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I would like to try the ‘rocket mouse’ activity set with Junior Infants, I think it is pitched perfectly to that class group. It also needs very little preparation and resources. The empty bottles can be found in recycling, and can bee used more than once so each child wouldn’t need one. I imagine I would be doing this lesson during our Aistear theme of Space, so there would be already plenty of engaging stories, videos, discussions around rockets and rocket launches. Integrating art, the children could also decorate their mice before the launch. Sitting in a circle, the children could then take turns launching their rocket mouse, counting down to blast off each time. After each child has had a turn, there can be questioning and discussion about how far each rocket went, how could you make them go further? What is making the mouse life off? To extend the learning further, you could use different size bottles with one mouse, and see which bottle launches the mouse the furthest. To conclude the lesson, the children could record their findings in a first, next, then document.
I would like to try the ESERO activity set, about animals in the cold. I think this would be a really lovely lesson for junior infants, and also integrates nicely with Geography, and our Aistear theme of Antarctic. I would begin by having a group discussion about weather, different types of weather and how different parts of the world can have different climates. This is a good way to illicit prior knowledge from children. We can then focus in on the North and South pole and look at these places on a map of globe. Using the pictures of the polar bear and the penguin , we can this discuss how these animals keep themselves warm, and compare to how we stay warm…does a penguin put on gloves or a coat? for example. To then extend the learning even further, I would tell the children that these animals have a layer of grease covering their fur, which repels water and helps with staying warm. This is when we could to the hands on part of the lesson, using Vaseline. Rubbing a little bit of Vaseline on the children’s hands, and then pouring small amounts of water over that hand, so they can see the water glide off.
This lesson could also be followed up by nice art activities making polar bears and penguins. There are also a huge number of books and rhymes that have polar bears, snow bears, ice, etc which can lead to even further integration. I like how the lesson has a multi sensory approach, and it encourages the children to become aware of their senses when talking about weather. Feeling hot, feeling cold, feeling wet and cold etc.
I’ve never seen the stars in a jar activity before – very cute!! I’d love to try this sometime. It would be a lovely sensory activity in a special class setting too.
I would like to try the Star activity set, particularly the ‘making the plough’ lesson. At first, I was thinking that the lesson would be pitched too high for infants, but actually I think it’s very adaptable. I do think, however, that it would need to be done in small groups. It could be done in maths stations as there is integration there, or possibly during Aistear or play time. As a whole class ‘twinkle twinkle’ could be sung, or read ‘How to catch a star’. A little bit of chat about stars, and constellations and maybe watch a video on the constellations pitched to younger children.
The actual making the plough lesson, is also great for developing fine motor skills. It would also be easy to differentiate within the class. I would have the wool cut to the correct lengths for the children where measuring the length is too difficult, but I’m sure some children would love the challenge, which brings in the maths integration. I think the children would really love the finished products. As a conclusion the children could then draw their own constellations using some tracing sheets of other constellations.
We have ‘space’ theme for Aistear and it is definitely one of the children’s favourites. They absolutely love dressing up as astronauts and getting into a space ship and taking off into space and floating around!
‘Peace at last’ is an nice story that could be read to conclude the lesson as it starts at night and ends with the sun rising in the morning!
I like the idea of trying Activity set The Sun and shadows with my class. I would start by doing a little bit of work on day and night, sorting picture of the sky into day and night, and sorting activities into things you do in the day time and things you do in the night time. This also links nicely to the topic of time in Maths. I would then try and tease out any prior knowledge the children have about shadows with questioning. It would then be time for some exploring and investigating, using sorting bears and flash lights. Teacher can facilitate the children’s exploration of how ‘long, short, tall’ act the bears shadows are, depending on where they hold the flash lights. The children could trace the shadows on a page as an extension of this. This could also be extended (weather depending!) by going outside and tracing their own shadows in the sun with chalk. This could also be done at a different time the following day for comparison? I like the idea of using the bears and the flash lights though as it is not depending on sunny weather!n
I agree Mary, I’ve seen an awful lot of children coming into Junior Infants in recent years with huge interest in Space and Planets and knowing lots and lots of facts!
Hi . my name is Michelle and I am a Junior Infants teacher, heading into my 3rd year teaching this class. I have found that the children have real interest in all things space and planets related in the last few years. My favourite fact is that the sun is a star!
After reading and listening to this module, I would like to try the water proof material lessons, using an enquiry based lesson. I really liked the idea of posing a problem for the children to try and solve, like making a mess or a spill as an introduction and stimulus to the learning. I do think that the children are coming into Junior Infants now with some prior knowledge of science, either from pre school , or possibly watching videos on youtube etc, so making it a real life experience would elevate it for them. The exploration and investigation stage can be very easily managed in a lesson like this, with small amounts of water and materials being used. I think they would really enjoy helping teacher with her problem!
