Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
I loved the idea of asking the children what makes a house a home, whilst also introducing them to lots of houses around the world. A display would be a great activity and show the children that we might live in lots of different looking houses but a home provides security and a feeling of belonging.
This activity is great I like the fact that you have used Aliens Love Underpants as your hook because the story is entertaining and children will quickly become engaged with it. The activities that follow have imagination, hands-on opportunities and oral language practice and will link in with the space theme.
For this module I have chosen the Activity Set: Space and Aliens because I believe it will be an exciting and beneficial activity for my Senior Infants class. Young children are often interested in the universe beyond Earth and find it exciting to imagine life in other planets. I will begin the module by introducing the topic of space and asking the children what they think an alien looks like.
This would stimulate discussion and the children’s own questioning abilities.
We would then share a space story, which may inspire our exploration of outer space. In small groups, the children would design and create their own alien using art materials. As part of the process, they would reflect on the alien’s environment and the characteristics the creature needs to survive there. This will enable children to learn about the adaptation and diversity of life on Earth. The children could express what they learn about aliens and space by writing a brief description and drawing a picture of their alien.
This project based activity would encourage them to observe, inquire, be imaginative, and communicate their ideas as they learn more about space.
I decided to focus on the module Hands-on Classroom Themed Activities as I believe Senior Infants engage with the topic best when they actively engage with it. The module of Space is a fantastic theme for a topic as it automatically stimulates children’s curiosity and interest.
A lesson I would have in my own classroom to deliver this module is a hands-on activity for the children to design and create their own rockets. The children would have to work in small groups and design their rockets using materials that I have at my disposal such as paper, card, recycled materials etc. Prior to them launching their rockets I would encourage them to discuss and decide on what design they think would fly the furthest. The children will have an opportunity to launch their own rockets and the results will be discussed as a whole class comparing them to their prediction and it will prompt them to ask questions and share thoughts on why the rockets flew the distance they did, which will aid their curiosity.
I think this would be a fun and interactive activity for Senior Infants whilst teaching them about important life skills such as working together, sharing and communicating, and developing their scientific thoughts.
I really like this activity. It has simple, open-ended questions that really encourage children to think and share their own ideas about shadows. I also like the hands-on approach, especially moving from outdoor exploration to using a torch indoors, as it helps the children clearly see how shadows are formed. It’s very engaging and well suited to Junior Infants, and it supports curiosity, observation and early scientific understanding in a fun and meaningful way.
For my classroom practice, I chose the Activity Set: The Moon and would adapt it for a Senior Infants class. I would use this activity to introduce children to the idea that the Moon changes shape in the sky.
I would begin with a whole-class discussion where the children share what they already know about the Moon and what they have noticed at night. I would use simple images and questions to support their thinking and encourage curiosity.
The children would then take part in a simple observation activity, where they would look at pictures of the Moon over several days. They would be encouraged to describe what they see using age-appropriate language such as “big,” “small,” “round,” or “curved.” They would also draw their own versions of the Moon in sequence.
As an extension, we would create a class Moon display or a simple visual timeline of the Moon’s changes. This activity supports inquiry-based learning by encouraging children to observe, talk about their ideas, make simple predictions and communicate their understanding in a hands-on and engaging way.
I really enjoyed reading your post. The fact about astronauts’ faces appearing puffy is a fascinating way to introduce gravity to young children.
I like how you linked the investigation with Mathematics through weighing and comparing objects. It sounds like a fun and engaging inquiry-based activity that would encourage lots of prediction and discussion.
I would use an inquiry-based rocket activity with my junior class. To introduce the lesson, I would show the children a simple paper rocket and encourage them to ask questions about how rockets travel. Together, we would discuss possible answers and make predictions about which rocket might travel the furthest.
The children would work in small groups to test rockets made from different materials, such as paper and card. Before launching the rockets, they would record their predictions. They would then carry out the investigation, observing carefully and comparing the distances travelled by each rocket.
After the activity, the children would discuss their findings and compare the results with their original predictions. This would help them understand that scientists learn through questioning, investigating and testing ideas.
This activity would develop important science skills, including observing, predicting, investigating and communicating. It would also encourage teamwork, problem-solving and discussion while making learning about space engaging, practical and fun.
Hi. My name is Fionnuala and I teach SET. I have a child who has a particular interest in Space and look forward to using ideas and resources with hime next year.
Taking ownership of their work and retelling at home would give great confidence and a curiosity to learn and question more.
Shooting a rocket into the air activity
I would develop a lessons that incorporates hands-on, inquiry-driven activities related to space exploration, emphasising engaging and exciting STEM projects.
Day 1: Welcome to Space Week!
Theme: What is space?
Activities:
* Read-aloud: “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton or “There’s No Place Like Space” (Dr. Seuss).
* Class discussion: “What do we know about space?”
* Introduce new vocabulary: rocket, astronaut, moon, star, planet.
* Make space helmets using paper bowls or construction paper.Day 2: Let’s Learn About Rockets
Theme: What do rockets do?
Activities:
* Watch a short animated video of a rocket launching (e.g., NASA Kids or StoryBots).
* Act it out: pretend to be rockets — crouch down, count down, and JUMP up!
* Sing: “Zoom Zoom Zoom, We’re Going to the Moon!”
* Create simple paper tube rockets with recycled materials and decorate them.Day 3: Rocket Building Day!
Activity:
* Build a simple straw rocket:
* Use paper triangles and rectangles to make a rocket that slides onto a straw.
* Children blow into the straw and count the distance in stepsDay 4: Rocket Launch & Space Stations
Rocket Launch Party!
* Go outside to launch your straw or balloon rockets
* Mark how far they go using cones or chalk.
Space Learning Centers (rotate in small groups):
1. Art: Paint the night sky with stars and planets.
2. Sensory: Space sand or moon dough with tiny astronauts.
3. Building: Use blocks to build rocket launch pads.
4. Books: Space-themed story corner.Day 5: Celebrate Space!
Activities:
* Share what we learned: Each group shows their rockets.
* Make a class book: “If I Went to Space…” (drawings + dictated sentences).
* Watch a short video message from a real astronaut (NASA has kid-friendly options).
* Host a Space Parade: Wear space hats and walk around the school or classroom.In my Infant classroom, I enjoy incorporating hands-on activities because they facilitate learning through active participation. Last year, we focused on the theme of Weather and constructed a small weather station. Each day, one student took on the role of the “weather reporter.” They observed the outside conditions, shared their observations with the class, such as sunny, cloudy, or rainy, and selected the corresponding weather image. Additionally, we created a basic rain gauge using a plastic bottle. The children assisted in checking it daily, and we counted the amount of rainfall using cubes. They created a weather poster to display in the halla and shared using instagram.
To support the STEM-oriented SSE (School Self-Evaluation), I would record students’ observations, inquiries, and forecasts, as well as incorporate basic charts to monitor their thoughts. This would enhance scientific exploration, fostering abilities in questioning, contrasting, and clarifying — key cornerstones for a STEM-infused atmosphere.
This is a lovely idea. Kids need visuals to help draw and in fairness we are not all blessed with this talent. The maths element is a great one too.
Stars activity
For this activity the focus should be on engaging activities that tap into young children’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder, while keeping things simple, hands-on, and playful. They have an awareness of stars in space through rhymes and songs like I’m a star (storybots), twinkle twinkle and the star in Christmas nativity plays.
Almost sure there’s a Mariah Carey song called The Star.
I would Introduce the idea of stars in the sky, and engage children in sensory exploration through art egStar constellation
The children would use black paper and small sponges or brushes, white or glow-in-the-dark paint to create their own stars. They could also use their fingers to make star shapes or create constellations. This would Introduce the idea of stars in the sky and once grouped together, how vast it is.Create your own twinkle star.
The children would create their own star using plastic containers,stars, water and glitter. This gives the idea of how a star twinkles. A nice one to take home.Relaxation/Well Being
Use a projector or a light-up starry sky projector to create a calm atmosphere. With the children lying down on a PE mats, dim the lights, and play calming space music as you “watch” the stars twinkle. Encourage the children to relax and pretend they’re floating through space. This would promote mindfulness and relaxation while introducing children to the beauty of the night sky.it might encourage them to look up at sky some night .
