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Excellent idea Siobhan. As parents we have so much useful ‘junk’ around the house that could be used in the classroom. An idea I will be using next year!
Hello Saoirse, I think your idea of using peg boards is a great hands on activity that the children would love, great for their fine motor skills too. I also liked your idea of using Milo and Marvin. Again, it’s fantastic for the younger classes and I will be using these ideas next year. Maith thú!
I would use the activity set: Space and Aliens.
I would start by using a story ‘Aliens in Underpants Save the World’ I have read with my own children, who loved it. Read Aloud Kids Book: Aliens in Underpants Save the World by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort (youtube.com)
I alternate between reading the books or using a nice version on YouTube as I find that the children can all see the pictures better using the interactive whiteboard and it also gives them a break from listening to my voice.
From this story we can discuss what we think aliens look like: colour, shape, features – eyes, mouth, hands, feet etc.
Next the children will draw/design their own alien – some might prefer to draw their own alien using markers and crayon while others can use straws, string, button, wool etc. or they can use both.
Next is the important part as they get to name their alien and write a small bit about what planet their aliens are from and how they live their lives: is it hot/cold, what type of house they live in, what job do they have, how they travel around, where do they go on holidays?
To finish, the class will present their alien, tell us their name and how they live and the other children will get an opportunity to ask questions.
Eleanor, I think that it is fantastic how you were able to link so many subjects! A great idea to get the children engaged from the beginning by using a nursery rhyme. I have infants next year and I will definitely be using this. Maith thú!
Hi Clare, I love your idea of stations, I think that it’s a fantastic idea. The children would have so much fun doing these activities and learn so much through play.
The activity set I would choose would be The Planets. This could tie in with an art project where the children could make and decorate their own planet using paper mache, and also with our music lesson.
To begin the lesson I show the children the video of the song, Planet song, invite them to join in and sing along.
I would then ask the children to form a circle in the middle of the classroom like the shape of a planet, with me sitting in the middle. I would ask them what they know about space and planets and discuss what they already know.
Next, I would read them the story ‘I want to be an astronaut’. I would ask them if I was a planet or the Sun? If I was the sun then what could they be?
I would then put them into small groups and show them cards with pictures of the planets and some simple information about the planets. I would give them a few minutes to read and discuss as a group and ask each group to share this information with the other groups.
Finally, in our art lesson these groups to make and decorate their own planets using the pictures they saw. They could start the art that day but we would complete it over a few lesson. It would be fun to play suitable ‘space’ music, i.e Starman, A spaceman came travelling etc, during the art lessons.
Sharon,
I will have Senior Infants next year and I like your example of inquiry based learning. I like the fact that it take place over a few days and that the children can see what is happening before their very eyes. I look forward to using this with my own class next year.
One simple inquiry based lesson I’ve done in the past is to show that water rises when ice melts. I know that this isn’t easy as many schools might not have a freezer but my old school was fortunate to have one.
Materials needed: Ice, water, container, marker.
Pour water into a glass and add ice. Use a marker to show where the water level.
Discuss with the children what they think will happen. Ask the children to predict what will happen/how far they think that the water will rise. Just wait and see how far the water rises as the ice melts.Extensions:
Ask the children why ice floats?
Put water in different size containers and add ice? Why does the water levels rise more in a thinner shape glass than in a wider shaped glass?
Time how long it takes for the ice to melt. Does it melt quicker/slower in different conditions? What are these conditions?Hello everyone, my name is Pól. I am starting in a new school at the end of August and I will have Junior infants next year. I don’t have one favourite space fact but I do love to learn about space and look forward to learning many new and interesting facts during this course that I will be able to share with my pupils next year
