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What a brilliant and engaging inquiry-based lesson! I love how you’ve structured the experience around a familiar and exciting theme like rockets and used a multisensory approach from the very beginning. The “Zoom, Zoom, Zoom” song is such a great way to grab children’s attention and create a sense of immersion.
Your use of balloon rockets is a fantastic way to model propulsion in a hands-on, visual way. I also appreciate how you incorporated multiple variables (size, shape, angle) to encourage deeper thinking and prediction-making. It’s clear that children would be developing not only their scientific understanding, but also important skills such as observation, collaboration, and reasoning.
The final step—encouraging the children to reflect on their learning and redesign their own rockets—really highlights the inquiry process and allows for creativity. This is definitely a lesson I’d love to try or adapt for my class!
Inquiry-Based Learning Reflection – Space and Shadows
One inquiry-based activity I would use in my autism class involves exploring shadows and light as part of a broader “Space” theme. I would begin by presenting a simple question to spark curiosity: Why do we have shadows? Using a flashlight and familiar classroom objects, students would be encouraged to make predictions, test ideas, and observe what happens when light hits different materials.
To support engagement and communication, I would use visual schedules, PECS cards, and opportunities for choice. For example, each student could choose objects to test (e.g., toy astronauts, moon rocks, space rockets). We would document our findings with photos and simple symbols, and display them on a shared class poster.
Even non-verbal learners can take part meaningfully by pointing, matching, or using their AAC device.
Hi everyone!
My name is Eva and I’m a primary school teacher based in Dublin. I work in a special class for autistic students, and I’m currently doing a PhD in Education focused on Autism and Artificial Intelligence. I’m passionate about inclusive and sensory learning, and I love bringing STEM to life in fun, accessible ways.My favourite space fact:
The Moon is slowly moving away from Earth — about 3.8 cm every year!Looking forward to sharing ideas and learning together!
