Parent information                      Spring 1

What happens when I fall asleep? Starry Night

Twinkle, twinkle, little star. Why are there stars in the sky at night? Does everyone go to bed at the same time? It’s time to find out more about night time.

This half term, we’ll be entering the celestial world of a mobile planetarium. We’ll listen carefully to a presentation about the patterns of the stars, and ask an expert questions about the universe. Snuggling up with comfy cushions and blankets, we’ll listen to bedtime stories and nursery rhymes. Zzz... Wide awake once more, we’ll learn about people and services that work at night, the Hubble Telescope and nocturnal animals. We’ll also find out more about how good bedtime routines can have a positive impact on our health, and take part in a series of bedtime challenges. Ready, steady, brush your teeth! In our mathematics lessons, we’ll play with the shape and size of star patterns, and create moons of different sizes out of sparkly play dough. Getting creative, we’ll make constellations out of battery-operated tea lights, and star mobiles out of silver sequins and glittery pompoms.

At the end of the project, we’ll share and reflect on what we have learnt, and we’ll use our knowledge and creativity to write a bedtime story to take home to read. We’ll also hold a lullaby sing-along for new babies and their parents.

Help your child prepare for their project
The night is all right! Why not do some stargazing together after dark, either from your garden or, even better, a rural location with minimal light pollution? There are apps you can use on your phone to help you to identify stars and constellations! You could also keep a dream diary, noting down and comparing dreams with each other. Alternatively, talk to people in your family who have worked at night. What are the similarities and differences between working in the day compared to at night?

In the Starry Night project, your child will explore the differences between the world at night time compared with daytime, through a range of exciting and creative activities. They will find out about nocturnal animals and how they find food when it is dark. They will find out about people who work at night and the different jobs that people do when we are asleep. They will discuss bedtime routines and the importance of a good night’s sleep. They will explore the night sky and find out about the Moon and stars.

Supporting your child at home

• Look at the night sky and see how many stars you can see each night.
• See how the Moon changes shape each night.
• Go on a short walk after dark or go into the garden. Take a torch to light the way. Discuss how things look different in the dark.

Words to use and explore:

• nocturnal
• diurnal
• night
• night time
• day
• daytime
• Moon
• Sun
• star
• light
• dark
• sleep
• health