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I really enjoyed reading this activity. I especially valued reading it from the perspective of an autism class, as it made me think about how the same STEM activity can be adapted so that every child can participate in a way that suits their needs. I liked how you used visual choice cards and different ways for the children to communicate their predictions and observations, rather than relying on spoken responses.
The idea of the “space raisins” is such a fun way to introduce the investigation, and I think it would really capture the children’s curiosity. I also liked the comparison between sparkling water and still water, as it gives the children another opportunity to observe changes and make connections. The extension activities with bubbles and sensory bottles fit really well with the theme and provide lots of opportunities for exploration. It was really interesting to see how you adapted the lesson to make it accessible while still keeping the focus on scientific enquiry and discovery.For Space Week, I would choose the Alien Chemistry activity with my First Class. I think the idea of receiving a message from an alien asking for help would really capture the children’s imagination and encourage lots of discussion.
To begin the lesson, I would tell the class that an alien has landed on Earth and needs help making a special space drink. The children would work in small groups to investigate what happens when different safe ingredients, such as water, food colouring, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda, are mixed together. Before each investigation, the children would make predictions about what they think will happen and then observe the changes carefully.
Throughout the activity, I would encourage the children to use scientific language such as predict, observe and record. They could draw pictures of their experiments and explain what they noticed to the rest of the class. We would finish by discussing which “alien potion” was the most successful and why.
As an extension for Space Week, the children could design and label their own alien, explaining what planet it comes from and why it needs their special potion. I think this activity would be a fun way to introduce scientific enquiry while encouraging creativity, teamwork and curiosity.
I really liked reading this lesson idea. Using Tom Crean’s journey as the starting point is a lovely way to introduce the topic, and I think it would really capture the children’s imagination. It gives them a real-life connection to Antarctica before exploring the animals and environment in more detail.
The activity with the ice cubes stood out to me because it is something that is simple to set up but would get the children thinking and talking. They would enjoy making predictions, testing the different materials and comparing their results with their classmates. I also like the idea of building shelters for the animals, as it gives the children a chance to work together and try out different ideas. It would be interesting to see how each group’s shelter is different and what they learn from testing them.
I think this lesson has a nice balance of discussion, practical activities and reflection, while also making good links across different curriculum areas in a way that feels natural.This module made me think differently about STEM and School Self-Evaluation. Before completing it, I mainly associated science with learning facts and carrying out experiments. I now realise that developing children’s scientific skills, such as observing, predicting and questioning, is just as important.
In my First Class, I would like to focus on giving the children more opportunities to investigate and explore through hands-on activities. For example, during a lesson on materials, the children could predict which objects will float or sink, test their ideas and discuss why they got those results. This encourages them to think like young scientists rather than simply looking for the correct answer.
As part of a STEM-focused SSE, I would also like to make children’s voices a bigger part of the reflection process. Simple strategies such as a wonder wall, class discussions or exit tickets would help me understand what the children enjoyed, what they found challenging and what they would like to learn next. I think this would make STEM lessons more engaging while helping me reflect on and improve my own teaching throughout the year.
Loved this! Really great structure to this lesson, that I wish I would have applied to my own! I also love the linkage and integration, really brilliant example of how simple our integration can be.
One STEM activity I would like to use with a First Class is based around the question “Where do you live?” I think this is a topic that children can easily relate to because they all have different experiences of home.
I would begin the lesson by reading The Three Little Pigs and having a class discussion about the different houses in the story. We would talk about why some houses stayed standing while others didn’t and what materials were used to build them. I would then show the children pictures of different types of homes, such as apartments, terraced houses, cottages, bungalows and houses from around the world, and discuss how homes can look different depending on where people live.
For the STEM activity, the children would work in small groups to design and build a house using materials such as LEGO, wooden blocks, cardboard, straws and lollipop sticks. Before building, each group would draw a simple plan of their house and decide which materials they wanted to use and why. Once the houses were finished, we would test their strength using a small fan to represent wind or by seeing if the roof could hold a small toy figure. The children could then make changes to improve their designs and explain why they made those changes.
I think this activity would be a great way to develop science skills such as predicting, observing, investigating and evaluating, while also encouraging teamwork and problem-solving. It would also link well with Visual Arts through designing the houses, English through oral language and discussion, and Maths by exploring shape and space. As part of a STEM-focused School Self-Evaluation, I would like to provide more opportunities for children to take part in open-ended investigations like this, where they can test their ideas, learn from mistakes and improve their designs through hands-on learning.
Loved this! Lovely integration with other subjects, art and maths etc. Also feel like this could work well in plenty of class levels. It’s interactive, really engaging and I always love when they have something concrete to bring home or display at the end of a lesson. Some literature or something to go alongside this I think could really boost it, lovely lesson idea I might definitely use this year! Thank you!
Activity Set – Stars (First Class)
I think stars are a lovely topic to explore with a First Class as they naturally encourage curiosity and discussion.
I would begin the lesson by asking the children what they have noticed in the sky at night. We would discuss questions such as, “Can you always see the stars?”, “Why do some stars look brighter than others?” and “Have you ever tried to spot a pattern in the sky?” This would allow me to build on their prior knowledge before introducing the idea that stars are huge balls of hot gas, and that the Sun is actually our nearest star.
Next, I would show the children pictures of different constellations, such as the Big Dipper and Orion, and explain that people have been finding patterns in the stars for thousands of years. The children would then work in pairs to create their own constellation by placing star stickers on black card and joining them together with white chalk or a white colouring pencil. They would give their constellation a name and make up a short story about how it got into the sky.
To finish the lesson, each pair would share their constellation with the class and explain the story behind it. I think this would be a really enjoyable way to combine science with creativity while encouraging oral language and imagination.
Cross-curricular links: English (oral language and storytelling), Visual Arts (creating constellations), and Maths (recognising patterns and shapes).
I really like this lesson idea. I think starting by asking the children what they already know about the planets is a great way to get everyone involved and encourage curiosity from the beginning. The “I wonder” questions are a lovely touch as they give the children ownership of their learning.
I also love the idea of using playdough to create the planets. It’s a simple, hands-on activity that would really help younger children engage with the topic. The interactive journey through space sounds like it would be great fun too and would keep the children interested throughout the lesson. Finishing with a story is a lovely way to bring everything together and reinforce what they have learned. Overall, I think it’s a really engaging lesson with lots of opportunities for discussion, creativity and active learning.I think the topic of the moon is a great way to spark curiosity in a First Class classroom. Young children often notice the moon during the day and ask questions like, “Why is the moon out when it’s daytime?” or “Does the moon follow us?” These questions provide a really natural starting point for an inquiry-based lesson where children can share what they already know and what they would like to find out.
For First Class, I would keep the lesson simple and hands-on. I would begin with a picture book to introduce the topic, I would need to research this! We would then look at pictures of the moon and talk about what it looks like and how it changes over time. As a follow-up activity, the children could use black card and white chalk or paint to create their own moon pictures, focusing on the craters and different shapes they can see. If the weather allowed, I would also encourage them to look for the moon at home over a few evenings and share what they noticed with the class.
I like this topic because it encourages children to ask questions and make observations about the world around them. It also links really well with other subjects, including Art, English through oral language and creative writing, and even Maths by looking at patterns. I think the children would really enjoy learning about something they can see in the sky every day, and it would be a memorable way to introduce simple astronomy concepts.
One inquiry-based activity I would use in my First Class classroom is a simple investigation on waterproof and non-waterproof materials. I would give the children a range of everyday objects, such as paper, fabric, plastic, foil and cardboard, and ask them to predict which ones they think will keep water out. They would then test each material, observe what happens and discuss their results with their group.
I think this would be a really enjoyable lesson because the children are actively involved in finding the answers themselves instead of me telling them. At this age, they are naturally curious and love exploring, so giving them the opportunity to investigate makes learning much more meaningful. I also like that there is no pressure to get every prediction right, as the children can learn from what they discover during the activity.
As the teacher, I would move around the classroom asking questions such as “Why do you think that happened?” or “Was your prediction correct?” to encourage the children to think a little deeper. At the end of the lesson, we would come back together to share our findings and talk about which materials would be most suitable for different everyday uses. I think this type of inquiry activity would help the children develop confidence, communication skills and a positive attitude towards science while keeping them engaged and interested throughout the lesson.