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The activity I would like to reflect on is the Rocket lesson. I would begin by showing the children various space rocket launch clips. we would discuss the countdown and think about the reason the countdown goes from 10 to 1.
I would ask the children to think about how a rocket is launched.
I would then provide materials so that the children could make a straw rocket by rolling paper around a pencil and making a tip at the top. I would ask the children to place the rocket onto a straw and them blow. We would discuss what could make the rocket go further etc.
We would use this rocket again for a more complex task introduced by the Marvin and Milo comic strip Balloon Rocket. The children would thread the rocket with a straw and tie it to a balloon . They would let the air out and see how far the rocket goes. Again we would discuss options for making the balloon go further and faster.
I love the simplicity of having the children launch their rockets by blowing through a straw. It sounds like great fun!
I found the variety of online resources and tools in this module extremely helpful. It is refreshing to have a selection of resources other than youtube clips which are inviting and educational. The Marvin and Milo resource was unfamiliar to me. I could see how the children would enjoy getting to know the characters and the comic strips are a great introduction to a lesson and simple and easy to understand. I love the simplicity of the online Do Try this at Home series. I think the toilet roll solar system from this series is an activity that would fit nicely into the Space theme and just like the Powers of Ten film it teaches the children about the scale of the planets in relation to the sun.
I think STEM can be incorporated into most topics. Having done an activity such as the toilet roll solar system, I would provide the children with a variety of materials and ask them to present the planets in their own way, taking into account the size of each planet and distance between them. I would provide construction materials from the classroom such as straws, blue tack, playdough, foam spheres, rulers, string, sellotape, and ask the children to work in teams to present their own solar system. This would incorporate maths (using a simple scale), technology ( use of ICT to find facts about size/ distance), engineering designing and constructing, science(learning facts about the planets).
STEM activities allow pupils to work to their strengths and to learn from each other. Children always enjoy the freedom to problem solve and develop a project in their own way rather than having a prescribed activity.
I think the children would love this video. It demonstrates to them how their existence relates to space. It can be quite tricky for them to grasp how vast the universe is and this visual is really helpful.
lesson space and aliens
I would being by reading the story Life on Mars by John Agee, a story about an astronaut landing on Mars searching for signs of life there. This story will open up a discussion about whether the children think there is life on Mars.
We would discuss what it might feel like to land on another planet. If a creature from another planet were to land on Earth, what would be the most interesting thing they would see here.
I would then ask the children to imagine they have landed on Mars only to find a martian or alien, what might it look like. I would ask the children to sketch their maritan. Then I would provide a variety of materials such as airdough, clay, card, construction cardboard materials, paint, from which the children could choose to make their martian.
As a follow up activity with a literacy link, I would ask the children to write a character profile for their martian including information about their name, appearance, personality, likes, dislikes.
To link with drama, the children could assume the role of the martian and role play eg martain landing on earth and interacting with humans, humans landing on Mars and interacting with aliens.
I think using the story Aliens Love Underpants is a great way of introducing this topic t the children. It is fun and enjoyable gets the imaginations working!
Lesson: the Planets First class
Introduction:
I would begin by showing the children a picture of the solar system. I would ask them to tell me what they know and if they can name any planets. I would ask them to share any interesting facts about the planets. I would then play the Planet song asking the children to listen carefully for any new facts. We would record interesting facts on the board.
I would integrate this with art, grouping the children in twos and threes. We would make the planets using papier mache. We would consider the shape and size of each planet and think about colours and textures needed to decorate. Each group would then research their planet further using fact cards provided or guided to the NASA website. This project will take a number of sessions.
I would finish the lesson each day with on of the hula hoop activities, planet dance, planet game or spin your own planet
For the second and third lesson I would play the song again and introduce a story or alternative song, each time introducing some new facts.
Hi Jane,
I agree, the sun and shadow is lesson is perfect for Junior classes. the introductory story and the playful aspect draws them in. I think they would respond really well to the movement and activity throughout the lesson.
Link to my mindmap
https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVIg-f3uQ=/?share_link_id=72309693551
One inquiry based topic for wound children would be magnets
Question: What can magnets stick to? , Can magnets go through things?
I would intially ask children what they already know about magnets and to predict which items in the classroom magnets might stick to and why.
Give children a selection of items to test and categorise. Predict and record first, then document results
Then give children items such as paper, wood, plastic to see if the magnet can attract items through each material.
Result : magnets are attracted to metals
Investigate are magnets attracted to ALL metals – record findings
What might be the reason for this?
Hi Laura,
The children always enjoy exploring the topic of floating and sinking. I really like the idea of using playdough to create different shapes. I will definitely try this with my class next year. I like the fact that they can make a shape and reevaluate or re-shape the material to have a better outcome.
