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I love the idea of using the book as a stimulus for the lesson. A wonderful example of cross curricular learning.
The activity set: Space and Aliens
I think this topic would engage the learners immediately and as a teacher would really enjoy all the fun and imaginative ways you can explore the topic with the kids. I have used a drama activity in the past as a stimulus for this particular theme. The children get into groups and you get them to each come up with a vocal sound (They have great fun making squeaky sounds/ deep sounds, ) They stand up at the front of the class in a line and when I touch them on the head they make their sound onw after the other) we try to spell the sound on the board. The children have a great laugh with this and then I tell them this is the name of their alien. They write the name of the alien on the top of a big piece of paper and the group begins to draw the alien how many eyes / legs ect/ what food it likes to eat/ what planet it lives on ect. I will add to this lesson now about acting out the alien they have created. The children write wonderful creative stories around their alien and present to the class. I like to think that their knowledge of space from doing this course and carrying out the lessons will enhance their understanding of space and I would hope to see elements of that in their writing in future lessons.The activity set on ‘The Planets’ is a brilliant way to teach the children the names of the planets and also help them to recognise them in relation to the sun. I loved the use of hulla-hoops and using movement throughout the lesson. The Planet Dance and Spin your own Planet’ are fun, engaging activities which I have never thought about doing. The younger classes would enjoy this. I would use prompting questions like what planet do we live on? And introduce the solar system by viewing videos ect prior to the active lesson. You could add a flashlight to the yellow hulla-hoop to add to the idea of the sun giving light. The lesson offers cross curricular topics like prepositions and children developing their spatial awareness. These are all very accessible lessons to carry out and I am really look forward to using them in the classroom next year.
This is a fantastic lesson. Fun and engaging and exciting for young children to explore different objects that float and sink.
Inquiry-Based Activity: Junior/ Senior Infants
To begin I would plan the lesson using the framework for inquiry based learning. Explore: I would use a variety of questions to spark interest in the subject. I wonder what life is like in Space? I wonder how you would get there. I would use think pair share to discuss their ideas Engage: We would read stories associated with the theme and listen to videos about space. How would you survive in space? Food, water ect? Investigate: Design and make a rocket to get to space- we would look at a variety of different rockets made out of a variety if materials. They would draw a picture of what their design might look like and create their design. We would examine a variety of premade rockets outside to give them ideas of the ways the rocket could be launched. Take the next step: Launching rockets- look at videos of rockets and discuss how they think the rocket launches. Try to launch their own rockets. Question the position of rockets and what position would be best to help the rocket go the furtherst.My name is Lianna. I will be working in SEN this year and my favourite fact about space is One million Earths could fit inside the Sun – and the Sun is considered an average-size star.
Counting stars would be a brilliant song to use to link music to this theme. The ideas you have shared are excellent and I look forward to using them in my lessons.
I too love to connect the arts to my lessons and these are wonderful ways to do this.Thanks for sharing the song ‘somewhere out there’ I will definitely use this in my lessons.
1. Describe how you could implement a version of “Design Your own Dark Sky place” in your school/classroom?
Step 1: Look at what a dark sky place is and look at examples of Kerry Dark Space and Mayo Dark Space.
Step 2: I would ask the children to look at their own sky at home on a clear night and identify whether they can see the stars. We talk about how built up areas you will be able to see less stars or no stars and how light pollution affects the viewing of the milky way.
Step 2:We would design our own dark place in our school. I would ask the children to come up with ways to ensure lighting doesn’t affect the wildlife living in the space. I would ask them to brainstorm different ways to or using alternatively lighting dimmed lights or orange lighting ect. We would take pictures of the space before and after.I love the idea of using the story of the owl babies to introduce noctural animals to the younger children and help to gain the understanding of night an day.
• How you would engage your learners to explore biodiversity in your local area and
the possible impacts of light pollution on local biodiversity.We would start by exploring the nature all around our school. We have made lots of bird feeders around the school so it will be a wonderful to watch the birds and their activity .We would go on a bug hunt and discover the insects in the area. We will discuss the link between the species and how they rely on each other for their survival. I would next introduce the theme of light pollution and how bugs and insects are drawn to the light and how many die as a result. Therefore there is less food for the bird and animals. We would discuss the variety of ways that we can help with light pollution. Use down lighters, yellow or orange lighting ect. We would create posters for around the school to help raise awareness about light pollution and we could create stories on book creator to show to each class.
I love the idea of investigating into the wildlife around the school and the sensor night cameras would be a big hit with any class I’m sure. Great ideas thank you.
Detail how light pollution is impacting your local area and how would you engage your learners to explore this.
Lesson: To understand the term light pollution and recognise how the actions of people can impact their environment.
Class: 5th/6thStep 1: KWL with whole class to see prior knowledge of light pollution.
Step 2: Explain what light pollution is. Light pollution is “the inappropriate or excessive use of artificial light” We would watch a short youtube video to explain light pollution and help prompt questions and engagement in the topic.
Step 4: Explain that Light pollution falls into four categories…..
Glare: Excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort
Sky glow: Brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas
Light trespass: Light falling where it is not intended or needed
Clutter: Bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light source
Step 5:I would create a matching activity with a variety of pictures from the above categories. I would ask the children to discuss the pictures in groups and place into the category they think it matches.
Step 6: We would next discuss the visual affects of light pollution. Light pollution can be costly, and effects people, wildlife, and outdoor environments. Blue light scatters far wider into our atmosphere, Over 50% of the Irish population can no longer see the Milky Way from their own homes, Almost 20% of the Irish population use colour vision at night due to the level of brightness from light pollution.
Step 7: We would look at the lightpollutionmap.info to look at the data from our area. We will be able to recognise areas that have a greater population and areas of less population that may need to be protected from light pollution.I love the idea of giving access to the school yard for viewing it would be a lovely way for children to come together and learn about the planets together and it would instill excitement and enthusiasm for the project.
Create an Observing Plan for autumn that shows which planets are visible in the evening sky.
The children would love this lesson. I would start by discussing what planets are visible from Ireland and explore some viewing apps like stellarium and skyview apps.
Step 1: Choose a clear night as this is essential for viewing and choose a location away from street lights ect to optimize the darkness and make viewing clearer.
Step 2: Stellarium and Sky view apps are a wonderful way to help us identify planets more easily and it’s a fantastic way to get parents involved in their child’s learning and to give them an idea of the topics being explored in school. It would be a fun home activity.
Step 3: The use of binoculars or a telescope would give greater viewing however they are not essential as there are some planets that are visual with the naked eye. Some planets will look like stars so with the use of the stellarium app is very beneficial in identifying these. Parent support is necessary for this activity.
Step 4: Use a notebook to record your findings and observations the date and time over the Autumn period and notice any changes.
Step 5: Research and learn about the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Present your project. Create a project around this. The children could create a kahoot quiz for the class around the planets they found.
I am looking forward to using these apps in my class next year.