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This is a great idea to incorporate other subjects and shows it is a great topic to be integrated across lots of other subjects.
In this lesson plan for second class, we will create a spacecraft using simple materials. Over two 45-minute sessions, students will learn basic spacecraft design while developing creativity, fine motor skills, and teamwork. We’ll start with a brief introduction to spacecraft, showing pictures and videos, and discussing their purpose. Students will then brainstorm and draw their spacecraft designs in small groups, choosing materials like cardboard, aluminum foil, and plastic bottles. They will begin building on the first day, focusing on structure, and continue adding details and decorations on the second day. Each group will present their completed spacecraft, explaining its features and design choices. The lesson will conclude with a class discussion about what they learned. Classroom discussion will then take place – which spacecraft would travel the furthest/fastest etc.. Why? This hands-on activity aims to make learning fun and develop an interest in space exploration.
The stellarium website is great idea, and the children would really enjoy the stargazing activity in the classroom!
Incorporating hands-on classroom themed activities is an effective way to engage younger students and enhance their understanding of basic STEM concepts. One activity is the “Plant a Seed” exercise. This activity involves students planting seeds, nurturing them, and observing their growth. Through this project, students learn about plant life cycles, the importance of sunlight and water, and basic plant care.
To connect this lesson to the weather, we would discuss how weather affects plant growth. Key concepts would include how sunlight provides energy for plants to grow, how rain provides water, and how temperature and wind influence plant growth.
In the classroom, we would start with a story about plants and their growth – ‘The Tiny Seed’, then discuss what plants need to grow, emphasizing weather elements like sunlight and rain. Students would plant cress seeds, water them, and place them in a sunny spot. They would observe and record changes, using drawings and simple words. We would also track daily weather and discuss its impact on plant growth.
To integrate a STEM-focused SSE, I would use a simple evaluation framework. This could involve students drawing predictions before planting and comparing them to actual results. We could also use a weather chart to record daily observations and discuss patterns. Gathering student feedback through class discussions would help gauge engagement and understanding.
Using digital tools like a class blog for students to post pictures and share observations can enhance the learning experience. This approach makes learning interactive and fun, while fostering observational and communication skills in a supportive environment.
Hi Criona, I love the idea of the peg boards, its a great way of bringing the idea of constellations and encouraging creativity!
I would look at the lesson around aliens and space, as I think there would be a great interest in the infant classroom.
I would start the lesson with a clip from Toy Story with their idea of aliens, we would discuss their colour, features, and whether we think they would be able to speak to us etc.
We would then complete a group activity where we would do similarities and differences between humans and aliens on the whiteboard.
The children will then begin the design side of the lesson, where they will first sketch their martian before using clay to create them.
They would then create their clay martians, and paint them when dry.
The last part of this activity, would be a show and tell activity, where the children show their creations to their classmates.
Hi Saoirse, that sounds like a great lesson, its very interactive with lots of games and songs, keeping the children engaged in the lesson!
Hi Yvonne, the beebots are a great idea to use in terms of learning about space and planets in the classroom, while keeping the lesson interactive and enjoyable!
Hi, I’m Laura, I have worked in Senior Infants for three years since I’ve come out of college! A fact I find interesting about space is that there is no sound in space!
In the context of junior classroom education, particularly with concepts such as “push” and “pull,” this method can be exceptionally powerful. These fundamental physics concepts form the basis for understanding force and motion, offering young learners a hands-on and intuitive grasp of the world around them. This reflection explores the implementation and impact of an inquiry-based lesson on push and pull in a junior classroom, while also bringing in the concepts of gravity etc in an informal way.
I would choose the activity set : The sun and Shadows, as there is a wide variety of different ways you can explore the sun and how it affects shadows etc.
One fun activity to explore the sun and its shadows in the classroom is to create a sundial. You can place a stick or a pencil in a container filled with sand or playdough and observe how the shadow changes throughout the day as the sun moves across the sky. This hands-on experiment can help students understand how the position of the sun affects the length and direction of shadows. Additionally, you can have students track the movement of the shadow by marking the position of the shadow at different times of the day. It’s a great way to learn about the sun’s apparent motion and how shadows are formed!
