[Heidi collins]

Hi Tracy

Thanks for sharing the ideas – I like the way you have a day to day plan for the week.  Will definitely use this approach for Science week.

[Heidi collins]

[Heidi collins]

Topic:  Rockets

As a whole school we could possibly approach Rockets at the age appropriate levels.

Infants: Rocket Mice Activity

Assessment of fine motor skills with cutting aspect of the task.  Oral language development to discuss what colours to use, what the mouse might see in space.  After the activity a discussion about the size of the bottle/ size of the mouse and whether different results are possible

1st Class: Balloon Rockets

Using the Marvin and Milo cartoons, the IOP Balloon Rocket task experiment could be completed.  As a small group activity this could be use to build communication and team work skills.  Differentiation is possible by creating specific roles and tasks suited to individual ability.

2nd Class Foam Rockets

Resources: Radiator insulation foam cut into a variety of lengths and elastic bands, silver duck tape and card cut into triangle.

Groups can make rocket shapes, name  and  and launch using a variety of elastics to measure which rocket travels furthest and discuss why.

Variable: Length of foam tune, elastic band, weight of card.

[Heidi collins]

Thanks Sinead,

You have gone into lot of detail to provide a whole scheme of work.  I like the cross curricular approach you have taken, to incorporate PE, Art, Poetry and Maths. Thank you!

[Heidi collins]

As a start to school SSE we could introduce ‘Astronomy Picture of the Day/Week’ across the whole school to inspire wonder and interest.  Stellarium.org could also support a space fact per week.  The data gathering element of SSE would be handled as follows:

TEACHERS: a SWOT analysis to gather opinion on current practice

STUDENTS: Sample Questionnaire for Pupils – Science
This questionnaire might be used with pupils in an evaluation of provision in SESE. Schools could adapt the questions to suit their own context or the specific focus of their evaluation.

School Self-Evaluation Questionnaire for Pupils

Please put an X in the correct box:

I am in:             SI                     1st                     2nd

I am a:              Boy                  Girl

I am good at Maths and Science

I like at Maths and Science

I would like to spend more time in school learning about space

We solve lots of problems in maths

I like solving problems in maths and I am good at it

During maths and science lessons I often work with other people

During maths and science lessons I often use equipment to help me

During maths and science lessons we usually use the text book

During maths and science lessons I often use the computer or a tablet

I know which skills are important to become better at Maths and Science

Finish these sentences with the word or words that you think are right for you

When my teacher says it is time for the math’s and science lesson, I feel _________________________________________.

The best thing about Maths and Science is ________________________________________________.

The worst thing about Maths and Science is ____________________________________________________.

What do you like doing most in Maths and Science lessons?

What do you find hard to learn during Maths and Science lessons?

 

[Heidi collins]

Thanks for sharing the photos.

I think the space corner is a great idea.

[Heidi collins]

Topic: Aliens

Resources: The Special Life – Life in Space Activity pages / Smeds and Smoos Storybook

Begin with recap with whole class discussion on prior learning about the solar system lesson (Sing the Planet Song).

I would show children the front cover of the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler storybook The Smeds and The Smoos and take predictions about the story/characters/location/events.

Pre-reading activity: have circle time discussing how we live on Earth and there are many more planets in space. As far as we know there are no people living there. But if people did live there, what would the children like to show them here on Earth? What objects or animals here on Earth are so special that visitors from other planets should see them?

Model oral language to encourage imagination, curiosity and possibility.

·       I wonder if..

·       Maybe..

·       Do you think..

·       Possibly..

• Imagine if..

·       Would it be funny if…

 

Give children the opportunity to talk in pairs about their special object/animal on earth that they would show an alien.

End lesson by reading The Smeds and The Smoos to the class.

 

Extended Art Activity: Draw your Alien and choose an Alien name for them.

Gallery: Whole Class present and discuss drawings and find a positive praise for each one.

[Heidi collins]

Thank Alison

There are loads of good tips here to adapt for Infants which would also work great to differentiate the task for 1st/2nd class children as needed.  The clip is lovely and yes I agree – using teacher’s stickers makes it very enticing for the children!

[Heidi collins]

Brilliant to see your Station Ideas Niamh.  It is great to see the Dress Up /Role play ideas that would compliment this topic.  I like the mixed media approach to the art activity to.  I think STEM and Art go hand in hand at infant level.

[Heidi collins]

Topic: Planets
Class: 1st Class

Lesson One Introduction:
Circle time to discuss and assess children’s prior knowledge of the solar system.
Trigger Question: ‘What is the name of the town where we live?’ Do they know what country this town is in? And what planet this country is on? On Earth. Can they name any other planets? Briefly talk about the names of the eight planets in our solar system. The children find out what planets there are and that they orbit the Sun.
Using interactive whiteboard: Address misunderstandings by using diagrams, images, simulations and video clips of space, making models and role play.

Play Planet Song

Each child gets a copy of the Tiny Planets Book to reinforce the language of the song. While the Music plays teacher circulates and discusses the children’s favourite planet, while the children colour and create the Tiny Planet Book.
Home School Link: Tiny Planet goes home for chat with family about what the child’s favourite planet is and why.
Lesson Two (Visual Art)
Using higher and lower order questions, recap on the song and what the children recall about each planet. E.g. Would you like to travel to … ? Why? Why not?
Ask the children to write on a card their favourite / or their families favourite planet based on home school link using the book as a prompt.
Stations are set up:
1. Art Table in groups to paint their favourite planet.
2. Play dough table to form the planets from play dough
3. Magnet Board table to write make the words of each planet
4. Ipad Station to watch Family of the Sun Moon Phases video / Paxi and our Moon (youtube)

[Heidi collins]

Inquiry based learning activity for Junior Infants

1.       Investigation of Day and Night

 

·       Using the picture book ‘Goodnight Bear’ as a stimulus for establishing the children’s understanding of day and night and nocturnal animals

Sit in a circle with the children. Place the photographs of the diurnal and nocturnal animals in the middle of the circle. Ask if animals sleep at night, just like people. Which animals don’t sleep at night? When are they awake? Remove the photographs of the diurnal animals. Look at the photographs of the nocturnal animals and talk about how you can recognise a nocturnal animal. Come to the conclusion that nocturnal animals often have bigger eyes than diurnal animals so that they can see better at night. Sometimes they have adapted in other ways as well. Nocturnal animals can be recognised by specific features, because they live in the dark. The nocturnal animals in the photographs are the bat, the owl, the hedgehog, and the panther. The children investigate the difference between day and night in the world.

[Heidi collins]

Hi Everyone,
I’m Heidi and I am a principal in a Junior School and we have had a super experience with Curious Minds and the DPSM programme. I’m doing the course to help the teams plan some SSE in the area of STEM. I know that one day on Mercury lasts as long as two years on earth!

[Author]

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