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This is a very well thought out lesson. I agree it would take at least three lessons to complete. Using a picture of space is a great stimulus for any class to draw engagement and focus at the start of each lesson. You have listed lots of posing questions of higher and lower order which would be fantastic in infant class for all students to participate and discuss with a clear focus. Using a picture as a stimulus opens opportunities for discussion and peer discussion too
Great story 10 little aliens the junior classes would definitely enjoy that story. The integration of the art lesson using clay to create aliens is an engaging and active for the junior infants. Clay will develop their fine motor skills. This lesson encourages active learning and ample opportunities for questioning
The topic of stars would provide an exciting and engaging lesson for a Junior Infants class. I would begin by asking the children what they already know about stars and when they have seen them in the sky. This would encourage discussion and help me build on their prior knowledge. I would then read a picture book about stars or show simple images of the night sky to introduce the idea that stars are bright balls of gas that we can see at night. The children would take part in a hands-on art activity by creating their own starry night sky using black paper and coloured chalk. They could add paper stars of different sizes and talk about why some stars appear brighter or larger than others. Throughout the lesson, I would introduce simple vocabulary such as star, night sky, bright, and twinkle. We would finish with a song such as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and allow the children to share their artwork with the class. This lesson would promote curiosity, creativity, oral language, and fine motor skills while making science enjoyable and accessible for young learners.
I would choose the Activity Set: The Planets as it provides an engaging and hands-on way to introduce young children to our Solar System. In my classroom, I would begin the lesson with a discussion about what pupils already know about planets and encourage them to share their ideas. I would use colourful visuals and a short age-appropriate video to introduce the eight planets and their unique features.
The main activity would involve pupils working collaboratively to create their own model of the Solar System using craft materials such as paper plates, paint, coloured card, and recycled materials. This practical approach would encourage creativity while reinforcing scientific concepts. Throughout the lesson, I would use questioning to assess understanding, encourage pupils to compare the planets by size, colour, and position, and introduce key vocabulary such as planet, orbit, and Solar System.
To support different learning needs, I would model each step of the activity, provide visual prompts, and allow opportunities for peer collaboration. Cross-curricular links could be made with Mathematics by ordering the planets and comparing sizes, with Visual Arts through model making, and with Oral Language through discussion and presentation of completed work.
I believe this activity would promote curiosity and active learning while helping pupils develop a greater appreciation of space science. The combination of discussion, practical exploration, and collaborative learning would ensure that pupils remain engaged and build confidence in sharing their ideas. Overall, this activity would create a positive and inclusive learning environment where children learn through exploration, creativity, and play.
great lesson idea. I like how you used a prompting question and to draw the diagram on the board to model and scaffold learners. This lesson is active and engaging as the children are able to engage and make their own shadows.
Hi, your lesson idea is great there is many main focus areas to the lesson and it encourages curiosity and imagination to explore and think critically. Predicting and questioning is vital in active learning to encourage connections in their learning .
Hello, Aoife is my name. I am teaching infants next year. I have the junior infants for 3 years now. Prior to teaching I studied early childhood education where we studied a module on inquiry based learning. I feel like space is a fantastic area to learning about with the infants and encourage lots of inquiry based learning opportunities in the classroom. Space fascinates the children from a very young age and I feel this course will provide me with new ideas for the classroom.
A lesson to encourages inquiry based learning Explore the night sky: Children observe pictures, videos, and books about space, then share questions and ideas about planets, stars, and astronauts.
Ask and investigate: Children choose a space question to explore (e.g., “Why does the Moon change shape?”) and investigate through experiments, discussions, and play activities.
Create and collaborate: Children work together to design rockets, planets, or space stations using recycled materials and explain their ideas.
Reflect and share learning: Children discuss what they discovered, record their observations through drawings or stories, and share new questions they have about space.