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Space Week Teaching Plan for Senior Infants/First Class
Theme: Exploring Space, Planets, Rockets, Aliens and the MoonDay 1: Introduction to Space and Rockets
I will begin the week by finding out what the children already know about space. We will have a discussion using questions such as “What do you think space is?” and “Have you ever seen a rocket?” to encourage them to share their ideas and questions.
The children will then make their own rockets using paper or cardboard, decorating them with colours, stickers and stars. Before our pretend rocket launch, I will encourage them to make predictions by asking questions like “What do you think happens when a rocket takes off?”Day 2: Exploring the Planets
We will explore the planets in our solar system through a story, picture book or a fun planet song such as The Planets of the Solar System Song by Hopscotch. We will talk about some simple facts about each planet, such as its size, colour and how it is different from the others.
The children will then create their own planets using materials such as paper plates, paint, tissue paper or playdough. As they work, we will discuss the different features of the planets and encourage them to explain their ideas.Day 3: Discovering the Moon
We will begin by reading Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me by Eric Carle or watching a short video about the Moon. The children will then take part in a hands-on crater investigation using trays of flour or sand and different-sized balls. They will drop the balls from different heights and observe how craters are formed.
We will introduce vocabulary such as “crater” and talk about the Moon’s surface. To finish, the children will create their own Moon artwork using materials such as grey paper, foil, textured paint or chalk to represent craters and stars.Day 4: Aliens and Imagination
I will begin with a class discussion about what children think aliens might look like and where they might live. This will allow them to use their imagination while linking back to what they have learned about planets and habitats.
The children will then design and create their own aliens using a range of materials such as playdough, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and coloured paper. We will also include a role-play activity where the children become astronauts meeting aliens for the first time.Day 5: Space Week Celebration and Review
To finish Space Week, we will reflect on everything we have learned. We will revisit rockets, planets, the Moon and aliens and discuss our favourite activities.
The children will share their favourite creation with the class and explain what they made. We will finish with the space song “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon”, adding actions or instruments. Finally, we will gather in a reflection circle where the children can share what they enjoyed most during Space Week and what they would like to learn more about. I will record their work on Seesaw to share with their parents.Hi Siobhán,
I love that tour school has an annual rocket making competition. Introducing lanching of rockets is a great way to extend on this fantastic tradition.
Fantastic ideas Frances! I’m also teachinh in Carrigaline. really like how you’re using the locality and making the learning more meaningful for the pupiils.
Hi Brian ,
The experiement of vaseline on the skin is a great way to demonstrate the skin barrier and the importance id coated fur for animals in cold climates.
Developing Science Skills and Enhancing School Self-Evaluation with a STEM Focus:
Our school already has well-established whole-school curricular plans. With the introduction of the new Primary Curriculum Framework and its stronger emphasis on STEM, I think it’s the perfect opportunity to reflect on our current SESE provision and look at how we can build on the excellent work already happening across the school.
I’d begin by gathering feedback from the whole school community. Staff could meet in class level groups to discuss what’s working well and where they feel we could develop further. I’d also like to hear the children’s views through simple surveys, discussions or creative activities, while parents could share their feedback using a short Google Form.
Once we’ve gathered everyone’s ideas, a small committee could review the feedback and agree on one or two achievable priorities. For example, we might develop a whole-school progression plan for STEM skills, organise an annual STEM Week and create shared STEM resource boxes that teachers can easily access. I’d also encourage teachers to share successful lessons and ideas during staff meetings and via Aladdin. Where needed, we could organise CPD to help build confidence in teaching STEM.
We’d review our progress regularly at In-School Leadership meetings, staff meetings and keep planning and resources on our shared google drive so they’re easy for everyone to access.
I think this is a great idea! I love how it combines science and creativity while encouraging children to apply what they have learned about the planets. The discussion around habitats and how different life forms might survive would really help develop their curiosity and scientific thinking.
Lesson: Exploring Constellations and Stars (Senior Infants)
For this lesson, I’d start by asking the children if they’ve ever looked up at the night sky and noticed the stars. We’d have a little chat about what stars are and how, long ago, people joined them together to make pictures called constellations.
To get everyone involved, we’d sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” before looking at a few simple constellations, such as the Big Dipper and Orion.
The children would then create their own constellation pictures using black paper and white chalk or crayons. They could copy one we’ve looked at or use their imagination to design their own. As they work, we’d talk about how people once used the stars to tell stories and help them find their way. I would encourage the children to name their constellations.
To finish, we’d share our constellations with the class and, if they wanted, the children could tell the story behind the pattern they created. I’d record their explanations on Seesaw so families could see their learning and hear them talking about their work.Hi Denise.
I love that you’ve started the lesson with the book Aliens Love Underpants. Children alwasy enjoy this book , finding it amusing and enagaging! Creating aliens using art materials is something that the class would thoroughly enjoy while also developing oral language skills and using their imagination.
I love the idea of hoops around the yard to represent the planets. Bringing the abstract to concrete for the children. It’s very active and engaging for the children.
Module 2: Inquiry-Based Moon Activity (Senior Infants)
For this lesson, I’d begin by showing the children a short clip of the Moon Landing to spark their curiosity. I’d ask questions like, “What do you notice?”, “Who can you see?” and “How do you think the astronauts got there?” to encourage discussion and lots I wonder questions.
We’d then sing “Zoom ,Zoom ,Zoom We’re going to the Moon” .
Next, the children would work in small groups with trays of sand, flour or rice to represent the Moon’s surface. They’d drop different-sized balls into the trays to create craters, making predictions, observing what happens and talking about why the craters are different sizes.
To finish, we’d share our findings, create a simple piece of Moon artwork and enjoy the story Goodnight Moon together. I’d post photographs and videos on Seesaw of the children’s Moon artwork and of the group work.For this lesson, I would start by asking the children a simple question: “Why do you think we have day and night?” I love hearing their ideas because they always come up with interesting answers and it gives us a great starting point. I’d read the story Day Monkey, Night Monkey by Julia Donaldson.
Then I’d use a torch to represent the Sun and a globe (or a ball) to represent the Earth. By shining the torch on one side of the globe and slowly turning it, the children can clearly see how one side is in daylight while the other is in darkness. It’s a really visual, hands-on way to help them understand that day and night happen because the Earth is rotating. If I have enough resources, I’d let the children work in small groups with their own torches and globes so they can explore it for themselves.
To finish the lesson, I’d ask the children to draw a picture of daytime and nighttime and explain what happens in their own words. It’s a lovely way to check their understanding and it often leads to lots more questions about space and our world.
Hi Dónal.
I love this idea of ringing your brother in Australia – teaching the chidlren about day and night with a real life example.
I also love the stations ideas.
Hello! My name is Deirdre, and I’m currently teaching 1st Class in Cork.
I’ve always loved teaching about space because children are naturally so curious about it.
This space fact always gets children talking:
The stars we see in the night sky are like time machines. Some are so far away that their light has been travelling for hundreds or even thousands of years before reaching our eyes. When we look at them, we’re actually seeing them as they were long ago!I really like the Marvin and Milo comic style insructions for the rocket activities. I based a lesson on the balloon rocket.
WALT: We Are Learning To make a simple rocket and understand the basic principles of how rockets work.
Introduction
I would introduce the lesson by showing videos of rockets launching and ask the children questions to elicit any prior knowledge of how rockets work.
Marvin and Milo Comic:
I would then show the Marvin and Milo comic strip on how to make a rocket.
Discuss the instructions: what Marvin and Milo did and the basic idea of how rockets fly.Making a Balloon Rocket
Setup:
Tie one end of the string to a fixed point (e.g., a chair or a doorknob).
Thread the other end of the string through a plastic straw.
Building the Rocket:
Inflate a balloon but do not tie it. Hold the open end.
Tape the inflated balloon to the plastic straw.
Launch Preparation:
Ask students to decorate their balloons with paper fins and drawings using markers.
Ensure all rockets are secure and ready for launch.
Launching the Rocket:
Pull the string tight and have students release their balloons, observing how the air escaping propels the balloon along the string.
Repeat the activity, allowing each child to launch their rocket.Conclusion
Discussion:
Ask students what they observed during the rocket launches.
Encourage students to think about other objects that fly.I would take videos and watch them as a whole class. I would also share the videos on Seesaw for the parents to see and to encourage the children to discuss this fun experiment at home.
There’s also an informative video showing how rockets work in a relatable way for children – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g0FehS0H1E
Integration: I would teach the song We’re going on a Rocket Ship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE0qcTPGCVs&list=RDwE0qcTPGCVs&start_radio=1
