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I found module 5 Rockets and Alien Chemistry very interesting. There was lots of different ideas which could be used in the classroom.
I have found over the years that children are always really intrigued and enthusiastic about rockets. Using the ‘Spacecraft’ resource from space week is a great starting point. Children like learning about the first of anything and would love to know that it took a long time to perfect a spacecraft.
Using the simple step by step instructions would be ideal for use in First and Second class. The lesson would begin by showing different pictures of spacecraft and showing how these have changed over time. Children will share their prior knowledge with the class and then break into small groups. The teacher will tell the class that today they are going to make their own space craft. Each group will get the same materials with some extra materials for decorating made available. The children will work together to make their own creation and then upon completion test it out for the class. Children will discuss the success of different space crafts and talk abut what they need to do differently if they were to do it the next time.
Space week resources are very engaging and easy to use – they could also be tried out at home.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I have used the experiment of Dancing raisins too – the children really enjoy it and it’s a novel way to get learning across!</p>
I have chosen to use the activity set ‘Weather’
Link to other subjects – literacy different weather books, music nursery rhyme (Doctor Foster, Incy Wincy Spider..), Geography (climate), Maths (gathering and analysing data)
As I work in the junior end of the school we would begin the week by talking about the weather. Read the story ‘Doctor Foster’ together and discuss all the different weather and what effect this had on him (sun = burnt on his nose, fog= he couldn’t see…) The children could then recall a time when it was sunny, snowy, foggy, frosty and see other children’s experiences. Then using the resource ‘What clothes to wear’ ESERO 11 the children would use Doctor Foster and discuss the different clothes needed for the different weather. Talk about advantages and disadvantages of each and why one would be more suitable. Including some scientific language like temperature and material is important. The children could then design and make the clothes for their chosen weather type in small groups. After making they could present to the class to ensure further learning.
I agree with Muireann, Stellarium is a really effective tool to help children to see and explore the night sky. Asking children to go stargazing isn’t always possible and by exploring this on class this could spark their interest. I think it is very accessible across a variety of class levels and could be a more in-depth analysis/ learning for the older classes.
Topic: Space and Aliens
I would begin by using a picture book to capture the children’s imagination (Adam’s Amazing Space Adventure is one that I have used with my class). After this we would have a discussion about the many different aspects of space visited by the characters. We could break into groups and choose different areas to draw and then order these to sequence the story.
After this we would focus on Mars and use some ideas from ‘Mars Space week’. I would firstly get an idea of the children’s prior knowledge of Mars and see what new facts they are interested to learn. Using some different images, we would discuss and see the similarities and differences to Earth. Also important to make a link to Mars by showing some images of it in the night sky and encouraging them to observe it at night. Talk about a Martian and design their own Martian in small groups. Do some simple maths activities with the Martians and see how Martians would exist on Mars. Allow the children to use these figures during Aistear/free play to make sense of their new learning.
I also thought that this was an excellent and engaging lesson also. It would be interesting for the children to come up with their own constellation shapes and names – it would be a very engaging lesson and with many different outcomes. I liked how they showed an alternative for younger classes also.
Activity set: The sun and shadows.
I like the idea of using the story as a starting point for this lesson and I think if I were to explore this lesson I would begin by reading a similar story. I would like to organise the children into a semi circle and make the room as dark as possible before turning on the light. An active and involved discussion around shadows and lights. Children will often respond more to their peers and learn a lot from others. After reading the story I would break the class into two sets – one set could explore making shadows with torches and how they get longer or shorter and the other set would explore how to make different shadow shapes, before they both swap over. As a link to other subjects we could use chalks on the playground to map a shadow and change it over the day or else use PE equipment to mark a shadow and see if the shape changes dirction/size during the day.
I like the idea of using the planet song for a lesson – I think it is probably suited to First class up as there is quite a lot of words and learning for Infants. However I think it is a fantastic resource for a lesson about the planets
Hi everyone
My name is Sharon and I will be teaching Junior and Senior Infants this year. I love how the children know quite a lot about space and often surprise me with the knowledge they already have. My favourite thing about space is observing the moon and its different phases.Inquiry based learning is so important in Infants and is really a great starting point for our learning. This year we did a great investigation into the effects of vinegar on the shell of an egg. Materials needed – 2 eggs, 2 containers, water, vinegar. Describe the egg before beginning the investigation and talking about what would happen if you dropped it, left it in the sun…Put an egg into 1 container and fill it with vinegar, put the other into a container with water – talk about the idea of a fair test, how this is fair etc. Observe the changes over the coming days and describe what happens. After a few days the egg shell on the one in the vinegar becomes softer and eventually it will peel off letting us see inside the shell. The sheer delight on the children’s faces when they realised what was happening and why was great. Inquiry based learning is super for Science lessons but should also be used more across other subject areas.
I also love this lesson in Infants – the children are always fascinated by the materials and designing boots to keep teddy clean. The children will begin to use correct vocabulary without even realising and adds to their learning.
Hi Everyone
My name is Sharon. This coming year I will be teaching Junior and Senior Infants in a small rural school. I have found over the past few years that children know quite a lot about space and wanted to find more out myself. My favourite thing about space is the moon and I like to observe the changes.
