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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.
Hi, I’m Donna and I will be teaching Junior Infants in September. One of the facts about space which I like is the fact that I used to teach the children that there were 9 planets but we now know that Pluto is a dwarf planet. It is amazing that we are still learning so much about space and I think its that curiosity about the unknown that has so many of us intrigued.
