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I like the idea of linking some activities around an area such as Aliens. I would start with a story to engage them such as: Here come the aliens.
They could then make the alien a welcome drink using components such as: baking soda, food dye, vinegar, washing detergent and water. By combining these substances, the children could see the cup fizzing and foaming.
I could adapt the mice rocket to be alien rockets experiment. I would include key questioning as we could have a competition about whose alien goes the furthest distance and which alien goes the highest in the air. We could see if bigger or smaller bottles work better and which size of alien works best.
Another experiment which I have previously done would fit in well with the theme would be finding a rubber egg (alien egg experiment). The children would have great fun examining the egg and seeing what is happening. An alternative to this is putting the egg in different liquids and examining the reaction:
http://www.nickarnold-website.com/experiments/alien_egg_experiment.pdf
Aliens could be given skittles but first they want to put warm water on them to eat them in a different way. Another experiment which could be incorporated would be the magic milk experiment where milk, food colouring and washing up liquid are combined. Children can make predictions, carry out the experiment and discuss the findings and begin to say why something has happened. They may start to use prior knowledge to help predict also. They could suggest alternatives to the experiment or amendments which could be made.
Animals in the Cold & Weather *possibly link to Santa and North Pole.
I would love to do this as an Aistear topic possibly in November as I would also like to do Space (looking at planets and stars also).
I would try to do a hook which I did with my own son where some animals are stuck in ice and the children have to chip away at the ice to set them free.
We would look at some footprints and see if they could recognise which animals they come from..
They could then learn about the different animals that live there and look at how they keep warm. What is their fur? Coats. What do humans use and why?
This would then link with weather and weather in different places/countries. Try to get children to identify where the artic and Antarctic are and if they can recognise on a globe.
Some of the aistear stations which I would have: Playing with the animals in white rice (ice), role playing visiting an area to work as a scientistic and needing lots of clothes, experiment station (have ice water and fat), junk art (making animals), another station could be interactive games on white board to do with weather/animals.
Experiment: Gloves on each hand dip one in fat (don’t dip the other) and then put both in bowl with the ice and one gets colder much quicker….why? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-XLuhN7L7g
More experiments here on weather which I would change daily for the experiment section.
That is so detailed Sinéad lots of ideas for Science Week. I definitely think trying to create all those links that week is a must. I will try to link my PE and even creat a space dance (although I may use at least one hall slot for doing some maths/science experiments). They could do activities in the hall such as a length activity- How many steps does it take to cross the hall, how many metre sticks across the hall, using the trundle wheel across the hall, measure their heart rate before and after exercise (adults or some older pupils to support). Another activity which could be nice in the hall would be who could build the strongest bridge giving them floor space to complete this (though could be classroom either). Children could use PE equipment to explore gravtiy and forces and motion.
I also really love the idea of a unit/activities around the who done it theme. It would be really engaging to stage a robbery of some sort in the school with a notes and a pen left behind. It could be as simple as sorry. I just really needed some chocolate in my class today! That could leave it open to a lot of teachers.
This is something which I have done previously and it looks at fingerprints (can use powder) to examine the patterns, look at footprint and examine the patterns…have other footprints to compare, examine the writing and look at the handwriting in detail to see which one matches the note, check the ph level (acidi) in the clay off the footprint, use chromatology to see which colours come from the pen and finally could be a maths activity to break a code which could help. Other elements which could be used: leave a mark on a glass (lip stick) and examine clothing fibres!
I love using playdoh or mala as a an area in Aistear. The children are so creative and it improves their fine motor skills. I also think recording the weather would be an interesting activity for the children to do. I love doing experiments such as whihc material would make the best coat, building a shelter for the animals.
Animals in the Cold & Weather *possibly link to Santa and North Pole
I would love to do this as an Aistear topic possibly in November as I would also like to do Space (looking at planets and stars also).
I would try to do a hook which I did with my own son where some animals are stuck in ice and the children have to chip away at the ice to set them free.
We would look at some footprints and see if they could recognise which animals they come from..
They could then learn about the different animals that live there and look at how they keep warm. What is their fur? Coats. What do humans use and why?
This would then link with weather and weather in different places/countries. Try to get children to identify where the artic and Antarctic are and if they can recognise on a globe.
Some of the aistear stations which I would have: Playing with the animals in white rice (ice), role playing visiting an area to work as a scientistic and needing lots of clothes, experiment station (have ice water and fat), junk art (making animals), another station could be interactive games on white board to do with weather/animals.
Experiment: Gloves on each hand dip one in fat (don’t dip the other) and then put both in bowl with the ice and one gets colder much quicker….why? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-XLuhN7L7g
More experiments here on weather which I would change daily for the experiment section.
I did a unit on space dancing before! Children loved it. They could create their own dance either to space themed music!
I like this link to aliens to make writing fit in cross curricular and make it purposeful to the children. They would love to explain about themselves and draw pictures to explain to aliens. I also think the idea of an alien detector would be alot of fun for children!
I would love to try the looking at the plough lesson on the stars and definitely think it could be used across the whole school (during Science week).
I love the way it looks at the star from different perspectives.
Hook: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (to engage children and draw them in).
Discussion/Predictions: What do they already know about the stars. Where are they? How many are there? What is their purpose. Allow them to draw some on paper or offer them tool to do it.
Teach them some interesting facts about stars. Introduce them to the star plough. Go through the shape of stars (link to maths with the sides and corners).
Explain that they are going to be making one (in groups to start: 3 children), Model making it. Go through the steps and support groups (may need adult to support 2 groups).
I would encourage children to then discuss the stars and why they might look different from different directions.
This could be linked with Van Gogh Starry Night (should also be a winter lesson). I would also link it to the story Toys in Space.
Furthermore I would create stars in a jar using glass bottles, tin foil and tea candle led lights, scissors and drawing pin (under supervision).
I like the idea of looking at the area in Aistear and then so much could be done with it. I also loved the idea of using the hoops *for sun and planets and creating an interactive game where the children travel through them. I have previously done a to scale of the earth, moon and sun and the distances between them (with an older class) which they enjoyed.
I would love doing more work around the planets and I also loved the crater lesson which then could consider which made the biggest crater and why and then switch to balls. This would be another lovely activity to do in Aistear (and its something I previously have done succesfully). I think key to success of the children’s learning is to faciliate it with questions and allwo them time to think alone, together and to respond. I think an activity such as the craters could be guided in Aistear.
Shadows
I would choose this activity for my Junior Infant class. I really liked the bear shadow lesson and could see how this would be engaging to a infant class.
Hook: Curiousity Cube with vaious items which will be used such as teddy, torch, book,
I would love to use this book: Moonbear’s Shadow to discuss shadows with children. I think having a bear would make it fun and interesting for them. I would try to do this activity when we would have some support (or even use some children from another older class to support) so that they could experiment using torches and looking at bears shadows.
Key questions are necessary to extend children’s learning open questions based on blooms taxonomy could be used.
Why is that shadow short/long? What would happen if you held it high or low? What if you switched bear with a dinosaur? What if you used two three bears?
What would it be like if you did this activity at different times of the day?
Could extend to looking at different objects.
I would also go outside and draw the children’s shadows at different points on a sunny day (with support to draw).
Would discuss outcomes with children and reasons about why that is the case.
Possibly do a shadow puppet and link around the book and make a shadow box.
Hi,
It could be like the triangles. I have done various lessons on this and offered mini and large marshmallows also to encourage creativity!
Thanks
Doing this module reminded me of alot of inquiry science which I learned about in my teaching practice and taught while aboard. I love the idea of contextualising the problem and giving a hook into a lesson.
Strand is materials/materials and characteristics: Infants objective: describe and compare materials, noting the differences in the colour, shape and texture
Hook: Which is the odd one out (have the 3 little pigs houses). As long as children can justify, explain and reason they are correct.
Scenario: Which material will be the best to keep the wind out of the 3 little pigs house.
Prediction: Children to discuss their predictions and teacher to ask insightful open ended questions.
Materials: matchsticks, straws (plastic/paper if possible), marshmallows, elastic bands, cardboard, lollipop sticks, bluetac, lego, squeezy bottle or fan for wind
Activity: Children chose from different materials….to make a house for the 3 little pigs. They can move around 5 tables to create.
Children to then see which is the strongest. Teacher to bring a fan in. *disucss height/size too
Results: Which houses were the strongest. Discuss the material but also the height and size of it.
Further adaptions: Build the strongest tower.
Hi Sarah…I love you using your inquiry as the rice crispie buns. I often do this but more from a mathematical prescriptive with senior infants and I love the idea of turning it into a STEM lesson. It is such a good way of looking at materials and their properties and so engaging also. They could make their predictions and discuss what would happen prior to the activity. Key questions could be asked throughout and children could discuss their outcomes and talk about what might happen if they used different materials. I must now see baking/cooking as a link not only with Maths but with STEM.
