[Helen O Sullivan]

Activity: Rockets

I love the idea of rockets. I think this is something that all children are fascinated by.

Introduction

Sing: We are Going to the Moon ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEHBrmZxAf8

I would show the children real videos of rockets being launched into space. As young as they are this will really appeal to them and spark interest.

I have often shown children the Chris Hadfield videos and they are intrigued by the everyday ordinary things which he does

Hands on Activity; make our own balloon rocket.

 

 

The Process
Supplies
Balloon ,straw,string,tape,2 chairs
Step 1
Tie one end of string to the one chair which will be about 10 fee from the other chair
Step 2
Thread the string through the straw and place two pieces of tape near the middle of the straw.
Step 3
Tie the loose end of the string to the other chair and make sure the string is tight
Step 4
Blow up below .Hold the end so air can’t escape .Use the two pieces of take to secure the balloon to the straw.
Pause
To reflect and predict what might happen
Step 5
Move the straw and balloon to one end of the string ….then let go of balloon and watch what happens !!
Step 6
The children will love explaining in their own words what has just happened

Consolidation and follow up activity

Using a simple worksheet below the children can record what just happened. We can write and what we needed.

Then we can draw steps of the process and talk to each other what this was all about!

 

Balloon Rocket
What I needed
Name
Draw

First

Then

Then

Then

Last

To finish

We could sing song

We are Going to the Moon

[Helen O Sullivan]

Hi

I really enjoyed reading this post, especially re the circle and having  clothes in the centre which the children use to dress up in for different times of the year.

This would be such a fun activity for them.

[Helen O Sullivan]

I very much enjoyed exploring the stellarium web. The children would really love looking at this.

While it is advanced for them they would certainly enjoy it.

They would be amazed by it. It links to the phasing of the moon and this is something that they can see clearly in the sky themselves. It would teach them so much about natural nature. The night sky and stars are fascinating and this website would nurture that innate interest we all have in the skies.

Follow up activities would be amazing. imagine how wonderful it would be for the children to draw the phases of the moon as they occur on a sheet of paper divided into sections. I think it is something they would remember for life.

Next year’s class will have a child from Australia. It will be really interesting for her to see what the moon will be like there.

This will all link to science. Gravity in previous module can be explored by looking at Australia on the globe and wondering why we don’t fall off!

This was the best module and website I have ever covered. It was so interesting!

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

Hi Sinead

I love these alien activities especially the flying aliens using the balloons!

The Grow your Own Alien is a fabulous activity. It will lead to lots of shrieks and excitement. This is an activity that they will remember forever!

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

I would start with stories /songs and poems about the stars and night sky. There are so many wonderful resources available on line. This will peak their interest and stimulate so much interest in the activity to come.

So much Art /Craft can be integrated and linked to the activity. We could make star mobiles/decorate the night sky with stars which they could colour.

In Maths we could make up our own star problems during Maths talk.

By now they are ready and set to start the

Star Activity: Draw your own constellation

It’s a most beautiful activity which lends itself to so much oral language as I am circulating. The children will use their imaginations to draw their own constellations with the template provided.

With my own templates then I can provide star constellations in shapes of various animals and they will have great fun talking about their constellations and giving them names

They can then cut around their constellations and paste them on to a black background which will serve as the night sky.

Finally, we can create oral stories about the adventures of their animal constellations in the sky.!

 

[Helen O Sullivan]

Hi Ciara

Hi Ciara

I loved the approach you used here.

Children do not /perhaps cannot link the sun to the time of day so starting with them in the classroom will certainly peak their interest.

Then moving onto the sun house is a great point give the need for sunlight in growing plants.

Our school is installing some solar panels at the moment so that’s ideal for observing and noticing and seeing the reason why.

[Helen O Sullivan]

I particular loved the Sun and Shadows section. I think the children would absolutely love this especially making the sundial

We could start by eliciting from the children all the different ways from where we get the time. Then I am sure it would amaze them by telling them that people long ago could tell the time without any of these and that we are going to make what they used to do.

I love the idea of using a simple flower pot, a bamboo

stick and stones and chalk!

We can mark where the sun is every hour using our shadow!!

They will mark where their shadow is very hour.

From this so much so much cross curricular integration can take place from from this

It is such a cool activity

As we are out there at all we can measure our shadow at diffrerent times of the day, discuss when our shadow is longer /shorter.

When we go in we can explore with flash lights and shapes to keep the whole exploration of shadow theme going.

I am really excited about all of this already!

[Helen O Sullivan]

Hi

I love doing this with the children ,Its certainly the one that gives them the most joy and the most fun .It is also the one the parents say that  they love to talk about and do at home !

[Helen O Sullivan]

Hi

My name is Helen O Sullivan and I am a Senior Infant teacher .I love every minute of teaching the seniors.I love their curious minds and their total lack of filter !!!

My amazing space fact :Myself and the1st  landing on the moon are the same age !!!!

Inquiry based Activity

My children loved this

It provides plenty of scope for discussion and oral language. There is scope for worksheet activity after where they can write, label and draw their activity.

Title: Chemical Bonds: stretch when freezing so that ice becomes less dense that water

I have great fun asking them to explain how they can watch this property in action!

Activity

So we pour the water into a plastic bottle

We note where the water level is at.

After leaving in a freezer

We compare the volume of the liquid and solid after freezing.

I then ask them how can this work in reverse/where should we leave the water/how long should we leave it there for

 

We make a jug of ice water. Again mark the level the water is at.

Allow the ice to melt and note the new level

 

This whole activity allows the children to see two activities around one concept

 

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