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<p style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; color: #000000; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; color: #163c42;”>I think imagination and the inquisitive minds of the kids in the junior classes they would really enjoy the activities based on Space and Aliens. Esero outline a fantastic lesson on special life and why life on earth is special, this would be my starting point to the lesson. We would continue our discussion to possible life on other planets and their perception of aliens. Questions such as; Do aliens exist? What do they look like? Where do they come from? How do they travel? How do they communicate? Are they identical or different? Etc.</span></p>
<p style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; color: #000000; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; color: #163c42;”>This would lead to compiling their answers on the board. I would demonstrate a picture depiction of what an alien might look like and encourage the children to do the same. Pair work to further discuss their pictures or plans. The next step we would make model of these pictures/plans using play doh, googly eyes, glitter, pipe cleaners, lollipop sticks, paper, paint etc.</span></p>
<p style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; color: #000000; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; color: #163c42;”>As a pleanary to the lesson, each child can discuss with the whole class their creation/alien, their personality etc. A homework activity might be to create a story around the alien character that they created.</span></p>
<p style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; color: #000000; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; color: #163c42;”>A story to conclude we would read a story “Welcome to Alien school” by Caryl Hart</span></p>
<p style=”margin: 0cm 0cm 19.2pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: Times; color: #000000; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; vertical-align: baseline;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; color: #163c42;”>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqESUQOZXlw</span></p>Again these types of lessons lead to a cross curricular thematic approach especially in the Junior end of the school. I love the engagement of creativity and their imaginations.
Activity set – The planets
To begin we would have talk and discussion about the planets, gathering children’s prior knowledge and understanding; What are planets? What do they look like, shape, size, colour etc.? How many planets are in our solar system? What are the planet names?
To engage the children I would play the planet song (music and a great visual also) and encourage them to sing along. Then further discussion of the facts in the song together with making their Tiny little book of Planets to reinforce any new information. Finally singing the song using their booklets.
Further reinforcement of planet names with an activity during PE using the planets Hula Hoop game. The yellow hula hoop works as a great representation of the sun. And the children actively moving around the sun like the planets.
I would do a hands on art activity using polystyrene balls of various sizes to recreate the planets. Working in groups to recreate their own solar systems.
Integrating Literacy using a Big Book activity “Whatever next” story by Jill Murphy.
This Cross-curricular teaching of Science and also touching on the topic of heat and temperature i.e. hot planets and cold planets. Leading to the sun as a source of heat and other sources of heat around our homes.An engaging interactive lesson Maria. I also look forward to using “My sky tonight” lesson using the lamp in the future.
Inquiry Based activity in Junior Infants
I would begin the lesson by reading the story Whatever Next by Jill Murphy. An inquisitive little bear asks “Can I go to the moon”. He makes his own rocket with things he finds around the house, together with his imagination he has an enjoyable trip to the moon.
Focus discussion on energy and forces. Explore through informal activity with toys, forces such as pushing and pulling.
Ask the question how do rockets work? Discuss the appearance of a rocket as it takes off, refer to pictures from the book. The hot burning gases rushing out the back of the rockets push them forwards. Will we launch our own rockets?
Demonstrate with a balloon – The air coming out of the back of the balloon pushes the balloon forward.Blow up a long shaped balloon and let it go. Notice what happens. (The balloon will travel off in random fashion as the air rushes out the back of it.) Now control the path of the balloon by connecting it to a piece of string. Release the balloon ……. Launch your rocket!
This activity allows for cross curricular linkage – Art – making rockets. Maths – measures – distance of rockets – Whose rocket travelled the furthest? Caring for my locality & environmental awareness.
Hello, my name is Una, SET teacher.
Space facts about farting in space always engage and amuse the kids.
First timer with the mind mapping online tools, took me an age to try and use but I tried my best!
Please see https://coggle.it/diagram/YuhCZmqIBdEcPFFt/t/-/d1800c097ae3f4e1129f9b256ac0c309fd72ef7703ba464d76235e7ae4d73099
