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I love the paper mache activity at the end. I think the effort that goes into this lesson, will make a wonderful display and something the children will always remember.
Senior Infants / 1st Class
Introduction: ‘How to Catch a Star’ by Oliver Jeffers. Read the book and link it back to what we have already covered about stars and constellations.
Stimulus: I will have a star hanging from the ceiling in the centre of the classroom. Using the materials that I have on my desk, I would pose the wonder question ‘I wonder if we could reach a star’.
Designing and Making / Group Work: Children will make ‘Rocket Mice’. Once every group has successfully launched their mouse; each group will demo their launch in an attempt to touch the hanging star.
Guided discovery: I would have given each group a different sized bottle and pose the question to the children whose rocket launched the mouse the highest and why?
Talk and Discussion: How did the size of the bottles effect the height? Introduce and discuss fair testing.
Helllo, I’m just posting a screenshot of my response as I appeared to be ‘blocked’ when trying to post! Hope it’s clear enough!
Thanks for sharing some lovely ideas here! I love the idea of the class blog and is something I would like to look into.
Online tools and resources:
Astronomy picture of the Day: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
I would use the astronomy picture of the day as a stimulus to many discussions across the curriculum. Of course, we could talk about what we see in the picture- what do we recognise / what’s new? I would also use it in Art. We would discuss the colours and details. In English, I would use the visual as prompt for free writing. I will ‘bookmark’ the site on my whiteboard when I return in September so that it is easily accessible.Marvin and Milo: I would use this resource in the younger classes. I think it is engaging and age-appropriate; making the content accessible. Sometimes I find I underestimate the younger classes for fear of overloading them with information! I also love the ‘Do Try This At Home’ message! I think sending a topic link home instead of homework every so often would be very beneficial and enjoyable.
Esa kids: I will be looking at downloading the app onto our classroom devices in September. It is free to download and available in 14 languages, making it inclusive to our EAL students. I think it would aid itself as a good independent learning station.
I would start by bringing the children into the sensory room and turning on the ‘night sky’ projector. I would then spark the discussions about the stars and what we see.
I would start the lesson back in the classroom with a KWL chart. I would then start the lesson on constellations.
an introductory video: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D1sZ15SUeS9w&sa=U&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwjCv57znOGHAxUjVkEAHRiaO5UQwqsBegQIIhAF&usg=AOvVaw0NF0zDYr09BRxQr39ysqOd
mapping: Children will be given flash cards and using a key, in groups they will see if they can identify constellations.
conclusion: Children will plot a constellation on black paper using stickers. Then using ‘splatter art’ / blow pens they will fill in the night sky.
Niamh, you’ve some fabulous ideas here! I’ll definitely be adapting some of these ideas this year. Thank you for sharing.
Activity: The Sun and Shadows
Stimulus: Guided Exploration: I would begin by bringing the children out at different stages of the day to explore the shadows cast in the yard. We would mark these shadows with chalk and begin the conversation in the classroom of what causes shadows?
KWL: We would do a class KWL chart to ascertain the children’s prior knowledge of shadows.
Free Exploration: I will give the children the opportunity to create shadows. (Tescos have 2 mini LED torches at the moment for 1.50)
Guided Discovery: I will pose questions to challenge the students understanding of lights and shadows. How can we make the shadow bigger /smaller etc.
Introduction: Sun dials – introductory video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2vZN3WcnbQ
Main Body: Create our own school sun dial – video it in time lapse. Mapping the positioning of the sun in the sky.
Conclusion: Using a globe and torch, demonstrate the concept to the children in the classroom.
I really like the idea of the children observing the moon and sending in pictures! I also love the idea of starting with a nursery rhyme. I remember being fascinated with ‘ the man on the moon’ and the moon being made of cheese as a child and these ideas came from nursery rhymes at home.
