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Module 1
The tools presented in this initial module are a fantastic resource for kids. The videos are brief and engaging, which is crucial for maintaining the attention of young learners. The quizzes linked to each video can be completed as group or pair work on their tablets during class. One good quiz involves interviewing a family member at home about their seafood consumption. This activity can also be enjoyable and intriguing while introducing individuals outside of school to the subject. Understanding Aquaculture and Social License is essential. We don’t consume enough seafood here. Maybe we should bring back “Fish on Fridays” in our grad parents days. By exploring Aquaculture, children will gain greater awareness of the resources available in Ireland, and by encouraging discussions about seafood at home this might influence their families as well. The ARC appears to be a remarkable resource for students. Definitely one to consider for the future.
Rockets
The children will learn how to rockets work and use different materials to create and launch. They will begin by discussing what rockets are and have they ever seen one. Then they will view the video below.
Activities will be based on the following:
The squeezy Bottle Rocket:
the children will work in groups and create their rockets. They will learn how the air in the bottle creates a force when squeezed and the rocket is launched. With older classes you can experiment with the angle of how the bottle is held affects the launch of the rocket
The Cardboard Rocket
The children will create rocket using different types of cardboard tubes light and heavy, experimenting how to make the rocket go faster along a string.
Water Rocket
With older children this outside experiment will show how the strength of the water coming from the hose will affect how hight the rocket will fly. Great one to use but be prepared for many soaked bodies.
All children will work at these station in turn where the will use assigned materials and using team work and skills already learned they will design, create and launch their rockets.
Each group will record their results and have a class discussion afterwards on what worked well and what could be improved.
Amazing amount of activities here. I will definitely use from this list particularly the space passport
Rockets
The children will learn how to rockets work and use different materials to create and launch. They will begin by discussing what rockets are and have they ever seen one. Then they will view the video below.
Activities will be based on the following:
The squeezy Bottle Rocket:
the children will work in groups and create their rockets. They will learn how the air in the bottle creates a force when squeezed and the rocket is launched. With older classes you can experiment with the angle of how the bottle is held affects the launch of the rocket
The Paper Rocket
The children will create rocket using different types of cardboard tubes light and heavy, experimenting how to make the rocket go faster along a string.
Water Rocket
With older children this outside experiment will show how the strength of the water coming from the hose will affect how hight the rocket will fly. Great one to use but be prepared for many soaked bodies.
All children will work at these station in turn where the will use assigned materials and using team work and skills already learned they will design, create and launch their rockets.
Each group will record their results and have a class discussion afterwards on what worked well and what could be improved.
Great idea of dressing the teddies with clothes suitable for the season they have been given. this is one I will be using next term
Online resources and tools
I would introduce the children to the night sky, focusing on stars, constellations, and planets using the Stellarium online tool. Starting first with a simple question: “Who has looked up at the night sky and seen stars?”,then show large images or a short video of the night sky to capture their attention. Explain that the night sky is full of stars and other interesting things we can see. Follow with the picture book about stars and constellations, such as “How to Catch a Star” by Oliver Jeffers. Have a short discussion on the story briefly, focusing on what stars are and how they form patterns called constellations
Continue with the explanation of what the Stellarium tool can do: helps us look at the night sky on the computer. Then we would set our location and click on some bright stars and constellations, looking at their names and shapes, like the Big Dipper or Orion.We would then finish with an activity Create Your Own Constellation, where the children design their own with black paper and stars.
I love the idea of making a martian. Children are always curious about life on other planets and these can be great creative ideas for drama and writing
Activity :Space and Aliens
There are some elements of the Space and Aliens set that I would use with a combination of other ideas
I would Introduce the children to the concept of life in space, focusing on astronauts, space habitats, and what living in space is like through engaging and age-appropriate activities. Starting with a simple question: “Who knows what an astronaut is?” and Can you name an astronaut? These will somehow always involve Buzz Lightyear.
We would then look at images or a short video of astronauts working in space to capture their attention and explain that astronauts are people who travel and live in space to learn more about it. The children would be introduced to Chris Hadfield videos like the one below
This would give them an insight into life in space. The children would engage in activities based on videos from Chris Hadfield eg create your own astronaut using pictures of items needed in space.
The Planets activity
I would start with a story on Aliens and see if the children could name a few planets. I would then introduce : ‘The Plants Song’. There are many cross curricular links for this theme, art, oral language, drama etc,
The children would engage in planet quiz using picture cards to guess which planet comes next throughout the song. They would learn about the planet through online apps and select pictures from a picture bank to collect information on their planet. Each group would have a planet (cutout or card) and arrange the planets in the correct order from the sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) after the duration of the lessons, only when familiar with the song.
There is a nice book called “There’s No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System” which could be read and discussed. The children could select a planet in groups and with the help of teacher and other available staff construct their planet using paper mache, over time. This would give them a sense of how the planet really looks.
love the idea parachutes. We had creative schools in this year and they make parachutes with the school. This could be included in space theme in jnr infants yearly
I’m Finuala and my favourite was space fact was the mission to Mars, was truly devastated when they kept pushing it out originally from 2022 to 2025 now. We had so much work done when I was teaching in 5th Class. Wonder what planet those kids think I’m on now!!
How would you use this in your jnr infant classroom?
Begin with a question: “Who has heard of the planet Mars? Show images of Mars and a short video clip to capture their attention. Explain that Mars is sometimes called the “Red Planet” because it looks red.
Read a picture book about Mars or space, such as “There’s No Place like Space: Solar System” by Tish Rabe. Discuss the story, focusing on what makes Mars special and interesting. The class could make a rocket to travel to mars. Each child would cut out a circle to represent mars and then decorate it with pre-cut out images of rockets, dust storm, volcanoes, and valleys
The class would take part in Imaginary Space Travel using the story of “Roaring Rockets” by Tony Mitton.
After the story, ask them to close their eyes and imagine they are astronauts on a mission to Mars.
Guide them through a simple visualization: Describe the countdown, the rocket launching, the journey through space, and landing on Mars.
The children would share what they imagined and what they think they would see and do on Mars.
We in our school have seen a huge difference with the school garden. Less growth and slower flowering plants compared to last June. Our vegetable crops were pretty poor this year and the children were disappointed with the result. There has been way less sunshine and more frequent rain. It did have an effect on morale this year as so much work was put into tending and caring for the school garden. I come from the SE of Ireland originally and friends have told me that they too have seen a huge difference this year.
Three Actions to Make the World a Better Place and Slow Down Climate Change
1. Reduce Energy Consumption by adopting energy-efficient practices and utilise renewable energy sources in daily life. At home and in school promote energy efficiency measures by implementing the use of LED light bulbs, unplugging devices when not in use, and reduce heating when not needed by turning heaters off. Promote Sustainable Transportation.
2. We could promote sustainable transportation through initiatives such as carpooling, walking or cycling if possible.
3. Schools could support sustainable consumption and waste reduction by making conscious choices about the products we use and how we dispose of waste. The three R s initiatives: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
In the classroom I would integrate sustainability practices, foster environmental awareness, and encourage proactive behaviour among students by:
· Project-Based learning where children can design and build models of sustainable houses or develop campaigns to reduce the school’s carbon footprint.
· Classroom Practices by energy conservation assigning children as energy monitors to check that the list agreed with all classes is being followed
· Waste Reduction: ensuring all classes are recycling and composting according to the school plan
The school plan would have input from the green committee and contribute to it by creating a climate pledge, green team, researching plants that are better for our weather and climate , green flag entry to mention a few. By creating a classroom that prioritises change, both staff and children can take meaningful steps to support a sustainable future for all.
We have an organisation Doras in our area who work with refugees and their families.
Our school would get advice and guidance from the Doras to support and welcome children into the school, creating an environment of safety, inclusion and having empathy .
This could be done by ensuring the whole school is informed through SPHE of the background, challenges and circumstances the refugees have endured. Schools could hold workshops, guest speakers through Doras.
Within the school each class could create an environment that would celebrate the culture arriving with welcome signs in their language and items from their culture to welcome them. The children would form friendship groups or a buddy system to help with the regular daily activities, Eal classes and learning support. The aim would be to form as much of an inclusive and welcoming environment as possible to ensure each child arriving could participate to the best of their ability. By taking these actions and applying them to the school plan, this would create an inclusive school and community environment
So much is contributed by all our schools. We just open our doors and welcome immediately. The fact that our pupils are so well informed about homelessness, refugees, equality etc is huge reflection on the community and schools. All we need now are extra classrooms and more EAL hours
