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I really enjoyed reading your idea for the Dancing Raisins activity. I think it would be a great activity for children because it is simple, fun and has a really interesting result. The idea of calling the raisins “space rocks” would definitely help to get the children interested and make them curious about what is going to happen.I also like how you have structured the activity into Engage, Investigate and Take the Next Step. I agree that having these stages gives the lesson more structure and helps the children understand that they are making predictions, investigating and then thinking about what they have discovered. I especially like the idea of testing other objects such as popcorn or buttons, as the children could make their own predictions and see if they were correct.I think this activity would also work really well with younger children as they could use simple words such as sink, float, up, down, bubbles and dancing. It would be a great opportunity for discussion and questioning. Overall, I think it sounds like a really enjoyable hands-on science activity that would encourage children to be curious and ask questions.
Module 5
I would do the rockets activity with my Junior Infant class as part of Space Week. I think the children would really enjoy this as they love anything to do with space, rockets and astronauts.
Engage: I would begin by reading Whatever Next! by Jill Murphy. We could talk about Baby Bear going to the moon and ask the children what they think it would be like to travel into space. We could then look at some pictures or a short video of a real rocket launch and talk about what they notice.
Investigate: We would make our own balloon rockets. I would set up a simple string and straw activity and let the children work in pairs to make their rockets. Before we let them go, I would ask them what they think will happen. We could try different sized balloons and see which rocket goes the furthest or fastest. The children could talk about what happened and compare their rockets.
Next Step: We could bring the space theme into Aistear by setting up a space station in the classroom. The children could pretend to be astronauts, make their own rockets and travel to different planets.
Reflection: At the end of the activity, we would sit together and talk about what we learned. I would ask the children what they enjoyed most and what happened to their rockets. I would take photographs and record some of their comments as a digital record of their learning. I think this would be a fun and exciting way for Junior Infants to learn through play and hands-on activities.
I really like your idea of using hands-on classroom activities with Junior Infants, especially because it links so naturally with Aistear and gives the children plenty of opportunities to learn through play. I think the dressing up box would be a great idea because the children would have so much fun choosing the clothes while also learning why certain clothes are suitable for different types of weather. I also like how you have included Gaeilge throughout the activities. Using simple words and phrases while the children are playing would make the language feel more natural and easier for them to remember. The idea of designing an outfit for a particular season would be lovely too, as the children could be creative and then explain their choices to the class. I think the storybooks, rhymes and movement activities would work really well with Junior Infants as they can sometimes learn best when they are active and having fun. Overall, I think this would be a really enjoyable topic that would keep the children interested while helping them learn about seasons, weather and appropriate clothing.
Module 4:
I have chosen the Hands-on Classroom Themed Activities as I think these would work really well with a Junior Infant class. I would like to use a space theme because I think the children would be very interested in learning about rockets, planets, stars and astronauts.
I would start by using space as an Aistear theme for the week. We could set up a space station in the role-play area where the children could pretend to be astronauts. They could make their own rockets using cardboard boxes and different recycled materials. We could also make astronaut helmets and space passports for the children to use during their play.
I would also include some simple hands-on activities. We could make rockets using paper cups or cardboard and do a simple rocket experiment with the children. We could look at pictures of the planets and talk about what they look like and how they are different. The children could also make their own planets using paint and paper plates. I think this would be a great way for Junior Infants to learn through play. It would give them opportunities to develop their language, creativity, problem-solving and teamwork skills. I would take photographs and record some of the children’s comments during the week to show their learning. I think the main thing would be to make the activities fun and allow the children to explore and ask questions in their own way.
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I really like your idea of using the Stars activity set as part of an Aistear theme on night and day. I think spreading the activities over a full week rather than teaching them as one science lesson would give the children much more opportunity to explore the topic at their own pace. The different learning stations sound particularly engaging for a junior class, as children can learn through play and hands-on experiences.</p>
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I especially like the idea of the Space Station role-play area. I think this would really encourage the children to use their imagination while also developing their communication and social skills as they work together. The wonder wall is also a great idea as it would allow the teacher to see what the children are curious about and use their questions to guide further learning.</p>
I also think the links to Gaeilge, Maths, Music and Visual Arts make this a very well-rounded activity. Learning words such as réalta and spéir in context would make the Gaeilge meaningful for the children. Overall, I think your approach would create a fun, child-centred learning experience while still allowing the teacher to assess and extend the children’s learning through observation.Module 3:
I would use the Stars activity set with my Junior Infant class as I think it would be a lovely way to introduce children to the night sky and encourage their natural curiosity about space. I would begin by asking the children what they already know about stars and if they have ever looked at the stars at night. We could discuss what stars look like, where we see them and why we cannot see them as clearly during the daytime.
The children could then create their own star pictures using different art materials such as paint, crayons, glitter or black paper. They could also design their own imaginary constellation and give it a name, explaining what they think the shape looks like. This would encourage their creativity while also developing their oral language skills as they share their ideas with the class.
We could extend the activity by creating a classroom night sky display with the children’s stars and constellations. I could take photographs of the children working and record some of their comments and ideas as a digital record of their learning.
I feel this activity would work very well with Junior Infants as it combines Science with Art, Oral Language and imaginative play. It would encourage children to observe, ask questions, share ideas and develop an interest in the world around them in a fun and engaging way.
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I really like your choice of the Sun and Shadows activity, especially as you have 1st class this year. I think this would be a great activity for younger children because it allows them to learn through being outside, exploring and making their own observations rather than just being told the information.</p>
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I particularly like the idea of the children working in pairs to trace each other’s shadows and then making predictions about what will happen later in the day. This gives them an opportunity to develop their scientific thinking by making predictions and then checking whether their predictions were correct. I also think returning to the same shadows at different times would make the changes much more meaningful for the children.</p>
It is also great that you have linked the activity with other subjects such as Maths, Geography and Visual Arts. Measuring the shadows could make the Maths connection very practical, while drawing or recording their observations would allow the children to express what they have learned creatively.<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I would choose the the planets for my classroom because I think it would be a really engaging way to introduce children to space and encourage their natural curiosity. Children are often fascinated by space, so I feel this activity would provide a good opportunity to build on their existing interests and knowledge.</p>
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I would begin by asking the children what they already know about the planets and allow them to share their ideas and questions. I would then use the activities to help them explore the different planets, looking at their size, appearance, position in the solar system and some of their key features. I would encourage the children to work together in small groups, as I think collaboration would help them learn from each other and develop their communication skills.</p>
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>I would also use digital records, such as photographs, drawings or short videos, to document the children’s learning. These could be used to reflect on what they discovered and to show how their understanding developed throughout the activity.</p>
Overall, I think this activity would make the topic more hands-on and enjoyable while allowing me to observe the children’s thinking, ask questions and support their learning. It would also provide opportunities for further activities across subjects such as art, literacy and numeracy.Your lesson is very interesting. I like how you begin by activating the children’s prior knowledge through open-ended questions, as this encourages them to think critically and share their own ideas before introducing new concepts. The outdoor shadow activity is particularly effective because it gives pupils a hands-on opportunity to observe how shadows are formed and compare their predictions with what they see in real life. Working in pairs also promotes collaboration and communication skills. Your lesson encourages children to ask questions, make observations and learn through active exploration, helping them stay engaged while building their scientific understanding.
Hi Lorraine! That’s such an amazing fact—I never realised there were that many stars! It really shows how huge the universe is. There are so many interesting facts about space and I’m sure we are just touching the surface!
Module 1: inquiry based activity
Children will investigate which objects float and which sink by making predictions, testing their ideas and discussing their findings.
Engage:
The lesson begins with a class discussion using a basket of everyday objects such as a cork, stone, spoon, leaf, plastic lid and sponge. The children are asked questions like, “What do you think will happen if we put this in the water?” and “Why do you think that?” Their ideas and predictions are encouraged before any testing takes place.
Investigate:
Working in small groups, the children place one object at a time into a tub of water and observe what happens. They then sort each object into “Float” or “Sink” groups. Throughout the activity, the teacher supports learning by asking open-ended questions such as, “What do you notice?” and “Did anything surprise you?” rather than giving the answers.
To finish, the class comes together to discuss what they discovered and compare the objects that floated and sank. Learning is assessed through observation of the children’s participation, predictions and discussions. This inquiry-based activity encourages curiosity, communication and scientific thinking while allowing children to learn through hands-on exploration and play.