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I really enjoyed reading your post. I like how you have linked science, maths, art, and literacy through the theme of rockets. The foam rocket activity is a great hands-on way to encourage children to make predictions, test their ideas, and think about what makes a fair test. I also like that you included storybooks and music to introduce the topic, as this would really engage the children and make the learning fun.
I decided to create a simple plan to engage with Space Week in my Second Class. I think Space Week is a great opportunity to spark children’s curiosity about science while linking learning across different curriculum areas.
Throughout the week, I would include a variety of hands-on activities. We could begin by reading a story about space and discussing what the children already know about the Solar System. During science lessons, we would investigate the Moon, stars, and planets through practical activities, such as making simple models of the Solar System and observing the night sky at home with their families.
I would also integrate other subjects into the theme. In art, the children could create space-themed paintings or design their own rockets. In English, they could write a short story about travelling to space or imagine a day as an astronaut. In Maths, we could explore shapes by creating rockets and planets, or use simple data handling activities based on favourite planets.
To involve parents, I would encourage the children to complete a simple night-sky observation sheet at home and share their findings with the class. This would strengthen home-school links while encouraging children to become more aware of the world around them.
I believe a Space Week plan would be an exciting way to promote inquiry-based learning, creativity, and teamwork. As I currently teach Second Class, I know the children would enjoy the practical activities and would develop a greater interest in science through exploring space in a fun and meaningful way.
I really enjoyed reading your lesson idea. I especially liked the Vaseline investigation, as it gives the children a hands-on way to understand how penguins stay dry and warm. The Venn diagram is also a great activity for Second Class, helping pupils compare and discuss the adaptations of each animal. It sounds like a fun and engaging lesson that encourages both scientific thinking and curiosity.
I chose the Hands-on Classroom Themed Activities because I believe children learn best when they are actively involved in their learning. As I currently teach Second Class, I find that practical activities help to keep pupils engaged while developing their scientific skills and understanding.
I would use hands-on STEM activities regularly throughout the year to encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and teamwork. For example, I would have the children work in small groups to design and build simple structures using recycled materials, predict which designs would be the strongest, and test their ideas. This would encourage them to observe, investigate, record their findings, and discuss how they could improve their designs.
I would also integrate technology where appropriate by allowing pupils to photograph their investigations or record short videos explaining what they discovered. This would help develop both their digital skills and their confidence in communicating scientific ideas.
I think these activities are particularly suitable for Second Class because they provide opportunities for active learning while supporting the development of important STEM skills such as observing, predicting, investigating, recording, and evaluating. They also encourage collaboration and creativity, helping children to become confident and enthusiastic learners who enjoy exploring the world around them.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I liked how you adapted the activity for your Second Class by having the children make their own Plough using straws and stars. I also think encouraging children to observe the night sky at home is a great way to involve families and strengthen home-school links. It sounds like a fun and meaningful way to develop curiosity about space.
I chose the Activity Set: Stars because it provides a fun and engaging way for children to learn about the night sky while developing their observation and inquiry skills. The activities encourage pupils to ask questions, make predictions, and explore simple scientific ideas in a hands-on way.
As I currently have Second Class, I would adapt the activities to suit their age and level of understanding. I would begin by asking the children what they already know about stars and encourage them to share their ideas. We would discuss when we can see stars, why they are only visible at night, and how the Sun is also a star. I think this would help address any misconceptions while building on their prior knowledge.
I would use practical activities such as creating star patterns, identifying simple constellations, and making star pictures using black paper and chalk or paint. I would also encourage the children to observe the night sky with their families and share what they noticed during class discussions.
I believe these activities would work very well with my Second Class because they are hands-on, encourage curiosity, and promote discussion. They also support the development of observation, communication, and scientific thinking skills while making learning about space enjoyable and meaningful.
I really enjoyed reading your lesson plan. I think it is very engaging and well suited to Junior Infants. I especially liked the role-play activity where the children pretend to be astronauts, as it encourages imagination and active learning. The sensory activity with the foil “moon rocks” is also a lovely way to get children talking and describing what they feel.
I also think the idea of a “Moon Passport” is a great way to make the lesson memorable. Overall, it is a fun, creative lesson that would keep young children interested while helping them learn about the Moon.
I chose the Activity Set: The Moon because it provides an engaging, hands-on way for children to understand why the Moon appears to change shape throughout the month. Rather than simply memorising the phases, pupils actively investigate and observe the patterns, helping them develop scientific inquiry skills alongside their understanding of astronomy.
As I currently have Second Class, I would adapt the activities to suit their age and level of understanding. I would begin by asking pupils what they already know about the Moon and encourage them to share their ideas. This would help me identify any misconceptions, such as the belief that Earth’s shadow causes the Moon’s phases. Using simple language and plenty of questioning, I would guide the class through the practical activity using a torch and a ball to represent the Sun and the Moon. This visual demonstration would help pupils understand that the Moon does not change shape but that we see different parts of it as it moves around the Earth.
To make the learning more meaningful, I would ask the children to keep a simple Moon observation diary for two to three weeks, drawing the Moon each evening if possible and discussing any patterns they notice in class. As Second Class pupils learn best through active participation, I would also include opportunities for them to work in pairs to recreate the Moon phases using biscuits or paper cut-outs. We could integrate art by creating Moon phase wheels and literacy by writing a few sentences about what they learned using appropriate scientific vocabulary.
I believe this activity would work very well with my Second Class because it is practical, visual, and encourages children to ask questions and make observations. It supports inquiry-based learning and helps pupils develop important scientific skills such as observing, predicting, recording, and communicating their findings. By actively participating in the investigation, the children are more likely to develop a lasting understanding of the Moon’s phases while enjoying the learning process.
My name is Linda, I teach Second Class. I’m looking forward to learning more about space and picking up practical ideas that I can use with my class. I enjoy planning hands-on lessons that encourage children to ask questions, explore ideas and learn through discovery.
One of my favourite space facts is that a day on Venus is actually longer than its year! Venus takes about 243 Earth days to rotate once on its axis, but only about 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun. I think this is a brilliant fact to share with children because it always surprises them and sparks lots of questions about planets and our solar system.
One inquiry-based activity I would like to use with my Second Class pupils is a “Design a Space Suit” challenge. Instead of starting by giving the children lots of information, I would begin with the question, “What would an astronaut need to survive on the Moon?” The children could work together in small groups to investigate the Moon’s environment, thinking about things like the lack of air, extreme temperatures and the rocky surface. They would then design and label their own space suits, explaining how each part would help an astronaut survive.
I think this activity would work very well with Second Class because it combines science with creativity, problem-solving and teamwork. It gives children the opportunity to ask questions, share ideas and explain their thinking while developing their scientific vocabulary. I could also link the activity with art by creating models of the space suits and with English by having the children present their designs to the class. At the end of the lesson, we could compare our ideas with real astronaut suits and discuss what we learned. I feel this type of inquiry-based learning encourages children to become active participants in their own learning and helps to develop curiosity, confidence and critical thinking skills.
I enjoyed reading your post. I like how you linked the research question to a local issue in Wexford, as it makes the learning more meaningful for children. Using news reports and a visit to the beach are great ideas because they allow pupils to see the effects of climate change in real life. Next year I will be teaching Second Class, and I think I could adapt this by using simple pictures, class discussions and observations during a local nature walk. It would help children understand that even small changes in the environment can have a big impact over time.
Research Question:
How can we reduce waste in our school to help protect the environment?I chose this research question because it is something that children can understand and relate to in their everyday lives. It also gives them the chance to see how small actions can make a positive difference to the environment.
Next year I will be teaching Second Class, and I would encourage the children to take part by making the investigation fun and practical. We could begin by talking about what waste is and where it comes from. The children could then look around the classroom and school to see what types of waste we produce. Together, we could record our findings using simple charts or tally marks.
The class could work in small groups to think of ways to reduce waste, such as recycling more, using reusable lunch boxes and water bottles, and reusing materials for art activities. At the end of the project, we could create posters to remind everyone how to reduce waste and help the environment.
I think this topic would help children develop teamwork, observation and problem-solving skills while learning that everyone can play a part in protecting our planet. It is a simple investigation that links well with SESE, Maths, English and Art and encourages children to become responsible and caring citizens.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I agree that the Nose Up High resource is well planned and that the activities build on each other in a very natural way. I liked your idea of discussing weather proverbs, especially because they encourage children to think about how weather affects everyday life. Your point about teaching in a rural setting makes the activities even more meaningful.
Next year I will be teaching Second Class, and I think these activities would work really well with my class too. I especially like Activity 2 because it encourages children to use their senses to observe the weather. I think this would help to develop their observation and communication skills. I would also enjoy using Activity 3 to compare our own weather observations with the weather forecast and discuss any differences. Overall, I think these activities are practical, engaging and easy to adapt for younger children while encouraging curiosity and discussion about the world around them.
The EO Browser is an online tool that allows you to view satellite images of the Earth. It can be used to explore different places around the world and see how they have changed over time. It is easy to use and is a great way to make geography and science lessons more interesting. I would describe it to a colleague as “Google Maps with satellite images that let you explore changes in our environment.”
Next year I will be teaching Second Class, and I think I could use the EO Browser in a simple way. I would use it to show the children where we live, look at our local area from space, and compare it with other places in Ireland and around the world. We could also look at rivers, forests and coastlines and discuss how people and nature can change the landscape. This would link well with SESE, Geography and Science while also encouraging children’s curiosity about the world.
Overall, I think the EO Browser is a very useful resource. It is visual, engaging and provides real-life examples that help children understand the world around them. I would use it alongside class discussions and simple activities to make learning fun and meaningful for my Second Class pupils.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I agree that it is important to introduce climate change in a positive way and focus on the small actions children can take to help the environment. Next year I will be teaching Second Class, and I think using short video clips, class discussions and poster-making would work really well. I also like your idea of ending the lesson with positive actions, as it helps children feel that they can make a difference.
I found the film HOME very interesting and thought it really showed how connected people and nature are. It highlighted the impact that climate change is having on our planet in a powerful way. The other video clips in the module were also helpful because they explained climate change using simple language and visuals that children can understand.
Next year I will be teaching Second Class, so I would introduce this topic in a positive and age-appropriate way. Instead of focusing on worrying facts, I would encourage the children to think about the small things they can do to help the environment. We could watch short clips from the videos, discuss what we noticed, and talk about simple actions such as recycling, saving water, switching off lights and walking to school where possible.
To make the learning more engaging, I would link it with Art by creating posters about looking after the Earth, with English through class discussions and writing, and with SESE by exploring weather and the environment. We could also go on a nature walk around the school to observe plants and wildlife and discuss why it is important to care for them.
Overall, I thought the videos were very informative and gave me lots of practical ideas. I look forward to using some of these activities with my Second Class next year to help children develop an understanding of climate change and how they can make a positive difference.