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Rockets/ Aistear/ Science Week
I would introduce the theme on Rockets with the song from Superkids ‘We’re Going On A Rocketship’.
I would involve an older class in this theme with the Infant Classes as part of Science Week, using Issue 19 the Marvin and Milo cartoon ‘Balloon Rocket’ as the introduction to this activity. The older children can support the children with the investigation by helping to thread the straw and placing the peg on the balloon.
As part of the theme of Space in Aistear, a junk art activity on making their own rocket. The pupils can use recycled materials to create their own rocket. Afterwards as part of their literacy, the pupils can create their own story about their rocket and what mission their rocket is going on.
A nice picture book to read to the children about astronauts going to the moon is ‘Roaring Rockets’ by Tony Mitton. It has a nice picture dictionary at the back of the book about equipment that astronauts use e.g. oxygen helmet, lunar lander, gravity boots.
Animals In Cold Climates
To introduce the topic, I would read the story ‘ Little Polar Bear, Where Are You Going Lars? (Hans de Beer). This gives an opportunity to talk about different environments and introduce the idea about different animals and their adaptations due to a cold or hot climate.
Show the children some different animals that live in cold climates e.g. Artic Fox, Polar Bear, penguins. How have these animals adapted to the cold environment they live in ? e.g. Artic Fox (thickness of their fur, fur can change colour).
This short video about Polar Bears gives key facts about the Polar Bear and how they have adapted to their cold environment e.g. insulated by 10cms of fat, two layers of fur, a dense undercoat, black skin under their fur. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–xEE7K67Xo
A nice activity to finish with is the song ‘Polar Bear Pokey Song’ (a different take on the song Hokey Pokey song)
Literacy
As an introduction to the topic of stars I would read the story ‘Laura’s Star’ by Klaus Baumgart. If people don’t already have the book, I use a great website called Internet Archive, which is a free online library. You can access the book online as an e-book to read with the children. It’s a lovely story about a little girl who befriends a star that has fallen from the sky. ( I usually read the story Laura’s Christmas Star at Christmas which is a follow on from this story). Science
I have found Dr Binocs Show good for kids. In this short video, Dr Binocs (cartoon character) talks about the types of stars in the sky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuAPFMXcYM
Math / Visual Arts
Star Origami: Depending on the age of the pupils, probably 1st/ 2nd Class, the pupils will fold origami stars. As part of the lesson we would discuss star formation and geometric shapes. This video demonstrates the technique very clearly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1c7FIQt5UE
I was really fascinated by the https://stellarium-web.org/ website. Such an interesting site to navigate and I see that lots of participants thought the same too.
Thanks Tracy. I have read this book before. You’ve given some lovely ideas in relation to Mars and Aliens as part of your follow on activities.
The Sun and Shadows
I liked the Sun’s Energy video from the Astronomical Soc. Of the Pacific which was part of this module. I would use the Storybook The Sun is My Favourite Star by Frank Ashe which was mentioned in the vidro. A story is always a great lead into a new topic for younger children. As part of the following discussion (Using the large orange ball as a talking prop) we would discuss how the sun helps us and then focus on UV rays. The children would enjoy heading outside and using the UV sensitive beads to further develop their understanding of the Sun’s energy. As a follow on lesson I would then introduce Shadows. I tend to do pair work during different times of the year with Junior Infants and 5th or 6th Class. The older children could help the younger children in drawing their Shadows on the school yard and repeat the exercise again with them later in the day. Lots of opportunities for shared learning with older children supporting the younger children in their work.
The idea of incorporating the theme of Space into Aistear is a great idea. Lots of opportunity for learning through play. Thanks Rachel.
<p style=”text-align: right;”>An inquiry based activity that I have done was based on the book How to Catch a Leprechaun written by Adam Wallace. It linked both STEM and Literacy. The children were asked how would they catch a leprechaun. Firstly they designed their own plan on paper. They were allowed to use their imagination for this (lots of explosions etc!!!). Then during another lesson they were given a choice of resources that they could use ( egg boxes, small plastic containers, cups, string, straws, masking tape etc). They planned their design and chose which resources they would use. This was in Junior Infants and some of the children really amazed me!! (Using the masking tape as a sticky substance to catch the leprechaun- creating a drop down mechanism using string). It was really fun and they children worked in pairs. They got an opportunity to speak about their trap at the end of the lesson.</p>
Thanks Michelle. I like the idea of the waterproof coat for Teddy that was mentioned during this module too. It’s a nice follow on from looking at the different materials that were tested based on the Oops inquiry activity.
Hi My name is Marguerite. I have taught Junior Infants for the last three years and I will be teaching this age group in September again. My interesting fact is that in 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a ‘dwarf planet’ after 76 years classified as the outermost planet in our solar system since its discovery in 1930. Looking forward to the course.
