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Rockets and Space Exploration for Space Week
Third ClassDay 1: Introduction to Rockets and Space
Learning Outcome: To provide an overview of rockets and their role in space exploration.
Activity: Discussion: Begin with a discussion about what students know about rockets and space. Use visual aids like pictures and videos of rockets and space missions.
Story Time: Read a storybook about space exploration, such as “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton and Ant Parker.
Video: Show a short educational video about how rockets work and their importance in space exploration.
Day 2: Forces and Motion
Learning Outcome: To understand the basic forces involved in launching a rocket.
Activity: Interactive Lesson: Explain the concepts of thrust, gravity, and aerodynamics using simple terms and demonstrations.
Experiment: Conduct a balloon rocket experiment. I will attach a balloon to a straw on a string and release the air to demonstrate thrust and motion.
Worksheet: The students will complete a worksheet with simple questions about the forces they observed.
Day 3: Rocket Design
Learning Outcome: To learn about the different parts of a rocket and design their own.
Activity: Discussion: Discuss the main parts of a rocket
Design Activity: I will give the children paper, pencils, and crayons to design their own rockets. I will ask the children to include details about the parts of their rockets.
Share and Discuss: The students share their designs with the class and explain their choices.
Day 4: Building and Launching Rockets
Learning Outcome: To build and launch simple rockets and observe their flight.
Activity: Building Rockets: Provide materials such as paper, tape, straws, and plastic bottles for students to build their own rockets. They can use their designs from the previous day as a guide.
Launch Activity: Take the students outside to launch their rockets. Use a simple launch pad or a safe area where they can launch their paper rockets by blowing through straws or using the pressure from plastic bottles. Observation: Have students observe the flight of their rockets and note how different designs and forces affect the flight.
Day 5: Rocket Relay Race: I will organise a fun relay race where students have to launch their rockets at different stations. Conclusion Discussion: Discuss what the students learned about rockets and space exploration throughout the week. Ask questions like “What was your favourite part?” and “What did you find most interesting?”Sinead this list is fantastic. I love the idea of a passport to space and will definitely use this idea.
Hi Siobhan, thank you for sharing the link to the video. I will be sure to use this in my class next year.
Learning Outcome:
To help children understand the concept of dressing appropriately for different weather conditions through interactive and sensory play.Introduction: The children sit in a circle and I will introduce the topic by showing them the weather chart. Discuss different types of weather and ask questions like, “What do we wear when it’s sunny?” or “What do we need when it’s raining?”
Story Time: I will read a short, engaging storybook about dressing for different weather conditions, such as “Froggy Gets Dressed” by Jonathan London. After reading, I will discuss the story and the different clothing items Froggy wore for each type of weather.
Interactive Weather Chart: I will show the children the weather chart again. I will explain that they will help dress dolls or stuffed animals for different weather conditions. I will present each weather card and ask the children to choose appropriate clothing items for that weather. The children will attach the clothing cut-outs to the weather cards using Velcro.
Dress-Up Activity: I will set up a dress-up area with a variety of clothing items. The children choose clothes to dress themselves, dolls, or stuffed animals according to different weather conditions.
I will encourage them to think about why each piece of clothing is suitable for the weather (e.g., “Why do we wear a raincoat when it’s raining?”).
Role-Playing: The children can role-play different weather scenarios. One child can hold up a weather card, and others can dress appropriately and act out activities for that weather (e.g., playing in the snow, jumping in puddles).
Conclusion: The children sit back in a circle and review what they learned. I will ask them to share their favourite outfit and why they chose it. I will recap the importance of dressing appropriately for different weather conditions and how it helps us stay comfortable and safeCorinna that is a great idea for SEN. Being able to present the work to his classmates and answer questions on a topic he is interested in would be a great confidence booster for him.
Learning Outcome:
To introduce infants to the concept of space, planets, and the idea of aliens in a fun and imaginative way.
IntroductionI will get the children together n a circle and start by discussing space. I will ask questions like, “What do you think is in space?” and “Have you ever seen pictures of planets or stars?”
I will show pictures of planets and explain briefly that planets are in space and each one is different.
I will then read a storybook about aliens. A good example is “Aliens Love Underpants” by Claire Freedman.
After reading, I will ask the children questions about the story to spark their imagination, such as “What do you think aliens look like?” and “What would you do if you met an alien?”
Alien Craft Activity
I will give each child with a piece of construction paper, glue, googly eyes, and markers or crayons.
I will ask them to create their own alien by drawing a body and using googly eyes and other craft materials to decorate it. I will encourage them to give their alien a name and describe what their alien likes to do.
Space Adventure Song and Movement I will teach the children a simple song ‘Five Little Aliens’
The children will act out the song by pretending to fly like aliens in a spaceship and exploring planets.
Conclusion: The children will sit in a circle again and I will ask them to share their alien crafts.
I will ask each child to say one fun fact about their alien.Collette I described a similar activity and would use a book also at the start of the lesson. I had forgot about the book The Day I Met My Shadow. This would be an ideal book for this topic and age group.
Activity: The Sun and Shadows
Learning Outcome: The children will be able to understand the concept of shadows and how they are formed by the Sun’s light.Introduction:
I will introduce the concept of shadows by reading a storybook about shadows or discussing what they already know about shadows. I will explain that shadows are created when an object blocks light.
Exploration:
I will bring the children outside on a sunny day or to a well-lit area inside. I will show them my own shadow and move around to demonstrate how it changes shape and size.
Hands-On Activity:
I will give each child an object to explore shadows with. I will demonstrate how to place the object on the ground and observe its shadow.
I will encourage the children to move the objects around and notice how the shadows change when they move the object or when the angle of the light changes.
Shadow Tracing:
Using chalk (if outside) or tape (if inside), I will help the children trace the outlines of the shadows of their objects.
They can then colour in or decorate the traced shadows on the large sheets of paper.
Conclusion: The children will discuss what they observed. I will ask questions like:
What happens to the shadow when you move the object closer to the light?
What happens to the shadow when the light source is moved?
How do the shapes of the shadows compare to the shapes of the objects?
Shadow Dance
If time allows, the children will use their bodies to make different shadow shapes. They can try making animal shapes or other fun forms with their shadows.Grace this is a lovely activity especially for infants. By using their teddy bears they are really engaged and interested in the lesson.
Hi, I’m Deirdre and I will be teaching SET in September with the junior end of the school.
My favourite Space fact is Venus which completes one rotation every 243 Earth days has the longest day of any planet in our solar system.
One inquiry based activity that I would use in my classroom is exploring the concept of floating and sinking.
Activity: Float or Sink?Introduction:
Gather the children in a circle and introduce the activity. Show them the tub of water and the collection of objects. Ask them if they know what “floating” and “sinking” mean, demonstrating with a couple of objects.
Present each object one at a time and ask the children to predict whether they think it will float or sink. This encourages them to make guesses and engage with the concept.
Experimentation:
Each child will get a turn placing an object in the water. Encourage them to observe what happens.
Recording Results:
After each object is tested, help the children place a sticker or mark on the chart under “Float” or “Sink” corresponding to the object’s outcome.
Review the chart together, discussing any patterns they notice.
Conclusion:
Revision of the the activity by talking about why some objects float and others sink, introducing simple concepts like weight, density, and material properties.
