Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Activity- Rockets & aliens
To introduce the lesson I would read the story ‘Aliens in underpants save the day’. This would follow into talk and discussion about how would we get to space? In a rocket- show some pictures of different types of rockets.
Explain that we are going to make Mice rockets using different types of bottles. Children will cut out the paper mice. In groups children will predict what will happen and how it is done. Each group will have a different size bottle. Explain that when the bottle is squeezed it creates pressure and pushes the mouse up into the air. Predictions will be noted on the board as to which mouse will reach the highest point.
To conclude the lesson the children will design their own rocket to go into space.
Integration with other subjects:
Maths-measure height each mouse goes by placing a ruler/measuring tape beside the rocket
Literacy/ Drama- Children imagine they are aliens on earth, how do they look, what do they do/eat/ move
Art-draw a picture of their own alienFantastic ideas here Sinead. So many ways it can be integrated into Literacy, Numeracy and the Arts. Children would be really engaged in all of those lessons.
Hands on activities
Weather and where do you live- Infants
Introduce the lesson with a youtube video about different types of weather. Talk and discussion about the different types of weather and when we usually see them. Discuss the seasons and what we might wear in the different weather/seasons.
Show some pictures of different weather around the world and the different types of houses people live in- Dry climate-mud house, tepee, Polar climate-Igloo, continental climates-white wash etc. Discuss why they might live in these type of houses.
Visual Arts- using various materials such as cotton wool, sticks and paper, paint children will design a house for one of the above three different climates.
Follow on activitiy: Design an outfit for teddy in the winter and the summerIntroduce lesson with the nursery rhyme ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little star’ to stimulate some discussion about stars.
Talk and discussion about stars- where do you see them and when? What do they remind you of? What do you think they do?
Explain to them that a group of stars that form a pattern or a picture is called a ‘Constellation’. We will look at some examples of constellations on IWB and discuss the names given Orion the Great hunter, Leo the Lion and Taurus the bull.
Using some card, string, tinfoil and cellotape we will make a constellation to hang up in our room- (whole class activity)
Children will then design and name their own constellation.
To conclude the lesson the children will listen to and respond through movement to the song ‘Sky full of stars’ by Coldplay.Hi Sharon, I like your idea to introduce the topic with that story. All kids really enjoy it and it stimulates their imagination for the rest of your lessons that integrate into the different subjects!
Activity set- The Sun and the shadows
Shadows in the school yard
Concepts-
-Light travels in straight lines
-shadows are areas of darknessGo outside in a sunny day. Talk and discussion about where the light comes from? What will your shadow look like?
Get them to stand with their back straight in the direction of the sun so they see the shape of the shadow forming on the ground.
Get them to describe it.
Questions:
Is it black or dark?Why?
Is it the exact shape of a person?
When can you see your shadow best of all?
Activity: Trace the outline of their shadow with chalk.
Play guess the animal shadow game- snake, rabbit, butterfly, spider etcSuch a lovely lesson Claire. I could imagine all Junior Infants and older enjoying every aspect of it while learning through play.
Hi Chloe,
I really like your inquiry based activity. It’s hands on and lots of fun. The children would absolutely love the use of food colouring. It’s a very effective and fun way to show how the water is soaked up by the materials. This is open to lots of discussion before and after the lesson, predicting which would be the best/ worst material to use. What materials do we use at home/school for drying?
Inquiry based activity
How do animals keep themselves warm?
Brainstorm all the different types of weather-sunny, rain, cloudy, windy and snow.
Explain that some places get lots of rain and other are very dry. Some places are very hot and some places are very cold. At the North and South Pole it is very cold. Can they think of any movies set these regions? What animals live in these areas?
Trigger: Read the story The Snowman by Raymond BriggsQuestion: Ask the children how do animals keep themselves warm?
Then show them a picture of a Polar bear and a penguin. Ask them what animals they are and where they live/ hot or cold climate?
List all the ideas children give on how animals keep themselves warm.
Explain that Polar bears and penguins have a really thick layer of fat under their skin to keep themselves warm. They live in such a cold climate that they need more than the layer of fat under their skin.
Question: What do we do to keep ourselves warm when going outside? We put on an extra jumper or coat….
The Penguins and bears don’t have a coats but they have extra thick feathers and fur that act as a coat for them. Penguins and Bears also have a thick layer of grease on tip of their fur and feathers to protect them from the cold water.
Children will rub Vaseline on their hands and then put them in water.
What happens? They will see the water run off their hands. The layer of grease repels the water.
Conclusion: The polar bear and penguins have 3 ways of staying warm in cold climate- extra layer of fat, extra thick fur/feathers and a layer of grease. They adapt to the climate they are living in.
