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Module 5:
I have compiled a list suitable to Junior Infants to connect with the night sky, while learning about biodiversity, nocturnal animals, and even light pollution, here’s a themed collection of songs, poems, and art that blends these nicely :Night Sky & Nature – Activities for Junior Infants
Songs that Connect Nature to the Night Sky
1. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” (with nature twist)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
In the sky both near and far.
Owls and foxes love the dark,
Playing softly in the park.
Twinkle, twinkle, little light,
Help them rest throughout the night.
2. “Star Light, Star Bright” (Add a wish!)
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight.
I wish I may, I wish I might,
See bats and owls take gentle flight.
3. “Bats Are Sleeping” (Tune: Frère Jacques)
Bats are sleeping, bats are sleeping,
In a cave, in a cave.
When it’s dark they fly out,
Looking all about…
Moths beware, moths beware!Night Sky & Nature Poems / Rhymes
1. Little Creatures in the Night
When the stars begin to shine,
And the moon is up so high,
Tiny creatures start to wake,
Quiet footsteps they will take.
Bats and badgers, owls take flight,
All need darkness, not bright light!
2. A Star and a Tree
I saw a star up in the sky,
I saw a bird go flutter by.
I saw a tree wave in the breeze,
I saw some bugs crawl near my knees!
Nature’s busy day and night,
All beneath the starry light.Art Ideas: Night Sky Meets Biodiversity
1. Night-Time Animal Masks
• Create owl, bat, or fox masks using paper plates, feathers, or tissue paper.
• Wear them while listening to a night-themed song or story.
2. Starry Sky & Wildlife Painting
• Paint a black or dark blue background.
• Add stars (white paint or stickers) and glue on cut-out silhouettes of nocturnal animals.
3. Glow-in-the-Dark Art
• Use glow paint or chalk to draw constellations, fireflies, or night creatures.
• Turn off the lights and let the artwork glow!
4. Day vs Night Sorting Collage
• Provide pictures of animals and stars.
• Let pupils sort into “Day” and “Night” groups on a divided page.Night-Themed Storybooks
• Owl Babies – Martin Waddell
• Night Animals – Gianna Marino
• What’s In the Sky? – simple astronomy books
• Moon: A Peek-Through Picture Book – Britta TeckentrupModule 4: Exploring Biodiversity & Light Pollution with Infant Pupils
🐿 1. Nature Walks to Explore Local Biodiversity
Take your pupils on a short, gentle walk in the school grounds or nearby nature — I will link up with the Killarney National Park Education Centre for a guided experience or workshop .
They offer curriculum-linked outdoor learning and can tailor simple biodiversity walks for infants.•The education centre is a great resource for parents also.
On the walk, children can:
• Spot and name birds, bees, butterflies, flowers, and trees.
• Use magnifying glasses to look at leaves, bugs, or soil.
• Tick off animals on a simple “I Spy” sheet.2. Learn About Day & Night Animals
Help children understand that:
• Some animals come out during the day (e.g. bees, butterflies).
• Others come out at night (e.g. owls, bats, hedgehogs, moths).Ask:
“How do night-time animals feel when the sky is always bright with lights?”3. Talk About Light Pollution in Simple Terms
Say:
“Too many bright lights at night can confuse animals. It can stop them from finding food or sleeping properly.”Use visuals:
• Town full of lights vs. dark, starry countryside
• A moth flying around a lamp
• A fox hiding in the bushes4. Creative Follow-Up Activities
• Draw or sort animals into Day vs. Night groups.
• Paint a starry sky with or without light pollution.
• Make bat, owl, or fox crafts to display.5. “Dark Den”
• Set up a dark tent or corner in the classroom with torches.
• Let children explore like bats or owls — using their senses in the dark.6. Suggested Book I have used
• Owl Babies by Martin WaddellI use this story to talk about noctural animals and why darkness is important for animals.
Partnership with Killarney Education Centre
• The centre offers support for outdoor learning, biodiversity education, and can guide walks in Killarney National Park.
• They may also help with teacher resources, seasonal nature themes, and guest speakers.
• I will link parents with the education centre alsoWhat Pupils Will Learn:
• Animals and plants live all around us in Killarney.
• Some animals are awake at night and need the dark.
• Too much light at night can bother them.
• We can help nature by turning off lights we don’t need.Detail how light pollution is impacting your local area and how you would engage your learners to explore this.
Module 3 What’s Happening in Killarney?
Killarney is near the Kerry International Dark-Sky Reserve – one of the best places in the world to see stars. But light from streetlights, homes, and businesses in the town can still cause light pollution.
• This extra light:
• Makes it harder to see stars.
• Affects wildlife, like bats and moths.
• Wastes energy and money.How Can I Teach This to My Learners?
1. Go Outside and Look at the Sky
• Take your class on a night walk (even around school).
• Compare what they can see in town vs. outside town.
• Use a sky app like Stellarium to find stars.Killarney National Park Education Centre offers curriculum-linked outdoor programmes for primary and post-primary schools, focusing on ecology, habitats, and heritage
You can request evening or twilight sessions, tailored to explore wildlife and star-lore. They already run hundreds of visits—which can extend into night-time learning.2. Light Check
• Walk around school or their homes and look at lights:
• Are they too bright?
• Do they shine into the sky?
• Talk about better lighting – softer, shielded, and pointing down.3. Animals at Night
• Discuss how animals like bats and insects need darkness.
• Ask: How would you feel if it was never fully dark?4. Use Technology
• Use free apps or websites like Globe at Night to measure how bright the sky is.
• Map areas with the most light pollution.5. Creative Projects
• Make drawings or paintings showing a natural night sky vs. a light-polluted sky.
• Write poems or stories about the stars or animals at night.6. Class Debate or Project
• Ask: Should Killarney change its lights to protect dark skies?
• Learners can share ideas for helping the town become more “dark-sky friendly”.What Will Students Learn?
• How light affects nature and us.
• How to look carefully at the world around them.
• How to make a difference in their own town.After this module I will definitely look into Partnering With Local Experts
• Kerry Dark‑Sky Group often offer guided night walks—ideal for schools.
• Watch for Dark Sky Festival (March 27–30, 2025), which has family-friendly and school workshopsNicole I am looking forward to using the Kerry dark sky reserve resources too. It appears to be one of the very best places in the world to experience the night sky.
Dairmuid I have been on 2 night walks organised by our local education centre and it was fantastic and rare experience. Most people never explore the nature after dark. If feels like a secret world – and its right on our doorstep. Children and adults loved it!!!
Great points Olive. Teaching kids about light pollution is important because it helps them care for nature, save energy, sleep better, and stay curious about the night sky. They’re the ones who can make a brighter (and darker!) future.
Module 2 :
Infant Lesson: “What Can We See in the Sky?” Using StellariumLearning Focus:
• Recognise the Sun, Moon, and stars in the sky
• Understand that the sky looks different in day and night
• Begin noticing that the Moon and stars move slowly over time🕰 Time: 30 minutes (broken into a few mini lessons)
Curriculum Links:
• Science: Environmental Awareness & Care – light and dark, sun/moon
• Geography: Natural Environment – the sky and weather
• SPHE: Myself and the Environment – time and routines1. Circle Time Chat – “What’s in the Sky?” (5 min)
• Ask:
“What do we see in the sky in the morning?”
“What do we see at night before bed?”
• Create a quick visual T-chart: Day Sky / Night Sky2. Show Stellarium on Screen
Set your location (or let it auto-detect).
• Set time to day:
• Point out: the Sun, blue sky, no stars
• “The Sun is shining! That’s why it’s bright.”
• Then skip ahead to night (adjust time to 9pm):
• Watch the sky darken.
• Point out: stars appear, Moon rises
• Ask:
“What’s different now?”
“Do you think this is bedtime for some animals?”Let them watch the stars move slowly with time skip — it’s like magic.
3. Drawing Activity – “My Sky Picture”
Children fold a page in half:
• Top: draw the day sky – Sun, birds, clouds
• Bottom: draw the night sky – Moon, stars, maybe an owl or batEncourage detail: “What’s the Moon doing? Are there stars? Are you asleep?”
4. End with a Song or Rhyme
Tune: “Twinkle Twinkle”
“In the morning, Sun shines bright,
At night-time we see starry light.
Moon comes out, the sky turns black,
Sun will rise and then come back…”Let them stretch up and curl down to match day and night!
Im looking forward too to using Stellarium it seems like a fantastic resource for both teachers and students because it brings the night sky to life in an interactive and accessible way-right from the classroom or home.
A chose a simple, sensory-based lesson on day and night for infants my infant , using ideas inspired by ESERO’s “Day and Night in the World” activities and through sensory play, storytelling and visual sorting.
Lesson: Day and Night for Infants
I usually break this down into a few mini lessons and there is lots of opportunity for extension.
Focus:
The Sun lights up the Earth during the day, and when the Sun is not in the sky, it is night.
Learning Goals:
• Understand what happens during the day and night.
• Begin to notice differences: light vs dark, awake vs asleep, animals in day/night.
• Use movement, song, and creative play to explore the topic1. Story & Discussion
I will Read a short book or poem like:
• “Can’t You Sleep, Little Bear?” by Martin Waddell- this is a great story to prompt the discussion about light and dark.Asking:
• When do you wake up?
• What do we see in the sky during the day?
• What do we see at night?
The children are always eager to share what they do on the morning and at bedtime, showing their strong existing knowledge around routines
Key words: sun, moon, stars, morning, evening, dark, light, sleep, awake.2. Day & Night Movement Game
• “When I say ‘Day’, stretch up like the Sun ”
• “When I say ‘Night’, curl up like you’re sleeping ”
Mix it up: whisper, sing, go fast/slow.Great for body memory!
3. Day/Night Sorting Activity
🧺 Materials: printed images of:
• Day activities: brushing teeth, going to school, sun, breakfast, birds
• Night activities: stars, pajamas, sleeping, moon, bat, owlChildren sort them into a “Day” or “Night” basket or poster.
We model language like ‘This happens during the day…..’4. Make a Day/Night Picture : this offers insight into individual interpretations and supported expressive language and fine motor skills
Fold a paper in half:
• On one side: “Day” — draw the Sun, kids playing, birds.
• On the other side: “Night” — moon, stars, bed, sleeping animals.5. Sing a Song – to recap on learning in rhythm and rhyme
Sing to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle”:Daytime, daytime, see the sun,
Shining bright for everyone.
When it sets, the sky turns night,
Stars and moon give softer light.
Day and night, they come and go,
Round and round the Earth does show.Lots of further Extension Ideas:
• Shadow play: use a torch in a dark corner and explore light and dark.
• Nocturnal animal toy sorting.
• Add day/night roles to playtime (e.g. wake-up routine, bedtime routine).Great lesson Grainne. The children would love creating their own sundial. It is the perfect mix of hands on creativity, science magic and outdoor fun.
Great ideas here Margaret I love that its hands on and interactive the kids would love to build, decorate and launch something themselves. I can imagine excitement already. The bonus is its easy, low cost and safe. Time to stat gathering the milk cartons!!
Module 5: Dancing raisins
The experiment I like to do is a simple version of the dancing raisins it is clear, fun and child friendly and you don’t need many resources only a clear glass, fizzy water or lemonade (something bubbly and a few raisins.
How to do it:
Pour fizzy water into the clear cup ( ¾ full)
Drop the raisins in gently
Watch closely as the raisins sink to the bottom, then start to rise and fall-like they’re dancing.
The bubbles from the fizzy drink stick to the raisins and lift them up. When the bubbles pop, the raisins sink again. This makes them move up and down -dancing in the cup.
I will encourage the kids to describe what they see:
Are the raising jumping?
Do they look like they’re dancing.For extra fun the children will draw what they saw from the experiment- Maybe a picture of raising with happy faces and even draw bubbles around them.
I will prompt them with questions like;
‘Can you draw the raisins jumping?’
‘How do you think the bubbles look?’Module 4: Online resources and tools
I have to admit I’ve been guilty of over relying on you tube for classroom content, but this module has opened my eyes to the wealth and variety of engaging child friendly resources available to us online. I’m excited to start using some of these interactive websites like Milo and Mervin, ESA kids and Stellarium in a more purposeful and creative way with my infant class. They offer such a rich, curriculum linked learning opportunities that I can’t wait to explore with the children in school and my own children at home.
I feel the kids will especially love Milo and Mervin as the characters feel like friends they can connect with, and the episodes are like space adventure.
The Esa website I liked the colourful game like layout I will use it to show the children pictures of real-life rockets, space stations and planets- It makes space feel real and reachable and the space facts are explained in a kid friendly way.
Stellarium web- the children will love this as it shows the real night sky as they’re looking at it through a telescope. Its interactive and exciting.
These 3 resources make science fun, visual and playful
I feel they empower children to ask questions and make discoveries.
