[Emer Bradley]

Thanks for sharing the plan. lots of great ideas for cross curriculum integration

[Emer Bradley]

This book sounds great. Thanks for mentioning it

[Emer Bradley]

Thanks for sharing this book. I will definitely use it next year with my infants.

[Emer Bradley]

I will teach infants next year. Here is my play based classroom plan for Space Week. I would use the Aistear framework for play. Prior to their play we would do some oral language lessons using a visual such as to prompt discussion and teach the new vocabulary.
The children will engage in one activity each day over the course of the week for 45 minutes each.

Activity 1:
Construction using recyclable materials to build a rocket. The children can work individually or in pairs in their group to chose appropriate materials to deign and make their rocket.

Activity 2:
Role Play- Space Rocket
I will set up the play corner as the inside of a rocket with controls etc / telescope/ peg boards/ number cards for blast off/ peg boards to show any star constellation they might see etc

Activity 3:
Playdoh- make things that you would expect to see from a rocket if you went on a rocket to space.

Activity 4:
Maths integration
Cutting and sticking activity. I will give the children shape stencils, paper, glue and scissors.
The children will design a space rocket using as many 2D shapes as they can

Activity 5:
Science investigation (Teacher Led)-: Rocket Mice and Make a Pop Rocket https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45hpcNv_On4

[Emer Bradley]

I am an infant teacher and I look forward to using Where is my Home? activity.

Under the topic of homes I would look at pictures of different types of homes. When doing this topic I like to walk around the school community and look at different styles of homes in the area. This all leads to discussion about similarities and differences. It also introduces new vocabulary to the children.

I will reinforce through a PE game.

Children run around. When I blow the whistle I will say a type of house. And the children will do the corresponding action.

Detached Children stand on their own

Semi detached Children stand with a partner side by side

Terraced Children form a long line standing side by side all
linking arms

Bungalow Children lie flat on the ground

Apartment Children make their bodies as tall as they can

Caravan Children run doing roly poly with their arms

Boat house Children walk around like they are rowing

Art ideas:

I will ask the children to draw a picture of their home

We could draw a map of the route to school adding in 3 buildings they pass on the way to school.

We could then make this a sequencing activity.

Art hub- draw a castle

Aistear:

I would ask the children to construct different types of homes using a variety of materials at each group eg. Blocks, lego, recyclables art, playdough/ modelling clay etc

[Emer Bradley]

Hi Frances, this looks really inspiring and so exciting for the kids. I look forward to Space theme this year and incorporating lots of amazing ideas I’ve learnt on this course. This role play corner will certainly be one. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[Emer Bradley]

Hi Saoirse,

Thanks for all the great ideas for lessons in September. I teach infants so I love the ideas of the use of pegboards for the constellations.

I was not familiar with Milo and Marvin prior to the course so I look forward to engaging with it with the children and love the idea of roleplay!

[Emer Bradley]

I would work on the topic Space and Aliens with my class. To do this I would start by showing the children this short video about Aliens

I would then read the story “Aliens love underpants”. Initially I would focus the children’s attention to the pictures and discuss what aliens look like.

I would then give the children a piece of paper and a variety of art supplies to draw what they think an alien looks like. They could create a story about the alien using Chatterpix. They could then share this with the class using Bytello share.

As an extension of this activity I would ask the children to make a 3D model of their alien using playdoh or clay.

From this activity I would move on to martians. Is there a difference between aliens and martians? Are there similarities or differences? I would look at the video on ESA

https://www.esa.int/kids/en/Multimedia/Paxi_animations/English/Do_Martians_exist

The children could then follow the lesson “Special life” and act out being a martian for their peers. They could also construct a martian using a variety of construction materials such as blocks, lego, straws etc

I would also do a listening activity and read out a description of my martian/ alien and ask the children to draw it. The children could then look at the display and see how different they all look. We could then listen to trhe description again and see which picture is most accurate.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by Pat Brennan.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by Danielle Wilcox. Reason: edited link

[Emer Bradley]

Hi Eleanor, thanks for this great outline of cross curricular links to stars for infants! I will definitely make use of it next year with my junior infants. Infants would also love a sensory bag with a blindfold. They could pick out the star shapes or using sand they could draw stars in the sand or search for stars (specifically place din by teacher) in the sand.

In terms of art there are so many ways children could experiment with a variety of things such as paint, charcoal, pastels, clay, cutting, fabric and fibre……

[Emer Bradley]

The Sun and Shadows
As an infant teacher, I would keep this activity really simple. To start I usually use torches and a variety of shaped objects. I let the children experiment themselves in pairs to see what shadows they can make. They also use different coloured paper as a surface.
I find the interactive whiteboard great for the next step. With just the bulb and the white screen children can stand in front of the screen one by one with the whiteboard light behind them acting as the sun. They can make different shapes with their bodies and watch their shadow on the screen.
Next it would be nice to take this activity outside on a sunny day and to use their bodies and a variety of objects to make shadows using the sun as the source of light.
They could record their results on the I pads using Chatterpix and then share to the class when back inside using Bytello share. These two apps are my go to with infants. They are a fantastic resource.
Extensions of this lesson could include drawing around partners shadows using chalk and creating a simple sundial with a bucket and stick and observing how the shadow moves throughout the school day.

[Emer Bradley]

Hi Matthew, as an infant teacher I think your idea to give the children coloured playdough and asking them to make the planets in the correct colour and put the markings on them is a great idea for aistear. This could also be integrated into Maths language by making them by size also. The planet song would be lovely to do with this lesson.

[Emer Bradley]

Floating and sinking is definitely an old reliable that children can relate to so much and that always brings a fun and vibrant aspect!!!The children love to do this experiment and I like to schedule it for Summer hen we can do it outdoors.

[Emer Bradley]

Hi my name is Emer. I teach in a junior school. My interesting fact about space is Stars come in different colours depending on their temperature. Cooler stars appear red, while hotter stars look blue or white. Our Sun is a medium-hot star, so that’s why it appears yellow.

This year I am teaching Junior Infants. An inquiry based lesson I hope to teach is in relation to the effects of sugar on teeth enamel. I will start with a prompt of showing the children my old fashioned silver filling on my tooth and ask the children why they think I have it? This will start the wondering phase for children and make them begin to think about possible causes.

Next we will start to investigate. I will bring in a number of hard boiled eggs and explain to the children that the shell of the egg is similar to the enamel on our teeth. I will also bring in a number of drinks, clear plastic cups and a toothbrush and toothpaste.

We will put a different liquid in each clear glass but we will measure the same amount in each glass-drinks will be milk, water, cordial, coke, red lemonade

The children will predict what they think is going to happen to the shell of the egg.

We will wait 48hours. The children will then take the eggs out and observe the difference in colour and texture of the egg.

The can compare the differences and analyse why they think some have change colour or are less firm.

We will then use tooth paste and a toothbrush on the eggs. The children can predict what they think will happen and then see if they were correct.

We will discuss how this applies to our teeth and make connections. The children will then apply their learning to their everyday life.

 

 

 

 

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