[Edel Moran]

Plan for space week

Monday – planets
SESE- learn about the different Planets in our solar system
Oral language – discussion on space words
Maths – 3d shapes , comparing sizes and ordering 1st to 8th
Music – Listen to the planet song

Tuesday – Stars
Art – make The Plough and discuss
Draw your own constellation
Oral language – discuss

Wednesday – astronauts and rockets
English – Learn about famous astronauts
Science – Make a mouse rocket
PE- couch , countdown, jump and move around and area

Thursday – sun/light and shadows
Literacy – read and discuss Bears Shadow book
Science – trace shadows in pairs and observe differences in shadows in the morning and afternoon

Friday – aliens
Literacy Read aliens don’t wear underpants , describe and draw and alien , discuss vocabulary
Science – make alien slime
Drama – special life
Maths – counting alien eyes, legs etc

[Edel Moran]

Using a book is a fantastic way of introducing a new topic! Thanks for the book recommendation !

[Edel Moran]

Where do you live?
Having read through the lesson plan I was very impressed with its content. Normally when we are looking at theme of houses and homes , I focus a lot on their own home and what type of home they live in – semi-detached , terrace, detached etc . I really liked the development of this lesson by getting the children to design , plan and create a home themselves. By using the worksheet , I believe this would keep the children on task and focused , as often children plan one thing and create something completely different . I also think the use of playdoh, plasticine etc is a great way of incorporating many curricular areas, art/construction, STEM , oral language , maths /3 shapes .
I really liked the idea of putting the buidings together and making a village . This could lead to geography- what do we need to make a village, types of shops/services roads , road signs etc

[Edel Moran]

Hi Laura , you’re ideas here are fantastic. I really liked your idea of getting the children to become architects and design and discuss their creations.

[Edel Moran]

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Initially when I saw the module assignment and started the module I decided I would use the lesson on The Big Dipper but after completing the module I can’t decide between it and the Special Life lesson , so I will reflect on both!</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>Looking at The Plough lesson would integrate with so many other subjects across the curriculum. As I will be teaching Junior classes , I feel the there are parts of the making of the constellation that may be too difficult for younger classes , like the measuring and the star names etc. But they would definitely get great enjoyment from making the constellation and displaying them on the ceiling . Often it can be difficult to teach the stars and space when you can’t actually go out with the class to see it and of course the weather /time of year can hinder the children going out to see them at home at night . This is a fantastic way of bring the night sky into the classroom . </span>

 

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>I feel that the lesson “Special Life” would also lead to lots of integration . When the idea of what they would show to an alien would come up , it would be what the children are interested in themselves , so it could be incorporated into a lesson on My favorite …./ my interests etc . The children would get great enjoyment in acting out/miming the particular animal / hobby that they would show the visiting alien . SO could be integrated with drama / oral language also .</span>

<span style=”font-weight: 400;”> These are two fantastic lesson ,I intend to use next year . </span>

[Edel Moran]

Adding a that particular song would be a fantastic addition to an already excellent science and art lesson . Thanks everyone !

[Edel Moran]

I found this module, very interesting and have enjoyed going through the many lessons and resources mentioned .

Shadows in the school yard
This is a great lesson to teach children about shadows , how they are formed and how they change over time . Firstly I would discuss shadows and how they are formed and discuss what sources of light we could use. This is a great sunny day activity . I would get the children outside and in pairs draw each others shadow, in the morning and then repeat the task in the afternoon .Having completed the task , I would ask the children , what have they noticed ? has the shadow moved ? is it shorter /longer? in the morning and afternoon ? why
Children could record their finding on a worksheet or copy .
I also think it was an important point to make and highlight to the children that shadows are complete shapes and don’t have facial features, clothes etc

[Edel Moran]

Hi Valerie , thanks for sharing this link for the shadow books. Much appreciated .

[Edel Moran]

Hi Margaret , I really like your lesson on finger prints . Its something I’ve never done with a class before and I will hope to incorporate it into my classroom next year . Thank you

[Edel Moran]

Hi Everyone , My name is Edel and I will be teaching Senior Infants and 1st class next year . My space face is , we have a telescope at home and when the weather permits , we as a family love to look at the night sky . We saw the space station during the week ! my children like to pick out the planets , starts( north star) constellations ( orions belt) and the northern lights .

Design a waterproof coat for teddy

Engage
Using a teddy as a prompt , tell the children that teddy wants to go outside to play but it’s raining , what could we use to make a coat for teddy ?

Investigate
Record materials suggested by the children , allow the children to discuss the ideas , I think ____ would work because ____, I don’t think _____ will work because ______.
Using some of the suggestions mentioned , cover the teddy in said material and spray him with some water . Discuss if teddy is wet or dry after and if the material is suitable . Children could record the results on worksheets or it could be recorded on the boards as a whole class activity .
Teacher can ask the children what they noticed when the water was put on the chosen material – did the water run off it ? did it soak in ?

Take the next step
Using the children’s recordings , they can establish what materials worked best / worst , were they surprised by any of the results ?yes/no why ?
As an add on the children could discuss would the results be different depending on the season . How could they keep teddy warm and dry or cool and dry .

[Author]

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