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Aliens in underpants is a great story and very captivating. You immediately have their attention once you mention underpants !!!😂
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…”
The lesson I have chosen to reflect on is ‘Animals in the Cold’. I feel this topic is ideal for Senior Infants as it links to weather, animals, and seasonal changes — all areas they’re naturally curious about.
To begin the lesson, I would read the book Say Hello to the Snowy Animals! by Ian Whybrow. It’s short, engaging, and introduces different arctic animals like polar bears, seals, and huskies. The flaps in the book make it interactive, and the children love joining in with animal sounds.
After reading, I would use a globe or simple map to show where cold places like the Arctic and Antarctic are. We’d talk about the weather in those places and compare it to Ireland — “Would we see a polar bear here?” “Do penguins live at the North Pole or South Pole?”
Next, we’d explore how animals keep warm in cold places. I’d show fur samples (fake), feathers, and pictures of animals. Then we’d do a “blubber glove” experiment — using a bag filled with butter or margarine between two plastic bags, so children can feel how it insulates their hand from icy water. They always find this part fun and memorable.
We’d also set up a small-world play area with toy animals, snow (cotton wool or fake snow), and ice cubes, so they can explore cold habitats through play. At the art table, children could create their own “cold animal” using collage materials — cotton wool for fur, foil for icy backgrounds, etc.
To finish, I’d ask children to describe or draw how their chosen animal keeps warm, and I’d record some of their ideas in a class book or chart. This lesson helps develop early science skills like observing, predicting, and questioning, all through play and storytelling.
I’ll definitely be stealing the Friday box idea. Thank you . It is a very practical way to remind kids to recycle.
Id start with a story to spark their imaginations. One of my favourites for this theme is Aliens Love Underpants by Claire Freedman ,it’s silly, colourful, and the children love it. After reading, I’d ask, “What do you think aliens are really like?” and “Where might they live in space?” This opens up loads of creative ideas and funny conversations.
Next, I’d show a short, simple video or animation about planets or space travel — just a couple of minutes — to help them picture what space looks like. Then I’d ask: “What would you need to live in space?” and “Could aliens be living on one of these planets?”
Then we’d move into discovery time. I’d set up different areas around the classroom:
Space Station Role Play – with astronaut helmets (made from cardboard boxes), control panels (buttons and dials stuck on cardboard), and walkie-talkies. Children could pretend to talk to aliens or land on a planet! I have this space station made diy for two years and it’s still lasting.
Alien Discovery Table – with mysterious objects: “alien eggs” (water beads in a bowl), “moon rocks” (crumpled foil), and maybe a note from an alien asking for help building a home on Earth.
Construction Area – where children can build their own alien spacecraft or alien house using blocks, Lego, or junk art. I might challenge them: “Can you make a rocket that an alien could travel in?”
Playdough Alien Creation – give children playdough, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, and ask them to make their own aliens. They can name them and decide what planet they’re from.To wrap up, we might draw a picture of our alien and write a sentence underneath — or finish with a silly alien dance or song (like “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon” or make up our own alien chant!
I love the story ‘how to catch a star’ and I have used it several times to start my space lessons. It captivates and kids and their imaginations wander which is gorgeous to see
I agree Maria. Kids just love facts and sometimes I feel the younger they are the more they enjoy learning by rote in songs or poems.
I’d start by reading Peace at Last by Jill Murphy. The children love the story of Mr Bear trying to find a quiet place to sleep, and it always gets a few giggles. After reading, I’d ask them, “What if Mr Bear decided to leave Earth and go to space to find peace and quiet? Where do you think he’d go?”
We’d have a chat about the different planets in the solar system. I’d describe each one in a fun, simple way – Mercury is boiling hot, Venus is full of thick clouds, Mars is dusty and red, Jupiter is enormous, Saturn has pretty rings, Uranus is sideways and cold, Neptune is freezing and far away, and Earth is where we live. I’d ask the children if they think Mr Bear could sleep well on each one – is it too loud, too bright, too cold, or just right?
Then, I’d give each child a little booklet or simply their SESE copy called “Mr Bear’s Space Diary.” On the first page, they’d draw Mr Bear in a rocket. On the next pages, they’d choose a few planets and draw what happens when Mr Bear visits each one. They could write (or tell me to write) things like “Mr Bear is too hot on Mercury!” or “Mr Bear is floating in space and he loves it!” This gives them a chance to be creative while learning about the planets.
For a bit of hands-on fun, we could make collages of Mr Bear in space using tinfoil, coloured paper, and cotton wool. They could stick on planets and stars around him.
To finish, I’d ask them which planet they think Mr Bear should stay on to finally get some peace and quiet. They could vote by placing a sticker or counter on their favourite. It’s a lovely way to combine storytelling, science, and art – and the children always remember it because it feels like play.
I enjoy starting most of my lessons with stories.
Inquiry-Based Activity – “A Picnic in Space!” (Inspired by Whatever Next!)
Enquiry question: What would you take on a picnic to the moon?Hook – Read Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy. Ask: “Do you think you could really go to the moon like Baby Bear?”
Question Time – “What would you need for a moon picnic?” “Would food float?” “How would you get there?”
Explore – Look at real images of the moon. Discuss gravity, space travel, and what astronauts eat.
Creative Task – Children draw or create their own moon picnic box and rocket. What’s inside? How will they get there?
Share & Reflect – Children explain their choices and imagine what their picnic on the moon would be like.Learning Areas Covered:
Science: Space, moon, gravity, astronaut needs
Literacy: Listening to stories, asking/answering questions, oral storytelling
Art/Design: Drawing, junk art rocket building
SPHE: Imagination, sharing, choices
Speaking & Listening: Sharing ideas, role-playHi Emma this is such a practical idea and one I think the kids will enjoy. I think it could also be used in other areas of the curriculum.
thank you.
Blathnaid
