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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.
This is a brilliant and well-thought out Space week plan. There isn’t a big emphasis placed on Space week in our school but you have come up with some great ideas that could be easily incorporated going forward. I know the dress up day would be a clear winner!
It is interesting to get some planning ideas for an autism class and see how the lesson ideas mentioned in this module can be adapted to suit all types of learners.
I chose the activity set Weather (Hot and Cold) I would start with simple questions like ‘what do you think the weather is like today?’ ‘do you think it is hot or cold?’ ‘how do we know?’ I would hold up a large poster that says ‘hot’ and the children do simple actions to show they are hot. I would then do the same for ‘cold. For a hands on activity, I would set up two bowls of water; one with warm water and one with cold water. The children would feel the water in both bowls and describe them using words like hot, warm, cool, freezing, cold. The children would decide which bowl would cause an ice cube to melt quicker when placed into the water. We would then play a sorting game using the ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ posters from earlier. Each child is given a picture of a hot or cold thing and they must place it under the correct poster when prompted. A short discussion/questions could follow this. We would then create a hot/cold collage with magazine cut outs. A hot/cold hunt worksheet could be sent home to complete with parents.
I really like the relaxation/wellbeing element to this lesson. As much as it is a learning activity, finishing the lesson with this sense of calm and quiet time could be so beneficial for many children in the class who may not often get this time to ‘be still.’
I chose the activity set Space and Aliens for senior infants. To begin the lesson, I would show an image of space and ask the children questions such as ‘What do you think lives in space?’ ‘What does an alien look like?’ We would then read a story together such as ‘There’s an Alien in Your Book’ or ‘Aliens Love Underpants’ to engage the children and open up a discussion about the topic of space and space creatures. I would then play the song ‘Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon’. The children can get up and act like they are flying to space while singing the song. It would then be time to get creative and provide the children with playdough/craft materials to create their own alien. This could then be linked to a literacy lesson where the children would be encourage to write ‘My alien is called ____. It is from planet _____. It eats _____.
I like the idea of getting the children to make the planets from play-doh. This would appeal to a variety of class levels and really enhance creativity and imaginative thinking.
I have chosen the activity set The Planets
To begin the lesson, I would show the children a visual of our solar system (poster/picture on IWB) without the names of the planets being shown. I would then ask them ‘can anyone name a planet in the solar system?’ I would briefly explain what the solar system is and that we live on planet Earth. I would play ‘The Planet Song’. The song mentioned in this module is new to me but this is a firm favourite that I have used for the last few years called The Planets of our Solar System https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCxjuDePdCI&list=RDPCxjuDePdCI&start_radio=1 I would play the song once, and then ask the children to name any planets that they can remember. I would play the song again, pausing after each planet, asking the children the name of the planet and identifying/discussing 1-2 fun facts. I would then try to incorporate a movement break/activity around the song eg. jump when you see Jupiter or assign a planet to a group of children and they order themselves when they hear their planet. A hands-on activity would vary depending on the age of the class – a colouring sheet, a cut and stick activity ordering the planets, design your own planet. Finish with a quick quiz eg. what planet is the biggest? what planet do we live on? etc. Sing along to the song once more.
This is a lovely simple activity that would work well with the younger children. Like you say, the results happen in front of them so it holds their interest and engagement. Definitely one to try going forward.
My inquiry activity would be focused on ‘What can we see in the sky at night, and why does it change?’
I would engage the children by asking some simple questions like: What do you see in the sky at night? Why does the moon change shape?
Can we see the sun and moon at the same time?
They could write or draw their ideas together as a group.I would introduce the phases of the moon using oreos – a big hit! Each small group will have 4 Oreo cookies. They will twist them open and use a spoon to shape the cream to show the 4 moon phases. A chart or real photos of the moon phases can be shown for comparison.
I would ask the children ‘Why do you think the moon changes shape?’ before explaining that the moon doesn’t really change — we just see different parts lit by the sun.
To learn more we would read a story like “Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me” by Eric Carle and to extend learning the children could create their own night sky using black or dark blue paper, star stickers, glitter/chalk and they can place the moon in any phase they like.
