Category: Z 2018/2019 Archive

We are attending the ESB Science Blast event in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick on Tuesday 21st May. We are really looking forward to it. We completed a project on the air quality around our school. We conducted traffic surveys, we researched the various causes of air pollution and we put all the information into a project which we will be taking to Limerick. It promises to be a very fun day out. We worked with the Globe project over the course of the year and they conducted the air sample investigation for us. Out of the 26 schools tested around the country, we had the cleanest air!

Well the day finally came and it was amazing. We got to see other school’s projects, present our own and visit some great shows – from Litter lab with scientific Sue and the rapper who taught us all about the solar system. The judges gave us some amazing feedback.

The display was outstanding and it was clear that a lot of work went into the artwork and fantastic PowerPoint.

As this was our first science blast we didn’t know what to expect but we certainly weren’t disappointed!

Rang a 5 took part in the Breakout EDU digital game of “school daze”. Only one group broke out in the 30 mins. Breakout EDU brings the 4 C’s alive, critical thinking, collaboration, creativity and communication. Successful participants work together to solve clues to open the digital lock. It is not as easy as it seems as there is a digital clock counting down from 30 mins while you work.

 

We recently received a cutiosity box and put it to the test. The children had to follow the instructions to build a bridge using only plastic straws and tape. Some found it particularly challenging while others thought it was a piece of cake. We then tested whose bridge was the strongest and could hold most weight.

We were very lucky to have had a visit from Margaret in Dela restaurant. She spoke to a number of classes about how they grow the majority of the food that they use in their restaurant in their 100ft long polytunnel right here in our village. We planted a number of different seeds which she has kindly taken back to her polytunnel to get them started. When they are ready to plant out we will plant them in our school garden. We hope to harvest them before the end of the school term and make something delicious from it.

5th class made a video to explain the rules of 4 square to the younger classes.

 

5th class used the iPads to find 2D and 3D shapes around the school. They found some great examples.

1st class have been learning all the properties of 3D shapes.

Rang a 5 have been observing the local weather using a barometer, thermometer, anemometer and rain gauge. We have also been observing the clouds and logging them on the Globe observer app.

1st class learned all about what seeds need to grow into big healthy plants.

Junior infants were exploring how jelly changes from a liquid to a solid.

We explored many areas of the science curriculum during this fabulous workshop. The transfer of energy from one object to another, circuits, the power of air amongst many others. It was a fantastic show that the whole school enjoyed.

We took part in the roaring rockets workshop as part of the Baboró festival. We had a blast (no pun intended). We examined the energy and forces behind our own paper rockets. There were also balloon rockets and rockets powered by the air inside of an empty soda bottle.

We were lucky enough to find a wasps nest (minus wasps thank goodness). We cut it open to see what shapes we could find. It is utterly amazing to see the wonders of nature. It is extremely light and the layers are almost like paper.

We cut it open and saw that they use cells similar to bees.

The children thoroughly enjoyed hour of code this year. They found some of the activities more challenging than others

5th class used the Makey Makey to explore circuits and whether objects were good conductors of electricity or if they were good insulators.

5th class enjoyed using the cards and dice to explore place value. They especially enjoyed playing place value war.

5th class really enjoyed the maths week puzzles they did each day. They certainly weren’t easy and required much cooperation and perseverance! Luckily 5th class have an abundance of those qualities!!

5th class were very lucky to be able to visit Microsoft’s Dreamspace. They were given a small tour and some history of the company. After this they worked on programming their own microbits and later working collaboratively on a project using Paint 3D. They created some amazing projects.

Senior infants had great fun making lava lamps.

5th class had been challenged to build the tallest structure using only marshmallows and toothpicks. The structure had to remain standing unsupported for 15 seconds in order to be considered.

The winners worked really well together sharing ideas and not eating the limited supply of marshmallows given!

Senior infants have been exploring 2D shapes and using geo boards to create their own shapes with elastics.