some form of container. It could be a large 3L milk container or a small orange juice container. Once everyone has something the children will get to work decorating their rocket launcher. This will make them even more personalised and have the children even more invested in their work. I would give each table a paper mouse as their rocket. The children will look at each other’s launcher before actually shooting the mouse off and predict which one will make the mouse fly highest and why. Once they have their predictions in, they can get to work testing which container will get the mouse the furthest in the air. I would encourage the children to try to vary the amount of pressure they put on their launcher to see if that has any impact on the height or distance their mouse flies.
To finish the lesson off, I would read the story Zoom, Rocket, Zoom, by Margaret Mayo.
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I would pick the topic of rockets to teach to the children. I would introduce 1st class children to rockets by starting with a fun discussion about what rockets are and how they help astronauts travel into space. I would show them pictures or a short video of rockets launching to spark their curiosity. I would invite questions and talk about how rockets help people explore space. Then, I would guide the children in building their own rocket models using recycled materials like empty paper towel rolls, bottle caps, and coloured paper. I would help them cut, glue, and decorate their rockets, encouraging creativity and teaching the importance of recycling. Next, I would do a simple baking soda and vinegar experiment using plastic bottles to demonstrate how air pressure can launch a rocket. The children would watch the reaction and see the “launch” in action while we talk about cause and effect. After that, I would organize a small group challenge where children work together to design and build rockets that can stand upright using craft sticks, cardboard, and tape. We would test the rockets and discuss which designs worked best and why. Finally, I would invite the children to share their rockets and explain what they learned, combining storytelling with science to make the lesson engaging and memorable.
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Activity – Rocket Mouse
To introduce the Rocket Mouse experiment, I would begin by showing a short video or picture of a real rocket launch to spark curiosity. I would then explain that we’ll be launching our own “rocket mouse” using a plastic bottle and a paper cone. As a class, we would make the rocket mice together—decorating paper cones with ears, eyes, and tails to make them look like mice. I would demonstrate how to place the mouse on the bottle and squeeze to launch it into the air. We would predict what might happen and then test it out in small groups. Children would observe how the harder they squeeze, the higher the mouse flies. We’d discuss the idea of air pushing the mouse up, introducing the concept of force in simple terms. To finish, children could draw or talk about what they saw, supporting both science and oral language development -
Space Week for 1st & 2nd Class
Space week is always a great opportunity for whole school collaboration. Older classes visiting younger classes to share a daily space fact or older classes coming to younger classes to help them complete an investigation always work really well. Similarly whole school events like a space quiz or space fair where classes demonstrate what they have learned over the week are always very enjoyable. Having completed the course I feel well equipped to implement a well rounded Space Week programme for my class.
Monday – Inquiry into Space – what do we already know about space?, what space facts can we share?, what would we like to know about space that we don’t already? Each child would be given 2 post its. On one they will write something they already know or a fact about space and on the other they will write something they would like to know about space. These will be displayed in the classroom and will be explored over the week.
Tuesday – The Solar System – Exploring the Solar System by creating models of the planets using playdoh. The children will use different size balls to represent the different sizes of the planets. The children will then research three facts about a planet of their choice and share these with the class.
Wednesday – Stars – I will use Stellarium to explore the sky locally. Making star lanterns using the activity from spaceweek.ie
Thursday – Rockets – Building a rocket from recycled materials like old milk/juice cartons, toilet/kitchen roll holders etc and making a spacecraft activity from spaceweek.ie in small groups
Friday – Review – Could we add anything extra to the post its about what we know about space now? Have we answered what we wanted to know about space? Two stars and a wish student self reflection activity – two things I liked/learned from the week and one thing I’d like to learn more about or something I found difficult/challenging.
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Hi Orla, You have a well structured and fun plan for Space Week. It would be a lovely week that brings the whole school together around the theme of space. I really like the post it notes to begin the week, it would be more meaningful than a whole class KWL and they can be revisited. It’s a great way to give pupils ownership of their learning and for self reflection at the end of the week. Your use of Stellarium on Wednesday is a brilliant way to link digital tools with real life for the children, the star lanterns is an activity I hope to use with my class too. Thank you for sharing!
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For Space Week in 2nd class, I will design a hands-on, inquiry-based plan that integrates STEM with literacy, art, and play. We’ll begin with engaging texts such as ‘Aliens in Underpants’ and ‘Whatever Next’ to spark curiosity and discussion. Pupils will explore rockets through videos, images, and group talks to activate prior knowledge and generate “I wonder…” questions. The core activity will be designing, building, and launching simple rockets using recycled materials, balloons, or puff-powered paper rockets with straws. This will introduce concepts like force, motion, air pressure, and design. Children will test and compare their rockets, make predictions, and draw conclusions based on observations, encouraging collaboration and critical thinking.
Art activities will include marbling techniques for Neptune and designing starry skies, while moon crater-making with flour will support scientific exploration. Play stations will feature astronauts and rocket launches, allowing for creative role-play. A hall-based STEM station will allow children to compare planet sizes and features in a fun, interactive way. Oral language, literacy, and writing will be integrated through discussions, labelling, and reflective captions. Photos and pupil work will be shared in our class STEM journal and with families.
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Maria – what fun! I like how you have identified specific appropriate texts, and plan to use images and videos to prompt the children’s interest.
You have clearly used the Inquiry Framework to structure the plan, with plenty of opportunity for children to work together and explore aspects of the topic that interest them particularly.
Will you use the Solar System Resource in Irish or English to support the planet size comparison? This could be an opportunity to add some Irish language.
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For Space week in Junior Infants I have chosen to make rocket mice from Module 5. To introduce rockets, I would read the story “The Way Back Home” by Oliver Jeffares. We could discuss the book and then follow on with a discussion around where the boy went and how he got there. This would get the discussion about Space started. Next, we could move on to watching a video of a rocket launch from Youtube and have a class discussion about what a rocket is? What do we use them for? Do we use a rocket to go on holidays? Who flies them? Where do they go? Why don’t they use aeroplanes? etc. We would look at a few different videos of Rockets launching into space and discuss what we see in the videos – why is there fire? How do they go so high? This will really spark their interest and get them interested in the topic. .
Next, we would then create simple milk carton Rocket Mice. Each child would decorate their own Milk carton (launcher), then create their mouse using the template. Finally, just before launching our mice we will make predictions, what will happen when we squeeze our hands together on the milk carton? Where will the rocket mouse go? What will happen nect? etc. Then we would all launch our rocket mice together. We’d observe how far and how high the rocket mice travel. I’d encourage them to predict, “What happens if we squeeze our hands together harder or softer?” “Or faster or slower?”. By testing different ways of squeezing the milk carton, the children get to explore and investigate basic forces in a playful, fun and hands-on way.
To build on this – the following week, we could compare whose rocket went the farthest and why, introduce simple measurements, or explore making rockets from different materials.I think this would be a big hit in the infant classroom, resources needed are cost effective and it is a fun way for them to be introduced to prediction, investigation and measuring skills.
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Balloon Rocket
The topic of rockets was very engaging in this module, the Balloon rocket is a hand on activity which I would like to complete with my class. This hands on STEM activity brings science to life and taps into children’s natural curiosity about space and movement. I would begin the lesson by asking the children, How do rockets get into space? to spark discussion and prior knowledge. Then, we’d watch a short video from the ESA Kids website showing real rocket launches to build on the children’s interest.
We would engage in the Marvin and Milo cartoon Balloon rocket, then move into the rocket building challenge using paper, straws, and balloons. In groups, with assistance, the groups would build a simple balloon rocket that travels along a piece of string. Before launching, children would make predictions about what would happen. To involve digital technologies for the children, they could take a video of the rocket launch on the school Ipads. We would vary elements like balloon size or string angle and observe what changes happened. They would be encouraged to use unit of measurement they have learnt in maths, to record measurements travelled by the rocket.
The children would record their findings with drawings and simple written points. As a whole class we would reflect on what made some rockets travel further than others by watching the videos each group took and responding to it.
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Tara: Using videos is great! with a slightly older cohort I have run “heavy lifting rockets” which are balloon rockets designed to go upwards, carrying as many paper clips as possible. They are tricky and need persistence!
With multiple launch stations we did a countdown and all released at the same time – mayhem!
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Hi Tara, I really like how you integrated ICT and maths into your lesson. It’s great to be able to task quieter children with tasks such as this as it gives them an important role without too much pressure to speak etc. I think adding a numeracy element is great too, especially if you’ve covered length etc.
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Cross – curricular lessons carried out over a fortnight as well as Space themed Aistear stations. I would first tell the children what our new topic is (Space) and then carry out a KWL chart with them – see what the children know already about Space and what they would like to find out. Throughout the fortnight I would recreate a display board
Literacy: Teach ‘Twinkl, Twinkl little star’.
Read the books ‘The Darkest Night’ by Astronaut Chris Hadfield and ‘Busy people: Astronaut’ by Lucy M. George and also the book ‘How it works: Rocket’ by Amelia Hepworth to give the children a sense of what it is like to be an astronaut in space, how they had to train to get there and how the rocket works. Discuss orally the books – what their favourite part was, what new information they learned from them, if they would like to train to become an astronaut, etc.
Another book that can be used is ‘The Smeds and The Smoos’ by Julia Donaldson. Have a discussion with the children about what an Alien might look like.
Maths: Counting backwards from 10 (or whatever number the children are comfortable with) to blast off.
Patterns ~ Cutting and sticking patterns to a rocket ship.
History: watch videos of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon in 1969.
Geography: Identify and discuss the sun, the moon and stars. Discuss the differences between day and night.
Science: Explore how shadows are formed and bring the children outside so they can draw/trace around shadows with chalk.
Drama: Pretend to be an astronaut in Space with no gravity. How they would walk on the moon, how does it feel; to be wearing their spacesuit, to breath, to talk, to eat, etc.
Art: Colour in an astronaut outline – take a photo of each child, print and glue into the helmet so each child will be an astronaut.
Aistear:
Role-play: Space travel Agent – the children will be able to pretend to buy tickets for going to different planets in space.
Art and crafts: Design and make an Alien on paper and then 3D. The children will be using a variety of resources – playdough, marla, clay, wire, tinfoil, pipe cleaners, goggly eyes, felt, paper, fabric, wool, cardboard and anything else they would like to use.
Make slime and use different colours (paint or food dye) and add googly eyes/beads, etc.
Play dough: Laminated mats to make stars, asteroids, Saturn’s rings, craters on the moon, satellite, flames for a rocket, alien, planets (available from twinkl).
Sand/water: Using miniature space items – aliens, rockets, astronauts, plants, stars, moon, astroids, etc.
Contruction: make a rocket ship using lego or magnetic tiles.
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Niamh,
thanks for sharing your comprehensive plan for a space-y fortnight! One teacher last year suggested using the countdown whenever they were lining up, moving from one task to another etc, so that they had plenty of opportunity to hear it and respond to it.
If you plan this fortnight near Space Week, please do register it as a private school event on spaceweek.ie
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For my assignment I would choose the Rockets activity, as I believe it would be a very engaging topic for the children to discuss about and make their own. I would start off by using the book ‘Aliens in Underpants Save the World’ as a stimulus. The children would then get to share what they know about rockets and link it to the story through guided questioning e.g. Why did the aliens use rockets? What do rockets do? This would be an effective way to integrate literacy with STEM through story and oral language. Following this, the children would then get the opportunity to make their own rockets. As this is based on an infant classroom, I would help them to make the mouse rockets, and we would explore how the mouse ‘rockets’ off into space. I would ask the children to share what they think is similiar about their rocket and the rockets in the storybook to consolidate their learning.
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Laura,
I like your rocket plan, doable and effective for younger children. Start collecting the milk bottles and ideally have a range of volumes. You can also use the larger soft drink bottles, but since they are now re-turn logo-ed, they have a value!
Some brands of supermarket bottles are thinner than others, so shop around for the rest of the summer to get a range.
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From this module I would like to teach the topic of Rockets. First we would look at a video all about rockets and I would ask the students to tell me words they remembered from the video to write up on the board. We would then talk about famous Rockets and their crew. Then we would proceed to a cut and stick activity to label the parts of a rocket to reinforce the learning that has already taken place. Using materials from a box of recycling items, I would encourage the students to build their own rocket and name it. From there I would put up photos of the Planets and get out the students names. Each student would decide which Planet they want their rocket to go to and stick their name underneath. At the end of the lesson, we would do a tally to see which was the favourite Planet down to the least favourite.
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I would begin teaching about rockets by creating our own rockets with my class. I would start with an activity called Balloon rockets. I would start by showing a short video of a real rocket launch to capture their attention and then start a class discussion on how rockets move. What does it use to make them travel? Then the class would set up a rocket runway using materials such as string, straws, balloons and cellotape. In small groups the children would work together to build their own rockets and take turns in laughing them along the string. We would discuss how the air that is in the balloon is pushing the rocket forward and we would measure how far each of our balloon rockets travels. Then we would experiment with how we could make our balloons travel further and what would happen if we used balloons of different sizes or shapes.
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The activity I would like to reflect on is the Rocket lesson. I would begin by showing the children various space rocket launch clips. we would discuss the countdown and think about the reason the countdown goes from 10 to 1.
I would ask the children to think about how a rocket is launched.
I would then provide materials so that the children could make a straw rocket by rolling paper around a pencil and making a tip at the top. I would ask the children to place the rocket onto a straw and them blow. We would discuss what could make the rocket go further etc.
We would use this rocket again for a more complex task introduced by the Marvin and Milo comic strip Balloon Rocket. The children would thread the rocket with a straw and tie it to a balloon . They would let the air out and see how far the rocket goes. Again we would discuss options for making the balloon go further and faster.
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To introduce the Rockets activity set in my classroom, I would begin with a story or video showing rockets launching into space to capture the children’s interest. We’d have a class discussion about what rockets are, why we use them, and what makes them fly. I’d encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions.
Then, I’d set up practical activities in small groups. One station would involve designing and building simple paper or straw rockets. The children could decorate them and test how far they travel when launched using straws or air pressure. We’d also create a large display showing different types of rockets, adding photos and facts we learn together.
In another group, we’d do a basic science experiment using balloon rockets tied to string across the room, letting children see how air pushes the rocket forward. Throughout the activities, we’d talk about speed, distance, and direction, linking in early science and maths skills in a fun, hands-on way.
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I would use the Rockets Activity set, utilising Marvin and Milo’s balloon Rocket Lesson Plan alone with some other ideas to extend the lesson and incorporate it into other subjects
When infants learn about rockets we need to focus on hands-on activities that explore basic concepts of space and movement. Activities could include building simple rockets from recycled materials, experimenting with balloon rockets, or creating rocket-themed crafts and artwork. Incorporate storytelling, like reading “Roaring Rockets”, and encourage pretend play as astronauts.
Recycled Rockets:
Use toilet paper or paper towel tubes, construction paper, and tape to build rockets. Decorate them with markers, crayons, or paint.
Balloon Rockets:
Attach a straw to a balloon, thread it onto a string, and launch it by blowing into the balloon and letting it go.
Straw Rockets:
Use straws, paper, and tape to create simple rockets that can be launched by blowing through the straw.
Magnetic Rockets:
Attach a magnetic rocket to a paper plate and use a second magnet underneath to make it move.
Rocket Catcher Challenge:
Have students design and build a device to catch a falling rocket (a paper or cardboard tube).Rocket-Themed Crafts & Activities:
Shape Rockets:
Use construction paper to cut out shapes (circles, triangles, rectangles) and glue them together to create a rocket.
Rocket Collages:
Use various materials like tissue paper, glitter, and fabric scraps to create a collage of a rocket.
Rocket Coloring Pages:
Provide coloring pages with rockets for students to decorate.
Galaxy Plates:
Use watercolors to paint a galaxy on a paper plate and then attach a paper rocket.
Read Books: Choose age-appropriate books about rockets, space, or astronauts, like “Roaring Rockets”.
Space Exploration: Discuss different planets, stars, and the concept of space travel.
Pretend Play: Encourage imaginative play with space-themed toys, costumes, and props.
Use writing prompts related to space or have students write stories about their own rocket adventures.
Maths: Incorporate counting activities related to the number of rockets or stars. Counting Down: Practice counting down from 10 to 0, just like astronauts. -
Children infant classes always get excited when we carry out the dancing raisins experiment. It is a go-to experiment used during Science Week with infant classes. The main hall of the school is given over to the different classes who take turns to demonstrate to their school peers and to visit and observe the experiments undertaken by other classes.
With Infant classes, some supervision is required however allowing the children to discover and witness themselves really piques their interest and curiosity. It is an excellent STEM activity that can also be used with slightly older children using predictions and observations (which can also be used with Infants), we record our findings in copies. It introduces scientific vocabulary and familiarises the children with procedural writing.
We consider what might happen if we were to substitute the raisins with items of different density/buoyancy, such as coins, rice, match (wooden) sticks. This always generates lots of excitement and curiosity. There are plenty of opportunities for ‘Oops questions, such as, Oops, I spilled my ‘Sprite’, what might happen if we use water now instead of the fizzy drink?’Even the children in 6th observing the experiments always marvel at the spectacle. A simple experiment which appeals to all ages.
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To begin my lesson I would show the cartoon where Marvin and Milo build their rockets. We will discuss and compare their rockets. The class will identify the questions Marvin and Milo asked and what they each wondered. These will be added to our KWL charts.
I will explain to the children that today we will make our own rockets. Together we will watch the video on the mouse rockets. The children will be split into mixed ability groups. The children will discuss the rockets, list the materials used and draw the rockets. The children will go to the junk art press and find the resources needed.
Once the rockets are built, Like Marvin and Milo we will investigate a certain feature of our rockets. The children will come up with investigations and predictions, these will be added to the KWL chart.
Once the rockets are built we will explore the different ways to use the rocket and assess how we will answer our questions and assess our predictions. For instance, we will compare how different applications of pressure around the rocket will determine how far the mouse will fly. To conclude the lesson using the KWL chart the children will sit for circle time and record their investigations and make note of any unexpected results.The rockets will then be pictured and used to compare the rockets made for science week in 5th class as part of science week. The 5th class students could come to the class and engage in small group discussions comparing materials used in their rockets vs the mouse rockets.
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Aisling,
I like the plan to share learnings with another class – this can be part of the Curious Minds Awards “science showcase”.
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3rd Class – Plan for Space Week
Rockets – Learning about rockets. KWL chart on rockets. What do they know? What do they want to learn? And finally, at the end of the week, revisit the KWL chart to discuss what they have learned.
Monday
Flying Mice!
Resources: Templates for the Mice and 1L, 2L, and 3L plastic milk cartons, Sellotape, and crayons
Explain that we are going to make our own mouse rockets and demonstrate how to make a mouse rocket and make it fly.
All the children then make their own mice for flying and choose a milk carton.
Tuesday
Balloon Rockets—Resources: Balloons, straws, string.
Wednesday
Paper Straw Rockets
Resources: Templates, straws, tape, scissors, and a pencil
Thursday
Fizzy rockets using fizzy vitamin tablets and the long cylindrical tubes.
Friday
Divide the 3rd class into teams to teach each experiment by show and tell to four other classes in the school. They can practice first and write out the procedure and decide what stories to read to introduce the experiment.
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3rd Class – Plan for Space Week
Rockets – Learning about rockets. KWL chart on rockets. What do they know? What do they want to learn? And finally, at the end of the week, revisit the KWL chart to discuss what they have learned.
Monday
Flying Mice!
Resources: Templates for the Mice and 1L, 2L, and 3L plastic milk cartons, Sellotape, and crayons
Explain that we are going to make our own mouse rockets and demonstrate how to make a mouse rocket and make it fly.
All the children then make their own mice for flying and choose a milk carton.
Tuesday
Balloon Rockets—Resources: Balloons, straws, string.
Wednesday
Paper Straw Rockets
Resources: Templates, straws, tape, scissors, and a pencil
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTd2f59TSVo&t=5s
Thursday
Launch a rocket with a fizzy vitamin tablet and a tube. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it can only change from one form to another. The energy from the fizzy tablet is released, pushing the rocket into the air.
Friday
Team work. Divide the class into teams to teach each experiment to four other different classes. Gather all the materials needed and flip chart of procedural writing for each experiment.
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After completing this module, I’ve decided to create a class plan to celebrate Space Week with a focus on inclusive, inquiry-based learning. Our theme will be “Exploring Our Solar System”, and the week will include a variety of cross-curricular activities designed to meet the needs of all learners.
We will begin the week with an engaging video from ESA Kids and a KWL chart to activate curiosity. Pupils will then take part in rotating space-themed stations, including:
Design your own planet (Art & Geography)
Build a rocket from recycled materials (STEM)
Create a moon phase model using Oreos (Science)
Space story writing (Literacy, using sentence starters and Book Creator for accessibility)
To support Universal Design for Learning (UDL), I will offer visual supports, audio instructions, hands-on materials, and the option to express learning through drawing, writing, or voice recordings. Online safety will be addressed through a digital citizenship mini-lesson before pupils explore interactive space games or research tools.
At the end of the week, pupils will present one thing they learned using a method of their choice—this could be a poster, a digital book, or even a recorded explanation. We will also gather pupil voice to reflect on what activities they enjoyed most, feeding into our school’s ongoing STEM-focused School Self-Evaluation.
Space Week offers a fun and meaningful context to spark imagination, promote inclusivity, and build 21st-century skills across the curriculum.
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I would love to do lessons on alien chemistry whereby the children can explore chemistry concepts like mixing, reactions and materials. They would do all of this through imaginative play. I have junior infants in September and would love to try out these lesson during small group play during Aistear.
I would introduce the lesson by telling the children they’ve received a message from friendly aliens who need help understanding Earth’s mixtures and materials. I regularly use a puppet in my lessons for literacy, and I think a puppet that looks like an alien could add to the imagination around these lessons. Some of the main activities I would focus in on would be Alien Slime using cornflour, water, food colouring and some glitter. The children could discuss whether the combined materials are solids or liquids?
Another activity could involve the children mixing baking soda, food colouring and adding droplets of vinegar to see the mixture fizz. Teacher and children could discuss what happens when the vinegar is added.
Finally, the children could create different spaceships using a variety of materials such as tinfoil, sponges, cotton and plastic. The children could arrange them and pick what materials would best suit different weather conditions for the aliens.
All mixing stations could then be used with small figurines and the children could act out small role play scenarios. To conclude, the children will review what they have discovered. I would continue to encourage questions and wonder and reinforce trying things out.-
I love this idea—it’s the epitome of playful learning! The alien theme is such a great stimulus for Junior Infants, especially when it’s coupled with hands-on discovery and role play. Pupils would be so excited getting a message from friendly aliens asking for help—it will immediately reel them in to the topic.
Using a puppet to deliver the message works so well for infants. The activities you’ve chosen are perfect—cornflour slime is always a winner, and you’re leading them to think about solids and liquids in a simple but meaningful way. The vinegar and baking soda fizz is really a satisfying one too—it really gets them asking, “Why did that happen?”
Letting them create spaceships and then role-play with small world figures brings in creativity, design thinking and language development – lots of integration across science, art and literacy coupled with playful learning. Pupils thrive with this kind of approach. I’m definitely inspired to try a version of this in my own classroom!
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At a STEM showcase set up for Senior Infants last month the children were implored to investigate rockets using a nerf style foot pump device. The children were in a circle with the device in the middle and they all supposed what would happen, how it would happen, what they would like to happen etc.
There was one teenage assistant and he showed them how to set it up and demonstrated the foot pump without follow through – I like this as it didn’t take the wonderment and excitement from the investigation for the children.
Each child took turns and they oohed and ahhed over each rocket launch and the next to make it go higher and lower without intervention from us – they all figured the ‘stomp pressure’ was how and then guided each other how to launch it to their desired height. They then recorded a video of their own demo and telling the viewer about their investigation. These went home on google classroom.
I really liked watching the hands on learning and how the children worked together to pose new questions and solutions to each other.
I feel the mouse experiment with be a natural precursor/ follow up to this investigation and look forward to exploring it further next year.
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Kim,
you have captured perfectly one of the key parts on inquiry learning for me – the role of the teacher to support an activity but to not explicitly direct the activity.
As the teacher you need good content knowledge, and can draw on that knowledge as you question the children. Inquiry learning puts the child’s own mental modelling at the heart of the activity, and their ability to construct new knowledge that matches and explains the phenomena they observe.Great stuff.
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I love using simple science experiments . I’d love to use the dancing raisins one with Junior Infants because it sparks so much curiosity without any complicated explanations. It’s such a visual and fun activity. It’s something that will appeal to them and one they’ll remember.
I’d start by showing them some raisins and a bottle of fizzy drink, and just ask, “What do you think will happen if we drop these in?” I know I’ll get such great predictions—some are bound to say they’ll explode, others will think they’ll disappear or turn into something else! It’s a great way to get quieter children involved, because they’ll be genuinely excited to share what they think.
Once the raisins start “dancing” up and down, there’ll be amazement. It will open up lovely natural conversations about bubbles, floating and sinking.
Afterwards, I’d sit in a circle and chat about what they saw. We might draw what happened or act it out with our bodies. It’s one of those activities that shows how powerful playful learning can be.
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I really liked the activity set about rockets and would love to carry out some of these activities in the years ahead. I found I was a little bit stuck for some hands on ideas and experiments for Science week last year but the resources mentioned during this course were brilliant and so helpful. Lots of inspiration for the future! The rocket mice activity sounds like great fun and would be great to carry out both inside the classroom and outside! The milk cartons could be washed and decorated and then the paper rockets would be a great opportunity to develop the children’s fine motor skills with some cutting and sticking. Paper aeroplanes are another activity that would link Art and SESE. A very simple yet fun and hands on activity. We could use left over paper, decorate it and then create the paper aeroplanes. This would also be a great opportunity to link it with a length and measuring distance lesson in maths.
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Shooting a rocket into the air activity – Infant classroom.
I would try this activity in my classroom. There are lots of story books to use about rocket- like Alien underpants that I would be great in my classroom first to get the children excited about rockets and space.
I would then engage the children with a question such as how high do you think rocket mouse can fly? showing them the already cut out template of the mouse.
We could take predictions on how high the mouse would go
Then we would conduction the investigation using the downloaded mouse template
And some 2litre milk cartoons to ‘launch’ the mouse.
We could then have discussions over whether a 3 litre milk bottle or 1 litre would make a difference or any other containers.
We could repeat the investigation using different bottles, and could also get the children using charts to measure how high the mouse flew.
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In this particular module the main activity set that I would be interested to use is the set entitled -Rockets! For Space Week, I would love to use the Rocket Mice activity in my 3rd Class. It’s fun, easy to set up, and a great way to introduce science concepts like air pressure, force, and gravity in a hands-on way. To begin, we would decorate paper mice and cut them out. The children would then place their mice on top of an empty plastic bottle and squeeze the sides to launch them into the air!
Before launching, we would talk about what they think will happen. After trying it out, I would ask: “Why do you think the mouse flew up?” We would talk about how squeezing the bottle pushes air out quickly, which makes the mouse fly.
To explore more, we would try using different bottle sizes and talk about how the shape or size changes the flight. This activity also builds great teamwork, creativity, and excitement for learning about space. It would be a lovely way to celebrate Space Week in a fun and meaningful way.
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I am an AP1 in my school with responsibility for STEM. I hope to introduce and organise Space Week in the coming school year. We are a Junior School (infants – 2nd class).
I would organise it as follows but if we were lucky enough to be able to secure a guest speaker we might have to switch things around a bit:Monday:
Launch
Introduce Space Week at a whole school assembly with the story/video ‘The Way Back Home’ by Oliver Jeffers. Introduce key vocabulary: planet, star, rocket, moon astronaut.
Then in classrooms, teachers could build and decorate paper rockets (I would distribute the relevant resources and links from this course to assist teachers). I would encourage teachers to show their classes the Solar System Episode of Storybots on YouTube and maybe start to teach the main song from the episode (my class always loves it!). The Sun Song by Scratch Garden is also a great option.Tuesday:
Sun and Moon
Teachers teach the Earth-Moon orbit using children as planets. Story: Papa, please get the moon for me’.
Then engage in shadow tracing using chalk – introduce concept of how the sun affects shadows. If the sun isn’t making an appearance then teachers could use torches as shown in one of the videos from this course.Wednesday:
The Planets.
Return to the Storybots song and discuss features of the planets.
Play a planet guessing game for stickers/points/prizes or just for fun! E.g teachers says ‘I am a red planet’, children guess. Use flashcards with names and pictures of the planets to organise position from the sun.
Children design their dream planet and write a few short sentences about it.Thursday
Dress up day!
Children can come to school dressed as astronauts, aliens, space explorers, scientists, in the colours of their favourite planet, as a star, moon or the sun, or whatever else teachers may come up with!
I would set up a gross motor obstacle course where children could train as an astronaut! I f able, children could write a short piece – If I were an astronaut I would…’Friday:
Rockets:
Children could create rockets, spaceships or planets in their classrooms using lollipop sticks, art straws, straws, clay, card, lego etc. Allow to see each others finished pieces.
Watch Cat in the Hat Space episode on YouTube to finish!Have Junior Astronaut Certificates for all children to bring home to make home-school links.
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Ciara,
you’ve something for everyone there! Another junior school that engages with Space Week every year is Renmore Jnr in Galway https://junior.renmoreschool.com/
You can see the type of things that they got up to by looking at : https://junior.renmoreschool.com/Space/Index.html
Now – they don’t have an astronaut visiting every year!
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My updated Coggle link:
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A guide to how we might plan for Space Week in our school would involve comming up with an action packed week in order to spark curiosity and learning through fun, hands-on activities. We would with the help of Science Week Ireland website plan a week of engaging activities suitable for infants up to sixth class which would span the curriculum e.g. science, art, literacy, and more. We could invite in parents with links with space science or contact local science museums, observatories, or universities for visitors or virtual talks that might be availble.
Mon – Planet Explorers Day
Assembly Kickoff: Space-themed assembly with a dramatic countdown, music, and fun facts.
Tues – Rockets: Blast off!
Rocket Building : Rocket Mice
Wed – Astronaut Training Day
Physical Activities: Obstacle course simulating astronaut training (e.g., crawling through tunnels, balance beams, “zero gravity” challenges).Design a Spacesuit: Research what astronauts wear. Let students draw and label their own designs.
Food in Space: Sample or create “space snacks” (e.g., dried fruit, marshmallows), talk about how food changes in space.Thurs – Moon and stars day
Constellation Creation :
Make constellations with black paper, chalk, and star stickers.
Plough two ways activity from PrimaryScience.ie
Fri – Our Future in space:
Letter to an Alien:Write a creative letter to an alien describing Earth.
Dress Up & Showcase Assembly: Dress as astronauts, aliens, planets, or stars.-
Hi Zoe
You have so many excellent ideas here for how to organise Science week or space week. I think this format would really engage the children. The astronaut training course is a great idea and I love that you’ve ended with a dress up. Maybe the children could dress as aliens, planets or anything space themed.
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Rockets
I would begin my lesson with the story Aliens in Underpants Save the World, this is a fun book and leads to questions such as How could we travel into space.
I have used the balloon rocket as a demonstration in the past but I really like the idea of the Mouse Launcher and having the children designing and making their own.
I would ask the children to predict what would happen if I pressed harder on the bottle. And ask how could you make your mouse fly straighter/ further etc.
We would then look at pictures of rockets and familiar objects that are moved when a force is applied- e.g. darts/ PE javelins. Children would be given the opportunity to experiment with throwing javelins in PE with and without the tails attached to observe any difference.
We would record our observations using iPads and present to class/ neighbouring class. -
I really like the idea of celebrating Space Week as a school. I have never worked in a school that has participated in Space Week. We do Maths Week every year and two years ago we had a Biodiversity Week, which was a huge success.
In my experience teachers can quickly become overwhelmed as there are so many resources available, making Space Week quite daunting. The ESERO space booklet provides some really useful, enjoyable and manageable resources. I particularly like the sample plans provided. They offer a cross- curricular, thematic approach, which I think most teachers would like.
I would assign each class level a different aspect of space, at an age appropriate level.
For example;
Junior Infants- Planet Earth
Senior Infants- Aliens
1st – Rockets
2nd – Stars
3rd – The Sun
4th – The Planets
5th – The Moon
6th – Astronauts/ Space TravelI would then provide a list of resources/ lesson plans. If it were to be celebrated every year, the children would exposed to lots of really great learning opportunities.
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Plan for Science Week with a focus on Space:
My school have built a large bank of books to help us teach the theme of Space including:
A Place for Pluto, Stef Wade
The Way back Home, Oliver Jeffers
How to Catch a Star, Oliver Jeffers
The Darkest Night, Chris Hadfield
Field Trip to the Moon, John Hare
The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet, Tom FletcherP.E./Drama:
Space. 1: Journey to the moon – BBC Teach
KS1 Dance: Time to Move. Journey through space – BBC Teach
Solar System Race (ESERO Spaceweek booklet)
Active Walkway Space themed fact trail/space walkICT:
Space themed Beebot/Beebot goes to the Moon
Kahoot Quiz based on solar system/spaceHome Corner/Small world/tuff tray/construction/sand activities based around space (rocket ship/space station home corner, constructing rockets with blocks/lego etc, moon sand, tuff tray ‘surface of the moon’)
Songs/videos:
The Planet Song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrlgH97v94&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
The Planets of our Solar System The Planets of our Solar System Song (featuring The Hoover Jam) (Original)
Why is Pluto not a Planet anymore? Why Is PLUTO Not A Planet? | Dwarf Planet | Space Video | Dr Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz – YouTube
The Sun Song The Sun Song
We are the Planets Outer Space: “We are the Planets,” The Solar System Song by StoryBots | Netflix JrExperiments/hands on activities:
Dancing Raisins
The Planets journey through the solar system (ESERO)
Bear Shadows
Where is the shadow (ESERO)
Space Lanterns (www.spaceweek.ie)
Lots and lots of Stars (ESERO) -
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I would love to use the rocket making ideas in my junior classes to highlight forces. I would imagine a 6-7 would view a rocket as probably one of the most powerful machines we have invented. I would create interest in the topic by showing rockets taking off followed by questioning on where the rocket gets its power.
There are such lovely simple ideas for recreating a rocket, if possible I would like to do both the straw and balloon rocket and the mouse rocket. This would be a great activity for space week where parents could come in an watch the children use their rockets and discuss which rocket launches furthest and why.
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Sarah,
rockets are a great way to explore forces. If you really want to get into Rocket Science, NASA have a superb (huge!) Rocket Educator’s Guide that has everything you need to not be caught out by 6 year olds!
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/rockets-educator-guide-20.pdf?emrc=5ed244
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This module was once again been full of excellent resources, lesson plans and video clips. I really liked the idea of getting the children to make and use rockets.
Engage: I would begin with a story or book about space such as Marvin goes to Mars or the Sean the Sheep movie. I would then get the children to make the balloon rockets as outlined on primaryscience.ie. I would also use the Marvin and Milo resource here which poses nice questions.
Investigations: Starter question : Will blowing the balloon up more or less effect the distance that the rocket will go? Allow the children to make predictions. Carry out our investigations by using the rockets noting the distance.
Apply learning into other subject areas . The ‘Flying through the Air’. You could explore the history of space exploration, cover the topic of ‘space’ in science. The children could also create rockets in art (construction with cardboard).An obvious lint to maths would be measures, length in particular. -
Activity: Fizzing and Foaming with 2nd class
I love doing experiments with classes and I think these experiments would engage the children. Firstly I would show the children a picture of an alien and ask them what kinds of things do they think the aliens can do that we can’t. I would then introduce 2 bowls, one bowl from Earth and the other one is the alien bowl. In the bowl from Earth, there will be plain water and then fizz water in the alien bowl. We will then observe the raisins. Why do the children think that the raisins are raising in one bowl and not in the other? Could we try other foods?
I would then do the balloon activity with the vinegar ad the baking powder. What do the children think is blowing up the balloon? why is it blowing it? What do we usually use to blow up a balloon?
I would then finish the lesson by asking the children to design an alien and write down something that their alien can do that we can’t do on Earth.-
Victoria,
I like how you have linked this activities with aliens as the theme. Of course, when the children are carrying out the science experiments they can use the inquiry process to explore more deeply. Encourage them to closely observe and see if there are any unexpected behaviours. They might notice a raisin that does not rise and sink – and this can lead to a discussion about how it is different – is it heavier? bigger? smoother?, and how is that difference affecting the rise/sink cycle. Then they can choose raisins with each of those characteristics to test what is going on.
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This was a really exciting module Children will be really intrigued by rockets and going to Space
The rocket mice idea is a lovely hand on activity to do with small children.
I would use it as a science experiment to begin with and then use it as a cross curricular approach integrating it with the curriculum as a whole to make it very real for the children. From literacy to numeracy there are so many opportunities here to expand on the original beautiful idea.
I would particularly love to link it with IT. We would video the children doing the activity on an iPad and allow the children to have fun with it by adding in their own edits and colours. I would then show them the video on the large class screen. This would become the basis for lots of interactive discussion. They love to see themselves on screen so I am sure they would enjoy it
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Firstly I would collaborately create a class plan with my first class that includes hands-on, inquiry-based experiences linked to space exploration, with a focus on engaging and exciting STEM activities.
I would clearly mark out the guidelines for the activities in the classroom.
I would set targets for the kids.
One of our favourite annual traditions in our school is our rocket-making competition, where children design and build their own rockets using recycled materials.
Next year, I’d like to try with the kids: creating and launching rockets. Children could use simple balloon rockets or mouse rockets. We would observe how far each rocket travels, compare designs, and ask questions based on their creation.
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I would choose the activity set- Alien chemistry. I think the children would absolutely love these experiments and it would be a fun and exciting way of teaching key science concepts. I would do the dancing raisins experiment, air balloon blow up experiment, design, build and erupt a volcano experiment and lava lamp experiment. All these experiments combine an acid and a base which react together to produce carbon dioxide gas. As the gas rises, heat is produced and needs space to escape. I would make predictions with the children before and then ask them to offer their conclusions based on their results. Our school has a science fair on Science week every year but it would be nice that on Space week a mini show could be offered at assembly where the children could show an experiment they learned and the science behind it to other classes. I think the other children would love observing their Alien chemistry and be inspired to try it themselves.
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Taking the theme of rockets and the activity set for making rockets I would begin by reading Jill Murphy’s Whatever Next. In this story Baby Bear goes on an imagnary trip to the moon in his rocket which is really a cardboard box he finds under the stairs.
This could lead us to making our own rockets with large cardboard boxes sourced from local businesses or with small boxes from home ( these ones could just be for our teddy bear). There is a blippi episode where he builds a cardboard box rocket too.
We could then discuss whether Baby Bear really went to the moon and if anyone actually has. This leads to lessons on Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong.
Next we can make our rocket mice which the children will enjoy so much. I hadnt heard of this activity before. It looks great and appropriate for infants.
I have always loved launching film canister rockets with my class and I feel that this “alien chemistry ” fizzy fun activity is perfect to wrap up a unit of work based on rockets. -
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Balloon Rockets
I’ve done this activity with an older class but I do think it would be successful with a Senior Infant class. I think prepare bags with all the materials the pupils need and put the children in small groups.
This is a great activity to explore different strands of the science curriculum such as ‘forces’ It can also create an interest in other subject areas of the curriculum and I would certainly use it to do this. e.g the first man on the moon.
I would use WALT to see what the children already know about rockets. The childrens’ answers would be recorded on the IWB and we would return to this brainstorm at the end of the block of lessons. Watching a video of an actual rocket launch would help spark conversation around the topic and the children get the opportunity to practice their counting back from 10!
The children would investigate how the rockets work. What made it move, new vocabulary would be introduced e.g push, pull, speed, air etc. They could discuss how they might be able to improve their experiment and look at the idea of fair testing e.g. are all the balloons the same shape?
In conjunction with the specific Stem lesson I would have a Space Station set up in the classroom. There could also be a space themed activity such as a launch pad in Small World area.
Junk art where the children use discarded materials could be another way for the children to explore the topic. They could build a rocket from the materials.. -
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For Science Week, I would have my Junior Infants engage in hands-on, age-appropriate activities to spark curiosity and foster exploration. Each day would focus on a simple theme. For example:
Monday – Senses Exploration: Children will investigate the five senses using smell jars, texture boards, sound bottles, and taste tests.
Tuesday – Floating & Sinking: Using a water tray, children will predict and test whether everyday items float or sink.
Wednesday – Mini Beast Hunt: Pupils will explore the school garden to observe insects and learn about habitats using magnifying glasses.
Thursday – Colour Mixing: Using food colouring and water, children will experiment with mixing primary colours to discover new ones.
Friday – Baking Bread (Chemical Change): Children will help mix ingredients and observe changes before and after baking. Discussion will include the role of heat.
Activities would be supported by storybooks, songs, and simple experiments to encourage curiosity and questioning, while reinforcing observation and prediction skills.
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I love your plan for Space week Katriona. My favourite is Friday’s bread baking, it’s such a fantastic way to explore chemical change in a real, sensory way. The children will love mixing, watching it rise, and then tasting the final product. It ties in brilliantly with our play themes like “Living Things” and “Myself and My Family”. This kind of hands on learning is exactly what the junior classes need to develop a lifelong love of science.
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Space Week Senior Infant Plan
Monday – Story Time
Read “Whatever Next!” by Jill Murphy. Have a class chat about space – “What’s in space?” “What would you bring to the moon?”
(Strand: SESE Science – Living Things, Oral Language – English, SPHE – Communication)Tuesday – The Planets
Watch a short, catchy planet song (e.g. “The Planet song” from YouTube). Each child decorates a planet cut-out with colours and glitter. Together, we hang them in the correct order in the classroom.
(Strand: Visual Arts – Drawing & Construction, SESE Science – Earth and Space)Wednesday – Astronaut Role Play
Set up a role play corner as a “rocket ship” during playtime. Children dress up, do spacewalks, and pretend to fly to the moon. Outside, we do an “astronaut training” obstacle course.
(Strands: Drama, PE – Games, SPHE – Myself and the Wider World)Thursday – Moon Phases with Playdough
Talk about how the moon changes shape. Use playdough to show full moon, half moon, etc. Children can match pictures to each phase.
(Strand: SESE Science – Earth and Space, Visual Arts – Modelling)Friday – Space Art & Sharing
Children create “My Rocket in Space” pictures using crayons, tin foil, and star stickers. In a circle, they share where they would go in space and who they’d bring with them.
(Strands: Visual Arts – Drawing & Collage, Oral Language – English, SPHE – Myself)Reflection:
The Teaching Space to Junior Classes ESCRO course helped me see that teaching space to young children doesn’t need to be complicated. With Senior Infants, it’s all about sparking their imaginations and building on their natural curiosity. I used to worry that space was too abstract at this level, but I now see how well it fits into storytelling, play, and visual learning.Through Space Week, I’ve planned cross-curricular activities that touch on SESE, Visual Arts, Drama, and PE, all in a playful and hands-on way. I particularly loved the idea of using books and songs as they create excitement and help make the language of space (like “planet”, “moon”, “rocket”) more familiar.
This course reminded me how important it is to let children wonder and ask questions, even if we don’t have all the answers. I’m excited to try this Space Week next October and to see where their curiosity takes us!
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DESIGN AND MAKE A PAPER ROCKET Suggested Class Level Middle and Senior
Introduction Discussion and background information with whole class Real rockets get their energy from burning fuels emitting gases from the back of them, which send them forwards. Moving air can move many things. A light breeze can move leaves on trees, while a hurricane can cause great damage to buildings and even blow ships onto rocks. Electricity is made on wind farms from moving air. Sailing ships rely on moving air to drive them.
Trigger questions What is the hardest part about going into space?). Why is this? How does something huge and heavy like a spacecraft manage to break away from Earth’s gravity? What is a rocket? How does it work? Where do these gases come from? For something to burn what do you need. But there is no air in Space! So how do the fuels burn?
Watch a launch rocket video clip on YouTube
Making the rocket:
Materials: A4 sheet of paper, straw (wide diameter if possible), scissors, pencil (of approximately the same diameter: as the straw), Sellotape and measuring tape. Activity Children should be encouraged to Design and Make their own rocket, given the above materials.
Cross-curricular links: maths: The children should predict how far their rocket will go. What instrument will they choose to measure the actual distance? How will they decide what to measure in order to make it a fair test? They should launch their rockets a number of times, firstly estimating the distances travelled, and then measuring them and taking the average distance. Does the angle make a difference to the distance travelled? Geography: Planet Earth in Space Art: Rocket Design.
Conclusion Can you think of any other ways of making a paper rocket which might go further?
Follow-up activity: Try out different lengths of rocket. Does a longer or shorter rocket make a difference to the distance it travels? -
An interactive and engaging lesson that can be used in the theme of rockets and aliens is alien slime. This can be built upon the lessons from earlier in the theme where we looked at aliens, our ideas around aliens and when we created them out of clay and other materials. This builds on a sensory element of the learning and extends the children’s understanding.
In using this activity, it doesn’t have to be used as a science experiment. It would be a lovely element of a drama lesson. The children could pretend to dress up as astronauts and get into their rockets to head to space. While they are in space they might discover craters, evidence of alien slime and explore the rough landscape. When they return to Earth, they can catalogue the evidence of what they found and perhaps write a news article or give an interview to the public. I think this would be a very enjoyable set of lessons for a junior class.-
I really like the idea of the alien slime because I know the children would go mad for it! Also from my experience, integrating drama and space works really well as they love dressing up and taking big giants steps around the class as if they were on the moon themselves! Its one theme that I’ve found works really well with drama.
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I have chosen to create an action plan for space week for the junior classes in the school. The concept would be (A Day of Space Travel for Space Week). All the junior classes and teachers would be involved. Each class teacher would be given a planet and would have some time to prepare some information and an activity based on space. On the day of Space Travel each class would visit at least three planets. The children would carry Space Passports and receive a stamp on arrival to the planet(classroom). Junior and Senior Infants could base their Aistear the week before on Space and design a spaceship for them to travel in and also design alien consumes. The activities and information would be tailored to suit class level. Rocket mouse experiment could be done with Junior and senior infants as it’s a quick and fun experiment. Marvin and Milo cartoons could also be read in big book format. All classes could learn the mnemonic (My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Noodles) Mercury/Venus/Earth/Mars/Jupiter/Saturn/Uranus/Neptune to help memorise the planets.
First and second class could tackle some Aline Chemistry and make some fizzing and foaming rockets and learn about how to find constellations such as the Plough and the north star.The concept would be that all children get excited about the day of Space travel and come back to their home classroom with a full passport, having participated in a fun space activity and also learn something about the planet they visited.
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I love the idea of the rocket mouse and am really looking forward to trying it with my senior infants next year. The lesson will allow pupils to understand how a rocket works, to follow instructions to launch their own “Rocket Mouse”, develop vocabulary around space, movement & forces and provide opportunities for pupils to work together. I would begin by asking pupils if they’ve ever seen a rocket and what rockets do. We would watch a short video of a rocket launch and discuss how we are going to launch our own rockets. I would read a rocket/space themed story to the class, perhaps “Whatever Next?” or “Zoom to the moon”. Our hands on STEM activity would folow. The children would colour and cut out their mouse template and tape it to form a cone. They would then place the “mouse” on top of an empty drinks bottle and squeeze the bottle to launch their mouse rocket. As an extension activity, I would use tape markers on the floor to mark distances and the children could compete to see which rocket will travel the furthest.
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To celebrate Space Week, I will deliver a cross-curricular mini-project titled “Mission to Space”. Each day will include an engaging theme:
Monday: Introduction to the Solar System with a visual presentation and planet songs. Pupils will create their own planet fact booklets.
Tuesday: “Design an Alien” art lesson, followed by descriptive writing about their alien’s home planet.
Wednesday: Shadow experiments exploring how the Sun affects shadows—linked to earlier learning in Module 2.
Thursday: Read “Man on the Moon” by Simon Bartram and explore the first Moon landing. Pupils will write postcards as if they were astronauts.
Friday: Space dress-up day and a simple rocket experiment using balloons and string. We will end with a class Space Quiz.
This week fosters scientific curiosity, integrates SESE with literacy and art, and encourages creativity and critical thinking. It’s simple to carry out and easy to differentiate up or down depending on the class level. It can also be expanded out to include more activities as required.
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The activity set that I would choose to teach from this section would be rockets. I would use the theme of rockets, astronauts or space in general across Aistear, ensuring there is lots of integration with other curricular subjects.
We could read many books on rockets to engage the children in the theme. For junior/senior infants we could read a story such as ‘On the Launch Pad’ by Michael Dahl or ‘Zoom Rocket Zoom’ by Margret Mayo as a whole class discussing the movements of rockets. The use of the Marvin and Milo cartoons, ‘Penny Rocket’ and ‘Balloon Rocket’ can be integrated into literacy for older children to read in pairs or groups to engage the children in reading for fun. The comic style and characters are pitched perfectly to capture their attention. The children could create the experiment, questioning how could we change the speed of the rocket? (more/ less air, different sized balloons, longer/shorter balloon etc).-
Sorcha
what a gorgeous book!
https://youtu.be/DfzggGoPW50?si=QAKsA1XEPSXtMF5r
There is so much going on besides the countdown from 12 to 1.
What a great prompt to engage children into the Penny Rocket
(which is similar to PopTop / Aer ag at).
The balloon rockets have plenty going on, and the children may find unexpected results which they will have to try to explain – thus developing their understanding of forces.
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Activity: Making a rocket and Alien Chemistry
I have done this experiment with my son before and he thoroughly enjoyed making the rockets. I would carry it out the same way, painting toilet roll inserts, cutting out circles to attach as windows, and fins to slot up the side of the toilet rolls, adding a piece of cardboard twisted into a cone shape secured on top. We would carry out the experiment to demonstrate the principals of chemical reactions and pressure, using an alka-seltzer tablet in photograph negative containers. As mentioned in the video, it is hard to come by these film containers so we would use varying shape and sized tight-lid containers placed under their self-designed rockets to include more variables, allowing opportunity for more prediction and investigation. Some students could also use kitchen roll inserts to see how the increased weight effected the height and distance of the rocket upon explosion. There is a lot of room for inquiry, discussion and discovery within this activity.
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For this assignment I have chosen to create a Space Week plan suitable for Senior Infants. My aim is to introduce the children to basic concepts about space in an age-appropriate and fun way by integrating some of the activities, hands-on experiments, online resources, stories, songs and cross-curricular and thematic approaches that were discussed throughout this course. Each day will to focus on a different lesson or theme.
Lesson 1: What is Space?
To introduce the topic, I would display a KWL chart on the whiteboard and ask the children to discuss in small groups what they know about space and what they would like to find out. Their suggestions could be recorded on the chart for reference and reflection at the end of the week. I would show the children a short video (e.g. StoryBots – What is Space) to spark curiosity. The children can then create a space-themed collage on black card using various materials (e.g. foil stars, aluminium foil, chalk, drawings, etc.)Lesson 2: The Planets
Using the planets activity set and a story (The Cat in the Hat – There’s No Place Like Space) or a song (The Planets Song) I would introduce the children to the planets. I would follow this with a group activity where children match pictures of the planets and their names and order them according to their distance from the sun. I would also play the Planet Game outlined in the Activity Set.Lesson 3: The Sun and Shadows
To explore the concept of shadows, I would read the story “Moonbear’s Shadow” as a stimulus. I would bring the children outside to the yard to observe their own shadows and see how it changes when they crouch, jump or move. In pairs, they could then trace each other’s shadow using chalk. We could go out again later in the day to see how their shadows have changed.Lesson 4: Space and Aliens
Again I would use an Activity Set – Special Life as the basis for this lesson. The story “My Alien Friend and Me” would serve as a stimulus for discussion about life on Earth and what makes our planet unique. Each child could design and draw their own alien and then create a 3D version using clay or play-dough.Lesson 5: Alien Chemistry
I would base this lesson on the Alien Slime activity from module 5 of the course. It combines sensory play, creativity and science exploration which makes a fun and engaging lesson to wrap up the space themed week.Although each lesson can be taught as a stand-alone daily lesson, there are ample opportunities to further explore the space theme throughout the week through cross-curricular integration with literacy, history, maths, art and drama.
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This is a thoughtfully designed and engaging Space Week plan that demonstrates a clear understanding of age-appropriate learning for Senior Infants. Your use of hands-on activities, storytelling, and multimedia ensures that each lesson appeals to a variety of learning styles and keeps children curious and involved. The progression of lessons—from introducing space, to exploring planets, then moving into more complex ideas like shadows and alien life—is both logical and imaginative.
Your incorporation of resources like StoryBots, The Cat in the Hat, and Moonbear’s Shadow enhances literacy development while grounding scientific concepts in familiar, enjoyable contexts. Activities like shadow tracing, matching planets, and making alien slime are excellent for fostering inquiry, teamwork, and fine motor skills.
The KWL chart is a great strategy to encourage reflection and track learning throughout the week. Additionally, your cross-curricular approach opens doors for integration with subjects like art, literacy, and drama in a natural and meaningful way. This is a well-balanced, creative plan that brings STEM to life in the junior classroom.
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Hi Audrey,
I love the idea of starting off space week by doing a KWL chart with your class. I think that would make for an enjoyable and engaging space week for all, rather than teaching aspects of the topic that the children do not find interesting.
I think doing this also shows the kids that they do have some sort of responsibility over their learning and the importance of reflecting on what they have learned at the end of a fixed period. These are all the important skills that they will hopefully take with them as they go on.
I will use the Moonbear’s Shadow book aswell in my own class.
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Reflective Forum Post – Space Week Class Plan (Junior Infants)
As part of this module, I’ve chosen to consolidate my learning by creating a class plan for Space Week, which I believe is an excellent opportunity to ignite curiosity and develop STEM skills in young learners through an engaging, age-appropriate theme.
We will begin the week with the “Space and Aliens” activity set, using picture books like Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy to spark discussion and imagination. The children will then design and create their own aliens using recycled materials and describe the planets their aliens come from. This will support oral language and creative thinking.
Our Aistear play areas will be transformed into a Space Station Role-Play corner, a Moon Sand sensory tray, and a STEM challenge area where students can build rockets using blocks, Lego, and junk art. We’ll also go outside to observe the sun’s position during different times of the day to introduce basic space science.
To connect with families, I will use Seesaw to share photos and voice recordings of the children explaining their alien characters or retelling space-themed stories. I also plan to use online tools such as ESA Kids and the National Space Week resources for simple videos and interactive games.
Through this week-long theme, students will explore early STEM concepts such as observing, designing, building, and explaining, while developing language, collaboration, and creative thinking. My goal is to embed these skills in playful and meaningful ways and reflect on their impact as part of our School Self Evaluation under the STEM umbrella.
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Ceire,
please do share any images of the Aistear rocket corner that you create, you can reach us at BCO via info@bco.ie
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Hi Ceire. I love your space week plan. I had some very similar ideas for mine. I hadn’t really thought about the home-link aspect of it though. I love your idea of connecting with the parents through See-Saw. We don’t use See Saw in my school but I’m sure I could do the same thing using Alladin Connect.
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I would love to try the fizzy rocket experiment using small containers and fizzy tablets. It’s a simple but exciting way to introduce children to chemical reactions and how gas can create movement. I think this activity would really help bring the topic of rockets to life, as the children get to see their mini rockets launch right in front of them. These types of hands-on experiments are the ones that the children love and these experiences definitely stick with them!
We did a similar activity during Science Week, where the children designed their own paper rockets. We set up a string across the classroom and threaded it through a paper straw. We then taped an inflated balloon to the straw and rocket. When we let go, the air rushing out of the balloon pushed the rocket quickly along the string. It was a huge success, the children were amazed and loved testing different balloon sizes and rocket shapes. It was a great way to explore forces and motion in a fun way.
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We engage in Maths week and Science Week every year in our school and they are always successful. We have not introduced Space Week as of yet but after completing this course it is something I would like to introduce.
When planning for Space Week with Infants I would start by sharing some fun space facts as we did at the beginning of this course. I would set up a space themed play area in my classroom. I can see on the forum another participant shared photographs of her Space play area and she had lovely ideas included.
As in module one of this course my open question for the children for the week would be ‘What is in the Sky’.
Activities I would include are craters on the moon using sand and marbles, counting stars, studying star constellations and creating star constellations, investigating the planets, designing and making planets with the use of play dough, making mouse rockets.
I would include space themed picture books such as ‘The Way Back Home’, ‘Zoom to the Moon’, ‘The Smeds and the Smoos’ and ‘The Darkest Dark’.
I would also included music and art activities such as singing ‘The Planet Song’ and painting our own ‘Starry Night’.-
Shauna,
if you want to include painting, be sure to check out the supports offered by my colleagues from BCO in space art, you can find the playlist at
https://www.youtube.com/@BlackrockCastleObservatory/search?query=space%20art
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Having gotten so many wonderful ideas from this course, I think it would be possible to create a simple but effective Space week plan for my senior infant class next year. I could use some of the ideas from each of the modules covered in this course eg.
Monday- Introduction to Space- story, discussion time, space station role play area, songs, rocket making art activity
Tuesday- The Moon and Astronaunts- video clips, art activity, sciece experiment using flour and balls to create moon craters, moon walking
Wednesday- Stars and Planets- story- How to catch a star, art activities to create planets- shadow experiments
Thursday- Rockets and Alien chemistry- Story ‘Aliens love Underpants’, design your own alien, building spaceships using junk material, rocket launcher experinment – flying mice.
Friday- Space Party- week recap, alien disco, space themed food and drinks.
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I have to say I’m a big fan of all experiments that are related to fizzing! Therefore the activities in alien chemistry are right up my street. They have a bit of a wow factor and involve the pupils being able to participate easily in the scientific inquiry. Engagement occurs via questioning and wondering about carbon dioxide in fizzy drinks. Can you taste/smell/see/feel it? All of the experiments lend themselves readily to predictions. The dancing raisins allows the children to set up a fair test also. Once children can understand that carbon dioxide is a gas the rises this will help predictions for the other experiments- blowing up a balloon and explosions.
These experiments encourage teamwork and also because the explosions can continue by adding more baking soda or vinegar it allows pupils opportunity for further investigation- what would happen if….This reaction forms the basis of many experiments- lava lamp, lemon volcano, rockets, coke explosions all of which can build on the knowledge, observations and conclusions making the pupils predictions more accurate each time. -
Module 5
I would start the lesson by showing the children a rocket launch https://youtu.be/eqn-JjTmAps
We will discuss what they think a rocket is, what they do, where they go and who/what is in them?
I will bring in a space rocket toy (https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/garden-games-and-accessories/garden-games/air-powered-rocket/p/240781) and show the children the different parts. We will discuss and predict how to use it and what will happen. The children will predict how far it will go by different forces. The children can take turns to see whose rocket stays up the longest, goes the furthest etc. We will discuss what made the rocket go further and what we can change for our next turn to make it go further than than the last time.
We will then use the rocket mouse activity for the children to have a chance to create their own rocket and blast it.-
Jean,
stomp rockets are great fun! Here is a way to make your own (if you have a plumbing friend!) – page 64 of the NASA rocket educators guide.
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/rockets-educator-guide-20.pdf?emrc=5ed244 page 64
or this slightly different version: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/lesson-plan/stomp-rockets/
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I would undertake the ‘Balloon Rocket’ activity with my class. Firstly, I think using Marvin and Milo to engage the children as fun, colourful, curious characters would really captivate their interest from the very beginning. Notably, I would not show the children the entire comic strip as this would spoil the ending, but rather showcase the two characters setting up the balloon and string.
Next, I would invite the children to predict what will happen to the balloon, using prompting questions such as ‘Will the balloon stay in place?’, ‘Will it move?’, ‘How far?’ if necessary.
Next, I would give the children a chance to play with the balloons before inviting them to set up and observe what happens to their balloon rockets! We would then consider if our predictions were correct and discuss why we think the balloon was enabled to move. Did anyone push it? Does it look differently than it did at the start? What is different about it? Oh yes, the air is gone! We would then discuss how the air leaving the baloon was pushing it along and creating enough force for the rocket to move along the string.
Whilst doing this experiment with the children I would also connect it to static electricity during their exploratory time with the balloons at the beginning.
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Mary – I agree with you on using Marvin and Milo as a prompt, and not showing the “explanation”.
Good plan to let the children play with the balloons, and notice what happens when they have allowed the air out.
I wonder if someone could try to make the balloon as static-y as possible and if that would change how it would move? My thought is that it wouldn’t affect it too much, as I find that even with the most static I can put onto a balloon, they aren’t very sticky to walls.
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Activity Set: Rockets
To introduce the lesson on rocke3ts I would start by reading the book “Aliens in Underpants save the world. To really emphasise the topic and their interests I would show them a short slideshow on colourful rocket launches and gain an understanding of their prior knowledge on rocket launches. We’d begin by discussing rockets—what they do, how they launch, and what makes them move. I’d then show the children how to make a simple rocket mouse using a paper cone and place it on top of a plastic milk bottle. The children would take turns squeezing the bottle to launch their mouse into the air, observing how air pressure propels it upward. We’d talk about what happens when we squeeze harder or softer, encouraging predictions and observations. To extend the activity, we could measure how far each mouse travels and compare results. This hands-on experiment supports inquiry-based learning and introduces scientific concepts in a playful, accessible way.
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I really enjoyed the Rocket Mouse activity. It is such a simple and engaging activity and I feel the children in my class would have so much fun doing it!
To start the lesson , I would show a clip of a rocket launch , children are always amazed by this and it would start off a conversation and allow for the development of oral language.
This activity is a lovely one as an infants teacher, it has easily accessible materials. I would begin by creating a story about a mouse going to space to set the context for our activity. There is great opportunity for integration with art and the children will have fun making their mice. I will give them lots of opportunities to play and explore with the resources. I would then get them to carry out the experiment with the containers and ask them what is making the mouse fly? What is making it come down? I would get them to predict if the mouse would go higher if we used a bigger or smaller container and how could we test this? I am looking forward to trying this out in September! -
For Space Week in my Junior Infant classroom, I would use the Alien Chemistry activity set to spark curiosity and excitement about science. I’d start the week with the story Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman, it never gets old, it’s funny, imaginative, and a great way to introduce the idea of aliens and space in a way that’s engaging for young children. If I can fit it in I would also read Alien Tea on Planet Zum Zee. We’d talk about what aliens might be like, what they eat, and where they live, leading naturally into a science-based “Alien Lab” activity.
In our Alien Lab, children would explore simple “chemical reactions” like mixing vinegar and baking soda to make fizzy alien potions. We’d also experiment with colours and textures using safe materials like cornflour and water, asking open-ended questions like, “What does this feel like?” or “What do you think will happen if we add more?” These hands-on activities are perfect for building early science skills like observing, predicting, and describing.
To build on the learning, we’d create our own alien characters and try and speak like Aliens too and space-themed artwork, combining literacy, art, and STEM. For future planning, I’d love to incorporate more cross-curricular themes like this, supporting inquiry-based learning and linking it to national events like Space Week to keep science meaningful and fun. -
Rockets
Rockets is an area that most children really enjoy and really engage in. I like the hands on activities because there is a nice mix of creating, teamwork, exploration and play! For the lesson I would start by reading Oliver Jefferies The Way Back Home. We would discuss the story and imagine what it would like to be on a rocket and I would elicit what else we know about rockets. We would look at a video of a rocket taking of and imagine what that feels like. I would ask one of the senior classes to help and buddy up with senior infants with the next part of the lesson which is the balloon rockets. Before we start the lesson I would just encourage the children to blow up the balloons and see how far they go. I suspect they would struggle to blow up balloons and with some of the cutting and sticking activities. The hands on expierment supports inquiry based learning. -
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Introducing young children to rocket-making is a fantastic way to spark curiosity in science, creativity, and teamwork. In infant classes, the focus should be on fun, hands-on experiences that help children explore basic scientific ideas through play. I would love to incorporate this lesson into Aistear.
Step 1: Set the Scene with a Story
Begin with an engaging story about space travel or astronauts. Use picture book like Aliens Love Underpants or videos to introduce the idea of rockets. Ask the children questions such as, “What do rockets do?” and “How do they get into space?” This builds excitement and encourages imaginative thinking.
Step 2: Show and Tell
I would show the children a simple paper or straw rocket model. Demonstrate how it works — blowing a paper rocket off a straw. Keep the explanation simple: “Air pushes the rocket up!” Allow children to try the demonstration for themselves. This helps them understand the cause-and-effect relationship in a fun, physical way.
Step 3: The children build their own rockets in pairs or small groups.
Once finished, children place their rockets on a straw and blow to launch them. This gives instant feedback and encourages exploration—some may blow harder, aim higher, or adjust their designs.
Step 4: Reflect and Celebrate
Ask questions like:
“What happened when you blew into the straw?”
“How could we make the rocket go higher?”
Let them share their thoughts and discoveries with the class.
Step 5: Rocket launch area
Create a rocket launch area and let children test their rockets throughout the day or week. Encourage them to experiment with different shapes or materials.
By combining storytelling, crafting, and simple science, children learn through doing. They develop fine motor skills, understand basic physics, and most importantly — they have fun while learning! -
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Rockets :
The content of this module was very interesting, and it is great to know that there is so much engaging material available as a resource for teachers.
I enjoyed learning about rockets as a theme. I would start with the book “The Darkest Dark” by Chris Hadfield. It is a lovely book based on Chris’s experience seeing the first moon landing as a child and how he became the first Canadian to land on the moon.
This would bring us nicely on to making our own rockets. As I have the junior end of the school , we would start by making the rocket mouse and the launcher. By using different-sized containers as launchers, this would promote questioning about how the size of the launcher reflects the force exerted, and therefore how far the mouse goes. We would predict how far each mouse might travel, and after conducting the investigation, we would discuss whether it was a fair test. This would lead on to many other areas in the curriculum. One could learn about things that fly through the air, and other things that fizz and bubble.
The ideas laid out in the – How to plan and run your own space week document are very well laid out and engaging .
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I will introduce my infants to basic space concepts through play, stories and hands on activities.
We will start with a class discussion on “What is Space?”. We will read “Papa, Please get the Moon for me” by Eric Carle. We will create starry sky paintings with sponge stamps.
We will sing “The Planet Song”. We will use simple flashcards to identify the planets and we will make a paper plate solar system.
We will watch NASA clips for kids. We will dress up as astronauts. We will build paper roll rockets.
We will feel “moon dust” (Flour and glitter). We will make foil moons. We will read “On the Moon” by Anna Milbourne.
We will wrap up the week with a quiz and displaying our artwork in a “Space Gallery”
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The activity set I would use in my classroom is Rockets. I would begin with using the video of ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM We’re Going To The Moon to engage the children with the lesson. I would then ask them how would they get to the moon? The discussion will then lead to talking about rockets as a mode of travel, and seeing if we could create our own. I would then use the Marvin and Milo story to get the children to create their own starter question. We would discuss the story, the questions that arise from it and then set about creating our rockets. I would use the balloon rocket experiment as it is more suitable for junior classes. After the children make their predictions, we would conduct the investigation, discuss our results and then record them on a classroom display with our rockets. A week or two later, I would return to the topic, exploring how we could improve our designs, or modify them for a different mission, and conduct our changes to our rockets, furthering our data collection.
If possible, a trip to the Explorium in Dublin would be great too. Having gone there recently with my class, I found the children got so much out of it, and it led to brilliant incidental learning opportunities for rocket design and propulsion in particular (older classes would really enjoy it too).
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Patrick,
there seem to be a few Zoom Zoom Zoom Going to Moon videos – is this the one you would use?
https://youtu.be/DEHBrmZxAf8?si=H-dd-xs0sONXOyC9
ack – can you tell why this drives me crazy!
or this one:
https://youtu.be/MZragmYBm9o?si=433TP70M2GJ87enB
that has the line
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moon,
Zoom zoom zoom, we’ll get there very soon
Twinkling stars are shining bright
Shooting past us on our flight
Zoom zoom zoom, we’re going to the moonPrompt aside, I agree with your that balloon rockets are suitable for younger children, and I like your plan for design and make, including evaluation of how well they work and how they can be improved. For me, a huge part of the success is the type of string and how the straw on the string is taped to the balloon.
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Hi Frances, Yes, it’s the first one you highlighted that I was going to include as a prompt. I liked it as it is a fun, short and catchy song that I’m sure a junior class would love to sing along with. I have found that sometimes the best way to get younger children engaged is by dancing and singing, and although that version is more geared towards a pre-school age-group and not exactly the most accurate when it comes to spaceflight (I can’t remember the last time there was a fully manned mission of cats to the moon!), it is simple enough to be accessible for all. It would probably be a good prompt if I were to teach about rockets in the first month or two of the children joining Junior Infants I’d imagine.
I noticed you mentioned using fishing line as a string suggestion in other posts for the rocket ships which I think is a great idea. It’s smooth surface would certainly facilitate ease of movement for the rockets. I was even thinking of deliberately using string too thick/ rough as a way of reaffirming/ testing the concept of a ‘fair test’ and to allow introduce it as a control/ means to introduce the words into the children’s lexicon.
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Rockets: I would use the Rocket Mice in my classroom. I think the activity is perfect for infant classes. I might need to do a little preparation in preparing the mice with sticky tape before the starting the experiment because i think some infants will find the rolling and sticking a bit tricky.
I would start the lesson by reading Aliens in Underpants Save the World. Those books are always a big hit with any class I have taught. This would create interest in rockets, space and aliens. Next we would prepare the mice (possibly before a break to allow me time to fix any mice that the children couldn’t stick together themselves). Then we would predict what we think will happen during the experiment. I would demonstrate to the children the mouse rocket. I would ask how is the mouse flying and why does he not stay in the air why does he come down again? Explain to the children when we put pressure on the bottle what’s inside (air) comes out. If we had ketchup or honey in a squeezy bottle and squeezed the bottle the ketchup or honey will come out. Allow time for the children to investigate. During this time I would circulate the room and ask the children different questions such as what if you squeezed the bottle really hard/very lightly would there be a difference in the mouse?/what would happen?, how high can your mouse go?, if you used a smaller/larger bottle do you think it would change anything? Afterwards we would discuss our findings as a class. Finally we would look at different shaped bottles to see if size makes any difference to the distance the mouse can travel.
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Fiona,
the rocket mice are fairly straightforward to make, but I agree with you that sometimes the sticking of the tape can be tricky. Borrow a few helpers from 5th or 6th class (if you can) and the mice will be made in no time!
I like the idea of testing squeeze strength before checking volume of bottle.
The next step of looking at shape of bottle (is that keeping volume the same?) is interesting – might give some unexpected results.
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I will definitely engage with Science week again this year and use space as our inspiration after completing this course!
Here is my rough plan for 2nd Class:
Day 1: Introduction to Space
STEM & Science
• Solar System Model: Build a fruit-based model of the solar system (e.g., peppercorn for Mercury, cherry tomato for Earth, watermelon for Jupiter). Discuss planet sizes and distances using this model.
• Discussion: “What do you already know about space?” and “How does the Moon look?”
Maths
• Planet Distances: Use a measuring tape to map out scaled distances between planets in the corridor or yard.
Literacy
• Story Time: Read My First Book of Planets by Bruce Betts or Little Kid’s First Big Book of Space by Catherine D. Hughes.
• Writing: Begin a “Space Factbook”—children write down one fact and draw one picture about a planet each day.
Art
• Create Your Own Planet: Use clay or recycled materials to make a model of an imagined planet.
Day 2: The Moon and the Sun
Science
• Phases of the Moon: Make a moon phase wheel or use Oreo cookies to model the phases of the Moon.
• Sun & Shadows: Experiment outdoors by drawing around shadows at different times and discussing why shadows move.
Maths
• Moon Phases Calendar: Children track and illustrate the current phase of the moon daily.
Literacy
• Poetry: Share “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: I Know Exactly What You Are” by Julia Kregenow and discuss what stars are. Write a short poem or riddle about the Moon or Sun.
Art
• Van Gogh’s Starry Night Collage: Create a “Starry Night” inspired scene using chalks or pastels.
Day 3: Rockets and Engineering in Space
STEM
• Build a Straw or Balloon Rocket: Explore forces and air pressure by making and launching air-powered straw rockets.
• Discussion: “What do satellites do?” and “Why do we send rockets to space?”.
Maths
• Measuring Distance: Measure how far rockets travel. Record the data and compare results.
Literacy
• Reading: Curiosity: The Story of a Mars Rover by Markus Motum.
• Writing: Children write instructions (a procedural text) on how to make a rocket.
Art
• Rocket Design: Design and decorate your own paper rocket using art materials.
Day 4: Life as an Astronaut & Space Exploration
Science
• What Do Astronauts Need?: Discuss food, water, suits, and exercise in space. Watch short clips about the International Space Station (ISS).
• Experiment: Try simple “Astronaut Training” physical activities (Mission X).
Maths
• Space Countdown: Practice subtraction by counting down for a rocket launch (“10, 9, 8…”).
Literacy
• Story Time: Read The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield.
• Letter Writing: Children write a postcard home as if they were an astronaut on the ISS.
Art
• Space Suit Design: Draw and label an astronaut suit, highlighting its special features.
Day 5: Earth from Space & Celebration
STEM & Science
• Earth Observation: Look at satellite images of Ireland. Discuss how satellites help us learn about Earth.
• Experiment: Explore how meteorites make craters by dropping stones into flour trays.
Maths
• Space Bingo: Create bingo cards with space objects and play as a class.
• Shape Hunt: Identify and count circles (planets), stars, and crescents (moons) in diagrams.
Literacy
• Space Poetry Sharing: Read and write simple space poems (see examples below).
• Book Review: Each child reviews their favorite space-themed book or activity from the week.
Art
• Cover the Walls: Create a class mural combining rockets, planets, moons, and stars for display-
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Wow, that is a fantastic plan for Science week. You have included so many curricular areas, and not just limited it to STEM subjects.
One of my favourite space themed books is the Smeds and the Smoos, essentially teaching children the importance of accepting people who are different to each other. It’s a lovely SPHE linkable lesson,
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Lovely ideas Michelle. I particularly like the idea of using a fruit based model to represent the solar system. The children would have great fun with this hands on activity and the creations would be wonderful! I also like the idea of using the oreos to show the different phases of the moon. This is an effective tactile activity that would bring a lovely sensory aspect to the lesson also.
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I chose the activity set Rockets. I would begin by assessing the children prior knowledge about rockets. We would then watch a short clip of a rocket launch, possibly a NASA launch.
I would ask the children questions about what they saw, what they think made the rocket go up, and I would ask them if they think they could work as engineers today and create a rocket?
I would spend some time introducing and explaining some concepts and vocabulary such as launch, push, pull, blast off, force, gravity, air pressure etc. I would then read the children a story called Rosie and the Rocket, this is really lovely book and in the story Rosie used odds and ends to create her rocket, just like the children will do in the next step.
Previously when completing this lesson I have used images of rockets stuck back to back with a straw in the middle but I really love the idea of the rocket mice using different size bottles. I would use this idea instead.
Before beginning I would show the children all the different shaped ad sized bottles, I would ask them to predict what they think would happen if I squeeze the bottle with my mouse head on top. This is when the previously discussed concepts would come into use, air pressure, force etc. We would then predict what might happen with different shaped/ sized containers.
I would split the children into groups and let them try all the different containers. We would come back together and discuss their findings. Then as a whole class we would try a range of containers and discuss why some of the rockets went higher than others- size, height and the amount of pressure that was put on each container. We would then sort the containers from the lowest to highest blast off height. This activity lays a foundation for understanding push and pull forces, while developing questioning, predicting, and recording skills — essential early STEM practices.
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Amanda,
I like the idea of sorting the bottles — but controlling the amount of push and speed of the push might also come into it. Rocket Mouse is an ideal activity since there are often unexpected results, so children really have to think about what is going on and attempt to control variables (although I wouldn’t use that language with them). Once they have a pretty “repeatable” squeeze, they can try different bottles. I find different brands of milk bottle are also differently “squeezable”, due, I think, to the thickness of the plastic used to make the bottle.
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Activity set: Rockets
Firstly, I would discuss with my senior infant class what a rocket is and ask the children to tell me anything they know about rockets. We would put a list of their ideas on the whiteboard. We would then read the story ‘How a rocket works’. I would show a picture on the board of a rocket and children would work in pairs to discuss the different parts of a rocket. We would then talk through the different parts as a whole class. Children would then look at how rockets work. We would use the idea of a balloon and if we let the air out quickly, it would zoom around. Something similar happens with a rocket except it’s the fuel from the engine that makes the rocket go up. I would ensure that I keep explanations as simple as possible for senior infants children. We would then complete the ‘Rocket Mice’ activity from this module and I would allow the children to test out their rocket mice in different areas of the school, ie in the sports hall, on the yard outside. We would use a variety of materials from our junk art box to create our rocket mice.
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Creating a Rocket launcher
There are a multitude of fantastic ideas in this module but I learned a lot from the Rocket activities. There are very few children who are not blown away by the image of a rocket being launched into space and using a clip from You Tube is always a good way to prompt the children’s curiosity and to engage them.
Hands on building of their own mouse rockets gives the children the opportunity to explore stem concepts of air pressure and force. With Junior classes, it is often a good idea to enlist the help of a buddy, perhaps children from the older classes as they can find the cutting and sticking of sellotape tricky !Predicting how far their mouse rocket goes into the air and questioning why it flew higher are all key concepts of Stem. Marvin and Milo cat and dog team would be an added stimulus to the lesson .
I would also like to try out building a foam rocket launcher with an older class, allowing them to investigate variances in their launch style, perhaps varying the angle at which they fly their rocket or how far back they pull , whether they were sitting or standing etc. This is active learning and it is how children learn best.
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Space and How to Make a Rocket Lesson Ideas
I would introduce the lesson through the reading of the story “Alien School”. This story would be used to create interest in the topic and begin a whole class discussion based on space. I would then advance this story by showing the children some pictures of outer space and ask the children how we would travel to space? I would then introduce a picture image of a rocket and show the children a toy rocket based on NASA’s model. We would discuss how we think the rocket manages to lift off the ground and travel all the way to outer space. This discussion would serve as an opportunity to introduce the concept of forces, gravity and how pressure also plays a roll.
Next, I would divide the children into pairs and invite them to design their own mouse rockets. This fun and hands on based activity would provide the children with a practical example of how different pressure being applied to a bottle or carton affects the speed and direction of the mouse rocket. Before setting off the mouse rocket the children would make their predictions about what might happen, how far the mouse rocket might travel and what might affect its travel? The children would then observe the activity and report on their findings from the experiment. This activity would provide a wonderful talk and discussion opportunity with the children to example the cause and effect of the pressure being applied to the rocket. -
I loved the lesson on rocket mouse and would definitely do this with my class. I would read the book ‘Maisy’s Rocket’- Maisy is a mouse and she goes to the space, putting on her spacesuit, repairing and helping the astronauts. We would sing the song ‘we’re going on a rocket ship’ from super simple songs. The children will do actions along to the video such as putting on a spacesuit/ helmet/ seatbelt.
I would show the children the bottles and the ‘paper mice’. They can attempt to cut out the mice themselves and I would help them to tape the mice and place on the top of the bottle. Then we would experiment by squeezing the bottles to see how high the rocket mouse can shoot out of the bottles like a rocket. I would ask questions like ‘how did you get your rocket nouse to fly?’ and ‘what happened after it went up?’ -
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I would begin Space Week with a simple ESERO “Lots and Lots of Stars” activity, inviting the children to estimate how many stars might be in the sky by comparing marbles and classmates—this would help them to put the scale in a concrete way and giving them a visual concept.
Because some of our junior infants have additional learning needs, I would ensure there would be one-to-one support at each table with visuals and tactile materials.
Next, I would introduce a push‑and‑pull investigation inspired by ESERO’s inquiry‑based approach: children could explore how small toy rockets move when they would pull or push them, and we would talk about forces using an explorative and investigative approach.
I would introduce a simple globe or solar system scaled model from SpaceWeek.ie to talk about planet sizes and distance using a hands‑on, paired‑work approach. I would include a story or image of the Blackrock Observatory telescopes to give a real‑world link to astronomy.
Finally, I would finish with an art activity: children would make starry night paintings using splatter or sponge tools. We would review vocabulary and I would encourage each child to show their favourite part of their artwork to the class.
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I have chosen to engage with the rockets activities with an infant class.
The prompt will be the story The Smeds and the Smoos by Julia Donaldson, and we will focus on the rocket the charcters used to fly to each different planet. We might discuss hiw the rocket was powered, why we need rockets.
We will use the marvin and milo activity no.19 to build our own rockets. We will predict how far our rockets will travel, and use 3 different sized/ volume ballons.
Our test will be to determine what effects different volumes of air have on the flight path of our balloon rocket.
We will observe each launch and describe and explain any differenc3s between the flights.I feel this is an engaging fun activity that will utilise scientific skills. It will also lead to a discussion about how we might use the technique in toys we play with.
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Clar,
I agree with you that https://spark.iop.org/balloon-rocket is great. It didn’t work for me for about five years, but then I worked out that I needed fishing line (not string), and needed to hold the line really taut.
There is an older child version of the balloon rocket in the senior ISS Education Kit – page 25 of this resource. – very much for teachers, with these suggested questions:
Explain and analyse what happened.
• Compare what you expected to happen with what actually happened – is there a difference?
• What causes the movement of the balloon?
• What makes the balloon stop?
• How can you increase the distance the balloon travels?
• How would a balloon with a different shape behave?
• What happens if you add extra cargo to the balloon rocket?
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Engage- video of a rocket launch
I would definitely use the ‘Alien Chemistry’ set to help the children understand the process of how gas powers rockets. The dancing raisins experiments will allow the children to use and develop their inquiry skills further through observing the raisins collecting bubbles of carbon dioxide and allowing them to become lighter therefore rising to the top. The children’s predictions and opinions on what they think might happen before the experiments will be discussed and recorded. They will be encouraged to note any unexpected happenings with the raisins i.e. the ones that are not dancing to the top and sinking to the bottom again Questioning the children on whether they notice anything and if they can explain what’s happening will lead to a greater level of discussion and understanding of the process. Focusing on the raisin- size/ texture and how this might be affecting the process of rising and sinking. The may lead the children to further investigations and spark further curiosity.
I would also use the fizzy launcher experiment and feel that the children would gain great excitement and develop their science skills through predicting, observing and describing what happens. Ballon blow up is another excellent experiment that demonstrates how carbon dioxide can be created and used to blow up the balloon. The hands on experiment whereby the children can collaborate to make a glittery explosion is an excellent opportunity for a sensory learning experience demonstrating the reaction between the vinegar and baking soda in forming carbon dioxide gas. -
Again, may I add I’ve learned so much from this course, that I now won’t be shying away from doing experiments. So much fun activities for doing.
I have chosen to discuss Space Week. This is something I tried with a multi-class of 1st, 2nd and 3rd class before, so I think it would fit perfectly now as a whole school activity.
Prior to Science Week, all children in the school would be encouraged to think about Science and come up with ideas/experiments they would like to showcase to children in their class.
Science Dragon’s Den – During Space Week, a Scientist from the local area/factory would visit the school, with two others from their team and come to assess and watch the experiments happening in the different classes. All children are encouraged to enter. On the Final Day of Space Week, all children would know they have to have their equipment ready for assembly, as the local scientists would announce their favourite experiments from each class grouping(obviously this depends on the size of the school), and there those children would be invited after break to showcase their experiment to the whole school. Here, there’s a whole school collaboration and the children are involved in their own learning all about Space. This could be altered to suit Science Week also. This is what I did two years ago, althought it was a class based activity and not an assembly showcase. However, I did have Science Dragon’s to monitor the whole showcase.
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Áine,
a science showcase with a space theme sound great! You can search Curious Minds for space themed activities – this might help colleagues who would like a little support.
Could you also have space songs? space performances?
And this would count toward the Science Showcase for the Curious Minds Awards.
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Lesson Plan: Making Foam Rockets (2nd class)
Materials Needed: Foam sheets, scissors, rulers, tape/glue, markers or crayons, plastic straws, measuring tape.
Introduce the Topic:
I will begin by discussing the concept of flight. What makes things fly? Have they ever seen a rocket launch? What do they think makes a rocket fly?
Activity – Making the Foam Rockets
Teacher demonstration: Cut a rectangular piece of foam to make the body of the rocket. Roll the foam into a tube and tape it together to form the body of the rocket. Cut out triangular fins from foam sheets and attach them to the rocket for stability. Design and decorate the rocket with markers or crayons. Attach a plastic straw to the base of the rocket. Ensure the rocket fits snugly on the straw for launching.Now the students create their own foam rockets using the materials provided..
Launch:
Students place their rockets on the straw and blow gently to launch them. Measure the distance each rocket travels using a measuring tape. Record the results on the board.
Discuss why some rockets flew farther than others. I will encourage students to talk about which designs worked best and why. I will ask children what they learned. How does the design of a rocket affect how far it flies? What was their favorite part of the activity? If time permits, children will display their decorated rockets around the classroom.
Literacy Extension: Rocket Story:
I could ask students write a short story or description of a rocket launch, focusing on the sequence of events (e.g., first, the rocket is built; next, it’s launched, etc.). I will encourage them to use sequencing words.-
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Niall,
if you don’t want to vary the diameter of the foam rockets, I’d suggest using pipe lagging. Inexpensive from a builder’s providers (don’t go to B&Q!).
However, that type of rocket would be too heavy to launched by blowing on a straw as you have suggested in this outline.
There is a sequencing activity in the Primary ISS Education Kit that might suit, chapter 2, page 54.
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Planning for Space Week in an Autism class
For Space Week, I would plan a week-long series of short, structured and sensory-based activities to help children explore key space concepts in an engaging and accessible way. Each day would focus on one core idea, using visuals, music, movement and hands-on exploration.
Monday – The Sun
We’d start with a sensory circle time using songs like Mr. Sun and explore warm/cold with sun lamps vs ice packs. PECS cards and real-life photos would support understanding.Tuesday – The Moon
We’d look at the moon’s surface using textured materials (flour, foil), watch a short video of an astronaut walking, and jump like we’re in space.Wednesday – The Planets
We’d learn The Planet Song, use pom-poms and felt to create a sensory solar system, and sort planet visuals by size or colour.Thursday – Rockets
We’d build simple balloon rockets and predict how far they will go. Great for turn-taking and cause-effect learning.Friday – Aliens and Art
A creative day! Children design their own alien using playdough, recycled materials or drawing. We finish with a sensory video and music to celebrate the week.Throughout the week, I’d take photos and make a class book to revisit the learning and support communication.
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Hi Eva, I really appreciate the specific focus you have taken on organising Space Week with the focus and attention given to children in an Autism class. It’s great to see examples of how learning can be adapted simply but successfully to offer all pupils access to the celebrations and themes the rest of the school explores together. I like how a lot of the activities suggested here are also applicable to the infant classrooms which allows to facilitate integration with mainstream in a simple and effective way.
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Assignment Module 5
Rocket Mouse
I like this activity because it affords pupils multiple opportunities to examine, select and apply the use of different materials, designs and approaches from each child or group’s individual learning needs.
I also like that it is easily accessible to them and can use relatively easy to source recyclable materials.
I would use the nursery rhyme “Hickory Dickory Dock” and the novel “How to catch a star” as engagement points to identify how the mouse might race to the top of the tall clock using a rocket similar to the one designed by the Boy in the picture book.
We would explore materials that travel best upwards or in a flying motion and examine the concept of gravity in how they fall back down. We could use a variety of containers of different shapes an sizes to do so.
We would use a chart to select two rocket prototypes in a group and compare/contrast how well they travel, recording our launches to provide visual reflection for pupils after launching to compare the different rockets.
We will focus on height achieved, speed of launch and flight path.
I think any activity that includes a conscious hands on element for children helps to solidify learning and forces enquiry as each launch will have a different outcome which in and of itself provides a new point of questioning and learning as to how/why this happens and what we can do to repeat or change certain aspects of the different launches.
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Below is a plan for Space Week suitable for children in the infants classroom or older. I have experience in planning space week last year in my school and found it really enjoyable and worthwhile.
Monday: Blast Off – How Rockets Work!
Goal: Learn how rockets launch into space.Talk about rockets: What are they? What do they carry? Show a short clip of a real rocket launch (e.g. NASA).Activity (30 mins):
Balloon Rocket Launch!Materials: Balloons, string, straws, tape
Set up a balloon rocket on a string line and watch it zoom across the room!
Discuss: What made the rocket move? (Air pushing out = thrust!)
Draw your own rocket and give it a name.Tuesday: Our Solar System
Goal: Learn about the planets and their order from the Sun. Introduce the 8 planets with a fun song or video. Teach a simple planet order trick (e.g. “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos”).Build a Solar System Mobile!
Use paper, glue, scissors, string, and colors.
Hang planets in order from the Sun.Each student shares one fun fact about their favorite planet.
Wednesday: Moon and Its Phases
Goal: Explore the moon and how its shape changes.Talk about why the moon looks different during the month (phases). Show pictures or a simple animation.
Oreo Moon Phases!
Twist Oreos and scrape cream to show new moon, full moon, etc.
Place them in order on a plate or paper.Draw the moon phase you like best.
Thursday: Life in Space – Astronauts!
Goal: Learn how astronauts live and work in space. Talk about astronauts’ jobs, space suits, eating, and floating in zero gravity. Show a short video of astronauts in space.Make Your Own Space Helmet!
Use a paper bag, paper plate, or cardboard.
Decorate it like a real space helmet.Pretend you’re in space and describe what you see!
Friday: Design Your Own Planet
Goal: Use imagination and science to create a new planet. Review what makes a planet special—color, size, weather, moons, rings, etc.Create a Planet Poster!
Name your planet
Draw what it looks like
Decide what creatures or weather it has
Use glitter, stickers, or craft suppliesEach child presents their planet to the class.
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The activity chosen to use in my classroom would be the investigation and exploration of Rockets. I would begin showing the children a picture or video of a real rocket launching into space. Class discussion about what rockets do in simple terms-how they help astronauts go to space or explore planets. Then, I would guide the children in building their own mini rockets using straws, paper fins, and tape. I would allow them to decorate their rockets with drawings of stars, planets or aliens. After the rockets are built, I’d set up a safe ‘launch area’ and encourage each child to blow through a straw to launch their rocket. This introduces basic physics like push/pull, cause/effect all through playful and active learning. You could connect the rocket activity to a storybook about the Moon, space travel or aliens, sparking imagination and reinforcing science theme. Incorporating counting, e.g. countdown from 10, colours, and simple drawing tasks also ties in early numeracy and literacy skills.
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I would love to do a lesson on rockets because it’s hands-on, fun, and gets children really excited about learning. I would start by showing the class a short video of a real rocket launch to spark their interest. We would then have a class discussion about rockets—what they are, where they go, and what helps them lift off. I would also bring in a toy rocket to show the different parts and get the children thinking about how rockets work.
Next, we would make our own balloon rockets. Each balloon would be taped to a straw that runs along a string stretched between two chairs. The children would inflate their balloons, use a peg to hold in the air, and then let them go to see how far the “rockets” travel. They could experiment with different balloon sizes or air amounts to see what changes the results. We’d also set up two strings to race the rockets and compare distances.
We would then try another activity using empty milk cartons as rocket launchers. After decorating their own “launcher,” the children would roll up paper rockets and press the sides of the carton to shoot them into the air. They would predict what might happen, then test it out and discuss why the paper flew up and came back down. This helps introduce the idea of air pressure, force, and gravity in a playful way.
These simple but exciting activities give children the chance to predict, observe, experiment, and talk about their ideas—building science skills in a creative and enjoyable way.
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Module 5 – Rocket Mice
I loved this simple activity of Rocket Mice to do with my infants. To introduce the concept of rockets I would begin by reading a story like “The way back home”.
We look at some pictures of rockets then and discuss any prior knowledge the children have and explore the different parts of the rockets.
I would hook the children with a video of a rocket launching and get them thinking about a starter question which might be as simple as ‘How do rockets launch?’
Then we would get our mice ready and make some rockets using one bottle to begin. We might expand the experiment then using bigger and smaller bottles and different shapes to see what happens. I would let the children decorate their rockets and then explore with each other and have races etc.
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Topic: rockets.
To introduce this topic in my classroom and to capture the children’s attention I would begin with a storybook I have in my classroom entitled ‘zoom, rocket, zoom’ . I would then should them a video showing rockets launching into space. We would then have circle time discussions about what rockets are, why we use them, and what makes them fly. I’d encourage the children to share their ideas and ask questions.
I would then set up some hands on activities in my classroom related to rockets:
One station would involve designing and building simple paper or straw rockets. The children will test how far they travel when launched using straws or air pressure.
Another station can make rockets out of recycling material we will have collected in the school. Assembling and sticking the items together to make rockets would be good for their fine and gross motor skills along with developing their creativity.
Another station I would undertake the ‘balloon rocket’ science experiment. The children will love Marvin and Milo. I will not show them the ending of the comic strip however as I will elicit that from them when we are finished. We would get up the balloon and string. Children will see how air pushes the rocket forward. Throughout the activities, we’d talk about speed, distance, and direction, linking in early science and maths skills in a fun, hands-on way.
As a whole class we would create a display showing different types of rockets, adding photos and facts we learn together.
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Shooting/Flying Rockets
I would use this playful and engaging activity to introduce the children to early science ideas like air, pushing, and falling. To begin, we would each decorate an empty milk carton, turning it into our very own rocket launcher. This creative part helps the children feel proud of their work and excited to explore. Then, using rolled up paper as our rockets, we would press the sides of the carton to launch them into the air.
Before we begin launching, I’d ask the children what they think will happen when we squeeze the cartons. After trying it out, we would chat about why the rockets shoot up and then come back down. This would open up a fun, simple conversation about air pushing the rocket and gravity pulling it back.
To make it even more exciting, we would try different types of containers like juice boxes or plastic bottles and see which ones launch the rockets higher or faster. This invites curiosity, prediction, and comparison in a hands-on way.
The activity encourages children to explore, ask questions, and talk about what they see. It also helps develop their fine motor skills, creativity, and early understanding of cause and effect all through play and discovery.
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For Space Week, I would use the “Wondering & Exploring” activity set to introduce rockets in a fun, hands-on way. We would begin by looking at pictures and videos of real rockets and asking questions like, “Where do rockets go?” and “What helps them fly?” This would lead into exploring toy rockets and storybooks about space (e.g. Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy).
Over the week, we would try simple activities like making and decorating paper rockets, balloon rockets, and the Rocket Mouse. We’d talk about what makes each rocket move, using simple terms like push, air, or blast. The children would take turns launching their rockets in the yard and using language to describe what they see: “My rocket went far!” or “It went up high!”
To add even more fun, we could sing songs like ‘Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon’ and create rocket art with paint, foil, and cardboard tubes. We might even build a little “space station” in the role-play corner. I’d aim to keep it playful, hands-on, and full of imagination so the children stay excited and curious throughout the week. -
Course Refelction
This course has definitely reshaped how I view the teaching of space in the primary classroom.
One thing that this course has shown me is how creative the teaching of outer space can be for young children. Prior to exploring the modules, I had always considered space to be a topic more relevant to the senior classes. However, many of the activities suggested and topics explored in this course definitely disproved that! For example, creating little martian figures out of clay is not just a fun art activity which allows children to use their imagination. It is also a perfect engagement point in order to capture the interest of young children and ready them to learn about all of the other planets in our solar system. This, in turn, can lead to discussions on conserving our planet, historical space travel, biodiversity, and so much more.
My favourite thing about this course was definitely how doable, simple, and low-“fuss” many of the activities were. I have found as a class teacher that often amazing ideas can be suggested, but they are regularly ones which would require hours of planning, a costly trip to Mr Price, and at least two more adults in the room. Unfortunately, this is often impossible! So, I welcomed ideas like the balloon rockets or designing one’s own constellations with open arms. These are definitely activities that would engage the children and expand their minds to consider space in a new, curious manner. However, they are still accessible and manageable for the reality of school life. I’m certain that simply providing children with a starry night sky template and challenging them to create a brand new shape or image would prompt them to view stars and the night sky as a whole differently for their entire lives—provoking them to ponder how far away the stars are, what value they bring to us on Earth, how to find the North Star by recognising those surrounding it, etc.
I was very impressed by the teaching skills and methodologies used to teach the children about Ultra Violet light. The concept of being safe in the sun and bringing sun screen on a school tour is one often mentioned in school, however I had never considered truly informing children about what the dangers of the sun actually are and tying the lesson into the theme of outer space. I thought that the repetition of ‘Ultra Violet Light’ whilst simultaneously clicking on the torch was a multi-sensory mode of consolidating the new vocabulary, and is a methodology that could be used across an array of subjects. Bringing the children outside with the Ultra Violet beads is again, such a low-cost yet child-centred way to show the children that the rays have genuine, fast-acting effects, and is a lesson that would undoubtedly stay with them long-term. I would very much enjoy doing an experiment with my class whereby some of the beads are left in the shade and some are placed in the sun. The children could then compare the two sets and know for certain that the sun is what caused the discolouration to occur. Following this, of course, conversations about how to prevent such damage from occurring to our skin would be necessary. I think the drama technique used in the video was excellent. It included all of the children and really maintained a ‘show don’t tell’ approach to teaching the children this basic life skill. If doing this with my class I would also link it to Gaeilge with words like hata, spéaclaí gréine, griandóthadh, agus mar sin de. I see this as an excellent opportunity for this type of cross-curricular learning.
In conclusion, this course has entirely reshaped how I view the teaching of space in the primary classroom. What once felt like a daunting topic more suited to older children now feels incredibly exciting, creative, and accessibleeven for the youngest learners. The variety of hands-on, engaging activities introduced throughout the modules have demonstrated that space can be explored through art, science, drama, literacy, and so much more. It is clear that space does not need to be confined to facts about planets or astronauts, but can act as a prompt for deeper discussions about life, nature, science, safety, and imagination. Most importantly, this course has reminded me that effective teaching doesn’t need to be overly elaborate or rely on unobtainable tricky resources. It just needs to be meaningful, intentional, and child-centred. I look forward to implementing many of these ideas in my own classroom and continuing to foster that sense of awe and curiosity in my students as they fully embrace learning about all things space and all things STEM.
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Space Week: To Infinity and Beyond!
I have created a plan for Space Week in my class. I have included a good mix of skills and subjects so that the kids will be kept busy all week. We will have an assembly at the beginning and end of the week to discuss what we have been doing. I will share my folder of resources from this course with the staff in case they want to use some of the materials too.
Monday – Stars
Visual Hook: I’ll show the class a beautiful night sky image on the board and let students share what they notice about the stars.Discussion: Encourage ideas about what stars are and why they shine.
Art Activity: Create Starry, Starry Night pictures inspired by Van Gogh. Use dark blue paint and white/yellow splatter for stars.Tuesday – Alien Handprints
Craft: Make alien handprints using paint, add googly eyes and various recycled bits to make them unique.
Language: Encourage students to name their aliens and describe where they come from and what they like to eat.Wednesday – Postcards from Space & Table Quiz
Write: Students design and write a postcard from space—describing their ‘planet’ adventures.
Quiz: We will have a fun group table quiz about stars, planets, and space facts they’ve learned.Thursday – Robot Rocket Challenge
STEM: We will have a simple rocket-building competition using recyclable materials.
Science: Test which designs fly best—encouraging prediction and discussion.Friday – Light & Shadows Experiment
Outdoor Investigation: Explore how light in the playground changes over the day. Create simple shadow charts and graphs.Reflection: Share findings as a group and talk about why shadows shift. We’ll create a visual Space Week Diary for Instagram to show what we’ve been up to fo the week.
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What a fantastic plan for Space Week! You’ve created such a thoughtful and engaging balance of creativity, science, and collaboration. Each day offers something new—from art and storytelling to STEM and outdoor exploration—keeping students excited and curious. I especially love the inclusion of reflection and sharing through assemblies and Instagram. Brilliant work!
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Activity chosen: Rocket launch for Senior Infants
I would use this fun and hands-on activity in my classroom to introduce basic scientific concepts such as air pressure, force, and gravity. I would ask the children what they already know about rockets and I will explain the activity to them. Last year, during science week the children drew a picture to design their own rockets and that works well so I might repeat that activity. I will encourage them to make predictions about what will happen. I would encourage the children to decorate their milk cartons by painting then or gluing crepe paper. These will be the launchers. We will use rolled up pieces of paper as the rockets. The children will step on their milk cartons to launch their rockets. We are lucky in our school to have rocket launchers as part of our PE equipment so we may also experiment with them prior to the science lesson so the children have a clear idea of what they will be exploring.
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I would teach a lesson on shooting or flying rockets. I would begin with a fun discussion: “What do rockets do, and where do they go?” I would show a short, child-friendly video of a rocket launch and explain simply how rockets blast off using force and fuel. We would talk about astronauts and space travel to spark excitement and curiosity. I would then read a picture book like Roaring Rockets to reinforce learning through story. After this, we would move onto the hands-on activity of making our own rocket. Using paper, scissors, tape, and a straw, each child would design and build their own rocket. They could decorate it with stars and planets for creativity and once they are finished, we would use a clear space to launch them by blowing through the straws. We would measure how far each rocket goes and discuss what made it fly well. This lesson blends science, literacy, creativity, and fun in a memorable way.
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The activity set I feel would be very interesting and fun to do with the children would be rockets
I would provide the children with photos if differebr rockets and materials/equipment associated with rockets. The children would examine these in their groups to help elicit prior knowledge. As a class group we would report back with the information gathered from each group.
Follow this I would pose the question how would we build a rocket to launch?
The children would design a model of their rockets on paper. I would provide the children with various materials for them to choose from to create their designs.
As a conclusion we would examine and predict if each rocket would successfully launch or not.
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To celebrate Space Week, I’d focus on the “Wondering & Exploring” activity set as a fun and interactive way to introduce rockets to the children. We’d begin by looking at photos and short videos of real rockets, sparking curiosity with questions like “Where do they go?” or “How do they take off?” This would naturally lead into reading engaging space-themed storybooks like Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy and exploring toy rockets together.
Throughout the week, we’d dive into creative, hands-on projects such as crafting paper rockets, launching balloon rockets, and experimenting with the Rocket Mouse. Each activity would prompt discussion around simple scientific ideas—like air, push, and blast power—using child-friendly language. Outdoors, the children would have the chance to launch their rockets and describe the results: “It went really high!” or “Mine flew so far!”
To keep the energy going, we’d sing fun songs like Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon and set up a space-themed role-play area where children could imagine life on a rocket or in a space station. For art, we’d get creative using paint, foil, and cardboard tubes to design our own colourful rocket ships.
The goal would be to keep learning joyful, imaginative, and active—making space feel exciting and accessible for young minds all week long.
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For this module I have chosen to focus on the topic of Rockets. I really love how science allows for so much linkage and integration throughout the curriculum, its great. I would start off by reading the story of Roaring Rockets to start the lesson. This would allow for a discussion to form allowing children to share their knowledge and understanding. Next, I would inform them that we will be using a range of different materials to make our own rockets, linking in an art lesson. I would show the children some interactive video and some visual images to get them thinking as to how they will decorate their one. We would create simple straw rockets. Each child would decorate their own rocket, then blow through a straw to launch it. We’d observe how far and how high the rockets travel. I’d encourage them to predict ‘What happens if we blow harder or softer’ or ‘What if we make our rocket longer’? The activity allows for so much exploration and playful fun it many ways the children, its brilliant.
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Space Week plan for Second Class using the Rockets activity set:
Science: We would explore different types by examining a selection of rockets and watching a video of a Vega rocket launch. The children would design and build their own, with options like paper rockets, foam rockets, and balloon rockets. We would explore forces and movement by discussing how they had been launched. We would also do the Alien Chemistry activities ‘Fizzing and Foaming’ and ‘Dancing Raisins’ to learn about chemical reactions and properties of gases.
Maths: we would use themed games, such as rolling the dice to get to a certain number to ‘blast-off’, and code breaker activities for addition and subtraction.
English: there are huge opportunities for literacy integration, such as creating a passport to travel to space, writing lists of what they would need to bring with them, descriptive writing based on what they see/smell/taste/hear/feel, write a diary entry that an Alien might make.
Art: design and create their space passport, sketch and build their own 3D Aliens.
PE: The Mission X – Train like an Astronaut PE lessons are a great resource.
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Activity Set: Rockets
Rockets are such a brilliant topic for children, they are visual, hands on and fun and the children get such enjoyment from them. In the past I have done the balloon on the string rocket in the classroom and it is now great to have the visual of the Marvin and Milo cartoon to accompany it. I have looked at some of the other Marvin and Milo resources/experiments and they are so good, thats what I have loved about this course, it has provided brilliant practical accessible resources that can be brought into the classroom.
Marvin and Milo’s Penny Rocket Experiment is super fun too, I showed it to my 5 and 10 year old yesterday and they carried it. There was great laughs when the coin went flying! Again simple, visual and effective for classroom use.
Finally I love the ‘Rocket Mouse’ Experiment. Last year I purchased the ‘Stomp Rocket’ Game for the children in my classroom who require a movement break.
https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/garden-games-and-accessories/garden-games/air-powered-rocket/p/240781. They absolutely love the momentum and the visual of the rocket launching and running try and catch it before it landed. The Rocket Mouse reminds of this, and all the children could make their own so easily and the activity could be extended further by having the kids decorate their rocket launchers before placing on their mice. -
I have gotten so many ideas from this course for celebrating Space Week with my class in October!
Here is a plan of what I might undertake with my 2nd class.
Space Week 2025 – 2nd Class
Monday – Exploring Gravity and Materials
Introduce the concept of gravity with the activity ‘Gravity and Falling Things’.
Conduct the ‘Spilling Water’ experiment to explore different materials and absorption.
Encourage children to make predictions and record their observations, promoting inquiry-based learning.Tuesday – The Moon and Shadows
Use the activity ‘What Does the Moon Look Like?’ to explore moon phases.
Introduce the song ‘We are the Planets’ to engage children and set a fun learning tone.
Investigate shadows through outdoor observation and simple art activities.
Start a Moon journal for children to record moon observations over the week.Wednesday – Stars and Constellations
Explore the UNAWE activities 5.4 and 5.5: ‘Draw your own constellation’ and ‘I used to be a saucepan, now I am a…’.
Discuss stories behind constellations and encourage imaginative thinking.
Create Star Lanterns combining science, art, and design.Thursday – Rockets and Alien Chemistry
Read The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers to spark imagination.
Build and launch Fizzy Rockets and Foam Rockets to explore propulsion and chemical reactions.
Use starter questions to guide investigations and reflective questions to conclude.Friday – Reflection and Digital Documentation
Review the week’s learning through group discussions.
Use tablets or cameras to document activities and reflections.
Create a classroom display linking STEM, art, and literacy.
Encourage children to share their favourite parts of the week. -
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I would use the activity set of launching a rocket into the air with my junior class for children on the autism spectrum. I would aim for this activity to be based on a level to support all in the class so sensory friendly exploration and visual aids would be at the centre of this lesson.
To introduce same I would start with something familiar by reading a simple picture book about rockets then moving on to a book like “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton. I would use real objects like toy rockets and let the children explore them through touch and play, introducing simple words and symbols like “rocket,” “up,” and “down.” A safe and fun activity is launching foam rockets or releasing blown-up balloons to show how air makes things move, using a visual countdown like “3-2-1-go!” to support understanding. Integrate the topic across the curriculum by letting children decorate paper rockets in art, act out being rockets in drama, and sing songs like “Zoom Zoom Zoom.” Support children with clear routines, now/next boards, and opportunities for breaks when needed. After the activity, help them sequence what happened with simple cards and ask choice questions to reinforce learning.
Keeping the approach flexible and child-led, allowing children to join in at their comfort level and celebrating all participation is always key in our class.
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Activity: Rocket Mice
This is a lovely activity that I think could be taught with junior, middle and senior classes. I would introduce the lesson with a video of a rocket launching into space. I have shown the video of Neil Armstrong’s rocket launching to my classes before. The pupils always find it fascinating and it is a lovely way to integrate History into the lesson.I would put the class into groups of 3-4 to make and design the rocket. This would be a lovely lesson to take outside and have a competition to see which mouse flies the furthest etc.
To develop the lesson further, I would use the idea of introducing different size bottles to see what impact it has on the mouse. The younger children would really engage with this lesson and I feel it is a great introduction to how pressure works for the Senior Classes.
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This is how I would plan a week of work for Senior Infants for Space Week.
Monday – Literacy & Oral Language
Introduce space through a story like Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy. Discuss characters, setting, and sequence. Children share what they’d bring to space.Tuesday –(Science & Geography)
Learn about the solar system. Use videos and songs to name planets. Create a simple space fact wall of work. Discuss day/night and Earth’s movement.Wednesday – Visual Arts & Drama
Craft paper-plate UFOs or create planets with sponge painting. Engage in imaginative role-play: “A Day on the Moon” using props.Thursday – Maths & Numeracy
Count planets, make rocket number lines, sort space shapes (stars, moons, circles). Use positional language with toy rockets (above, beside, under).Friday – Music & PE
Sing space songs (e.g., “Zoom Zoom Zoom”), and create rhythms with shakers. Outdoor rocket races or “Moonwalk” movement games focus on gross motor skills.This plan offers a fun, cross-curricular approach that sparks curiosity and supports key learning outcomes.
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I chose the Rockets activity set because it’s a fun, hands-on way to help infants learn about science. Children love things that move and make a reaction, so making simple rockets is a great way to get them excited about learning. During science week last year one teacher had a foot pedal rocket that she let the children shoot, it was possibly the most excited I have ever seen my children!! In my classroom, I would start by showing a short video of a real rocket launch to spark interest. Then we would make our own rockets using paper straws or balloon rockets along a string. Later in the week, we could try a fizzy rocket using baking soda and vinegar outside.
The children would help set up the experiment, make predictions, and talk about what happened. I would take photos and videos to use as digital records, and we might make a simple class book showing our rocket launches.
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I am vey excited about teaching STEM classes this year. I haven’ t been in a mainstream class for many years, but I have been in classes where paper airplanes are flying around, most very unsuccessfully. Therefore I think there is a multitude of learning which can be attained from the making rocket experiments. Thanks to Elizabeth for including the straw rocket video, it will be so exciting to try this. I like Michelle’s Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket story, and it will add a very interesting dimension to the lessons as I work in an Irish medium school. I intend to do lots of translation with my 4th class this year and it will be a fun way to incentivise them. I also really like the Pop Can Hero Engine from The Rockets Educator Guide – (it is a wonderful resource packed with lots of experiments, great instructions and directions). I envision the children having so much fun experimenting with hole positions and angles. I will further extend the lesson to include variations in can dimensions and heights above floor level (outside of course). These lessons will be great for predictions, measurements, recording and discussions. The children will be able to physically see the effect of force, gravity and thrust, can heights and hole dimensions. For some children sitting and learning can be tedious and unexciting. I don’t see this being the case with these rocket experiments as they play and learn unconsciously. They will practice many valuable attributes that can’t really be taught, e.g. concentration, patience, alternative thinking, ‘stickability’ (I call it); while at the same time socialising, co-operating and having positive hands-on experiences.
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A picturebook I would recommend when teaching the topic of Space is ‘The Darkest Dark’ by Chris Hadfield. The children are always fascinated to discover that the little boy became a real life astronaut. Afterwards, we usually find a clip on Youtube of the moon landing so they can experience it for themselves. Chris Hadfield also has great videos on youtube, we enjoyed how to brush your teeth in space and the children used it as part of procedural writing lesson in English too.
For this module I would choose the rocket activities. I think the balloon rocket would be great for a whole class demonstration. I would then also complete the rocket mice activity. The children will enjoy designing and decorating their own mice. We can have great conversation about what will happen when we put the mouse on top of the bottle, how will we get it to launch? Is there an area of the bottle that we can press that make it launch higher? Why does the mouse fall down again? As mentioned above by Frances we could ask who’s mouse went highest and why do they think that was? Lots of opportunity here for observing, predicting and questioning whilst having fun and providing a playful learning opportunity.
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Niamh – sounds like you have a fair bit of experience with rockets – and I agree with you that the balloon rockets and the rocket mice are suitable for younger children – and with a 2nd class you’ll be able to go that little bit further.
and best thing about Chris Hadfield (apart from the moustache) – he’s Canadian! (like me 🙂 )
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For Space Week, I plan to run a mini “Rocket Lab” with my class, exploring different types of simple rockets over a few days. We’ll begin with a discussion around “What makes a rocket fly?” followed by short video clips of real rocket launches to build excitement. I’ll then introduce the idea that we can test different rockets using just air, force and basic materials.
We’ll rotate through activities: Rocket Mice (plastic bottles + paper mice), Balloon Rockets on string, and a paper straw rocket design challenge. Each rocket uses a different launch method—squeeze, air pressure, tension—which opens up great discussion about forces and motion.
We’ll predict which rocket will go furthest and record our findings with simple tables and photos. I’ll also encourage the kids to improve their rocket designs based on testing—bringing in that engineering mindset.
I actually did this activity before with a rocket launch kit I had bought it had a foot pump that the kids had to stamp on and the rocket used to launch in the air and they absolutely loved it. It won’t let me attach an image but it was this one. https://www.cogstoysandgames.ie/products/stomp-rocket-ultra?variant=44464612868360&country=IE¤cy=EUR&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21126528372&gbraid=0AAAAADkNTJ8begBry_KS1py0OOQPkDd6P&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtMHEBhC-ARIsABua5iQpY50s8jaDsOHjLK6Hj9o_04Z2khL4334eqHbysFRPgYkypzh7IgMaAre2EALw_wcB
I love the idea of trying to recreate this lesson but incorporating their own rocket designs.
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Deirdre,
what a great selection of rockets – as you say, one for each type of force!
A stomp rocket can be great- I tried to make one from a soft drink bottle and had the unexpected result of landing flat on my back when I tried jumping on it to get the rocket to launch. Much safer to use a commercial product!
https://www.science-sparks.com/easy-diy-stomp-rocket/
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Hi Deirdre,
I love how you’ve planned your “Rocket Lab” to explore different launch methods over a few days—it’s such a great way to keep the excitement going while giving the children time to compare and think about how each rocket works. The mix of Rocket Mice, balloon rockets, and straw rockets is a brilliant variety, and I think your idea to have them predict and record which will go furthest will really help build their science skills.
I also really like that you’re bringing in the engineering mindset by encouraging them to improve their designs after testing—that hands-on, trial-and-error approach is such a valuable part of STEM learning.
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My idea for Space Week, is to use the “Make a Spacecraft” task with my second class students. I found this task very engaging and creative while will spark interest with the younger years. I would begin my lesson by creating a KWL chart to find out what students already know and what they are curious about in relation to space.
I would ask students to sketch what their space craft using an iPad. We would look at images for space crafts and images of school-made rockets to inspire the class. Students would work in groups of four to create a spaceship from recyclable materials.
As it is Space week and the entire school would be learning about Space, I would invite junior and senior infants into our class to look at our rockets. I would hold a Q and A where they can ask my class questions about their rockets.
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The class would love that activity Michelle. Love using KWL at the beginning of a new topic. The children can really clearly see what they have learned. A lovely idea to invite in the other classes to ask questions about the constructions. The children can pass on all they have learned about what a rocket must have to fly such as a point, fins, force etc
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Activity Set: Rockets
This activity begins with a short discussion and video clip showing real rockets launching into space. I would ask the children, “What do you think a rocket does?” and “What might we need to build a rocket?” This helps spark curiosity and introduces basic vocabulary such as “blast off,” “space,” “engine,” and “astronaut.”
We would then read a short story like Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton, which gives a fun and accessible introduction to how rockets work and where they go. Following the story, the children will take part in a hands-on rocket-building craft activity using recycled materials. Each child will create their own rocket using toilet roll tubes, coloured paper, foil, glue, tape, and markers. Triangles for the top and flames made from tissue paper can be added also.
As the children work on their rockets, I would encourage conversation about their rockets. Once complete, we’ll display the rockets on the wall in the classroom. Each child can name their rocket and decide on a planet or star it is flying to.
To finish, we’ll do a countdown together from 10 and pretend to launch our rockets with a big group “Blast off!” This activity promotes creativity, fine motor skills, early STEM awareness, and language development and it encourages interest in space exploration.
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Sarah,
given the range of model rockets suggested in this module that actually fly – is there one that you think your class could investigate with?
If you wanted one that could be decorated, then the fizzy tablet one might suit.
I think this offers such a nice way to explore what makes a rocket actually fly, and to take the learning into forces and motion.
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My lesson would be on rockets and how we build and launch a rocket.
To engage the children in a fun and hands-on science and STEM activity, I would plan a lesson where the class explores how rockets work by building and launching their own paper rockets.
I would begin by gathering the children on the carpet and introducing the topic of space and rockets through a story. A lovely book for this age group is “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker, which is short, rhyming, and full of interesting space-related illustrations. This sets the tone for the lesson and captures the children’s imagination.
After the story, I would ask the children a few open-ended questions to get them thinking:
• What do rockets do?
• Have you ever seen a rocket launch on TV or YouTube?
• What do you think makes a rocket fly?I would then explain that we’re going to become engineers and make our very own rockets that we’ll actually be able to launch. To build some real-world context and introduce scientific thinking, I might show a very short video clip (1–2 minutes) of a real rocket launching and explain in simple terms how force pushes the rocket into the air.
Next, I would go through the materials with the class and demonstrate how to make the rocket step by step. Each child would roll a small piece of paper around a pencil to form the rocket body, then tape one end shut to create the nose cone. They could then decorate their rockets and add fins to help them fly. We would use a straw as the launcher – they place the rocket on the end of the straw and blow to launch it.
Once the rockets are ready, we would go outside (or into the hall) to launch them. I’d set up a safe launch area and do a fun countdown with the whole class: “3, 2, 1… blast off!” The children would take turns launching their rockets and observing how far they fly. If time allows, I’d encourage them to experiment – perhaps trying different launch angles or blowing with different force.
After the launches, we’d come back to the classroom and reflect on what happened:
• Which rockets went the farthest?
• What do you think helped them fly better?
• If we made another rocket, what might you change?Finally, children could draw a picture of their rocket launching and write a short sentence about it. This would help consolidate the learning and give them a chance to reflect on the activity through art and writing.
This lesson combines literacy, science, art, and oral language in a highly engaging way. It also gives children the opportunity to explore basic scientific ideas about forces and motion in a hands-on, memorable experience. -
Senior Infants Space Week Plan
Monday – Blast Off!
Read Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy
Discuss “What is space?” and introduce key vocabulary
Look at images of Earth, moon, and stars
Begin Space Passports for the week
Aistear: Role-play in a spaceship, build rocketsTuesday – Zoom to the Moon
Read Moon! Earth’s Best Friend
Write/draw: “If I went to the moon…”
Create and play with moon sand
PE: Astronaut obstacle course
Aistear: Moon crater art, moonwalk role-playWednesday – Rocket Day 🚀
Make and test balloon or straw rockets
Predict and observe rocket movements
Count down from 10 like a launch
Art: Create paper rockets
Aistear: Launch stations, build launch padsThursday – Planet Explorers
Read There’s No Place Like Space
Learn 4–5 planets through song and images
Paint planets and create a solar system display
Aistear: Planet hop game, planet small worldFriday – Space Adventure
Act out a space journey as a class
Draw/write about favourite part of Space Week
Present work to class or parents
Celebrate with Space Week certificates-
Thanks for sharing a new to me book “Moon! Earth’s Best Friend” by Stacy McAnulty.
https://youtu.be/EMtkf8rrxLs?si=nZAjvqrTwDMWkGSo
It uses American units of miles, pounds and references some quite complicated material – is there a particular reason you chose it?
It has a suggested age of 4-8, and a guide that it is to be an adult who should read the book for the first time to children.
Personally I prefer the Cat in the Hat rhymes of There’s no Place Like Space:
https://anyflip.com/icenx/mnac/basic
Whatever Next is for quite a bit younger children – suggested for ages 2-4, so it may be too young for senior infants.
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Shooting a rocket into the air activity
I would develop a lessons that incorporates hands-on, inquiry-driven activities related to space exploration, emphasising engaging and exciting STEM projects.
Day 1: Welcome to Space Week!
Theme: What is space?
Activities:
* Read-aloud: “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton or “There’s No Place Like Space” (Dr. Seuss).
* Class discussion: “What do we know about space?”
* Introduce new vocabulary: rocket, astronaut, moon, star, planet.
* Make space helmets using paper bowls or construction paper.Day 2: Let’s Learn About Rockets
Theme: What do rockets do?
Activities:
* Watch a short animated video of a rocket launching (e.g., NASA Kids or StoryBots).
* Act it out: pretend to be rockets — crouch down, count down, and JUMP up!
* Sing: “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon!”
* Create simple paper tube rockets with recycled materials and decorate them.Day 3: Rocket Building Day!
Activity:
* Build a simple straw rocket:
* Use paper triangles and rectangles to make a rocket that slides onto a straw.
* Children blow into the straw and count the distance in stepsDay 4: Rocket Launch & Space Stations
Rocket Launch Party!
* Go outside to launch your straw or balloon rockets
* Mark how far they go using cones or chalk.
Space Learning Centers (rotate in small groups):
1. Art: Paint the night sky with stars and planets.
2. Sensory: Space sand or moon dough with tiny astronauts.
3. Building: Use blocks to build rocket launch pads.
4. Books: Space-themed story corner.Day 5: Celebrate Space!
Activities:
* Share what we learned: Each group shows their rockets.
* Make a class book: “If I Went to Space…” (drawings + dictated sentences).
* Watch a short video message from a real astronaut (NASA has kid-friendly options).
* Host a Space Parade: Wear space hats and walk around the school or classroom.-
Fionnuala,
for the short video from an astronaut – there are recordings of astronauts reading space stories, which might fit with the books you have suggested to engage the children.
Check: https://storytimefromspace.com/
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I would use the model aliens from my previous lesson as a starter stimulus askiing questions such as where do we think aliens would live, how would they move around? How would we visit other planets if aliens lived on them?
ROCKETS!
We would begin with the mouse rocket using the mouse template and a plastic bottle.
We would try to discover what is making it fly, how can we get it to fly higher?
Would a bigger/smaller bottle work better, would pushing it harder/quicker improve the height
Next we would try the balloon rocket activity. I would demonstrate and then allow each child to create their own. Once finshed we would test them out and keep a log of which one travelled furthest and this would lead to a discussion on why? Does the size of the balloon make a difference?
Lastly we would look at paper planes and how far they travel and how they are made and whether this makes a difference.
I work in a junior school and I think this would be a lovely idea for Spaceweek between the 4 class levels. See who can create and design a paper plane which goes the furthest. It would allow for lots of investigating and research etc on how to improve your plane -
Class Plan: Rocket-Making for Space Week Ireland
Objective:
To engage students with space science by designing, building, and launching simple rockets, encouraging interest in physics and space exploration.Begin with a brief talk on Space Week Ireland and the importance of space exploration. Show images/videos of real rocket launches and discuss basic rocket science.
Students build their own rockets using straws, paper, tape, or for older students, bottle rockets with vinegar and baking soda. Emphasize safety and teamwork. Allow creativity in design while applying basic scientific principles. Go outdoors to launch the rockets. Measure distance and discuss which designs were most effective and why. Reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how engineers improve real rockets. Connect activity to STEM careers and future space missions. Perhaps invite other classes to come see the end results.
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Louise,
I like to show the SpaceX rocket launches – since very often something goes wrong and they blow up! I emphasize that these are tests, and that SpaceX has the philosophy of build quickly – test to destruction – then fix the thing that broke.
This can be useful with children who want to make the rocket “perfect” before doing any testing, and so run out of time. I encourage them to be more SpaceX-y and just have a go!
I ask them if they see anything odd in this video …. and do they think this is going to turn out good or bad… then we see!
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Begin the lesson by showing the children a short video of a rocket launch or reading a story such as Zoom, Rocket, Zoom!by Margaret Mayo. Ask open-ended questions like: What do you think a rocket does? What helps it fly? Where do rockets go? This introduces key vocabulary such as blast off, fuel, lift-off, and space.
Engage the class in a whole-group discussion about rockets. Encourage children to share what they already know. Ask: Why do we use rockets? What do you notice about their shapes? This helps set the stage for deeper exploration.
Provide a range of materials—paper, recycled items, foil, toilet rolls, or play dough—and invite children to design and build their own rockets. Encourage creativity and conversation as they work: What features does your rocket have? How will it fly? Children take ownership of their learning through making and imagining.
Next, carry out the balloon rocket experiment. Use a long piece of string threaded through a straw and secured between two chairs. Inflate a balloon (without tying it), tape it to the straw, and release. The balloon zooms along the string, demonstrating how air pushes it forward. Ask the children to predict what they think will happen before each launch and discuss the results afterward. Try different variables like balloon sizes or angles of the string.
After the experiment, have children share what they noticed. Revisit their earlier predictions—were they correct? Invite them to describe how their own rockets might take off and where they’d travel. You can extend the activity with simple writing or drawing prompts like “If I had a rocket, I would go to…”
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Blathnaid,
thanks for sharing the story suggestion – I love it.
https://youtu.be/6ZWLn2WMIzA?si=yNQ60gk_FIMSLAv1
If you want the balloon rocket to be more “spacey”, tie one end of the string to the ceiling – and it then launches up.
I find that very thin string is needed, or even better, use a strong fishing line that is smooth and strong. Get a balloon pump or three as well!
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My class plan for space week would have 3 main themes planets and sun, astronauts and rockets and the moon and the stars. I would include sensory play with moon sand, sorting stars activities, art activities such as building rockets and foul moon craters. Music and drama countdown songs and walking on the moon. We would hot seat an astronaunt and ask questions on what we think it was like to visit the moon. Oral language posters and using rainbow oral language interactive poster. Including building space vocabulary and labelling pictures. We would of course include stiries like whatever next by jill murphy. Finishing on friday with sponge painting stars and planets on black paper.
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I would use the Rockets activity to create a cross-curricular, hands-on learning experience during Space Week. I would begin by showing a short video of real rocket launches to capture excitement and curiosity. We’d then explore the question, “How do rockets travel into space?” through a simple balloon rocket experiment. Children would work in small groups to design and test their rockets using balloons, string, and straws, predicting how far they will travel depending on balloon size or air pressure.
After testing, we’d measure and record distances, integrating maths skills, and discuss what factors might improve performance, linking to science concepts like thrust and air resistance.
To extend learning, students could create rocket artwork, write “astronaut mission logs,” or use tablets to design digital rockets. This activity promotes collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity, and fits perfectly within Space Week by combining scientific inquiry with fun, memorable experiences that celebrate space exploration.
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Launching a rocket activity:
To introduce the topic of rockets, I would begin by showing a short, engaging video of a real-life rocket launch. This would spark curiosity and lead into a class discussion around what rockets are, what they are used for and where they go. We would talk about space and astronauts allowing the children to explore this theme with their peers. The children would then take part in a hands-on activity where they create their own “rocket mouse,” following guidance from the YouTube video Shoot a Rocket into the Air! | Wonderlab+, as referenced in the module. Each child would design their own rocket mouse using simple materials like paper, straws, milk cartons of different sizes. Once built, they would have the opportunity to explore and play with their rockets, testing how they launch. As they experiment, we would pose questions like, “Does your rocket go further if you push or blow harder?” leading into a discussion on force. This opens up inquiry into how the strength of the force affects the distance the rocket travels. The children would then conduct simple investigations to test their predictions. To conclude, they would share their results and reflect on how parts of their rockets may be similar to things they see or use in everyday life.-
Aoife,
I think you have two different child friendly rockets combined – the rocket mouse uses the template (a simple cone) and a milk bottle to launch – everything else is decoration. Children launch be squeezing the milk bottle.
The straw rocket is for slightly older children, and uses a rolled tube with a sealed nose and a straw that the children blow into.
Both are suitable for open ended investigations on the effects of force, air pressure etc.
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For Space Week, I will plan a series of playful and engaging activities around the theme of rockets and space travel, tailored to the developmental needs of Junior Infants. Since young children learn best through hands-on, imaginative experiences, I will ensure the activities are interactive, cross-curricular, and grounded in meaningful play.
We will begin the week with the story “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton, which will introduce key space-related vocabulary in a fun and age-appropriate way. Following this, the children will create their own rockets using recycled materials during art time, encouraging creativity, fine motor development, and opportunities for discussion.
To introduce basic science, we will launch balloon rockets along string lines, allowing children to observe cause and effect. I will encourage them to describe what they see, supporting early oral language development.
During Aistear, the role-play area will be transformed into a space station where children can become astronauts, engineers, or aliens. This dramatic play will support language development, social skills, and imagination. We will also sing songs like “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon” to reinforce the theme through music and movement.
I believe that using a thematic approach like this will increase engagement and deepen learning. By incorporating rockets and space across storytelling, art, science, and play, I will create an immersive learning environment. I hope to see curiosity and excitement grow throughout the week, and I will reflect on the children’s responses to inform future thematic planning.
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Launching a Rocket
The children would be exploring air pressure, force and gravity.
Show the children a simple design of a racket launcher using empty milk carton and paper rocket. By applying force to the sides of the milk carton, air is pushed out rapidly and launches the paper rocket into the air. Explain to the children how air pressure and force made the rocket launch and how gravity brings it back down.
Then get the children t design and Construction their own personalRocket Launcher giving each student a clean, empty milk carton to use as their launcher. Get them to decorate their milk carton using markers, stickers, paper, or tape. Then roll and tape a small piece of paper into a lightweight cylinder to act as the rocket. Encourage them to decorate these as well.
Allow the children to take turns to launch their rockets and show the class their design. After this it could lead to a discussion on – What shape might fly best? What happens if we make it longer or add fins? Does the size matter? etc
Invite students to reflect on what they learned by drawing a picture or sharing their favourite part of the experiment. Invite an older class to the classroom to see their inventions and they could return to their classroom to further develop the idea and expand their designs.
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For Space Week, I will use the Rocket Mice activity to help children learn how things move in space. In this experiment, we make a paper “mouse” that sits on top of an empty plastic bottle. When we squeeze the bottle, air rushes out and pushes the mouse into the air.
Lesson Steps:
Start (10 mins): Show a short video of Rocket Mice so children can see what will happen.
Make (20 mins): Children cut out and decorate their own paper mouse.
Test (15 mins): Put the mouse on the bottle and squeeze hard. See whose mouse goes highest.
Think (10 mins): Talk about why the mouse flies up – the air in the bottle pushes it, but gravity pulls it down again.
Link to Space: Real rockets use the same idea, but much bigger and stronger, to leave Earth.
Next Step – Challenge:
In pairs, children change one thing about their rocket to see what happens – for example, make it heavier, change its shape, or use a different size bottle. They record what happens and try to explain why. This helps them use what they learned to think like real scientists.-
Aoife,
rocket mouse is a great activity for young children – easy to make with lots of science underpinning the learning.
I’d tweak your outline slightly – let the children play with the rocket mice so that they see how they work (this is wonder and explore), then they can predict how the mice will fly when they change some aspect of the launch – ie “with a bigger bottle I think the mouse will go higher since there is more air to push it”
The investigation will then naturally follow as they check if their prediction was correct.
As I have described before, I once gave each child of a group of 3 a different colour mouse, then asked the whole class if one colour mouse was better at flying than another colour. So much discussion as they untangled the effect of person launching vs the colour.
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Here is my plan for engaging with Science Week in October with a junior class.
Science week Ireland have wonderful activity packs prepared for teachers and I don’t imagine I would do better at planning a one-week unit so I will use that as my inspiration and plan a selection of items that I feel would work in my school.
Assembly or daily intercom announcements with one amazing fact about space and also one open-ended question to stimulate some pair or whole class discussion. This whole-school initiative can spark conversations outside the classroom too.
Classroom plan with the overall theme of the moon:
Daily check in online to look at the moon’s phase and describe how it changes and how it stays the same.
Monday – recount the first moon landing, using archived video clips linked in the Space Week teacher pack to bring it to life for the pupils. pupils can role-play the first moon walk using “moon-shoes” from my own kids to imitate low-gravity
Tuesday Look at photos of the Apollo 11 shuttle and use classroom construction toys to create a shuttle for teddy, from lego, magnets, wooden blocks, straws, plusplus blocks etc.
Wednesday watch the animated video “Fly me to the moon” on youtube.
Wednesday and Thursday – Science investigation about gravity “How do different shaped objects fall differently on earth?” Pose a question with 3 different objects – If I drop these at the same time, which will hit the ground first and why? explore a range of objects and select what they think will be the quickest and the slowest and why. Carry out the investigation and record the results.
Friday – revisit some archived footage of the Apollo 11 mission and follow up with some role play drama. in small groups, children select one scene to role–play (training and preparations, blast-off, first steps on the moon, returning to earth)
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I think the Marvin and Milo cartoons are a fun way to introduce ideas of how to make or launch rockets. The children can brainstorm ways to launch their rocket and investigate different materials and ways to make their rockets suitable for flight. Once the children have predicted and posed their starter question they can begin to carry out their own investigation.
The Rocket Mouse is one of my favourite experiments to show a rocket launching. The children in my previous classes have found this idea engaging and a lot of fun. We will use items from our Friday Box like an empty milk bottle. You will need sellotape and we will use numerous items to make our rocket colourful such as paint, glitter and stickers. The Rocket Mouse template is used, cut and taped together. We can stick eyes on the tip of the mouse and create whiskers with permanent marker. We can add paper ears too. Once the mouse is ready for liftoff the children can squeeze the bottle.
In groups the children can ask each other questions such as why did the mouse launch into the air, how did this happen and what could make the mouse go higher or lower in the air.
I will allow the children to pick various sizes of plastic bottles from our Friday Box to see if there are any differences in their experiments. We will join together again and discuss did anything different happen using a different size container and why they think that happened.
We will discuss the pressure you are putting on each bottle size when you squeeze it. Are you putting the same amount of pressure on each sized bottle etc. The children will record their findings and display it to the class.
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Hi Rohana, I really like how you’ve used the Rocket Mouse experiment — it’s such an engaging and memorable way for children to explore how rockets launch. The idea of using your Friday Box materials is great for encouraging creativity and sustainability, while also making the project feel special. I think letting the children decorate their rockets adds a personal touch and keeps them excited for the launch. I also like how you’ve planned for them to test different sized bottles — that’s a brilliant way to introduce the concept of variables and fair testing in a simple, hands-on way. Your questions about pressure and launch height really get them thinking scientifically, and recording and sharing findings at the end is a lovely way to consolidate their learning.
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Plan for Space Week for First Class:
Monday: Blast Off with Stories
Book: Montessori: Planet Work – a hands-on intro to the planets with Montessori-style visuals.
Activity: Have children build a Planet Mobile using paper plates, painting and dangling the planets from a hanger.Tuesday: Meet Space Weather
ESERO resource: Space Week Primary Resource – Magnetic Sun and Space Weather – an interactive worksheet/activity explaining the Sun’s magnetic properties and how they affect Earth
Activity: Simulate solar flares using magnets and iron filings or sparkle powder.Wednesday: Video Journey Through the Solar System
Video: I Am The Solar System (YouTube) – a playful, fact-filled adventure for young children.
Activity: After watching, let the children draw their favourite planet and share one fact.Thursday: Connect with Real Scientists
ESERO program: Space Goes To School offers free classroom videoconference visits with real space professionals.
Activity: Prepare simple questions and invite a space expert to chat with the class/video link.Friday: Create & Reflect
ESERO resource: The Universe in Your Classroom collection offers tried-and-tested STEM space-themed activities.
Activity: Let pupils choose a favourite theme (e.g. planets, space gear, rockets) and work in groups to make a mini-display. Present them and reflect on what they’ve learned. -
I would use the Make a Rocket activity to teach my class about forces in a fun, hands-on way. We would begin with a short discussion using the trigger questions from the module: “What is a rocket?”, “What makes it move?”, and “Where does its energy come from?” I’d let children try the balloon experiment first so they could see action and reaction in a safe, familiar form.
Then, working outside for safety, each group would receive a small plastic tub wit lid, water, and an Alka Selzer. They would attach the tablet to the canister lid, fill the canister one-quarter with water, close it, turn it upside down, and step back. The children would watch the rocket launch and record what they saw.
We would repeat the experiment with small changes, such as using warm water or a different fizzy substance, and compare results. This introduces the idea of fair testing and variables.
Finally, we’d link the activity to real rockets, explaining how fuel burns to create gas, which pushes rockets into space. This experiment is exciting, memorable, and gives a clear, visible demonstration of Newton’s Third Law in action, perfect for developing curiosity about science.
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Hello,
I think that the Alien Slime activity would be a really fun and interactive way of getting children to expand on their preconceptions of the properties of liquids and solids. To engage the pupils I would put a short video or read aloud of part of Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Suess. I would encourage the children to describe what they could see – what does the slime/oobleck remind you of? Play dough? Soap? Green Juice? The children could help me to complete a ‘Same but Different’ chart – e.g. It’s the same as water because it moves freely; but it’s different because you don’t need to keep it in a glass. Once the children have had a chance to discuss I would then pass around some slime as an example and let the children have a feel of it. This would lead nicely into the children getting involved in the creation of their own slime.
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Space Week
For Space Week, I would like to plan “A Day of Space Travel” designed especially for junior classes. The idea is to combine imagination with hands-on science, making the experience both memorable and age-appropriate.
In the week leading up to the event, each class teacher will be assigned a planet and prepare simple facts and an engaging activity suited to their pupils’ level. On the day, each class will “visit” at least three planets (other classrooms), carrying a Space Passport that will be stamped on arrival.
Junior and Senior Infants will link the theme to their Aistear play, designing their own spaceships and alien costumes. Activities such as the Rocket Mouse experiment and reading Marvin and Milo space stories in big book format will give them short, fun introductions to scientific thinking.
First and Second Class will experiment with fizzing and foaming rockets as part of “Alien Chemistry” and learn to find constellations like the Plough and North Star. The mnemonic “My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Noodles” will be taught to help all children remember the planets in order.
By the end of the day, pupils will return to their own classrooms with full Space Passports, new knowledge, and excitement for space exploration. This plan uses play, movement, and interactive learning to spark curiosity and build scientific thinking in our youngest learners.
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I love your idea of planning “A Day of Space Travel” for Space Week—it sounds like a creative way to get children excited about space. The use of the Space Passport is particularly clever as I can imagine how motivating it will be for the pupils to collect stamps as they move from one classroom to another. It turns learning into an adventure and gives them a real sense of achievement at the end of the day.
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Activity: Make A Spacecraft
With my class, I’d use this rocket activity as a fun way to learn about space and how things move. I’d start by chatting about rockets—how they’re different from planes, and how they have to work without air. We could look at some cool pictures of real rockets and astronauts to get them excited. We could use Youtube to watch a famous rocket launch.
Then we’d decorate our “rockets” (tablet containers) with coloured paper, fins, and a pointy nose cone. The kids could work in pairs so they can help each other. Once ready, we’d head outside, fill them with some water, drop in the tablet, and step back. The best part will be waiting for the “blast off”!
Afterwards, we’d talk about what happened—why the rocket shot up, and how the bubbles pushed it into the air. The children could draw a picture of their rocket or write a couple of sentences about what they saw. If there’s time, we could try changing the design to see if it goes higher or faster.
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That sounds like such an exciting and memorable activity! I really like how you’ve built in both the “wow” factor of the launch and the science behind why it works. Using pictures, videos, and a discussion beforehand is a great way to set the scene and get the children thinking about how rockets differ from other vehicles. I also like that you have them work in pairs — it makes the activity more collaborative and helps build teamwork skills. The follow-up reflection, whether through drawing or writing, is a lovely way to reinforce the learning and give the children ownership over what they’ve discovered. Testing design changes at the end is a brilliant addition — it encourages curiosity, experimentation, and problem-solving. I can imagine the excitement (and a few gasps!) as the rockets launch!
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For Space Week (4–10 October), my 2nd class will follow a week-long cross-curricular plan exploring rockets, the Moon, and life in space. On Monday, we’ll launch the week with a story such as The Darkest Dark by Chris Hadfield, followed by a discussion on what space is and why we explore it. Tuesday will focus on Rocket Science — making and testing balloon rockets, predicting distances, and recording results in bar charts (Maths link). Wednesday will be Alien Day, with a creative writing and art activity designing an alien suited to a specific planet. Thursday will explore The Moon through observation, model-making, and sequencing lunar phases. Friday will be a Space Challenge Morning, where groups rotate through hands-on STEM stations: Rocket Mouse launches, alien chemistry fizzing, and a “build a space habitat” challenge. We’ll finish with a reflection circle, discussing what we’ve learned and how our ideas about space have changed.
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I would use forces and motion in a fun, hands-on way. We would begin by watching a short rocket launch video to spark excitement, then explore different toy rockets in the classroom. I would demonstrate how air pushes the balloon rocket along the string, linking it to the idea that rockets use force to move. In small groups, children would help set up the string track, inflate the balloon, and predict how far it will travel. We could experiment by changing the balloon size or string angle, encouraging simple fair-test thinking. After each launch, we would measure the distance with metre sticks and record results using tally marks. This activity combines science, maths, and teamwork, while building vocabulary like “force,” “push,” and “distance.” To extend learning, children could draw their own “dream rocket” and share its imaginary mission.
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The activity I would carry out with my class would be making rockets. In Junior Infants, we generally carry out the activity making rockets from straws and paper, as I described in my first post on the forum. For senior infants, I would like them to create Balloon rockets based on the lesson from Primary Science https://www.sfi.ie/site-files/primary-science/media/pdfs/col/rocket_launch.pdf.
I would begin the lesson by recalling the paper rockets made in Junior infants, and discussing how they worked, what made some better than others and how could they be improved? Next I would discuss the meaning of “force” and ask the children to consider what this means to them. We would consider some examples of when we have seen energy released as a force on an object. For example we could talk about the effort involved in kicking a ball and how far it can travel, the size and strength of an elastic band used in a catapult and the object being thrown, or how we can do the biggest jumps on a trampoline. We would also discuss the topic of gravity and how it returns all objects back to earth.
Next, we would examine how balloons travel by air escaping from them, and compare this to how a rocket takes off when gas is released. We would discuss how we could make the balloon travel in the path we want it to take, and discuss what could happen if a rocket did not go along the right path. I would demonstrate the experiment for the children first, of setting up string and a straw between two points, and attached the balloon with Sellotape already full of air contained with a clothes peg. I would ask the children to predict what will happen when I release the air from the balloon. I will ask the children to estimate how far they think the balloon will travel.
Following this, I would give the children time to plan, design and make their own balloon rockets. I would ask them to make observations as they tried their design out – such as what happens if the string is not tight enough, or what happens when there is more or less air in the balloon?
Following this lesson, I would show the children a model of a foam rockets, based on the lesson from Curious minds https://www.sfi.ie/site-files/primary-science/media/pdfs/col/curious-minds-resource-make-a-rocket.pdf. I would ask the children to compare which rocket has more force and to consider reasons for this.
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During Space Week, I would guide the children through an engaging, hands-on activity to explore early science ideas such as air pressure, force, and gravity. We would start by decorating empty milk cartons, turning them into colourful “launchers.” This creative step allows each child to personalise their equipment and feel invested in the experiment. Rolled-up paper tubes would act as our “rockets,” and the children would take turns pressing the sides of the cartons to send them soaring.
Before launching, I’d invite the group to share their predictions about what might happen. Once we test them, we’d talk about why the rockets shoot upward and then fall, introducing concepts like moving air, pressure, and gravity in simple, clear terms. To extend the learning, we could try different container types—juice boxes, large milk jugs, or plastic bottles—and compare how design impacts flight.
This activity encourages inquiry, discussion, and critical thinking, while also supporting fine motor skills. Combined with our annual recycled-material rocket-making competition, balloon rockets, space-themed storytelling, role-play, and planet-inspired art, it would create a joyful, immersive week that blends STEM, creativity, and play.
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I have previously tried to build rockets with junior classes and always felt I should have more materials/resources on hand. Cardboard rolls made the body of the rocket look well but not fit for purpose, to be shooting around the classroom. This module has shown me that it can be simple and still as educational. I would begin the lesson as usual; by showing a short video of a rocket launch to engage the students. This would lead us nicely into a discussion about rockets; what are they used for? Who would go on a rocket? What do they look like, what size are they?
(Another interesting alternative to begin the lesson could be showing the students the finished alien models they would have completed from the previous lesson)
I really liked the simple aspect of the Rocket Mouse activity. The children would be given their rocket mouse. They can play around with them, decorate and think about how far they will launch. The students will be given similar plastic bottles and encouraged to launch their mouse. I would let the students enjoy their launches for five minutes or so.
I would call the children back and extend their thinking- what would happen if we changed the rocket size/shape? Predict what would change if we added something to the rocket mouse – how would the outcome be different? Would the mouse travel higher into the air, lower? There are many extension questions that can further develop the children’s understanding and of course, their enjoyment of the lesson!
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I would use the alka Seltzer rocket lessons but adapt it for my own class of 5th and 6th.
I would engage the children by showing them some videos of rocket launches and then introduce the tube and say is there any way we could propel it.
We would then brainstorm answers to this until we landed on using the chemisty to create a gas. Once we landed on this we predict what would happen next and conduct the experiment and record what we found.
We would then introduce similar mixtures or different brands of tablets to see which would work best in the experiment and again predict which would be the same or would their be large discrepancies.
This lesson nicely blends physics and chemistry together and in a discussion afterwards the children could investigate and discuss what had happened during the experiment and why it had worked, however there is also a possibility that something would go wrong, which would also then be discussed.
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I would like to develop a plan around the theme of rockets. I would introduce the topic through a book called The Hundred Decker Rocket. It is based on a little girl called Ivy who is a rocket ship inventor and wants to help out the aliens in space. Throughout the week, I would also teach the children the poem called My Rocket Ship by Ian Bland. It is shape poetry so it takes the shape of a rocket ship. It would be interesting to see if any of the children notice that about the poem when they first see it.
I would ask the class what they know about rockets and form a class KWL.
I would encourage them to design a rocket ship, just like Ivy, in pairs or groups. They could cardboard, plastic bottles, paper, lego, magnetic tiles. They can give it a unique name and talk about the features of their rocket.
I would finish off by playing the rocket simulator for kids on YouTube. It’s around 3 minutes long and takes the children along on the exciting journey with an astronaut.
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Thanks for sharing the poem Leanne,
it is here; https://poetryroundabout.com/tag/rocket-ship/
Is this the rocket simulator? https://youtu.be/q5_Z5ZiNRYc?si=zI_Jrd5oblMOVyfN
the science in it is a bit sketchy! It could be fun with an older class to have them analyze the errors.
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The idea of letting them design their own rockets from different materials is brilliant for giving choice and encouraging problem-solving. Ending with the rocket simulator video is a perfect touch as it ties the learning together and gives them a taste of what being in space might feel like. I think your class would absolutely love this!
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My Space Week Plan
For Space Week, I would plan simple, hands-on activities that suit my class. We would begin the week with The Planet Song to introduce the Solar System in a fun and memorable way. The boys could sing along and make simple actions for each planet, helping them remember the order.
After this, we would move into a paper rocket activity, where pupils design and decorate their rockets before launching them using straws or a simple launcher. We would measure how far they travel, compare results, and talk about how to improve their designs.
Later in the week, we would try a safe “Alien Chemistry” experiment using baking soda and vinegar to create a fizzy reaction, pretending it is a sample from another planet. To keep the sporty theme, the boys could work in teams, recording their results like a scorecard. We would also spend a short session exploring ESA Kids online to learn fun facts about space and astronauts.
To finish the week, the boys in my class could draw or colour themselves as astronauts, adding details from what they learned. This plan keeps Space Week fun, active, and engaging, while developing STEM skills and inspiring curiosity about space.
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To begin the lesson, we would watch some videos and discuss some images of rockets and rocket launches. I would ask questions like ‘what do you think this is?’ ‘where does it go?’ ‘what do rockets do?’ ‘what do you think makes a rocket fly?’ Here we would focus on the idea of gravity, air pressure, force, push. After some brainstorming we would then begin work on our own rockets. In the past with senior infants I have made the rockets with straws and they blow to make them move, but this hasn’t always worked effectively. I really like the idea of the ‘rocket mouse’ for the infant classes. I would give everyone their milk carton to decorate and then we would prepare our mouse. The children will have some time to play around and figure out how to work their rocket most effectively. They would then have some competitions with their peers to see who could launch their rocket mouse the highest. This would open a discussion about how we can make our rocket mouse launch high…what do we need to do? For someone who’s rocket mouse isn’t launching well…why might this be? The children could predict what might happen if we changed the carton size/added something extra into the carton/created the mouse differently. There are many ways this lesson could be further extended and the children’s creativity could be enhanced.
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This sounds like such a fun lesson! I love how you start with videos and questions—it really gets the kids curious about rockets and how they fly. The whole ‘rocket mouse’ idea is super creative, and letting the kids decorate and experiment is a great way to keep them engaged.
One thing that would totally level this up is adding stomp rockets. They’re awesome because they actually work every time and show how air pressure and force help rockets launch. Plus, kids just love stomping to send their rockets flying—it’s super exciting! It’d add a cool hands-on, active part to the lesson and make the science behind it way easier to understand. Definitely a win for keeping the energy up and making the whole thing more memorable!
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Eileen,
do you make your own stomp rocket or use a commercial kit? I tried to make my own once – unsuccessfully – and when i tried to stomp on the soft drink bottle, the hose wasn’t big enough and the air didn’t flow – so I ended up on the ground!
Next time I’ll go to Smyths:
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Using a book as the starting point really helps to focus and engage young learners, and Chris Hadfield’s book and videos are perfect for this. I’d kick off Space Week by reading his book to the class—it’s full of amazing stories and photos about life as an astronaut that really capture kids’ imaginations. Then, I’d show some of his videos where he demonstrates everyday tasks in space, like eating or floating, to bring those stories to life.
Alongside this, I’d use the Over the Moon 1st Class book, which has some lovely resources and add-on lessons that fit perfectly with early space learning. We could do simple activities like making moon phases models or drawing our own space missions.
Starting with a book creates a strong narrative thread throughout the week, making learning feel connected and exciting. Plus, combining reading, videos, and hands-on activities hits lots of different learning styles!
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In this module, I would like to teach the topic of rockets. We would begin by watching a video all about rockets, after which I would ask the children to share what they remembered from the video so I could write them on the board. Next, we would other rockets and their crews. We would then move on to a cutting activity, labelling the parts of a rocket to reinforce the learning that has already taken place. Using materials from a box of recycled items, I would encourage the students to build their own rocket and give it a name. This would also tie in with Aistear lessons in future. After that, I would display photos of the planets and we would talk about which was their favourite and why. We would link this to future art lessons where the children would design their own aliens, while discussing further what makes a good rocket
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I would base my classroom activity around the theme of rockets to engage the children in both science and hands-on learning. We would begin by discussing the role rockets play in space exploration, using videos and images of real launches to capture their interest. I would then introduce a simple STEM challenge: in pairs or small groups, pupils would design and build their own paper or straw rockets. We would experiment with different designs and launch methods, testing how far each could travel and recording the results.
This activity not only builds excitement but also allows children to explore scientific concepts like force, trajectory, and aerodynamics in a fun, accessible way. By encouraging them to modify and improve their designs, we promote problem-solving and resilience.The week would end with a class launch event would make the learning memorable and celebrate their creativity and teamwork.
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I would choose the Balloon Rocket activity from the Rockets set as it’s a simple, visual and engaging activity for young children. I would begin by showing a short video of a real rocket launch to gain their attention and follow that with a discussion using simple questions such as “What makes the rocket move?” and “Where do rockets go?” This builds curiosity and links to their prior knowledge.
In small groups, children would create their own balloon rockets using string, straws, tape, and balloons. They would be invited to predict what might happen before letting go of the balloon. When launched they see the effect of air escaping, showing them cause and effect in a way they can clearly observe.
The children can then compare which balloons travelled furthest and why. To extend the activity, children could decorate their rockets, linking to art, or count how many launches were made, linking to maths.
This is an active, fun, and inquiry-based activity while still introducing scientific skills such as observing, predicting, and comparing.
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With my 2nd class, I would use a hands-on rocket activity to spark curiosity about science, math, and engineering. We would start by discussing what rockets are used for and the forces that make them move, introducing terms like “thrust,”and “gravity,” in age-appropriate language. Pupils would then work in small groups to design and build simple paper or straw rockets. We would test them by launching with a straw or air pump, measuring how far each rocket travels. This gives them a concrete way to connect cause and effect — for example, how changing the shape of the rocket’s nose or fins can affect its flight. Afterward, we would reflect together: What worked well? What changes might make it fly further? This activity encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity while grounding STEM concepts in a fun, tangible experience that pupils are excited to talk about and build upon.
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Course Reflection
This course has been invaluable in developing both my confidence and creativity in teaching space as a theme. It has also provided me with a range of inquiry-based, playful, and hands-on activities that I can adapt for my own senior infant classroom. I learned the importance of using mind maps to organise children’s prior knowledge as I realised that children often have misconceptions about space such as thinking the sun goes to sleep at night, so eliciting their ideas first is essential.
I would begin a space theme by co-creating a large classroom mind map with the children. We could place “SPACE” in the centre and then brainstorm what they know about the Earth, Moon, Sun, planets, and stars. As the theme develops, we would add new knowledge so children to see how their understanding grows.
The course also highlighted the creative ways of teaching children about the planets. The use of songs, rhymes, and movement really stood out as developmentally appropriate strategies for junior classes. For example, the Planets Song not only teaches the names of the planets but also their order from the Sun in a way that is memorable and fun.
In my classroom, I would pair this song with movement. Children could role-play being planets orbiting around the Sun, carrying planet cards or wearing simple costumes. This approach ensures that all learners are included, especially those who learn best through doing.Another valuable resource was the use of mnemonics like “My Very Energetic Mother Just Served Us Noodles.” Module 2 was very useful in teaching me how space can be taught through playful, imaginative approaches that make abstract concepts more concrete and accessible.
In module 3 activities such as create an alien encouraged me to see the value of storytelling and design in STEM education. By asking children to imagine a new planet and then create an alien that could survive there, help children engage in scientific thinking while also encouraging creativity and problem-solving. I would introduce this by first discussing with my senior infants what makes life on earth special—air, water, food, movement, senses. Then I would describe an imaginary planet with different conditions. Children would then design their aliens and explain why each feature helps their creature survive. This activity links science with literacy, art and oral language.
Module 4 I found the activities around investigating coats and what clothes to wear particularly relevant for infants. By testing materials for warmth and waterproofing pupils can see science in action in their daily lives. I would run a simple test by spraying water on different types of coat fabric and observe which are waterproof. For warmth we could compare how long ice cubes take to melt when wrapped in different materials. These activities give children an early introduction to scientific investigation and encourages skills such as observing, predicting, and recording.
I would also link this to animals in cold places, like polar bears and penguins, discussing how their ‘coats’ help them survive and also incorporates a cross-curricular link between science, geography, and SPHE. Module 4 shows how children can make connections between what they wear, how animals live and the conditions on earth.
In module 5 the balloon rocket and rocket mouse activities were highlights because they introduce basic physics concepts in a playful and visual way. In my classroom I would set up a balloon rocket race. Children could work in small groups to predict which balloon will travel the furthest, test their rockets, and record the results.
This module also encouraged me to think about Space Week as a whole-school event. I would love to plan a “Day of Space Travel,” where each classroom becomes a planet and pupils collect stamps in a Space Passport as they visit different rooms.
This course has certainly developed my confidence in teaching space and I have also gained an extensive bank of resources that I can use in teaching space to my infant class.
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For this module, I’d choose the Alien Chemistry activity, in particular the ESERO “Alien Slime”. The messy play and multisensory aspect of the lesson would be fantastic for all children and it is something they would enjoy making. I would use the book “Aliens in Underpants” or if that has already been used “Aliens in Underpants Save the Word” as a stimulus. I will ask the children to imagine they have a pet Alien and what do they think it would feel like. In small groups the children will make Alien Slime, I will follow the steps set out in the document by BCO, 2 parts corn flour to one part water and food colouring for effect. The children will have lots of time to manipulate the “slime” with their hands and they will discuss how they made it, what it feels like and if they like what it feels like.
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For this module, I’d choose the Alien Chemistry activity, in particular the ESERO “Alien Slime”. The messy play and multisensory aspect of the lesson would be fantastic for all children and it is something they enjoy. I would use the book “Aliens in Underpants” or if that has already been used “Aliens in Underpants Save the Word” as a stimulus. I will ask the children to imagine they have a pet Alien and what do they think it would feel like. In small groups the children will make Alien Slime, I will follow the steps set out in the document by BCO, 2 parts corn flour to one part water and food coloring for effect. The children will have lots of time to manipulate the “slime”, discuss how they made it and what it feels like.
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Second Class Space Week Plan
Theme: Exploring Space — The Stars, Day and Night
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the week, the class will:
• Understand the basic differences between day and night
• Recognise that the Earth moves around the sun
• Identify stars as light sources and groupings of stars (constellations)
• Explore the phases of the moon
• Reflect creatively on what they see and feel about the night skyDay 1: What Is Space?
Activities:
Read a space-themed picture book (e.g. “There’s No Place Like Space!” by Dr. Seuss)
Discuss what children already know or wonder about space
Create a KWL chart about what the class know about spaceDay 2: Day and Night
Activities:
Use globe and torch to demonstrate rotation and how light reaches only part of Earth at a time (little person on the globe)
Have pupils draw a picture of their daily routine – what they do during the day and night
Whole-class discussion: What do we see in the sky during the day? At night?Day 3: The Stars
Activities:
Watch a short video (StoryBots: “What Is a Star?” on youtube)
Make a star lantern using paper cups or jars with pinpricks or holes
Turn off classroom lights and “light the stars” — discuss how it feels
Pupils will design their own constellations on black card. Inspiration – Van Gogh’s Starry NightDay 4: The Moon and Its Phases
Activities:
Demonstrate moon phases using Oreos or a simple paper cut-out model
Draw or model the moon’s phases
Sing a song about the moon or starsDay 5: Space Reflection and Showcase
Activities:
Pupils write a short reflection on the work they have completed this week and what they have learned:
‘What I see and feel when I look at the night sky…’
Display star lanterns, moon phase projects, and constellations art pieces
Share work in a Space Show for our other second class.Assessment:
Observation of discussion and participation
Review of art and science activities
Reflective writing (ideas, vocabulary, effort)
Ability to explain basic space concepts in simple language-
Fiona,
you have shared a comprehensive plan for a classroom week, please do let us know how it works out for you. We encourage you to register as an “event” with spaceweek.ie, and you might find the SpaceWeek TV episodes that are hosted on YouTube useful:
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I would complete a lesson based on concepts such as gravity, air pressure and applying force. I would begin the lesson by reading a story I really love called ‘The Way Back Home’ to engage the pupils interest. We would brainstorm language in relation to the topic. I would show them a video of a rocket launching into space. I would then ascertain the pupils knowledge of rockets and record so that we can add to pupil learning to conclude the lesson. I would set up some simple experiment stations to allow the pupils to test their knowledge. These would include bottle mice and balloon rocket (Marvin and Milo). Following exploration we would note our observations. I would then allow pupils time to create their own rockets and test their effectiveness. To conclude the lesson we would complete learning chart and draw in science diaries to reflect on learning. This topic easily lends itself to cross curricular integration.
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Eveleen,
rockets are such a great theme for a Space Week activity, and by offering multiple types of rockets in stations the children are sure to find one that they can ‘connect’ with. You’ve given them opportunities to predict and then investigate and then reflect, all of which are key components of Inquiry based learning. Well done.
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Hi,
Apologies for posting here but as the office is closed and I can’t contact moderators directly. I submitted my reflective log last night and when I went to check status of my course this morning if looked like I hadn’t submitted it. So I submitted it again and the same thing has happened. Just checking if this has happened for others? Have other courses to complete but can’t move on to them until this course is ‘complete’. Thanks for your help.
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I really liked the rocket mice activity and would love to incorporate it into my teaching this year. To begin I would the children a video of rockets being launched off into space. We would use a KWL chart to record what the children already know about space and rockets and what they would like to learn. We would also briefly review what we know about gravity to assist with the lesson.
We would then complete the rocket mice activity. I really like that it is accessible for the children and requires resources that are easily acquired. You could even follow it up with another lesson where instead of mice the children design their own rockets for the experiment.
We would compare our results and discuss what we think made the mice fly up into the air, what forces caused this and what we could change to make the mice fly higher the next time.
We would then circle back to the KWL chart to record our new learning and see if we have answered the questions we had at the start of the lesson. -
One of my favourite science lessons to do with a class is to build rockets. It is a great hands on activity that really engages them, and they get so excited watching their rockets take off. While a lot of the ideas in this module seem really good and definitely appropriate for junior classes, my favourite rocket to make is an air pressure powered rocket made by using a plastic bottle, cork and a bicycle pump. It can be done as follows:
Materials Needed:
Rocket:
• Empty plastic bottle
• Card or construction paper (for fins and nose cone)
• Tape (duct tape or masking tape)
• Scissors
• Glue (optional)
Launcher:
• Cork (fits snugly into the bottle opening)
• Bike pump with a needle adapter or valve stem
• Duct tape
Instructions:
Step 1: Build the Rocket
• Clean and dry the bottle.
• Use paper or lightweight card to make fins (3 or 4). Tape them to the sides of the bottle (toward the bottom).
• Create a nose cone from paper and tape it to the bottle’s bottom (which will be the top of the rocket when it stands upside-down).
• Decorate the rocket however you like!
• The bottle will be launched upside-down, with the cork going into the mouth (top) of the bottle.Step 2: Prepare the Launcher
• Push the needle from the bicycle pump through the cork.
• Push the cork into the bottle’s mouth tightly (after adding water if desired—see below).
• Turn the rocket right-side up (so the bottle mouth with cork faces down).
• Place it on a stable platform or pipe pointing upward.Step 3: Launch the Rocket
• Add a small amount of water (1/4 full) to the bottle — it increases thrust, but optional.
• Insert the cork and place the rocket upright.
• Begin pumping air into the bottle.
• When pressure builds enough, the cork will pop, and the rocket will launch!-
Aaron,
At BCO we have used water rockets for a number of years, I wasn’t aware that the water was optional in this high pressure rocket set up.
One requirement of these is to use carbonated drinks bottles, since they have the strength required to stay whole under pressure.
We use a commercial kit – the Rokit kit, and find it really good, the kit comes with an education supports – at https://waterrokit.com/learning-zone/
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For space week for my new second class I would carry out a few of these activities for the week:
Day 1 – Introduce rockets and their purpose.
Activities:Watch a short video (e.g., NASA for kids or a cartoon about rockets).
Discuss: What do rockets do? Where do they go?
Show simple images of different rockets.
Task: Label parts of a rocket and colourDay 2 – Forces and Rockets
Understand the forces involved in rocket launchActivities: Basic explanation of gravity and thrust using balloons (air escapes = thrust).
Demo: Let go of an inflated balloon to show it “flies.”Day 3 – Build a Paper Rocket
Objective: Design and build a simple paper rocket.Activities: Show how to roll paper around a pencil to make a rocket body.
Decorate with fins and a nose cone.
Launch with a straw or blow through a tube.Day 4 – Test rockets and observe results.
Activities:
Launch paper rockets or use film canister rockets (with baking soda + vinegar).
Measure how far each rocket flies.
Discuss what made some rockets go farther than others.Day 5 – Review learning and celebrate achievements.
Activities:
Draw or write about “My Rocket”
Create a class “Rocket Wall” with drawings or photos from the week. -
Space Week Lesson: Paper Rocket Fun!
Class Level: Junior & Senior InfantsFor Space Week, we did a fun and simple activity called “Build and Launch a Paper Rocket.” It was a hands-on way to explore space and how things move—perfect for our young learners!
We started by talking about rockets—what they are, where they go, and what they do in space. We then watched a short, exciting video of rockets blasting off. The children loved seeing the big flames and hearing the countdown!
Next, each child made their own mini rocket using paper, tape, and a straw. We decorated them with stars and space stickers to make them special. Then came the fun part—launching them by blowing through the straw! The children took turns and giggled with delight as their rockets flew through the air.
This activity helped the children learn simple ideas like:
Pushing air makes things move (force)
Things go up and come down (gravity)
After launching, we drew pictures of our rockets and talked about how they flew. Some children even tried different designs to see which flew higher!
The lesson supported:
Oral language (talking about what they saw and did)
Fine motor skills (cutting, taping, decorating)
Early science exploration in a fun, playful way
It was a huge hit! The children were engaged, curious, and eager to learn more about space. We took photos to add to our class Space Week wall and to share with families.
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Day 1: Blast Off! – Introduction to Space
Objective: Introduce the concept of space and our solar system.
Activities:
Story time: “There’s No Place Like Space!” (Cat in the Hat book)
Show simple solar system video or animation (e.g., StoryBots, YouTube)
Craft: Make a rocket using paper, cardboard rolls, or recycled materials.
Song: “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon”Day 2: Meet the Planets
Objective: Learn names and order of the planets.
Activities:
Planet song (e.g., “The Planets Song” by Kids Learning Tube)
Art: Make a paper plate solar system or finger-paint planets.
Memory game: Match planet names to pictures.
Fun Fact Time: One fun fact about each planet (very simple language).-
What a fun and well-structured start to a space-themed week! The blend of stories, songs, visual media, and hands-on crafts is perfect for engaging young learners and building a strong foundation of understanding. “There’s No Place Like Space” is a great book choice to spark curiosity, and combining it with a simple video helps reinforce learning through multiple senses.
The rocket craft and planet art activities will really appeal to children’s creativity while supporting fine motor skills. I love the inclusion of music—songs like “Zoom Zoom Zoom” and the Planet Song are not only enjoyable but also excellent tools for helping children retain new information. The memory game and fun facts are great additions for consolidating learning in an age-appropriate way. Overall, a lovely balance of literacy, art, science, and play. Your pupils are in for a brilliant and memorable week!
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For Space Week, I would centre one of our lessons around the “Rocket into the Air” activity. This is a highly engaging, hands-on way to explore basic science concepts like forces, motion, and air pressure with younger pupils. I would begin by showing a short video of a real rocket launch to spark curiosity and discussion. We’d talk about what rockets do, who uses them, and what helps them to launch into space.
Then, in small groups, pupils would build their own simple paper or straw rockets. We would use balloons, straws, string, and tape to investigate how air can be used to power movement. Before launching, each group would predict how far their rocket might travel and what might make it go further or straighter. After testing, they would measure and record the results, encouraging early data skills.
To finish, we’d decorate our rockets and reflect on what worked well. This activity supports active learning, collaboration, and scientific thinking, all while making Space Week an exciting and memorable experience for the children.
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During Space Week, using resources from Curious Minds and ESERO is a great way to inspire young learners in junior classes. Begin by reading space-themed stories such as Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy to spark imagination. Follow this with a role-play activity where children pretend to be astronauts preparing for a space mission. Using simple props like cardboard helmets or boxes as rockets makes it hands-on and fun.
Engage children in a STEM activity by making balloon rockets or paper straw rockets, introducing them to simple forces like push and pull. Explore textures by creating “moon rocks” using foil or playdough, encouraging observation and descriptive language.
Introduce basic space science with the “astronaut food” experiment—freeze-dried fruit—and compare it with fresh versions to discuss food in space. Use ESERO’s “Design a Spacesuit” activity to talk about clothing in extreme environments.
Finish the week with a creative art project, such as painting planets or making aliens from recycled materials. These activities encourage questioning, exploration, and excitement about space.
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For my junior and senior infants, I would choose the Rockets activity set. I think it’s a wonderful way to build excitement around Space Week and give the children a chance to explore through play and creativity. To begin, I would show a short video of a rocket launch to spark curiosity and ask the children to imagine what it might feel like to be inside the rocket.
Following the discussion, the children would design and decorate their own paper rockets using card, markers, and glitter. To make the activity more interactive, I’d add a simple moving element by attaching straws to the rockets and launching them with string or by blowing through another straw. This way, the rockets wouldn’t just be decorative, but could actually “blast off.”
For extension, I would love to buddy up with an older class so my infants could watch more complex rockets being made (like stomp rockets). This would give them the thrill of seeing a bigger experiment while keeping their own activity manageable.
I feel this activity not only supports early science skills but also integrates language (blast off, astronaut, launch) and maths through comparing how far the rockets travel.
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Begin with a short discussion about what rockets do and how they blast off into space. Show pictures or a short video of a real rocket launch to capture the children’s interest. There were videos and digital activities included in the programme that we used in the classroom for SESE.
For the rocket activity, equipment needed – a balloon, a long piece of string, a straw, and some tape. Thread the string through the straw and tie each end of the string to opposite chairs. This can be set up beforehand by the teacher! Blow up the balloon (without tying it), tape it to the straw, then let it go. The escaping air pushes the balloon along the string like a rocket launch!
Children can decorate balloons as rockets and predict how far or fast they’ll go. This simple experiment introduces basic physics in a playful way and encourages teamwork, prediction, and observation skills while sparking excitement about space and science. In older classes the children could complete the activity in groups – or if there are an extra pair of hands in the classroom it could be completed in two groups.
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Space Week in my Junior Infant class
Stimulus:
Humpty Dumpty went to the moon
On a supersonic spoon
He brought some porridge and a tent
But when he landed the spoon got bent
Humpty said he didn’t care
For all I know he’s still up there! (Michael Rosen)
Lesson 1: Day & Night (Astronomical Society of the Pacific • astrosociety.org/MySkyTonight)/Day & night images
Use pictures to discuss activities that we do during the day or at night. When would we see the moon? What does the moon look like? Does it look the same every night?
Journey to the moon (ESERO) (Adapted to suit Junior Infants)
· Pictures of phases of the moon
· Encourage the children to look at the moon each night – what have they noticed during the week? Does the moon look the same each night?
Lesson 2: Meet our neighbours: the Moon (AstroEDU)
Can we see Humpty Dumpty when we look at the moon? What can we see?
Fabric & fibre art activity to create the moon
Lesson 3: How will Humpty Dumpty survive on the moon?
Junk construction: He likes to sit on walls so we could build a wall on the moon out of moon rocks for him to sit on;
· Designing & Making: We can design and build a moon buggy for him to get around (using Mobilo) or Make an atmosphere glider (taken from Stargazing activity book)
Lesson 4:
Humpty Dumpty might be lonely or who would he meet on the moon? What would they look like?
Draw a picture of Humpty Dumpty’s new friend. Use clay, pipe cleaners, cocktail sticks, mixed materials to make the alien.
Lesson 5:
Humpty Dumpty got to the moon on a spoon. How might that have happened? How will we get Humpty Dumpty home?
· Explore launching a spoon by throwing or using a catapult being aware of fair tests and safety
· Design and build a rocket ship to get Humpty Dumpty home – Junk/Construction
· Launch (throw) the rockets and see what rocket goes the furthest
· Teacher demonstration of Vitamin rocket (from Stargazing)
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Hi Mary, I love the idea of using the nursery rhyme as a starter. I think using the character of Humpty Dumpty throughout the week would ensure that any Junior Infants class would be so engaged. I also love the idea of making rockets using junk. That is a really low threshold high ceiling task suitable for all abilities in the class. I love the emphasis on oral language throughout too with all the questions and discussions; every lesson is an oral language lesson as they say!
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These ideas for your lessons are excellent Mary. You have successfully combined story, science, creativity, and play in a way that will be so engaging for your students. Using the Humpty Dumpty poem as a starting point is a wonderful hook, and each lesson builds curiosity step by step for the pupils and ensures their engagement. What I think will work so well is how hands-on and active the activities are – children are observing, building, experimenting, and creating, which makes the experiences more memorable. The lessons encourage imagination, problem-solving, and collaboration, while naturally weaving in STEM skills such as designing, testing, and measuring. The real benefit will be that it shows pupils that science is something they can do, not just something they learn about.
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Space week in Junior Infants
I would set up some play areas in the classroom that would allow for free exploration of the topics covered in the discrete lessons. I would have role play area of the space station. I would also have a small world station with moon sand, small people and some diy rockets.
Day 1: The moon and the earth
-I would make a KWL chart with the class to find out what they already know/what they would like to know about space.
-We would listen to the planets song. By the time space week will roll around, we will have learned about 3D shapes; I will use this knowledge to help them understand the spherical nature of the planets.
– We would look at different pictures of the moon. I would ask the kids to look at these; what do they notice etc? I would send a message to parents asking them to keep an eye on this with their kids at home too. I would explain about craters on the moon. For an art activity, we would use balls of tinfoil and grey paint to create a crator type effect on the moon. The class could choose which shape of moon they will do based on the pictures we looked at.
Day 2: Astronauts
-I would use All things primary’s method of doing this by discussing what astronauts need, what they see and what they can do.
-We would practice what happens when we pick something up and then let it go; we would learn that this is gravity acting on the object. I would tell the class that up in space, there is much less gravity in space so things can float. We would watch some videos of chris hadfield in the international space station showing how water acts in space, how he floats and how different things work. We would also watch the apollo 11 moon landing to see how the space suit helps them walk on the moon. For a drama activity, we would practice walking around pretending that we are floating.
Day 3: The sun and shadows
-We will start off by singing the song ‘Mr Golden Sun’
-We will explore how the sun works using flashlights and exploring how shadows are made using the little plastic teddies etc.
-We will go outside and bring some of the plastic animals/dinosaurs we have in the classroom. We will put these down on big sheets and trace around the shadows that the sun makes around them. I will try to do this in a place where the animals and paper can stay there for a while without being disturbed. This would give us an opportunity to go back out later on in the day and see how the shadows had changed. We would use balls to demonstrate how all our planets move around the sun.
Day 4: Stars
-I would use grains of sand to demonstrate how many stars are in the sky.
-We would use the Stellarium resource to look at some stars.
-We would look at some contellations.
-We would use paint, gold stars etc to create a class collaborative display of different stars on a a few pieces of A3 paper stuck together.
Day 5: Rockets
-We would do the mouse rocket activity.
-We would extend the activity using different sized mice, different sized/shaped containers/varying how hard or softly we push. This would lead to natural discussions about what is happening.
-We will be moved on to learning about 2D shapes in Maths at this time, I will get the class to make their own rocket on a black sheet using a variety of different 2D shapes.
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For this assignment I would choose the Rocket Mouse activity from the Rockets set. To begin, I would show the class a short video of a real rocket launch to spark curiosity and encourage children to share what they already know about rockets. Next, pupils would work in pairs to design and make their own simple rocket mouse using paper cones and straws. We would predict how high or far the rocket might travel before launching and record our results. This activity provides a fun and safe way to explore forces, motion, and fair testing while developing skills such as questioning, predicting, and measuring. To extend learning, children could photograph or video their launches and use the data to make simple bar charts, linking to maths. I see this activity fitting well into Space Week celebrations, helping pupils connect hands-on investigation with real-world space exploration in a cross-curricular way.
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Choose one of the activities or activity sets outlined in this module – How would you use the activity in your classroom? or consolidate your experiences and action plans in the course by creating a class plan to engage with Space Week. Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to the forum as a reply to this post. You may include digital records of the activities.
Module 5
The lesson that I can see myself using from this Module is making the rockets. This is one which will be interesting and have ample learning opportunities with hands on activities.
To begin the lesson I would read the story of The Smeds and The Smoos by Julia Donaldson. After discussing the story we will then focus on how they travelled and lead into discussing rockets.
I would then get the children to carry out the Rocket Mice activity. The children should make their own rockets and be given plenty time to explore how they make their mouse move, I would circulate the room ensuring that I ask questions to make them think about what is happening and what would happen if….
To conclude and reinforce the lessons on rockets I think the children would like to watch a video of a rocket launch
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With my own class this year I would like to do some lessons exploring the theme of Rockets. The children will investigate how forces act on objects and how changes in force can change the way objects can be moved.
As the trigger I would show a video of a rocket launch from youtube. This should immediately get the children’s attention. Following this I would divide the class into smaller groups and give each group a flash card containing a question to prompt the children to wonder. For example – Why do rockets go up? Once they have discussed in groups they can explain their ideas to the class. We would then make the mouse rockets from the London Museum of Science video. I would pre-cut the cones to make the mice and also get the children to draw a mouse’s ears, nose, whiskers etc on the mouse. The children should then spend some time playing with and launching their mice rockets using a milk bottle etc. Following this we would begin to investigate. A suitable starter question might be – Does the mouse rocket go higher or faster if we change the type and size of bottle we use to launch it? Provide the children with different bottles and encourage them to use more or less force and to observe what the changes may be. Ask each group to feed back to the class what they have discovered and also to demonstrate same.
As an extension of this we could move on to explore what other things fly through the air and what helps them to do that. -
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Space week in Junior Infants – Activity
Making a Rocket – Theme: Exploring space through a simple rocket-making activity.
Learning Objectives:
- Pupils will recognise that rockets are used to travel into space.
- Pupils will design and create a simple model rocket.
- Pupils will explore materials and forces (pushing/blowing to launch).
- Pupils will work collaboratively and use creativity.
Introduction
Introducing the topic of rockets and spaceships Use the ‘Look Up’ story – ask the children what they think ships to the stars are? Ask children what they know about rockets and spaceships. Put out any books that the school has that featuring rockets and get some from our local library.
Show a picture/video of a rocket launch. Ask: “Where do rockets go? What might you see if you went in one?” Briefly link to planets, stars, and astronauts. Show a video of a rocket launch example: How Do Rockets Fly? | Let’s Explore Mars! | SciShow Kids on you tube.
Main activity: Make and launch a model rocket
Paper Rocket with Balloon Power – Materials Needed
- Balloons (round or long)
- Paper (A4 cut in half)
- Tape or glue
- Crayons/markers for decorating
- String (about 2–3 metres)
- Straw (just for threading the string, not the rocket itself)
- Chairs or door handles to tie the string
Steps:
- Pupils decorate a piece of paper as their “rocket body.” Roll it into a tube shape and tape it closed.
- Tape the decorated “rocket” securely on top of an uninflated balloon.
- Thread string through a straw, then tie the string tightly between two chairs at child height.
- Tape the balloon rocket to the straw.
- Pupils (with help) blow up the balloon, pinch it, and then release.Watch the rocket zoom along the string!
Follow-up Activity:
Pupils draw their rocket in their copy or on paper and describe (or dictate) what planet/star they’d like to visit. Class discussion: “What helped the rocket move?” (air push).
PlenaryRecap: Rockets move because air pushes them—like real rockets pushing against space. Link back: Rockets help us explore the Earth’s sky, the Moon, and planets.
STEM LinksScience: Forces (push/air), materials.
Technology: Using simple tools
Engineering: Building and testing rockets.
Maths: Counting rocket launches, measuring (which rocket flew the farthest).-
That sounds like such a lovely activity for Junior Infants! I really like how you’ve tied the storytelling with Look Up into the rocket-making — it makes the science feel magical and approachable for that age group. I think your follow-up of having them draw their rockets and imagine where they’d travel really adds to the creativity. I might try something similar with my own class during Space Week — thanks for the inspiration!
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For this, I’d go with the Rocket Activity Set because I think it’s a fun and exciting way to get students engaged. I’d start by showing them a short rocket launch video to spark interest, and then move on to building paper rockets and balloon rockets. The hands-on part really gives students a chance to explore movement and force without it feeling like a “lesson.”
I’d have the class make some predictions about which rocket might travel the furthest, and then we’d test them out in a launch area. Afterwards, we could talk about what worked, what didn’t, and why, without getting too technical. It also gives an easy way to sneak in some maths (measuring distances, making simple charts) and creativity (designing the rockets).
Overall, I think it’s the kind of activity that gets everyone laughing and learning at the same time. It feels like something students would remember, and it would fit nicely into Space Week
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Hi, I have created this resource with a senior infant class in mind.
We will begin by reading the book The Dinosaur That Pooped the Planet by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter. This is a funny and exciting story that children really enjoy, and it helps to introduce rockets and space in a playful way.
After reading, I will talk with the children about the rocket in the story. I will ask them to imagine what it might be like if they could go inside a rocket themselves. What would they see? What sounds would they hear? What might happen on their own space trip?
For the activity, each child will create their own simple story of a rocket adventure. They can draw three pictures to show what happens first, what happens next, and what happens at the end. This will help them share their ideas and practise telling a story, just like in the book.
Thanks Michelle.
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I would choose the Rockets activity set as its fun and hands on way for the children to look at how rockets work. To begin the lesson I would show some videos of rockets blasting off into space. We would discuss what rockets are, what do they think makes them fly and why do we use rockets. I would encourage children to share their ideas and answers. After they have shared their ideas I would read the book Roaring Rockets to the children. We would then make our own rocket mice. I would have the children work in pairs for this part of the activity. We will discuss what we think will happen and how far each rocket mouse can travel. We can use different sizes of bottles and see what happens. We could then measure how far each rocket mouse goes.
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I hope to promote Space Week in my school this coming October and I have a wealth of resources and knowledge to share with my fellow teachers and students upon completing this course. I would like to create a school folder with activities, books, videos, links, games, art and general resources relevant to each class level (Infants,1st-2nd etc.) that the teachers and students can dip in and out of.
When planning a lesson/activity it is clear that we need a good ‘prompt’ stimulus to capture the children’s interest and attention and evoke conversation with their peers. I have read both ‘Aliens in Underpants’ and ‘The Way back Home’ and the children enjoy these stories. These would be a good prompt in talking about Space Theme in general. The Stellarium website or plug in light would be great for stargazing and the Planet’s Song is a great way for the children to learn the names of the planets and some information a fun way. I would incorporate the Hoop activity (Planets/Sun/Moon) in my lessons this week in PE and use alien role-play in drama and Star Splatter art as an integration across all the topics.
I would aim to include a bank of simple, fun science experiments for each class level- dancing raisins, separate salt and pepper using static electricity, the gummy bear experiment, inertia etc.
Videos of rockets launching, astronauts performing simple tasks in space such as ‘brushing their teeth, eating etc’ are more difficult due to a lack of gravity. I think these particular videos would spark great conversation and inquiry among the students.
STEM activities would include Design and Making rockets and exploring some features of how they work. Lego and coding activities could be a great tool to use with middle/senior classes to encourage them to do more project/inquiry-based projects! The Fizzy Launcher instructions are very helpful.
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For Space Week, I would use the “Why Is Mars Red?” activity from the Mars Classroom Resource Booklet. This activity explores a fascinating scientific idea—that the red surface of Mars may be caused not just by rust and water, as traditionally thought, but by fine red dust being blown by the wind and coating rocks over time.
With a Second Class group, I’d approach this concept in a simple, age-appropriate way. I would begin with a discussion using images of Mars to activate the children’s curiosity. I would encourage them to guess why Mars is red before introducing the concept of dust coating the surface.
The hands-on part of the activity would involve giving the children small tubs with light-coloured stones and red powder (something safe like coloured chalk dust or sand). By shaking the tub gently, they would see the red dust gradually coat the stones—simulating what happens on Mars. This visual and tactile experience makes an abstract idea very real for young learners.
This activity fits into the Second Class curriculum. It encourages observation and questioning (Science), uses creative materials (Art), and prompts discussion and description (English/Oral Language). I would also use it as a way to build early scientific thinking: asking questions, testing ideas, and reflecting on results.
To conclude the lesson, I would play “What is Mars” song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfBpbRULkOA) and have a think, pair, share activity based on our findings from the lesson.
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I really like your approach to the “Why Is Mars Red?” activity! Using images of Mars to spark curiosity is such a great way to get children thinking before jumping into the hands-on part. I also love your idea of using tubs with stones and red powder—it’s such a simple but effective way to make a complex scientific concept really concrete and visual for young learners. The children can see and feel how the red dust coats the rocks, which makes the lesson so memorable.
I also like how you’ve connected it across the curriculum, combining science, art, and oral language. The think, pair, share at the end is a smart way to encourage reflection and discussion. Adding the song makes the lesson fun and interactive, while reinforcing what they’ve learned. Overall, it seems like a very engaging and well-rounded lesson that would keep Second Class students curious and excited about space.
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I think the “Shooting a Rocket into the Air” activity would be an amazing way to engage children during Space Week. I would use it in my classroom as a hands-on introduction to basic physics concepts, like force, motion, and air pressure, while keeping the focus fun and interactive. I would start by asking the children to predict how high they think their rockets will go, encouraging them to explain their reasoning. This not only develops their curiosity but also helps them practice scientific thinking and making predictions.
After launching the rockets, I would guide a discussion on why some rockets went higher than others and how different factors, like the amount of air or how the rocket is positioned, affect the flight. Children could then modify their rockets and try again, which introduces trial-and-error learning and problem-solving.
To extend the activity, I could use digital tools to measure the rocket height or create a simple chart to record results over multiple attempts. This combines STEM. By the end of the lesson, children would not only have experienced the excitement of a rocket launch but also gained a concrete understanding of cause and effect, experimentation, and the basics of motion.
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Space Week
In classroom previously I have tried to plan one small activity each day for Space Week.
Also during playtime I have a space centre set up where the children can play freely if they wish. We also read space books each day during story time and sang twinkle, twinkle little star with actions each day.
My plan last year looked something like thisMonday : stars
Read the book How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers.
The children create their own night sky and stars.Tuesday: The Moon
Show them the picture of the moon, drawing attention to the its craters.
Children press balls of tin foil in white paint and stamp them on to black paper to make a moon picture.
Wednesday Rockets:
The Children create their own rockets using recyclable materials.Thursday
Astronauts
We focus on the astronaut Chris Hadfield. We read his book the Darkest Dark and looking at some videos for when they are in the space stations such as trying to brush your teeth.Friday
Planet song Party. The children get the chance to recap on our planet song and orbit like the planets around the sun.
Colour simple planet sheet. -
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I would start the lesson by sharing The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers, highlighting the rocket featured in the story. After finishing the reading, I would unveil an intriguing prop box “found in our classroom,” containing cardboard tubes, paper cones, tape, and foil. I would clarify that this box holds the materials necessary to construct our very own rockets.
In small groups, the children would utilize the supplies to design and build simple rockets, enhancing their teamwork, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. I would prompt them to consider the shapes of the rockets and the reasons they must be both strong and pointed.
To conclude, we would launch our rockets with an exciting countdown, celebrating our creativity and joint exploration of STEM learning.
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I love each of the ilustrations of MArvin and Milo. They are such a brilliant hook to interest the children. They are so visual and even make me want to complete the activities!
I love their example of the Balloon Rocket. It is such a hands on activity that could have great success. I would ensure we complete this activity with our buddies from Rang 6 as older hands helping would leave to even more success.
We would sketch what we think might happen/ what our balloon rocket will look like/ what materials we need.
We would predict how far it might fly.
We would complete the building and test it out!Through reading everyone’s posts, I really see how much of an emphasis should be placed on the discussion after any SESE activity. It allows for consolidation of learning and it is often where most of our best ideas and learning takes place.
THe children in our junior infants classes love exploring any activity with their older buddy so combining these abive would lead to great success!
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The lesson from this module that I’d be most interested in presenting to my Junior Infants class would be the one about making rockets.
Exploring Rockets with Marvin & Milo
1) Story
Show the Marvin and Milo cartoon “Balloon Rocket.”
Ask: “What do you think will happen when the balloon lets out air?”
Brief chat: “Today we’re going to make our very own balloon rockets!”2) Making the Rocket
Thread the string through a straw.
Tie the string between two chairs.
Blow up a balloon.
Tape the balloon to the straw.
Countdown together… “3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF!”
Let go of the balloon and watch it zoom along the string.3) Discussion & Exploration
“What made the balloon move?”
“Why did it stop?”
“What do you think will happen if we use a bigger balloon?”
Try again with different balloon sizes or blowing them up to different amounts.4) Extension Ideas
– Space-themed movement breaks: Pretend to be rockets blasting off, astronauts floating in space, or planets spinning or play Mike the Cosmic Space Monkey on You Tube.
– Role play: Set up a ‘Space Station’ corner in the classroom for imaginative play. -
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For Space Week, the class could take part in a fun, hands on project exploring our solar system. The lesson would begin with a short video showing Earth from space to spark curiosity and discussion. Children will then discuss what they already know about planets and space travel and what they would like to find out. Working in groups, they could create a scale solar system model using balls of different sizes and coloured paper to represent planets, arranging them in order from the sun. After this, the children could then design their own ‘astronaut passports’, imagining, discussing and drawing what they might discover if they travelled to another planet. They could share their ideas in a storytelling setting with their peers in small groups or to the whole class group. To wrap up the children could listen to recordings of space sounds from NASA and reflect on what it might feel like to explore space.
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The class plan for Space Week
- Monday: Planet Earth, will start with KWL chart. Then group work for research, assisted by myself. Then create collage of Earth e.g moasic template module 2. Revisit the KWL Chart.
- Tuesday: The moon, read Papa give me the moon, make rockets
- Wednesday: The Solar System: Inquiry questions, then mnemonic for planets, curious minds activity. The children will discover cool space facts e.g how big (or small!) each planet really is.
- Thursday: Aliens and Imagination, read the poem the Marrog, Draw/create your own Aliens and write about his home planet
- Friday : Reflection and Astronuts (ISS website), designing our own space suits
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I would love to use the activity with the mouse rocket in my classroom this year. It is very simple but effective. I think it would be a great way to test different sized and shaped bottles and different sized “mice” on top of it. This activity would provide lots of scope for prediction and hypothesising. I would first show the children the video clip of the rocket being launched the ask the children if they have ever made a rocket before or seen a homemade one. Some of them may have seen the kind with the alcaselzar tablets or where they jump on a bump connected to a rocket. Then I would show them the mouse rocket and give them the opportunity to make their own and test it. I would provide them with different sized and shaped bottles and encourage them to try and create the most powerful rocket they can and explain their findings to the class.
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I will use the rocket building activity with my class. We will discuss the investigation question together. Will the distance of the rocket change if I blow harder or lighter into the straw?
Based on what I’ve learned in this module I will encourage the children to use the following skills
1. Observe what happens when they blow into the straw: the rocket moves. They should notice differences in how far or high the rockets went. “What do you see when you blow gently? What happens when you blow hard?”
2. Predict – Before launching, children can make simple guesses. “Where will the rocket land?”
3. Compare & Measure – By counting steps or using a simple ruler/tape measure, children compare distances. “Whose rocket went further? Let’s count the steps together.”
4.Record & Communicate– children can share their results by drawing their rocket’s path, colouring a picture, or marking where their rocket landed. -
I think for this activity; based on the age group I teach; I would base the lesson(s) around rockets. I would start by asking the children to discuss in small groups, everything they know about rockets. Once this is fed back to the whole class I would ask some probing questions about their purpose, what materials would and wouldn’t be used to build one, why are rockets shaped the way they are and how do they move off the ground etc.
After this I would read the book Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitton. I like this book and its illustrations language and explanations are clear, simple and engaging.
I would then focus on how a rocket is pushed upwards into the sky. What makes it go up? Then we would make some paper rockets to demonstrate how this happens. Using simple materials, a pencil, a straw and an A5 size sheet of paper which is wrapped into a tube around the pencil. Then tape the paper into shape around the pencil and tape the top of the tube closed. Finally remove the pencil and replace with a straw. The children blow through the straw and the paper rocket shoots off into the air. I like this as it can be manipulated to make it go higher or further by experimenting with the design by adding paper fins or wings to the sides. I think the children will really enjoy making their rocket and seeing who in the class can make the best one.
This is definitely an easy activity that I can incorporate into Space Week and can be differentiated for with different class levels.
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That sounds like a fantastic plan! I really like how you start with discussion to activate prior knowledge, then build excitement through the story before moving into the hands-on rocket activity. The balance of questioning, storytelling, and experimenting is perfect for engaging children of different abilities, and the paper rocket task is such a fun, practical way to connect science with creativity. It’s a brilliant idea for Space Week!
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For this lesson I would explore the theme of rockets.
To engage children I would show a clip of a rocket launching into space. This would act as a spring board into a class discussion on rockets and space.
Next we will design paper rockets. I will demonstrate first and use a visualiser for children to follow along.
After children can blow through the straw to test whether their paper straws work.
Next children will get into groups and explore different techniques and see how far they can get the rockets to travel. What factors affect the distance the rockets travel. Children can record their findings and present their results to the rest of the class.
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I really like your rockets lesson. Showing a launch video is a great way to grab the children’s attention and spark discussion. I like how you have a hands-on element with the paper rockets and straw tests, and that the children get to experiment in groups. Recording and presenting their findings makes the activity really interactive and encourages problem-solving.
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Level: 1st Class
Theme: Rockets & Space Exploration
Context: Our school has been very fortunate in recent years to partner with TU Dublin for Space Week activities and most recently SpaceFest in June. These partnerships have built a strong culture of curiosity and excitement around science, and the children already show great enthusiasm for all things space.Learning Objectives:
To develop curiosity about rockets and how they work.
To explore simple STEM concepts: push, pull, thrust, and design.
To encourage creativity and teamwork through art, design, and problem-solving.
To foster early science skills through observation, prediction, and reflection.
Lesson Activities:
Discussion & Story Starter: Begin with a short video or story about rockets and astronauts. Ask: Why do we need rockets? What might it feel like to blast off?
Rocket Exploration: Use Stellarium-web.org or ESA Kids resources to look at the planets rockets travel toward. Highlight real rocket launches.
Design & Create: Children work in pairs to make simple paper or straw rockets. Encourage them to decorate and name their rockets.
Launch & Test: Take the rockets outside. Children launch them, observe which travel furthest, and discuss why. Introduce the idea of thrust and air pressure in simple terms.
Reflection & Sharing: Back in class, children draw or write about their rocket’s “mission” in space. Display rockets and stories on a “Space Week Rocket Wall.”
Follow-Up / Extension:
Link with TU Dublin Space Week events for live talks or workshops.
Tie into literacy by writing “A Day as an Astronaut.”
Link into art by building larger model rockets from recycled materials.
Assessment Opportunities:
Participation in discussions and hands-on activities.
Observation of design, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Children’s reflections through drawings or simple writing.
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Space Week plan
Our school have usually registered for zooms and other activities with certain classes. I would love to extend this to the whole school this year.
Rocket competition invite: I love the idea of a Rocket making competition, mentioned by others in this forum. Watch a Rocket Launch in class.
Our Green Schools committee could take charge and promote the use of recyclable material and taking care of our planet.Rocket Launch day: Last year we invited a parent (an Aeronautical engineer) to come and demonstrate to senior infants and first class, during engineers week.
I’d specifically promote the making of the Rockets with 1st and 2nd class this year as a nice follow-up activity.
we could launch our rockets with balloons, Rocket mice,
We could have a launch day and invite our aeronautical engineer to view and give feedback.Planet display: A planet per class – We could have a display area and each class have 5 interesting facts about their given planet.
Each class would have an opportunity to view this display towards the end of the week or visit other classes with a class Space Passport.Aistear/ Role Play ideas: Junior and senior infants could have a space themed area as part of Aistear. We have play rockets (Peppa/E.C.C), mini space trays (LIDL) and alien toys.
We could gather space-themed books, art ideas, poems and share you-tube links to space songs.
A class could interview an Alien about living on their planet and share some facts about earth.
I’d send out a request for the loan of some space themed costumes- astronaut, stars, planets etc.
Any received could be used for role-play or for photo ops in different classes.In class ideas: A class can choose from below or choose their own one.
Classes could read the Marvin and Milo cartoons.
Moon watch- Full Moon on October 7th, October 10th view the moon in the morning before 1pm.
Rhymes and songs on space- planet song, Twinkle Twinkle, Zoom zoom zoom, We’re going to the Moon,
Star Constellations- Design their own and Bring the iPads outside and find constellations around them – Stellarium
Shadows and the sun
Weather – How the sun and where we live will determine the weather- link with clothes
Graviety – Ball experiment,
View and discuss the moon and the earths rotation using various balls.
Art- Stary night& Starry night over the Rhone (Van Gogh), Starry Night (Munch), Starlight Night (O’Keefe) http://www.spaceweek.ie/events/space-art-with-bco-van-gogh/
Watch the moon landing- make moon footprints in class.
Space-themed books: Library reserve in advance of Spaceweek- Catch a falling star, There’s no place like home, Cearc and Phrompa, Roaring Rockets,
Winnie and Wilbur in Space, On the Moon, Ten Little Aliens,Look up, Maisey’s Moon mission, The Skies above my eyes.The benefits of Space week are that children expolre stem concepts such as observing, designing, building and explaining in a fun way as well as developing other skills.
Our work could be shared on the school website or the School X account. Classes who use google classroom or See Saw could share their activities with home.
We would register our week of events on http://www.spaceweek.ie and also register some classes for any relevant online zooms that may be available on http://www.spaceweek.ie-
Hey Niamh, this is a great plan for science week. It’s really important for parents to see the great practical work the children do and discuss lessons with their children so sharing all these on platforms such as x and Google classroom gives the children great pride in their work that they can begin to start conversations with the parents on their learning.
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Rockets
Learning Intention:
1. Understand the basic principles of rockets
2. Explore the history of space travel.
3. Encourage creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving.Hands-on Rocket Launch Experiment:
Students will build and launch simple rockets to understand propulsion.What we will need:
1. Baking soda and vinegar
2. Plastic bottles, paper, tape, and straws
3. Measuring cups, safety goggles
4 Space Week posters and worksheetsLesson:
1. Introduction
Show a short video about rockets and space travel.
Discuss famous rockets and astronauts.2. Hands-On Rocket Building
Divide students into small groups.
Provide instructions for building a simple rocket
Encourage creativity—decorating rockets to make them unique.3. Rocket Launch Experiment
Go outside for a safe launch.
Each group launches their rocket and records distance traveled.
Discuss which design elements helped the rocket go farther or stay stable.4 Reflection
Students draw and label their rockets in their science journals.
Link to real-world space explorationExtension Activities:
Maths: Measure rocket flight distances.
Sequence Activity: put the pictures in order of how the rocket launched
Art/STEAM integration: Build a cardboard space station
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I am choosing the activity set Rockets.
I would begin the lesson by reading the book ‘Zoom, Rocket, Zoom!’ to engage the children. We would then discuss the different types of space vehicles and whether it would be fun to take a trip to space. I would ask questions such as ‘Why would you like to go to space?’ and ‘What is the most interesting thing you think you would see in space?’ We would spend a few minutes discussing this.
We would then watch the CBC Kids News ‘Rocket Launch’ video and look at some pictures of rockets.
The children would brainstorm how they could create their own rockets and then share their ideas with the class.
I would show the children the Marvin & Milo Balloon Rocket cartoon and we would then create our own balloon rockets.
The children would record the results through illustrations.
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Using the idea from the module, a science activity I will do with my junior class will explore how air pressure can make a paper mouse “rocket” into the air. Using different sized milk cartons, measured in litres, we will investigate whether the size of the carton affects how high the mouse travels. This will provide an engaging context for developing early science enquiry skills.
I will begin by showing the paper mouse and posing the question: “I wonder what will happen if we squeeze this carton?” This will prompt the children to predict outcomes, introducing them to the idea that scientists make guesses and then test them.
During the investigation, I will encourage careful observation and comparison between the cartons. This will look for language like large, fatter, thinner etc to describe the cartons The children will notice patterns, such as larger cartons creating more air pressure and sending the mouse higher. The use of litres will also allow me to make simple mathematical links.
I will invite the children to ask their own follow-up questions, for example, about different shapes of containers or types of paper. This will foster curiosity and highlight that science involves asking, testing, and refining ideas.
I believe the activity will enable the children to practise predicting, observing, measuring, and drawing conclusions, while also experiencing the excitement of discovery
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This is a sample class plan I would use with my first class for space week.
Day 1: Exploring Mars and Martians
Objective: Learn about Mars and spark imagination about alien life.
Activities: Discuss what Mars is like and compare it with Earth. Create 3D Martians using clay or recycled materials. Pretend to be astronauts exploring Mars.
Learning Outcome: Students will understand Mars’ features and use creativity to imagine life on another planet.Day 2: Shadows and Sunlight
Objective: Understand how shadows change during the day.
Activities: Track shadows outside at different times. Draw shadow shapes and patterns. Discuss how the sun’s position affects shadows.
Learning Outcome: Students learn about Earth’s rotation and observe real-world science.Day 3: Stars and the Universe
Objective: Introduce stars, galaxies, and the concept of space’s vastness.
Activities: Read a space-themed story or rhyme. Paint starry skies using toothbrush flicking or glitter. Talk about constellations and galaxies.
Learning Outcome: Students develop curiosity about the universe and connect science with art.Day 4: Alien Slime Science
Objective: Explore non-Newtonian fluids and have fun with hands-on science.
Activities: Make alien slime in small groups. Discuss how it behaves and compare with water. Optionally create “slime alien pets.”
Learning Outcome: Students learn basic chemistry and scientific observation in a playful way.Day 5: Rockets and Motion
Objective: Learn about forces and motion through model rockets.
Activities: Create simple balloon rockets or paper rockets. Launch them and discuss how they move. Draw or write what they learned about forces.
Learning Outcome: Students understand propulsion, force, and teamwork in STEM activities. -
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Choose one of the activities or activity sets outlined in this module – How would you use the activity in your classroom? or consolidate your experiences and action plans in the course by creating a class plan to engage with Space Week. Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to the forum as a reply to this post.
Space Week would definitely bring about huge excitement with any class level.
I would love to try and make the Rocket Mice with my Junior Infant class.
I would begin with a story book to engage them and to elicit discussion around rockets and space. I think the book “Aliens in Underpants Save the World” mentioned in this module would be highly angaging for young kids.
Once children are excited by the idea we would begin exploring rockets using a variety of pictures and videos. In particular, we would explore how rockets are launched and build a discussion arounf this; who launches rockets? Where are they launched etc?
Children would then have the chance to make their individual rocket mice using the materials used in the video in this module. Afterwards, I would encourage them to swap rockets and see who’s launches the highest. We could also explore using different sized containers to see if that made a difference to how the rocket is launched.
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For this module, I would go with the Rockets activity set because I know it would capture the children’s imagination. Making and launching a paper or balloon rocket is fun, but it also teaches so much science without pupils even realising how much they are learning. I would probably start by showing a short clip of a real rocket launch to build excitement, and then we would work together to design and test our rockets in the classroom or outside. The pupils could make predictions about which design might fly the furthest, then test their ideas and talk about the results.
I like that this activity can link into other areas, too. In maths, we could measure how far the rockets travel. In literacy, the children could write mission reports. In art, they could decorate their rockets. It would be a perfect activity for Space Week/Science week/Engineering week.
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I look forward to using the rocket mice activity with my senior infants. This activity offers opportunities for integration with maths (3-D shapes) and with visual arts as the children can decorate their own mice etc. This lesson is ideal for inquiry based learning and it also helps children to see and understand things practically such as how ketchup squeezes out of the bottle as mentioned in the video. I would make sure the children are as involved as possible in the process by collecting the materials we need and making the mice in small groups. They could design the mice together and could take turns squeezing the bottles etc. I would encourage them to collect a range of bottle sizes and would also encourage them to ask questions. They would predict which bottles will send the mice higher in advance. We could also incorporate technology by recording the mice with different bottle sizes using video. This lesson supports collaborative and engaging inquiry-based learning.
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For my reflective piece, I would like to consolidate my learning by creating a class plan to engage with Space Week. I see this as a valuable opportunity to bring STEM to life in an exciting and accessible way for my pupils. Over the course of the week, I would design a series of cross-curricular activities: in Science, we would explore the planets using songs, videos, and a KWL chart to track learning; in Art, the children could create their own constellation patterns with chalk on dark paper or digitally with drawing tools; in Drama, groups could role-play as astronauts or aliens to imagine life beyond Earth. I would also integrate literacy by asking the children to write a short imaginative story about travelling to space. To ensure reflection, pupils could maintain a “Space Log” where they record facts, drawings, and personal responses each day. This plan supports creativity, curiosity, and collaboration, while also aligning with STEM goals and providing evidence for School Self Evaluation.
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Activity: Balloon Rockets and Paper Straw Rockets.
I would begin by showing them some really exciting videos of rockets launching and ensuring engagement. After the videos, I would ask ‘ What are rockets?’ ‘ Why do astronauts need them?’ I would then explain that rockets move by pushing fuel out the back, which pushes them upwards so children understand lightly that their is a force / something moving the rocket. Using an image, we would identify the different parts (nose, body, fin etc.)
Then we would design and make both paper straw rockets and balloon rockets. Children would take turns launching them (while we all count down). We would discuss ‘Which rocket went the furthest?’ ‘ What helped it to move straight?’
Children would then be asked to draw a rocket mission, choosing where their rocket would go and what they would bring with them. We would end the lesson by sharing these with the class.
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For Space Week I would definitely use the Rockets activity set because I know children love anything hands-on and exciting, and rockets are always a hit. I would start by having a chat with the class about what they already know about rockets and space travel. We could watch some short videos of rockets launching and talk about what makes them fly, using simple language about thrust and gravity.
Then I would split the class into small groups and let them plan and design their own model rockets using things like paper, straws, or balloons. The children could draw their design and think about how each part might affect how far or high their rocket flies.
After building the rockets, we would have a launch session either in the classroom or outside. The children would measure and record the results, discuss what worked best, and reflect on why. I think this activity combines science, creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork in a way that is really fun and memorable for primary children.
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For Space Week, I would design a class plan that weaves together many of the activities explored in this course. My aim would be to create a sense of wonder while also developing students’ science skills through hands-on learning, observation, and reflection.
Day 1 would begin with The Spherical Earth activity, using a globe, flashlight, and simple demonstrations to show why we have day and night. Day 2 would focus on The Sun and Shadows, with students tracking their shadows in the yard and comparing how they change throughout the day. On Day 3, we would explore The Moon by observing its phases with Oreo cookies and discussing what we see in the night sky. Day 4 would be dedicated to The Stars, where students would create their own constellations and learn about stories from different cultures. Finally, Day 5 would conclude with a “mini space fair,” where groups present posters, models, or digital creations summarising what they learned during the week.
This class plan allows for creativity, critical thinking, and collaborative learning. It also gives students multiple ways to connect science concepts to their everyday experiences, ensuring that Space Week is engaging, memorable, and meaningful.
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Rocket Mouse activity lesson:
At the beginning of the week I would teach the poem In Winter I get up at Night by R.L.Stevenson. I teach it every year in school when the nights begin to get darker. It’s a great way for children to think about differences in summer and winter.
I would then introduce the topic to smaller children using one of the books recommended in Module 5-The Way Back Home.
I would discuss what the children already know about the moon, rockets and the first landing on the moon to check for prior knowledge. I would ask the children what they would like to find out about the topic and take a record of their questions. If a child said they would like to learn about rockets I would take this opportunity to introduce Rocket Mouse!
I would show them Rocket Mouse already made and tell them a story about how he wants to get back to the moon to his family.
I would then show the children how to make the rocket mouse with vitamin container, fizzy vitamins, paper for ears and body, markers for mouth and whiskers and fake eyes.
When Rocket Mouse is shot ‘into space’ I would ask the children what powered the rocket to move. I would introduce vocabulary and encourage the children to use words such as propel, launch, gravity, ignite, chemical reaction.
As a follow up activity children could draw Rocket Mouse back on the moon with his family. -
Activity: rockets
To begin, I would show the children a video of a rocket launch on the NASA or ESA website to capture their interests. After watching the videos, I would ask the children, “What is a rocket?” and “Why do astronauts need rockets?” I would then explain in simple terms that rockets move by pushing fuel out from the back, which helps them go up into the sky. This helps the children begin to understand that something is pushing the rocket—a force. Using a picture of a rocket, we would look at and name the different parts together, such as the nose, body, and fins. I will try to guage their existing knowledge about rockets. The children will then predict what would happen to a balloon rocket when you let go of the balloon.The children will then create their own balloon rocket to investigate how the rocket moved and what makes it fly. We will then engage in the rocket mouse activity and test to see which rocket goes further, looking at whether it was a fair test and drawing conclusions. We will then conclude with a whole class discussion and read the story ‘Roaring rockets’ to finish the lesson.
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I would like to discuss how I would use the theme of rockets with my Senior Infants class. The first activity would be for them to make rocket mice. Each child could cut out and decorate their own mouse from the template design shared from The Science Museum, London. Then we would talk about how we were going to use a plastic bottle to launch it. We would discuss what they predicted would happen. Then we would launch their rocket mice. Afterwards we would discuss how the pressure in the bottle was increased by us squashing the sides of the bottle. We would discuss how this was used for squeezing out sauces from bottles and toothpaste from a tube.
I would draw parallels between our home made rockets and real rockets and how they launch. We would watch the launch of some rockets and talk about the force needed to propel them into space.
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For this lesson, I would explore the exciting theme of rockets.
Children are naturally very interested in this theme but to further engage I would display images and a video of a rocket launching into space.
This visually stimulating introduction would act as a springboard into a class discussion about rockets, space travel, and what it might be like to be an astronaut. We can brainstorm and discuss what kind of planets we would like to visit.
Next, we will move on to a hands-on activity where the children will design and make their own paper rockets. I will show a brief video of our activity. I will then make our rocket using a visualiser so that all the children can follow along with the steps clearly.
After building their rockets, the children will test them by blowing through a straw to see if their rockets can launch. Then, working in groups, they will explore different techniques to improve flight distance. They will record their findings, discuss what factors affect flight, and present their results to the class.
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I would like to use activities related to rockets in the classroom. I think it provides great opportunities to apply maths and science skills in a cross-curricular way around the theme of space and the sub-theme of rockets. There are lots of hands-on class activities which I think the students would really enjoy. I think picture story books related to rockets are a great way to engage the students and make them excited to learn about the topic. I would use http://www.primaryscience.ie or http://www.spaceweek.ie as a guide to engage the students in the design of their own rockets. Once designed, a good link with Maths could be measuring the distance each rocket can travel. After they have conducted the investigation they could make a bar or column graph comparing how far each students’ rocket travelled. This would be a good link to two strands within the Maths curriculum – Length and Data.
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I really liked the idea of the Fizzing and Alien Slime activities and I look forward to carrying it out in the new school year. I think it offers a very fun, hands on and engaging way to introduce 1st and 2nd class students to basic scientific concepts such as chemical reactions, states of matter, and properties of materials.
Beginning with familiar experiences like fizzy drinks, I will allow the children explore how carbon dioxide gas is formed and behaves through hands-on demonstrations like dancing raisins and balloon inflation. These activities spark curiosity and encourage prediction and observation skills.
The glittery explosion experiment also allows children to work collaboratively, make choices about materials, and witness a dramatic reaction, reinforcing the idea that gases take up space and can be trapped in bubbles.
These activities support inquiry-based learning and can be linked to curriculum themes such as materials, change, and energy. They also promote language development through discussion and explanation, and offer opportunities for cross-curricular links with art and literacy.
Overall, this activity fosters scientific thinking in a playful and accessible format.
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The activity I would be doing is the Rocket Mouse Activity.
We would begin with a whole class discussion about what we know, want to know, learned etc. We will then explore how escaping air from a bottle launches the rocket mouse, the same way ketchup escapes. When the experiment has taken place we will discuss the following taken from this module:
What makes your rocket fly?
What makes it come down again?
How do you think a real rocket works?
How could you make your rocket travel higher?
How could you make your rocket go more slowly?
Can you make your rocket spin as it falls?I will share a fact I learned, which is that “in order to keep going straight upwards and never fall down again, a rocket must reach a speed called escape velocity, which is 11.2 kilometres per second”.
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