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I like the idea of starting each day with a story as the anchor or introduction to the topic for that day. Lots of great stories have been mentioned across this forum and I have a lovely list of books to look for. That is the only downside of a summer course like this.. it will cost me a fortune in book recommendations to add to my collection!!
The activity I would choose from module 5 is the science week plan for infant classes. It contains great cross curricular integration which is really important in the short infant day. Thematic planning helps to cover all subject areas through one topic and space provides so many wonderful engaging and playful activities. I like the small world suggestions and I would use the tuff tray for this.
There are lots of construction ideas which link with the space theme. Rockets can be built in the image of real space rockets or children can design and build their own alien space ships.
I would use the weather resources from Met Eireann and link the fact that space exploration has enabled weather services to use satellites in space to predict weather. I think it is important to balance the fun alien theme with some learning about the reasons and benefits of space exploration.
Gorgeous ideas Emma, I will definitely try some of these. Lovely integration and use of very simple familiar resources as an introduction to the topics.
Margaret I love exploring homes with junior infant classes. A walk to look at the various types of homes in our area is a lovely idea. I have a powerpoint made of different types of homes with examples from our town. I love the excitement when the children recognise an area. I also like to go onto google maps street view and find some of the roads the children in the class live on to look at the homes near them on the smartboard. It is also a nice way to link SPHE and when we are learning about homes I encourage the parents to make sure their child knows their home address or eircode for homework in case they ever need it in an emergency.
For STEM focused School Self Evaluation in our junior school it would be important to establish initially what our strengths are and identify areas for potential development. I would start by gathering pupil and teacher voice. Finding out what the children enjoy about STEM, what they know about it. Find out from staff how confident they feel about teaching STEM, whether they feel the children are engaged, meeting targets. Do staff feel there are sufficient resources in the school. I would also do an inventory of the resources available for STEM activities as often resources can be in a school but are not known about by new staff or have been forgotten. Gathering parent voice could be done via a survey on Aladdin.
When the baseline information has been gathered it will be analysed to identify an area of development to focus on. A simple smart target should be established and a plan put in place to achieve this target. As per the SSE 6 step, after the plan has been implemented it should be reviewed and further steps identified.
I would use the Special Life space and aliens activity to integrate an English procedural writing activity. Having done the suggested activity I would then ask the children to consider an alien visitor to our school who does not know anything about how life on our planet / in our school /in our town works. I would ask them to work in pairs to choose something to explain to the aliens and to write about it, making sure to include all the information the aliens will need to understand and take part in the activity. An example might be to explain about playing football for the local team, what equipment they use, what clothes they wear, how they train, what a match involves etc.
I think the topic of aliens would be fun and engaging and as there are not many facts to teach about aliens, this would be a good way of expanding the topic across the curriculum!
I really enjoyed module 2 and I feel I learned a lot of new information. One activity I have used with a class is the planets. For a senior infant class I focus on fostering the children’s curiosity and establish what they already know. I have integrated it with PE and use the space in the PE hall to demonstrate the rotation of the earth, the moon orbiting the earth and the earth orbiting the sun. The children can act it out. The PE hall and sports equipment can also be used to look at 3d shape, various spheres and also to compare the size of the planets. The children select different balls from tennis balls to basket balls to represent the different planets and create models to demonstrate the order and position of the planets in relation to the sun. It is a basic but tangible representation for the young children.
I agree Riona, we are not as savvy as we should be in Ireland about uv and the dangers it poses. I had never heard of the beads before and I will definitely try them out with a class in the future. I like your activity idea and following it up with a discussion about sunburn.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>Trying to use more Gaeilge neamhfhoirmiúil and also trying to optimise cross curriculum integration I think the vocabulary you identify here Grace is something I would try to incorporate also maybe in a 1st or 2nd class.</p>
Enquiry based lesson for infant class.
Prompt: ( inspired by current warm weather! ) a photo of Olaf from movie Frozen, melting. Play the clip of his song “In Summer”
Wonder:
What is happening to Olaf? What does the title of the movie mean? How was Olaf created? Have you ever built a snowman? Is it still in your garden?
Brainstorm other things that melting.
Investigation:
How can we use the sunny weather in the school garden to investigate what happens in sun? What materials will we use?
Using (2 of each) ice cubes, chocolate, play doh, etc and other materials familiar to and suggested by the children, place each item in a small tub in the garden and also leave a 2nd in the classroom. Consider why we use a contol.
Predict: using photos of items and chart on whiteboard, sort pictures into melt, soften or stay the same.
Collect and compare results using digital cameras/ ipads to record.
apply learning:
Consider and test what happens the melted ice cube when taken out of the heat. Will it change back to ice?
Teacher reflection:
- Did I observe the children meeting targets ? Did they use language such as melt, soften, change? Did they communicate their findings and their learning?
What is space?
- Vast
- Dark
- Complex
- Empty….but also full!
- Sun, moon, stars, planets, galaxy, milky way
- To be explored
- Fascinating