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Theme: Space and Rockets (Senior Infants)
As part of our Space theme, the children will learn about the Sun, Moon, planets and astronauts through stories, songs and simple videos. We will read books such as The Way Back Home and Aliens Love Underpants to spark their interest and encourage discussion about space and rockets.
The children will then take part in some of the space activities from this course. We will begin with the Balloon Rocket activity. First, we will talk about how rockets travel into space and watch a short video of a real rocket launch. The children will work in pairs to make a balloon rocket, decorating it with colours and shapes. They will predict which rocket they think will travel the furthest before testing them. We will compare the results and talk about why some rockets travelled further than others.
Next, the children will complete the Rocket Mice activity. Each child will design and decorate their own mouse before sending it on its rocket journey. After the investigation, the class will work together to create a simple story about where the mouse travelled in space and what it discovered. The children could also draw a picture of their mouse visiting a planet.
Throughout these activities, I will encourage the children to ask questions, make predictions and share their ideas with their partners. They will learn by exploring, testing and talking about what happened. If tablets are available, the children could take photos of their rockets and record a short voice clip explaining what they made and what they found out. I think these activities would be enjoyable, encourage teamwork and help develop the children’s curiosity about space through hands-on learning.
I really like how you have linked the activity with stories the children already know. Making the clay houses and creating a class estate is a lovely hands-on idea. Using Google Maps to explore their local area is also a great way to make the learning meaningful and engaging.
Activity set-where do you live/weather
I think these activities would work really well with my 2nd Class because they are practical and encourage the children to learn by exploring and talking about their ideas. I would begin by reading the story and discussing where different animals and people live. The children could then sort pictures of different homes and habitats and explain why they belong there.Next, we would look at the “Animals in the Cold” activity and talk about how animals survive in very cold places. The children could compare these animals with ones they know from Ireland and discuss the differences. We would also complete the “What Clothes to Wear” activity, where the children decide what clothes are suitable for different weather conditions. Finally, we would carry out the “Hot and Cold” investigation to explore how different materials react to temperature.
I think these activities would help the children make links between science and everyday life. They would work in pairs or small groups, share their ideas and learn from each other. If tablets were available, the children could take photos of their work or create a simple digital poster about what they discovered. These activities are hands-on, enjoyable and encourage children to ask questions and think about the world around them.
Special Life
Life in Space
I think this activity would be a good way to help my 2nd Class learn about what living things need to survive. I would begin the lesson by asking the children what they think people, animals and plants need to live. We would discuss their ideas together before completing the activity. The children would work in small groups and sort different pictures into things that living things need and things they do not need. This would encourage them to think, ask questions and explain their answers.After the group work, we would come together as a class to compare our ideas and talk about why water, air, food and shelter are important for life. I would then ask the children to draw or write about what they have learned. If tablets are available, they could create a simple digital poster showing the things living things need to survive. I think this activity would keep the children interested because it is practical and allows everyone to take part. It also helps develop teamwork, communication and thinking skills while making science fun and easy to understand.
Activity Set PLanets
I think this activity would work really well with my 2nd Class because space is a topic that always gets the children interested. I would begin the lesson by showing the children the Solar System Song by StoryBots, which is a fun way to introduce the names of the planets. We would sing along together and talk about any planets they already know. I would then show the second video, which gives a simple explanation of the planets and our solar system, before moving into the main inquiry activity.After watching the videos, I would divide the class into small groups and give each group a planet to investigate. They could use books and teacher-selected websites to find a few simple facts about their planet. Each group would then create a poster or short digital presentation and share it with the class. I think the children would really enjoy working together and learning from each other. During the lesson, I would encourage them to ask questions and discuss what they discover rather than just giving them all the answers. To support online safety, I would only allow pupils to use websites that I have chosen in advance and remind them not to share any personal information online. I think this lesson would be fun, active and would help build the children’s confidence while developing their curiosity about space.
Hi I’m Edel teaching in Limerick. My favourite fact is one million Earths could fit inside the sun !
I think one activity I would use with my class is asking pupils to investigate why astronauts float in space. Instead of simply telling them the answer, I would encourage them to ask questions, make predictions and work together to find information from age-appropriate books, videos and trusted websites. They could discuss their ideas in small groups before creating a poster, drawing or short presentation to explain what they have discovered.
