Award of Science and Maths Excellence

Rang a 2/3 predicted what items around the class would float and what items would sink. They then tested their items. 

   
   

Classes involved: Ms Ní Dhonnacha

Today we got to show the rest of the school and the parents some of the experiments we have been doing in class.

We concentrated on the following experiments:

• Static electricity – We used some balloons to generate some static electricity by rubbing our hair and a wooly jumper. We checked to see how many rice krispies we could pick up with the balloons and also if we could move a ping pong ball across the table. We discovered that straight hair generates more static than curly hair.
• Current electricity & conductivity  – We used the makey makey and a computer to test conductivity of objects. We tested some plastic spoons, bananas, metal spoons and a rubber. We discovered that only the bananas and metal spoons were conductive.
• Friction – We were exploring friction using a lego rubber band car and our own version of a rubber band car. We discovered that the lego rubber band car had rubber wheels which helped it to create friction which helped it to move. Our own version of the car had cardboard wheels and needed some friction for it to move. It would not move very far at all. We also made hovercrafts with a cd and a balloon and we discovered that the cd would not travel very far on the table until we decreased the friction by using a balloon to lift the hovercraft slightly off the table.
• Exploring sound – We explored sound using tuning forks with water to show that sound is made from vibrations. We also made rice dance on top of a speaker and discovered that some songs were better at making the rice dance.
• Exploring colour – We made some primary colour mixing bottles using oil and water. We had to get special oil based food colouring to colour the oil and we used water based food colouring to colour the water. We then explored different colour combinations and predicted what colours they would make when we shook the bottles. We also made a colour spinner which turned white when it was spun very quickly.
• Exploring light – We looked at different objects in water and showed how we could make an arrow change direction without touching it.

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s

There is great excitement in Rang a 1 with the arrival of 5 caterpillars to our room. They are munching away and growing at an extraordinary rate. They will soon transform into painted lady butterflies and we will get to watch the whole process.  

  

   

 

Rang a 4 did an experiment on refraction. they made an arrow change direction without touching it !! 

  

     

What was happening ?

Our eyes are using light to see various objects all the time, but when this light travels through different mediums (such as water & air) it changes direction slightly. Light refracts (or bends) when it passes from water to air. The straw looks bent because you are seeing the bottom part through the water and air but the top part through the air only. 

Classes involved: Ms Grealish

Senior Infants were learning all about magnetism and were using magnets to make their cars move. 

  

  

Classes involved: Ms Brown’s / Ms Cotter’s 

While looking at the works of both Vincent Van Gogh and Andy Warhol we decided to create some art of our own using apps on the iPad. We made some self portraits in the style of Van Gogh and some pop art portraits in the style of Warhol.

 

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s.

 

Mr O Flaherty’s class and Mr Kavanagh’s class took part in a Maths puzzles and problem solving workshop.

Each class was given 7 different puzzles to solve in groups. Each group had to take a strategic approach to solving the puzzle. This took place over the course of 6 – 7 weeks. At the end of the course of workshops the children showcased their problem solving skills in the Halla Mór and each group explained how to solve the puzzles and explained the strategies they used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classes involved: Mr O Flaherty’s & Mr Kavanagh’s.

D’fhoghlaim muid an rann ‘Micilín muc’ agus rinne muid scannán lenar bpictiuirí féin.

Clicéal anseo chun é a fheiceáil.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bxe94nZYACaqb3JiRm91MkIwbGM&authuser=0

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s.

We made a movie about our favourite facts that we have learnt this year. We used green screen technology to put some wild animals And other backgrounds into our movie – just like they do in the real movies.

  

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s.

Some of the children brought home a digital camera to find signs of Spring around their home. They took some great photos.

 

 

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s.

All our Junior Infant, Senior Infant & First classes (6 classes in total) took part in a workshop based around energy. We learned all about Guzzler and how he likes to guzzle energy. We learned how we can conserve energy in the classroom and at home. It was lots of fun. We also now appoint a consumption captain every week to keep an eye on our energy consumption in the classroom. Their job is to make sure no lights are left on when they are not needed, the whiteboard is switched off when not in use and the tap is not left running when people leave the bathroom. 

Classes involved: Ms Bohan’s, Ms Pierce’s, Ms Hester’s, Ms Brown’s / Ms Cotter’s, Ms Hogan’s & Ms O Toole’s.

During Engineers week we had a visit from Mr Ronan Waters, a Structural Engineer who came into our class to talk about bridges. We got to see lots of famous bridges and he explained why they were designed the way they were and what types of materials were used. It was very interesting.

Eng Week 2015 Primary Presentation Rev 1

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s

We went on a trip to Coole Park and we had a number of things to find in our scavenger hunt. To prove we found them we brought our iPads and took pictures of the items.

      

 

Classes involved: Mr O Flaherty’s, Ms Sweeney’s.

Rory brought a 3D printer to school so the children could see some of the amazing objects which could be printed in 3D. Rory designed and printed some objects using software on his laptop. The duck took 4 hours to print.

Classes involved: Mr O Flaherty’s.

Fifth class investigated how materials can change by mixing. It was very messy but great fun.

Click below to watch the videos.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxe94nZYACaqeFVMeGJPR21qb3c/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bxe94nZYACaqMWRVQnlvMUdPY0k/view?usp=sharing

 

Classes involved: Ms Sweeney’s

Rang a hAon made bird feeders to encourage some smaller birds into our yard and to hopefully set up home in our beautiful bird house which we installed with a camera. We are really excited to see if any birds will take up residence. The house has a front opening which is suitable for Robins and Pied Wagtails of which there are plenty in our yard.

 

 

 

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s.

Rang a hAon went around the school with their tablets searching for signs of Spring. They managed to find some buds, daffodils, Starlings and even a ladybird.

      

Classes involved: Ms O Toole’s.

Rang a hAon got to meet three lovely little piglets and their friends the two black lambs. They had great fun.

 

 

 

Classes involved: Ms Hogan’s & Ms O Toole’s.