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This is a lovely, practical activity for Senior Infants and I think the children would really enjoy testing the balloon rockets. I particularly like that they have opportunities to predict, observe and discuss what happens rather than simply being told how the rocket moves. Testing different amounts of air and changing the direction of the balloon would encourage plenty of curiosity and discussion.
The use of visual prompts for near, medium and far is very suitable for this age group and makes it easy for all children to record their findings. I also like how the activity links Science with Engineering and Maths in a natural way. Comparing the free-flying balloon with the balloon car would be a great follow-up and would encourage the children to think about how adding wheels affects its movement. Photographs or short video clips of the different tests could also be used to revisit the children’s predictions and findings afterwards.
**Space Week Class Plan**
I would use Space Week as an opportunity to bring together many of the ideas and activities explored throughout this course. With my Senior Infant class, I would plan a selection of short, practical activities across the week rather than treating Space as a stand-alone lesson.
I would begin by finding out what the children already know about Space and recording their questions on a Space display. We would read picture books, watch short age-appropriate videos and learn some simple facts about the Sun, Moon, stars and planets. The children could work together to order the planets and create a large collaborative Solar System display.
Practical activities would include making craters by dropping different-sized objects into a tray of flour and investigating how the size and height of the object affect the crater. The children could also design and build rockets using recyclable materials. They would test their designs, discuss any problems and make improvements. In Art, they could create their own planets, while Oral Language and Writing activities could focus on describing an imaginary journey into Space.
I would take photographs of the activities and record the children’s questions and comments to create a digital record of our learning. At the end of the week, we would revisit our original questions and discuss what we had discovered. I feel this approach would make Space Week enjoyable and meaningful while developing the children’s curiosity, creativity, teamwork and early scientific skills.
I really like your emphasis on embedding STEM across the curriculum rather than treating it as a separate subject. Working collaboratively as a staff would help to create a more consistent approach throughout the school and allow teachers to share ideas and resources. I also agree that the learning process is more important than the finished product. Giving children opportunities to make mistakes, change their ideas and try again helps to develop their confidence, resilience and problem-solving skills. Moving away from an overreliance on worksheets towards more practical investigations would make STEM learning more meaningful and enjoyable. Ongoing teacher observation and reflection would also provide useful evidence of how the children’s skills are developing as part of the SSE process.
**Hands-on Classroom-Themed Activities**
I would choose the hands-on classroom-themed activities, as I feel this approach would work particularly well with my Senior Infant class. At this age, children learn best when they are actively involved and have opportunities to explore, build and test their own ideas.
I would organise a simple boat-building challenge using materials such as tinfoil, paper, cardboard, lollipop sticks and recyclable containers. I would begin by asking the children what they think makes an object float or sink. They could examine the materials, share their ideas and predict which ones might be most suitable for making a boat.
Working in small groups, the children would design and build their boats before testing them in a basin of water. They could then add counters one at a time to see how many each boat could hold. If a boat sank, the children would be encouraged to make changes and test it again.
I would take photographs of the different stages and record some of the children’s comments and predictions. This activity would develop early Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths skills while also encouraging teamwork and oral language. It would allow me to observe how the children solve problems and respond when their first idea does not work. I would like to include more activities like this in my classroom, as they make STEM learning practical, enjoyable and meaningful for young children.
I really like your ideas for exploring stars with Junior Infants. The use of torches and a dark space would make the lesson very exciting for the children and allow them to learn through practical exploration. Making their own constellations is also a lovely idea, as it gives them an opportunity to be creative while learning about the night sky. I also like how you have linked the activity with Literacy, Maths and Art, as this would help to explore the topic in a variety of ways. Recording the children’s own comments alongside photographs and drawings would make a lovely classroom display and would show how their ideas developed during the activities.
Activity Set: Space and Aliens
I would use the Space and Aliens activity set with my Senior Infant class as I think it would really capture their imagination and encourage plenty of discussion. I would begin by asking the children what they already know about space and what they think an alien might look like. We would look at pictures of planets and talk about whether people, animals or plants could live on them.
The children could then design their own alien, thinking carefully about the planet it lives on. For example, an alien living on a very cold planet might need thick fur, while one living on a dark planet might need large eyes. They could create their aliens using playdough, recyclable materials or art supplies and explain the different features they have included. This would encourage the children to use their imaginations while also giving reasons for their choices.
We could extend the activity by working in groups to build a home or spaceship for the aliens using blocks and construction materials. Photographs of the finished creations could be displayed alongside the children’s descriptions.
I feel this activity would work very well in an infant classroom as it combines Science with Art, Oral Language and imaginative play. It would encourage children to ask questions, share ideas, solve problems and work together in an enjoyable and meaningful way.
I really like this lesson idea, especially the Moon observation activity at home. It gives the children a chance to see for themselves how the Moon changes rather than just looking at pictures in the classroom. Comparing their drawings afterwards would lead to a very interesting class discussion.
The mix of books, photographs, models and movement would also keep the children interested and support different learning needs. I particularly like the idea of using their bodies to represent the different Moon phases, as it would make the lesson active and memorable. The Moon discovery table is another lovely idea and would encourage the children to explore the topic independently.
You could also use the children’s drawings to create a class Moon diary or display showing the changes they noticed over the four weeks.
Activity Set: The Sun and Shadows
I would use this activity set with my Senior Infant class to help the children explore how shadows change throughout the day. I would begin with a class discussion about shadows, asking the children when and where they have noticed them. I would then bring the children outside on a sunny morning and invite them to find their own shadows. Working in pairs, one child would stand still while their partner traced around their shadow using chalk.
Before returning outside later in the day, the children would predict what might have happened to their shadows. We would repeat the tracing activity in the same location and compare the two outlines. The children would be encouraged to discuss any changes they noticed in the shadow’s length, direction or position. We could also measure the shadows using non-standard units, such as blocks or footsteps, and record our results.
Photographs could be taken during both observations and displayed on the interactive whiteboard to support our class discussion. The children could then draw what they observed and explain why they think the shadows changed.
This practical activity would encourage the children to make predictions, observe carefully, compare results and communicate their ideas. It would also integrate naturally with Maths, Oral Language and Art while making the children’s learning active and meaningful.
Hi Ciara, lovely to meet you! That is such an interesting fact—I had no idea sunsets on Mars were blue. Best of luck with your return to the junior classes in September!
Hi, my name is Juliette, and I am a primary school teacher in a town school. I currently teach Senior Infants and enjoy creating a welcoming, inclusive classroom where every child feels supported and encouraged to learn. My class includes pupils with a wide range of abilities, experiences and language backgrounds, which makes each day both busy and rewarding.