Science
1st and 2nd Class
Please note: Activities marked with * were created to support distance learning
Living Things
Plants and Animals
Minibeast Hunt*
Follow a similar format as explored in Junior and Senior Infants. However, this can be extended further for 1st and 2nd class pupils by encouraging them to use a key to identify the minibeasts that they find. Pupils record what minibeasts they find as well as the conditions of the habitat in which they were found. A minibeast key as well as templates for recording their findings can be found in a minibeast resource pack by clicking on the image.
If pupils do not have access to a garden, encourage them to carry out their minibeast hunt while out for a walk with their parents/guardians or advise pupils to look for minibeasts in places around the home e.g. under potted plants, window sills, etc.
Transform your Observations
Strand: Living Things Strand unit: Plants and animals
In this activity, pupils will develop their observation skills. Invite pupils to choose an autumn leaf from the selection available to them and follow these steps:
Observe: Pupils look closely at their chosen leaf. What shapes/colours can you see? Can you see lines? What do you notice about the lines?
Sketch: Based on their observations, pupils sketch their leaf.
Imagine: Using the colours, shapes and lines from their sketch of the leaf, pupils will use their imagination to transform their sketch into a new creation.
The Transform your Observations/BĂ Cruthaitheach le do Bhreathnuithe activity sheet can be accessed by clicking on the image.
Materials
Properties and Characteristics of Materials
Materials Mission*
Invite pupils to gather a stone, a wooden spoon, a leaf and a coin. Using the suggested template which you can access by clicking on the image, encourage your pupils to make observations based on the colour, shape and texture of the materials. To extend this activity further, pupils can make comparisons between the materials noting any similarities and differences.
Mystery Material*
Building on from investigating properties and characteristics of materials, this activity will present a description of a material for pupils to identify. The key focus is on the description of the mystery material using the language explored in the Materials Mission.
Example: You will find me in the kitchen/utility room, I am heavy, I am a cuboid shape and have a circular-shaped door, I am made from plastic and metal, what am I?
Pupils should be encouraged to explain their prediction and offer their own mystery material.
Energy and Forces
Sound
Listen Up!*
In this activity, pupils are encouraged to recognise and identify a variety of sounds in their environment. Invite pupils to go on a sound walk both inside and outside their homes. Pupils can record the sounds they hear by drawing pictures of the source of the sound or by recording the sounds on a phone/tablet. They can then classify the sounds as loud or soft.
A sample recording template can be found by clicking on the image.
Light
Wonderful Windows
In this activity, pupils will investigate the relationship between light and different types of paper.
Using the stimulus of a stained glass window, have a class discussion on the image using the following suggested questions. Do you know what these windows are? Have you seen them before? Where? What colours can you see? How could we create our own version? What properties would the "glass" need to have?
Explore: Provide each bubble with a variety of types of paper e.g. sugar paper, tissue paper, cardboard, crepe paper, etc. Pupils explore and are encouraged to sort the types of paper into two sets - transparent (allows light through) and opaque (does not allow light through).
Design: Pupils design their stained glass window. Encourage pupils to consider the shapes they may incorporate into their design. This offers an opportunity to discuss regular and irregular shapes as well as curved and straight lines. Invite pupils to label their design to include the type of paper they will use.
Make: Pupils work on their designs.
Evaluate: Pupils evaluate their designs. Is there anything you would change? Why/Why not? Did you use transparent paper as glass? Is there any opaque paper in your design? Why/Why not?
Scouting for Shadows *
In this activity, pupils explore how they can make shadows when their body blocks out the light. Working in pairs, pupils will stand in a sunny place outdoors. Observations are made of different shadows. One child draws around the shadow with chalk. Invite the pupils to have fun by exploring their shadows:
How can you make a long/short shadow?
Can you and your partner make your shadows shake hands?
Can you find a way to hide your shadow?
Consider:
How do you think your shadow is made?
Is your shadow the same shape as the shadow made by others?
Can you make a shadow at night time?
Encourage your pupils to make shadows at different times of the day noting the shape, size and position of their shadows. Compare shadow observations from different times of the day. As an alternative approach to this activity, pupils could use small objects such as lego/toys to investigate shadows.
Forces
Tin Foil Boats*
In this activity, pupils will create tin foil boats and investigate how the weight of objects placed on the boats affect how they float.
Explore: Pupils can examine photos of ships and boats, exploring the purposes of these vessels as well as the shapes, sizes and materials from which they are made. The following questions can be used: Have you seen these boats/ships before? Where? What are the similarities and differences between them? The Explorify Odd One Out activity could be used for this purpose which can be accessed by clicking on the image. Pupils can also examine tin foil as the material which will be used to make the boat as well as marbles/coins which will be used as weights. A read aloud for the story 'Who Sank the Boat' has also been linked below which could be used to encourage pupils to think about how the weight on the boat affects floating.
Design: Pupils design their boats. Encourage pupils to consider the shapes they may incorporate into their design. Invite pupils to label their designs.
Make: Pupils work on their designs.
Evaluate: Pupils evaluate their designs by testing the number of marbles/coins that the boat can hold before sinking. Encourage pupils to predict how many marbles/coins their boat will hold before testing. Pupils can reflect on their designs by considering if there is anything they would change and explaining why.
A video explanation of this activity can be accessed by clicking on the image of the Tin Foil Boats activity (go to 33:13).