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(Prior to this Experiment I would ensure we had learned about the Moon Landing and Apollo 11- this is in our current Science Plan.)
I would begin the lesson by showing the children the Youtube clip “Peppa Pig flies to Space” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf-9H_uKzXk This would be followed by a class discussion: How do rockets blast off into space? and ‘What pushes them up?’ We could also review previously learned info about the moon landing.
I would then explain that we will be launching our own mini rockets, called “Rocket Mice”. The children will be given some time to decorate their empty plastic milk bottle. The children will then cut out the mouse template, decorate it and tape it so it makes a cone shape. They will then place the paper mouse on top of the milk bottle and they will count down: 3, 2, 1… BLAST OFF! The children will then squeeze the bottle with two hands and the sudden burst of air will push the mouse into the air!
The children will be encouraged to squeeze the bottle harder or softer to compare how high their rocket or ‘mouse’ will go.
To finish the lesson we will talk about the invisible push force (air) that made the rocket fly. I will explain that even though we can’t see air, it can move things when it’s pushed quickly- like the wind.
Hi Margaret, I love the idea of getting the children to decorate their milk carton ‘launchers’. I think it is also a great idea to have different types/sizes of containers to compare how high each rocket can go.
Veronica I am sure your 1st class would absolutely LOVE Aliens Love Underpants. The kids find it hilarious that teacher has to say the word ‘underpants’ and ‘knickers’. As well as the book being really fun and enjoyable, there are lots of opportunities for oral language and grammar work ( adjectives, verbs and prepositions).
Online Resources and Tools:
Online resources are a fantastic way to make learning about space exciting and relevant for infants. Through this Module I have become aware of a number of new websites and resources. I enjoyed exploring the Curious Minds and ESERO websites. These sites offer brilliant classroom resources- I have saved some of these experiments to update my yearly science plan for the coming year. I have found that I have fallen into the trap of only doing the experiments outlined in the SESE programme we use in the school and I now realise that there are more exciting activities out there.
The ESA websites are also brilliant- they have up-to-date information on real space missions, astronauts, and the planets. My favourite resource by far is the Stellarium software.
I look forward to incorporating these resources into my teaching in the coming year. My only regret is that Space is only a theme for 1 month of the school year.
Hi Emma- having reflected on my own practice- I also feel that I am overly reliant on powerpoint and youtube clips to enhance the learning in my room. This module has opened my eyes to the amount of varied recourses that are available. I really like the Marvin nd Milo Cartoons, the ESA websites and the Stellarium software.
Activity Set: Space and Aliens
To introduce the idea of aliens living on Mars I would begin the lesson by reading the book “Aliens Love Underpants” by Claire Freedman. This is a firm favourite in my infant classroom. I would then ask the starter question: What do you think aliens on Mars might look like?
I would then show the children the: ‘Roll and Draw an alien’ pdf from Twinkl to prompt their imagination. (https://www.twinkl.ie/resource/roll-and-draw-an-alien-activity-t-ad-1715173142) We would then do a Think Pair, Share activity.
Using playdough, the children will create their own unique Martians with arms, eyes, and other features. I would encourage the children to create a persona for their alien: “My alien loves flying and eating space rocks!”
In another lesson I would use the children’s creations to create short stop/start animations on the school ipads. This would be a great way to integrate our Oral language, Drama and Digital Literacy lessons. We would then show the finished animations on the IWB. (I would ask a senior class to buddy up with my infants to complete this activity.)
Hey Louise- I love the idea of giving the children a jar and marbles to estimate how many stars there are. I can just imagine the amazing maths chats that would happen- counting the marbles, do we need more/less, the size and shape of the stars/marbles, would the jar be full/empty, do we need more marbles, more jars? how many jars might we need?, comparing with other groups.
Hi Rachel- love the Flashlight Friday idea- what a great way to make the children excited about reading.
I have saved the Furry Little Shadow YouTube clip, thanks for that!
Hi Ciara,
The human solar system is a great idea- such a fun way for children to visualise that the planets vary in their distance from the sun. There would be lots of opportunities for integration with Maths speaking about the closest, farthest away from the sun and chatting about which planet takes the shortest/longest to orbit the sun.
Activity: The Sun and Shadows
I would complete an activity based on the video: ‘Sun’s Energy’
Introduction: Circle Time: I would ask the children to sit in a circle as we review the facts we have previously learned about the sun, in a prior lesson. I would ask the children to pass a yellow beach ball (to represent the sun) around the circle as the children review facts we already know. I would then use a flashlight, with a cut out of a sun taped to the edge of the light. I would ask the children to imagine this is the sun- what comes from the sun? Light and warmth. I would then introduce the idea of UV light. I like the activity they did where the children said ‘Ultra Violet Light, each time the teacher clicks the light on. This is a fun way to help the children remember a difficult phrase. We would disucess the pros and cons of UV light.
I would then introduce a boy called George- who is a Sun Safe Superstar. I would ask the children to brainstorm how George can protect himself from the UV light. As the children gave suggestions I would use props to reinforce their ideas- for example I would have a hat, sunglasses, long sleeve top, umbrella and sunscreen.
I would then read/ watch the youtube video of the story ‘George the Sun Safe Superstar’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7ghJsZug60
Hi everyone, my name is Leana. I am heading into my 5th year teaching Senior Infants. We always cover Space in Term 3 and it is my favourite SESE topic to teach. I am looking forward to getting some new ideas.
My fun fact is that a day on Venus, is longer than a year.
When planning an enquiry-based activity on gravity, I would start with a ‘starter question’: ‘Why do things fall down?’ I would ask the children to share there ideas- encouraging them to explain their answers. I often use the phrase ‘Tell me more’- which I learned at one of new Maths Curriculum training days. For example if a child says ‘it falls’ instead of asking ‘why’ say ‘tell me more’. Following this I would demonstrate dropping a teddy at the top of the room. We would discuss what happened… did it fall down or float up? Did it fall slowly or quickly? I would then show the children a number of different items at the top of the room. (Lego, teddy, 3d shapes, feather, glue stick, paper and a pencil). The children would work in groups of 3 to predict which objects would fall fast or slow- using a worksheet. Each group would then get a box of materials to enable them to conduct the investigation. I would circulate the room asking the children prompt questions to elicit knowledge- encouraging them to compare how items fell. I would then ask each group to share their data and as a class we would engage in a discussion applying their learning and making connections. This is a great opportunity for the children to learn from each other. Following the lesson I would reflect on the lesson
