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Space, Solar system, planets, stars, galaxy, astronauts, Neil Armstrong, shadow, songs, rocks, air, wind, water, hot, cold, ailens, Mars, red planet, animals, houses, homes, local area, environment, space walk, rockets, weatherI have always found it challenging to come up with ideas for Space Week. In the past, I tended to focus mainly on topics such as space, astronauts, and the planets. Through this course, I realised there are so many more creative ways to explore the theme with children.
I particularly enjoyed learning how to link topics like houses and homes to Space Week. I also loved the connections to animal homes and the hot and cold science experiments. These activities have really broadened my understanding of how to make Space Week more engaging and cross-curricular.
I feel that I now have a much wider range of knowledge, ideas, and resources to draw on, and I am looking forward to using them in my classroom.
Space Week Topic Plan (Junior & Senior Infants)
Monday- Exploring Space
Introduce Space Week by discussing what children already know about space.
Learn about the Sun, Moon, stars, planets, and astronauts.
Read a space-themed story.
Art: Create a rocket or astronaut picture.Tuesday- Aliens and Their Homes
Discuss what an alien might look like and where it might live.
Compare alien homes with our own homes.
Design and build an alien home using construction materials or recycled objects.Wednesday- Homes in Space and Animal Homes
Sort animals into their correct homes.
Small-world play using animals and space figures.Thursday- Space Science Experiments
Investigate hot and cold by discussing why astronauts wear special suits and how temperatures differ in space.
Carry out a simple hot and cold experiment (e.g. observing ice melting in warm and cold places).Friday- Space Celebration
Sing space-themed songs and take part in a “Space Mission” role-play.
Share favourite facts and celebrate Space Week with a gallery walk of the week’s work.The planet walk is a great idea! I would love to incorporate this idea into my Space Week plans this year.
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Space, Solar system, planets, stars, galaxy, astronauts, Neil Armstrong, shadow, songs, rocks, air, wind, water, hot, cold, ailens, Mars, red planet, animals, houses, homes, local area, environmentThere are some lovely ideas here Sarah, thank you for sharing. Using photos of the local area is a great idea!
Where do you live and Animals in the cold
I would incorporate the topic “Where do you live?” into my theme of Houses and Homes with my Junior and Seniors Infants class. I would begin by reading A House Is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman, which provides a wonderful opportunity to discuss different types of homes and who lives in them. We would explore a variety of houses found in Ireland and compare them with homes from around the world, encouraging the children to recognise and appreciate different living environments.
As a creative follow-up activity, the children would draw their own homes and then use a range of 3D materials to construct them. Once completed, we would work together to create a class village or town. This would lead to discussions about what makes a community and what might be missing from our village. The children could suggest and create additions such as gardens, flowers, trees, roads, or a playground.
I would also link this topic with A Place Called Home by Kate Baker to explore how animals have homes too, particularly those living in cold environments. This would naturally connect with our Arctic Animals theme, where the children investigate melting ice in a tuff tray while exploring animal habitats through play-based learning.
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Space, Solar system, planets, stars, galaxy, astronauts, Neil Armstrong, shadow, songs, rocks, air, wind, water, hot, cold, ailens, Mars, red planetActivity Set: Space and Aliens
I previously read ‘Man on the Moon’ (a day in the life of Bob) to my Junior and Senior Infants class, and it proved to be a highly engaging and enjoyable learning experience. The children listened attentively throughout the story and eagerly participated in discussions about the characters, the setting, and what they imagined life in space might be like.
The children then designed their own aliens using their creativity and imagination. They then used clay to create three-dimensional models of their alien designs. Once the clay had dried, the children carefully painted their aliens. As part of our learning about space, we also explored the planet Mars. We discussed its appearance, colour, and why it is often referred to as the “Red Planet.” The children used clay to make their own models of Mars before painting them red.
On our writing table I had set out some colouring sheets and opportunities to write lists- What would I pack to go to the moon? What would I have for lunch on the moon? Interesting facts about space etc. I would also use the space songs from YouTube to further engage the children’s interest in space.
Wow Jade! This is a fun filled thematic unit that the children will love! I would love to use this in my classroom next year. Thank you for sharing.
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Space, Solar system, planets, stars, galaxy, astronauts, Neil Armstrong, shadow, songs, rocks, air, wind, water, hot, coldIf I were teaching a lesson on the planets in my Junior and Senior Infant classroom, I would begin with the “Man on the Moon” activity to introduce the topic of astronomy and encourage children’s curiosity about space. This would provide opportunities for discussion and allow the children to share what they already know about the Moon, stars, and planets. I would then introduce a lively planets song, as music is an engaging way for young children to learn new vocabulary and remember facts. To make the lesson active and cross-curricular, I would use hula hoops to represent the planets. As the song plays, children would move to the correct hoop or pretend to orbit the Sun, linking Science with PE through movement and spatial awareness. After the song, we could use clay to make our own planets or paint pictures of our favourite planet and write some key words on our pictures. This lesson would encourage curiosity, active participation, language development, and enjoyment while helping children develop a basic understanding of our solar system.
Push and Pull- Junior and Senior Infants
“What Happens When We Push or Pull?”
Begin by gathering a variety of classroom objects, such as a toy car, toy train, a small box, a chair, a soft ball, 3D shapes, pram, and a basket. Ask the children, “How can we make these objects move?” Encourage them to predict whether each object will need a push, a pull, or both. Working in small groups, children test each object by pushing and pulling it, observing how it moves on different surfaces such as the floor or a mat. Invite them to compare which objects are easier or harder to move and discuss why they think this happens. Record their observations using simple pictures or symbols. Introduce vocabulary including push, pull, force, move, stop, heavy, and light. Conclude by encouraging children to identify examples of pushes and pulls in their daily lives, such as opening doors, pulling toys, or pushing swings. This hands-on investigation develops curiosity, prediction, observation, communication, and problem-solving skills while introducing the concept of forces through meaningful, playful exploration.