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For Space Week, I would plan a Solar System activity with my Junior Infants class, as it is a topic they are naturally curious about and it links well across the curriculum. The main objective would be for the children to begin to understand the scale of the Solar System and the idea that the planets are different distances from the sun.
To introduce the topic, I would use a picturebook such as Whatever Next or How to Catch a Star, as these stories help build interest and give children a simple starting point for talking about space. I would ask the class what they already know about the Solar System to gather prior knowledge and then share some child friendly facts from the Space Week teacher resource kit.
Songs like We Are the Planets (StoryBots) and The Planets Song (Kiboomers) would support learning through music. The children could draw the Solar System and label the planets, and in art we could create 3D models. Different table groups could work on different planets, creating a whole class cooperative project that reinforces teamwork and creativity.these activities are all fun hands on activities, my own daughter was in 1st class this year and her teacher did all these activities and she still talks about them
Teacher Reflection – Module 4
I look forward to using the ESA/UNAWE online resources in my classroom, as I was not aware of these sites before completing this course. The Marvin and Milo cartoons and experiments are something I will definitely explore further. They are fun, simple, and very child‑friendly, and I know my class would enjoy them while learning real science concepts.
For my own teaching, I would use the Animals in the Cold lesson. It fits well with the work we usually do after Christmas on habitats and seasonal changes. I would start by discussing animals in our own environment and how they keep warm in winter. I like introducing topics through books, so I would use Little Penguin and The Polar Bear and the Snow Cloud, along with the pictures provided in the resource pack.
Videos of the North Pole would help the children compare weather there with winter in Ireland. Using pictures to discuss how animals stay warm — thicker coats, extra fat, feathers, and grease — supports good questioning and observation. The Vaseline experiment is a simple way to show how waterproofing works. We would link this back to how humans add extra layers when we are cold. Follow‑up art activities could include making penguins or polar bears.
I have to agree with you, I was not aware of all the online resources and websites available for this area, I will be sharing them with my colleagues in September.
It would be great to have a list of all the online resources.
I would use the Space and Aliens – Special Life activity with my class because it encourages imagination, questioning, and early scientific thinking. To introduce the topic, I would read Whatever Next, which is a lovely way to get children talking about Baby Bear’s journey to the moon, what he packed, and what he discovered.
We would create a simple mind map comparing life on Earth with life in space. This naturally leads to questioning, such as “What would someone living in space need?” and “What would we want to show them about Earth?” These questions help children think more deeply and share their ideas confidently.
The creative tasks — drawing pictures, acting out scenes, and designing their own aliens — make the lesson highly engaging. Younger children are always fascinated by aliens, so this imaginative element works well. The activity also links nicely with English, drama, science, and art, making it a strong cross‑curricular lesson.
I love the book references, I was trying to think of books about Space and I couldnt think of How to Catch a Star, which I actually have in school. The story ‘Whatever Next’ lends itself to this topic also.
I love the idea of taking photographs and adding the digital aspect into the lesson, it is something I hadnt thought of.
I love these ideas Grace, they would be perfect with Junior Infants. I love using a song to introduce topics in Junior Classes, it really helps to focus and engage them.
A nice follow up activity for this would be to design, paint your own planet. I’ve ordered small chinese latterns in previous years and the children have had great fun painting their own planets. They also look amazing as a display in the classroom.
Exploring Sun and Shadows with a 1st Class group provides an ideal opportunity for inquiry based learning. The children are developmentally ready to investigate how shadows are formed and why they change, and their natural curiosity supports meaningful engagement. . It would also be a nice activity to do with a small SET group, I’m thinking of a pupil of mine who has a particular interest in science.
Introducing the topic through a picture book such as Night Monkey, Day Monkey helps establish early understanding of light, day, and night while integrating literacy.
The hands on activities — using torches and teddies indoors, followed by shadow tracing outdoors — encourage prediction, observation, and discussion. Questioning plays a central role throughout the lessons. Asking open ended questions such as “Why do you think your shadow is longer now?”, “What happens when you turn your body?” or “Does everything make a shadow?” helps assess understanding and prompts children to think more deeply about light sources and movement.
Revisiting the yard at different times of the day strengthens their ability to compare and draw conclusions. For children who are uncomfortable being traced, using a class teddy ensures the activity remains inclusive. Extending the learning to global time zones, such as video calling my nephew in Australia, adds a personal and engaging real world connection. I also plan to try the sundial activity at home with my 7 year old daughter, as it reinforces the concept of the sun’s movement in a simple, practical way.Prompt Question: What happens to objects in space?
Year Group: Junior Infants
Objective: To explore gravity, floating, sinking and comparing Earth v Space.To engage the children, I would show them a short video of astronauts in space.
Questions: Why do you think the astronauts are floating?
Would your toys float in space?Hands on Activities:
Children are given a small object – block, crayon, pom pom etc.
Children place their object on a yes it would float or it would not float in space chart.As we can’t go to Space – I would explain to the children that we are going to pretend to be astronauts and test what happens when gravity changes.
Stations:
Air Blower Test – Using a small fan, children place lightweight objects in the airflow and see if they float.
Water Float Test – using the same objects, children test. Encourage discussion around the difference between floating in water and space.
Gravity Drop Test – children drop objects from a low height, encourage discussion around what happens on earth, would the same happen in space?Conclusion: Revisit the question “Do things float in space?”
Children may need guidance with understanding that there is very little gravity in space and that’s why astronauts and objects float.Children draw pictures of things that float on earth/ in space and make a display. showing their results.
