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I love this endearing lesson Michelle especially the way you have created the sense of wonder at the start in getting the children to discuss how they would get to the moon. I love the way you include the children to observe the forces and how this can affect the way the rocket moves. I also like the book you suggested “Whatever Next” I will be using this book too.
I would choose the Alka-seltzer rocket experiment with my class. I think it is such a fun and exciting experiment. I would do this experiment after I had shown them a prompt of a rocket launching into space as well having a whole class discussion about rockets. I would get the children to observe and notice the way a rocket moves in the air as it is launched into space. How it appears so vertical as it goes up into space and slightly tilts the further it goes up into the air, all the while observing the flames, the speed and listening to the sounds, the blasting. I would get the children to think of the forces used to make the rocket launch. After this I would then show the children an alka seltzer tablet dissolve in water, talk about how it fizzes, explaining to the children about our experiment. I would get the children in pairs for this experiment, each letting them plan and prepare for their experiment. Making sure to do this outside and in an open space.Before the children carry out their experiments I would get them to talk about what they think will happen, make predictions but also ask them how is this linked to rockets. After the experiment I would give the children time to record their observations and reflect on what they noticed and trying to get them to compare their experiment to a rocket launching. After this I would then get the children to think about designing their own rockets, thinking of suitable materials for their rockets and being able to explain and reason clearly on the choices they made. I would also include a story book “Winnie in Space” by Valerie Thomas and this would tie in with Space week and the timing of it being close to Halloween.
I would do the lesson “Where do you live” ESERO lesson 5. I would use a prompt to show the children different houses and homes around the world. I would get the children to observe and discuss the different houses they see and would teach them that everyones house is built to be adapted in that location. There is a lovely book that ties in wonderfully with this theme and I had read it a while ago to Junior Infants but I would read this to my 2nd Class next year too. “If I Built A House” by Chris Van Dusen is a very clever book all about different rooms in a house and explores the idea of an overall design of a house. At the end of the book the house turns into a rocket, it really gets the children to broaden their imaginations and be so creative. After reading this book I would get my 2nd Class to design their houses using recycled materials, also making it a whole class project where we design our own village with the houses in the area. I would explore the children’s local area with them getting them to think and talk about the shops, services and amenities near and beside their houses. We would do a field trip of our local area and record our findings- how many shops, cafes, restaurants, bakeries. Does our area have a swimmimg pool, cinema, library. I would then show the class where I lived growing up- how small it was and we would compare my local area to their local area- what do they notice. I would also get the children to think and discuss about what their area might need improvements or any changes in the area.
I love this lesson idea Ciara. It is such a simple idea but so effective especially as you have tied in two experiments to help them with their overall objective. The children get to see that it’s important for their coat to be waterproof as well as keeping them warm in the cold weather.
I really love this idea for a lesson Brid. I especially love that book you have chosen for your class, “Alien’s love underpants,” the children love this book and it engages them. I like the idea of the children creating their own alien and from having been read the story about aliens this would help them with their ideas. Having the children create their own rockets with recycled material is a nice way to close the lesson but keeping it fun it also ties in the whole children’s knowldege and learning.
I would choose the activity set, Stars, as I think it would really get the children to be filled with such a sense of awe and wonder as well as keeping them engaged. I also think it would provide lots of good cross curricular links. I really like the “Lots and lots of stars, worksheet idea from ESERO, lesson 13. The children are encouraged to think, wonder and observe the night sky and search for stars. The children are also learning that stars are more than just the illustrated version that they see in books or on tlevision cartoons and learning that the sun is a star. I really like the idea of linking it to Maths, and really emphasisising the point that there are so many stars in the sky that it would be impossible to count them all and I love the idea of the marbles in the clear container. I would get the children to paint their own version of a starry night sky, getting them to paint the night sky first and using what they have learnt and observed to help them with their painting. I really like the idea of using the toothbrush to splatter the paint onto the page. I also think that with the older children this could be linked to Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” the children could learn about this painting and do their own version. After this I would get the whole class to help create and share their learning by creating a whole class mind map on stars. I also like that this lesson allows the idea to include nursery rhymes and music, with the junior classes “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” “Star LIght, Star Bright.” With the older classes you could link a song, Coldplay’s “A sky full of stars,” David Bowie’s, “Starman” or Don Mc Lean’s, “Starry, Starry Night.”
I love this idea for a lesson Cormac, especially as I know that the children would love this too. They are fascinated with their shadows. I really like the idea of getting them to bring figurine toys and using a torch to create the shadow, also teaching them about short and long shadows and using the torch as the sun to teach this lesson. I really like the idea of getting them to outline their shadows with chalk too.
I would do the Activity Set:The Moon, especially focusing on the lesson The Man on The Moon. I would start off by getting the children to discuss what they know about the moon, what shape is the moon and to work together in pairs or a group to record what they know and make a whole class mind map. I would then show the children real/science evidence based pictures of the moon and then also story book/cartoon pictures of the moon. All the time getting them to observe and compare what they notice. I really like the idea of the Man on the Moon lesson, especially with younger children, showing them that this is the bright and dark areas of the moon that make it look like there are figures or objects, but also with the older children too this could be done. I also was thinking that this lesson would tie in lovely with a Literacy, creative writing piece about a man on the moon. I would show the children a promt of a picture of a man on the moon and get them to start thinking and talking about this. I would also show them the video of the John Lewis Christmas ad of the man on the moon, getting them to imagine how did the man get up there, what would he do everyday. Also linking it back to the very science based evidence, could a man really live on the moon. They could also explore the history side of this and look into the first moon landings and how does an astronaut prepare to go to the moon as well as exploring what the asronauts found and discovered on the moon. I would conclude this topic with an art lesson on the moon- getting the children to create their own picture of the moon and tie it into listening to Moon stories from around the world.
Hi Brid I really love your idea of the night sky, it is so simple and very effective. It would also make it a nice little thing to do for homework with their families and could be linked to art, especially getting the children to draw/paint their versions of the night sky. I remember doing something similar to this in primary school and I had noticed one evening that the sun and the moon were both out in view in the evening sky. It always amazed me.
The enquiry based activity that I would use would be investigating different materials and designing a raincoat or umbrella for use. I would use the prompt question and maybe a very simple picture of myself in the rain and images of clothing all wet from rain. I would just get the children to notice what they observe and talk about materials and their uses. I loved the idea of using the picture of the food and drink spilling too. I would get the children to share their own experiences of geting wet in the rain, what they notice and how they felt especially if they were not wearing a rain coat and then comparing it to if they were. I would get them to make predictions about what materials they think would be waterproof but I would let them explore with all the materials first, especially the junior classes. After that the investigation process would begin where the children use water and pour it over the different material, remebering to make it a fair test, this is where they get to see for themselves and I also find this is a time for any misconceptions to be cleared up. Children get to see if their predictions were right but also other findings are solved too and thought about. We would conclude with our results working together and in pairs to discuss what we uncovered. I always enjoy this part as this could even open up for another experimnet in desining an astronauts spacesuit for space.