Shelton Space Week

Children were surprised to arrive at school to find a planet, complete with craters, in the middle of their playground! This was the start of a 4 week project on Space culminating in a ‘Space Week’.

 Each class assumed a different identity as a planet and the children subsequently worked with Tan Draig, creative practitioner, to make a model of their planet. Class 1 was the cold planet and children made a huge white planet with mountains. Class 2 was the hot planet and made a huge model including a volcano with lava pouring out! Class 3 was the Planet of Lost Things and children made little houses for their planet. A huge question mark stood on Class 4’s planet – the planet of secrets! Planets resembling musical instruments were made in  Class 5 – the planet of music. Sweets, candy sticks, lollipops and a slush waterfall and slush lake were included in Class 6’s planet of food! Finally, Class 7 was the planet of confusion with upside down houses and taps included on their planet!

 Every child also made an alien for their planet with some very noisy aliens called The Muzaks on the musical planet and some very surprised and confused aliens for the Planet of Confusion. All children worked very hard and engaged extremely well when making their alien from a plastic pop bottle!

 The project culminated with ‘real’ aliens visiting every classroom in school! Children were enthralled as the aliens spoke about their planet and taught the children some alien language and alien singing and dancing! All children came to school dressed as something to do with space – there were astronauts, aliens and rockets everywhere in school. We held a special parade on the playground so everyone could see each other’s costumes and the children could see the planets and aliens made by the other classes. All staff were also dressed as members of the Starship Shelton!

 At the end of the day, parents also came onto the playground to see all of the children’s wonderful work and to meet our very friendly aliens!

 Children learnt much about space, planets and the galaxy in their classrooms. Much scientific vocabulary was generated by the children who produced some high quality writing and artwork. Miss Gardner, our Science Leader, spoke to some of the pupils about their learning during this special week and she said that the children were so enthusiastic and had so much to tell her about space that she couldn’t write quick enough!

 At home, over two thirds of pupils made a rocket or a spaceship, many of which were very imaginative and creative, with their families. Children brought these into school and they were displayed on the playground at the end of the week for everyone to see. All children who participated were rewarded with a special certificate and Shelton Infant University credits.