Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Make a rocket
I have chosen the activity to make a rocket as I think it is an engaging lesson that all children will enjoy.
I would begin by prompting questions such as what is a rocket? what is it for? what does it look like? we would then look at some videos of actual rockets taking off to spark further interest. We will also check out NASA website.
I would get the children to design their own rocket on a worksheet first and encourage them to consider questions such as where is it going? what shape will it be? how will it fly? so they can consider this in their designs.
We would then use junk modelling to create our own rockets from our design. To experiment with our rockets we would take them outside and investigate how we can make them move- push, pull, roll, blow etc. The children would try their ideas and discuss what they have found.
We could link this in with maths and measure how far they go. This could also spark interest for a drama lesson where the children flew in their rocket to space and they roleplay what happened when they got to space.
I really like this lesson idea. I think it has lots of exciting elements and it is fairly simple to organise for the teacher and the children to be successful in what they are learning about. I think there will be such a sense of wonder from all participants.
Hi Aveen, I really like your lesson idea. I completely agree with yourself and Andrea that the use of actual clothes will make the lesson more engaging. The hands on learning opportunities are also so beneficial.
Activity Set: Where do you live?
I have chosen the activity set: Where do you live for 1st/2nd class level. We would begin by looking at the different types of houses and introduce the children to any new vocabulary- detached, semi-detached, bungalow etc. I would then ask the children to describe their own house and it’s features. I would ask each child if they can identify which house most looks like theirs by giving each group a selection of pictures and ask them to discuss what is familiar to them.
The children will then design their house on the downloadable worksheet and use this to then design and create a 3d model of their house. We would use junk modelling for this and allow the children to be really imaginative with the different materials they would use to depict their house. I would question them throughout based on their worksheet design. for example if the roof was flat has this been expressed in their model. We would then set up our models as a village and allow other classes to come and visit and the children could chat about their house.
Activity set: Space & Aliens
I would choose this set because I think that the idea of aliens is something children in the infant classes would love to explore. We would begin with the starter question of ‘what do aliens/ martians look like?’. I would get the children to pair and share their opinions and then feed back to the class. We would then read one of our alien stories, for example, Aliens Love Underpants. In a whole class discussion we would compare the children’s answers to the images of the different aliens in the book. We would further investigate aliens in space using the following questions-what do we think they like to eat, where do they live in space? what do we think aliens do all day? what language do they speak? how are they similar and different to us?We would record all the childrens answers in a class mind map. I would then ask the children to design their own aliens, and provide them with opportunity to describe their alien and its characteristics to the class. This could then be integrated into our art lesson where we could create a 3D alien. We could then write or tell stories about or alien or write a postcard to our school from our alien as part of our literacy lesson. There are also opportunities to extend this activity into a drama lesson where the children can act out as their aliena and bring them to life.
Activity set: Space & Aliens
I would choose this set because I think that the idea of aliens is something children in the infant classes would love to explore. We would begin with the starter question of ‘what do aliens/ martians look like?’. I would get the children to pair and share their opinions and then feed back to the class. We would then read one of our alien stories, for example, Aliens Love Underpants. In a whole class discussion we would compare the children’s answers to the images of the different aliens in the book. We would further investigate aliens in space using the following questions-what do we think they like to eat, where do they live in space? what do we think aliens do all day? what language do they speak? how are they similar and different to us?We would record all the childrens answers in a class mind map. I would then ask the children to design their own aliens, and provide them with opportunity to describe their alien to the class- encouraging them to describe characteristics etc. They would draw their alien and then each have a turn to describe their alien to the rest of the class. This could then be integrated into our art lesson where we could create a 3D alien. We could then write or tell stories about or alien or write a postcard to school from our alien as part of our literacy lesson.
There are also opportunities to extend this activity into a drama lesson where the children can act out as their aliena and bring them to life.I really like your lesson Séan. I think the links you have made to storytelling and creativity provide enjoyable and inclusive opportunities for learners of all abilities.
I agree Rebecca, I think that hands on learning is so important for all learners but especially with infants who will get so much out of this lesson. I really like how many opportunities there are for questioning during the lesson so that the teacher can really gauge their understanding throughout.
I would use the Activity Set: The Planets in my own classroom as it is a fun and engaging way to introduce the Solar System to the children.
I would begin with a circle time about where we live and asking the children what planet they live on. We would then name any other planets we know and then listen to the planets song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd_EIdZrvaU&list=RDWd_EIdZrvaU&start_radio=1) to allow them to become familiar with different names. We would then discuss
The planets dance would be next as I think it is an inclusive way for the children to begin to learn about our solar system and name the planets. Before the activity we would pause and invite the children to offer answers as to why the sun is in the middle, and explain that the planets orbit the sun.As the game allows for more than one child to land on a planet the children can support each other whether they are higher or lower ability- all learners can access this activity successfully. I also think the children behaving like rockets and landing on the planets around the sun it will be easier for them to understand the sun stays in place through this engaging activity.
We would then use this lesson later in the week as our art lesson where the children can work in small groups and design and create each of the planets based on the information we have learned.
Inquiry based activity: Exploring the environment using your senses: Taste
Engage: Begin with some prompt questions as outlined below to develop a whole class discussion and develop a sense of wonder.
• Is there any food we like now that we didn’t before?
• Is there any food we did like before but don’t now?
• Does food taste differently when we are sick or extra hungry?Investigate: Begin by going on a senses walk and encourage the children to record what they see, hear, smell and touch in the school garden. For the investigation provide a selection of pieces of fruit and ask them do they think that their sense of smell will affect how something tastes and record their predictions. I would also gain responses to the question what words describe how they think it will taste. Each learner would then choose three pieces of the same fruit. Before the taste test begins invite predictions from the class –
Invite learners to taste the fruit and have them write down how the food tastes.
They will eat one piece as they would, the next piece holding their nose until they have swallowed the food and the third piece holding their nose but releasing the hold before they swallow it. They will record their findings. We would then share our results, and create a word cloud of the different words the children used to describe their findings.Take the next step: Adapt for home:
Encourage the children to carry out the investigation at home.To add to the test, close their eyes and hold the nose while a trusted family member provides
samples of a selection of familiar foods and see can they guess the food based on taste?Reflecting:
Finally, we would reflect on what we have learnt and the children could share new vocabulary or something new they learnt from the investigation.Hi Sarah, I really like the activity you have outlined above. It seems very engaging and it has a good hook at the start with the lights being dimmed. The use of torches too is exciting for the children. I can imagine all levels would be interested and participate effectively.
