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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.
