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Thank you for sharing these books that would fit perfectly into science week! Story books are a fantastic way to anchor the lesson
Hi everyone,
I would use the foam rocket activity as part of a Space Week theme with my class. To introduce the lesson, I would read The Way Back Home and use the story to encourage discussion about space travel, rockets and how astronauts reach space. I would ask the children to share their own ideas about what helps a rocket move and record their predictions before beginning the investigation.
The children would then design and build their own foam rockets using simple classroom materials. Before launching them, we would agree on our investigation question: “How does the amount of force used to launch a rocket affect the distance it travels?” Working in small groups, the children would predict what they think will happen and explain the reasons for their answers.
The children would test their rockets several times, measuring and comparing the distances travelled. We would discuss the importance of carrying out a fair test by keeping the rocket the same while only changing the force used to launch it. Afterwards, we would reflect on our findings and consider whether our predictions were correct.
To extend the activity, we would compare our rockets with other flying objects such as paper aeroplanes and gliders, discussing how different designs affect movement through the air. This investigation encourages children to observe, predict, measure and communicate their ideas while developing teamwork and problem-solving skills. I think it would be an enjoyable, hands-on activity that would engage children during Space Week while helping them develop important scientific inquiry skills.
This is a really well planned lesson Emma, thank you for sharing. Using a Teddy as the main character creates such immediate interest from the children!
Hi everyone,
I chose the topic of online resources and tools because I have found that digital technology can make science more engaging and accessible for young children. In my Junior Infants classroom in a DEIS 1 school, I would use simple, age-appropriate online resources to introduce and reinforce STEM concepts alongside practical, hands-on activities.
For a space theme, I would begin by reading a picture book before showing a short child-friendly video or animation about the planets or the Moon. We would then discuss what the children noticed and compare it with what they already knew. This would be followed by a practical activity, such as creating Moon craters using flour and cocoa powder or building rockets from recyclable materials. Using digital resources first helps to spark curiosity and gives children a visual understanding before they begin exploring through play.
I would also use interactive whiteboard activities, simple quizzes and digital photographs to record children’s learning. Taking photos of investigations and displaying them in the classroom encourages children to revisit their learning and talk about the scientific skills they used, such as observing, predicting and describing.
As a teacher in a DEIS 1 school, I find that combining digital resources with practical experiences helps to engage all learners and supports children with different learning styles and language abilities. It also encourages collaboration, communication and curiosity, which are central to inquiry-based learning.
This module has reminded me that technology should enhance learning rather than replace hands-on exploration. By carefully selecting high-quality digital resources and combining them with meaningful investigations, I can create enjoyable STEM experiences that encourage children to ask questions, explore ideas and develop a positive attitude towards science from an early age.
Its always so benifical to the children when you can integrate what they have learned into other areas. Linking the stars to an art activity whereby they are making lanterns is a fantastic idea Ciara. I must keep that in mind for the future
I chose the Activity Set: Space and Aliens because it provides an excellent opportunity to encourage creativity while developing children’s inquiry skills. Young children are naturally fascinated by the idea of life in space, making it a very engaging topic for Junior Infants.
I would begin the lesson by reading a space-themed story and asking the children open-ended questions such as, “What do you think an alien might look like?” and “What kind of planet might it live on?” This would encourage the children to think creatively while understanding that we are imagining rather than describing real scientific discoveries. We would discuss the different features aliens might have and why they might need them to survive on their imaginary planets.
The children would then design and make their own alien using art materials such as coloured paper, fabric scraps, pipe cleaners and googly eyes. Once finished, they would introduce their alien to the class, describing where it lives, what it eats and how it moves. This provides valuable opportunities to develop oral language, vocabulary and confidence when speaking in front of others.
As a teacher in a DEIS 1 school, I find that activities involving art, storytelling and discussion allow all children to participate successfully, regardless of their literacy levels. The activity can easily be differentiated, with children expressing their ideas through drawing, model making or simple sentences. I would also incorporate digital technology by taking photographs of the children’s creations and recording short audio clips of them explaining their alien. These could be shared with parents through our school’s digital platform or displayed as part of a classroom presentation.
This activity encourages imagination while developing communication, creativity and inquiry skills. It also helps children understand the difference between scientific facts and imaginative ideas, making it an enjoyable and meaningful way to explore the topic of space.I chose the Activity Set: Space and Aliens because it provides an excellent opportunity to encourage creativity while developing children’s inquiry skills. Young children are naturally fascinated by the idea of life in space, making it a very engaging topic for Junior Infants.
I would begin the lesson by reading a space-themed story and asking the children open-ended questions such as, “What do you think an alien might look like?” and “What kind of planet might it live on?” This would encourage the children to think creatively while understanding that we are imagining rather than describing real scientific discoveries. We would discuss the different features aliens might have and why they might need them to survive on their imaginary planets.
The children would then design and make their own alien using art materials such as coloured paper, fabric scraps, pipe cleaners and googly eyes. Once finished, they would introduce their alien to the class, describing where it lives, what it eats and how it moves. This provides valuable opportunities to develop oral language, vocabulary and confidence when speaking in front of others.
As a teacher in a DEIS 1 school, I find that activities involving art, storytelling and discussion allow all children to participate successfully, regardless of their literacy levels. The activity can easily be differentiated, with children expressing their ideas through drawing, model making or simple sentences. I would also incorporate digital technology by taking photographs of the children’s creations and recording short audio clips of them explaining their alien. These could be shared with parents through our school’s digital platform or displayed as part of a classroom presentation.
This activity encourages imagination while developing communication, creativity and inquiry skills. It also helps children understand the difference between scientific facts and imaginative ideas, making it an enjoyable and meaningful way to explore the topic of space.Hi everyone,
I chose the Activity Set: The Sun and Shadows because it is a very practical and engaging way to introduce young children to scientific inquiry. In my Junior Infants classroom, I would begin by asking the children what they already know about shadows and encourage them to make predictions about when shadows are long, short or disappear. This would allow them to share their ideas and develop their curiosity before starting the investigation.
We would explore outdoors on a sunny day, observing our own shadows and those of playground equipment. The children would work in pairs to trace each other’s shadows with chalk at different times during the day. We would return later to compare the outlines and discuss what had changed. I would encourage the children to ask questions, describe what they noticed and suggest reasons for the changes.
As a teacher in a DEIS 1 school, I find that active, hands-on learning gives every child the opportunity to participate, regardless of their literacy or language abilities. This activity also supports oral language development as children explain their observations using their own words. We could extend the learning by reading a story about day and night, drawing pictures of our investigation and creating a simple class display showing how our shadows changed throughout the day.
This inquiry-based activity develops observation, prediction and communication skills while making science enjoyable and meaningful. It encourages children to explore the world around them, ask questions and discover answers through first-hand experiences, which is an approach I aim to use regularly in my classroom.
Hi Sinead,
Thank you for sharing some great ideas. I have taught a few lessosn before but never using a torch. Such a fantaic tool to captivate them!
Hi everyone,
My name is Eleanor and I teach Junior Infants in a DEIS 1 primary school in Cork. I am looking forward to learning new ways to make space engaging and accessible for young children. My favourite space fact is that the footprints left by the astronauts on the Moon could stay there for millions of years because there is no wind or rain to wash them away. I think this is a fascinating fact that always captures children’s imaginations.
One inquiry-based activity I would use in my classroom is a “What makes shadows change?” investigation. After reading a space-themed story, I would ask the children what they notice about shadows and encourage them to share their own ideas and predictions. Using torches, toy astronauts and different objects, the children would work in small groups to explore how moving the light source changes the size, shape and position of shadows. They would be encouraged to talk about what they observe, compare their findings with their classmates and explain their thinking using simple language.
This activity supports the Junior Infants curriculum by promoting curiosity, observation and communication. It also develops oral language, cooperation and problem-solving skills through play. In a DEIS 1 setting, I find that practical, hands-on activities allow all children to participate successfully regardless of their language or literacy level. The activity can be extended through drawing, role play or creating simple picture records of their discoveries, giving every child an opportunity to share their learning in a way that suits their needs.
This sounds like such a creative and engaging way to introduce scientific thinking to young learners! I love how you incorporate art and play right from the start by having students decorate their milk carton launchers—what a wonderful way to build ownership and excitement. The hands-on nature of this activity is perfect for helping children grasp abstract concepts like air pressure and gravity in a concrete, memorable way.
I especially appreciate how you include prediction and discussion as part of the process. Encouraging students to hypothesize and then reflect on their observations really helps deepen their understanding and develops those early critical thinking skills. The idea to vary the container sizes is a great extension that adds a layer of experimentation without making it too complex for young minds.
This would be a fantastic STEAM activity to spark curiosity and open the door for more exploration. Thanks for sharing—I’d love to try this in my own classroom!
For Space Week, I chose to implement the “Build and Launch a Paper Rocket” activity in my junior classroom (1st/2nd class). This activity was hands-on, engaging, and aligned perfectly with the children’s natural curiosity about space and how things move. We began with a simple discussion about rockets—what they are, what they do, and why they are important in space exploration. We then watched a short video showing real rocket launches, which sparked a lot of excitement and questions.
Next, the children each built their own paper rocket using straws, paper fins, and tape. We tested the rockets using puff power (blowing through a straw) and later added a launcher using a balloon or a rubber band. This introduced basic STEM concepts like force, motion, air pressure, and design. The activity was accessible yet rich in learning opportunities.
Incorporating this activity not only encouraged teamwork and creativity but also helped build basic scientific vocabulary like “thrust,” “launch,” and “gravity.” We extended the lesson by drawing diagrams of our rockets and writing short captions describing how they worked, tying it into literacy as well.
Overall, this experience was a huge success. The children were active participants in their learning and were genuinely curious to know more about space. I plan to use this activity annually during Space Week, possibly developing it further into a simple experiment comparing rocket designs or distances launched. I also captured photos and short videos of the launches to share with parents and to reflect on as part of our class STEM journal.
I have found teaching about the moon phases an activity that seems to capture the childrens interest really well. One activity I did recently when teaching about the moon phases was by using Oreos!! In small groups, children took apart the Oreos, and scrope out the inner layer of a few biscuits in such a way that each biscuit now looked like a phase of the moon! They then presented these in order on a paper plate! This activity was a hot in our classroom, and a bonus that they got to eat the biscuits later.
I plan to incorporate hands-on classroom themed activities to foster engagement, critical thinking and colloboration among my pupils. For example, setting up a STEM themed investigation area where children explore simple circuits, magnets, or water flow encourages them to make predictions, test ideas, and problem solve practically. These activities support scientific inquiry while developing fine motor skills and confidence. I would also link hands on investigations to our schools self-evaluation processes by collecting pupil voice through simple surveys or reflection journals, asking children what they enjoyed and what they learned. Their feedback would help me evaluate and improve our STEM provision, aligning it with School Self Evaluation (SSE) priorities around active and engaged learning. Further steps might include collaborating with colleagues to develop a bank of STEM resources or organising a STEM showcase day for parents, promoting wider community involvement. Ultimately, hands-on activities make science meaningful and memorable, supporting deeper understanding and curiosity about the world
