1.1 Living Things:
The children of 2nd and 3rd class embarked on a trail around our school yard exploring all the different flora and fauna on our doorstep. The children used magnifying glasses to examine their findings. Much fun was had during their learning. They were amazed at what could be found in our own school yard.
My face - Senior Infants were able to identify different parts of their faces. The parts that were identified were the hair, eyes, neck, chin, eyebrows, eyelid, ears, tongue, cheeks, nostrils, eyelashes and mouth! The groups also had to use their super reading skills to identify the various facial features. Well done Seniors!
We had great excitement in early September as the children of 3rd & 4th classes teamed up to go out into the school yard and explore the life outside. Each child had a worksheet with several tasks and items to find and as they followed this nature trail/treasure hunt they each ticked off their list and drew pictures of each object. Then, each group focussed on a small area using a viewing window and they listed the various objects, insects and plants they came across. This was a great, active way to get the children out into nature and observing the many plants, insects and animals that share our playground!
The children in 2nd and 3rd class were learning all about rabbits, their habitats, what they eat and interesting facts about rabbits. They really enjoyed learning about them but the real surprise was when our visitor 'Tiddles' the rabbit came in for a visit. The children loved petting the holding Tiddles. It was a real treat.
The children in 2nd and 3rd class were learning about what plants need in order to survive. The had learned about the sun in a previous science lesson so this really helped them. The children learned about the process of planting, caring for and growing their own grass seeds. The children discussed how the roots absorb the moisture and nutrients from the soil. They are really enjoying caring for their plants.
Planting
We planted bulbs in November 2019 and were thrilled to see them bloom in Spring 2020. We observed the bulbs carefully noticing changes that took place. We learned about the conditions flowers need to grow.
1.1+ Living Things & Habitat Exploration on the Beach. Sept 2019.
Third Class were driven to Ballyheigue Beach. The weather and tides were perfect. We started with games of rounders and long jump. Then it was time to start fishing and exploring the the rock pools. Each child had a bucket and a net. We identified Bladder Wrack, serrated wrack, oar weed, bootlace, sea lettuce and dillisk. Children enjoyed looking at the common crabs and their pincers! The star of the day was the scallop. It opened and shut its shell in search of plankton. We could see its filtering 'teeth'. Very exciting. The anemones were beautiful and retracted their tentacles when we touched them....gently. We returned all the fish that we caught to their pools : blennies and gobies. The shrimp were everywhere and we marveled at how they could 'jump'. A great day!
1.2 Energy and Forces.
Energy and Forces: Dancing Raisins
In Senior Infants we used 7up, water and tea to investigate whether of not raisins really could dance! We dropped a handful of raisins into a jar of water (they sank to the bottom). We dropped a handful of raisins into a jar of tea (they sank to the bottom). We dropped a handful of raisins into a jar of 7up and we waited.. After a while the raisins rose to the surface, sank, rose again etc, thus 'dancing' up and down. We discovered the raisins are heavier than the drink so they sank to the bottom however.. at the bottom of the fizzy drink they collect bubbles of carbon dioxide and now the 'raisins and bubbles' are lighter than the drink so they rise to the surface.
The children of 2nd and 3rd class were busy experimenting with magnets. In their experiment they were trying to make the paper clips dance. Firstly the children predicted as to whether they thought they could get the paper clips to dance or not. Then in pairs they did their experiment. The children put the magnets under the table and moved it around to get the paperclips to dance. The children were surprised at what they saw.
Sixth Class
Energy and Forces: Friction
We made space buggies and cars out of various materials and let them move down ramps, measuring the angle of the ramp and the distance travelled by the buggies and cars.
Energy and Forces: Air
Sixth class demonstrated how air can act as a force
During space week, in science in 3rd & 4th classes we explored the topic of light. Through exploring how light travels and also the categories of objects it comes in contact with (opaque, translucent and transparent) we were able to investigate exactly why we have night and day. The children began by exploring different types of objects to see what opaque, translucent and transparent looks like and then they concluded that the planet earth is in fact an opaque object - one that allows no light pass through (or one that creates a shadow). Then using our classroom globe we showed how one half of the planet is in the sunlight (day) and one is in the shadow (night).
1.2 Energy & Forces
Junior Infants Magnets
During Aistear, Junior Infants explored the wonders of magnets. On Week 1 we investigated if items were magnetic or not. During Week 2, we enjoyed repelling and attracting other magnets and then in week 3 we consolidated all we had learned by building magnetic cars.
Energy & Forces : Light
First Class used their skills of prediction & investigation to decide if an objects is transparent or opaque. Children worked in small groups exploring a variety of objects including cling film, glass jars, books & tin foil . They discussed their findings and recorded their results.
The children of 2nd and 3rd also carried out this experiment. Some were surprised as to which objects were translucent and which were opaque. They really enjoyed learning about light and how shadows are formed. The children wrote about the experiment in their copies. On a separate day when the sun came out we went to investigate how to create shadows with our bodies.
1.3 Materials.
Materials: Which solids dissolve in water?
The children in 2nd and 3rd class were busy experimenting which solids dissolve in water. One group tested sand, another sugar, salt and coffee. The children added hot water to one container and cold to the other in transparent containers. they then designed a chart to record their observations. The children learned that two of the things that affect the speed at which the solid dissolves are temperature and the size of the grains of the solid. The children really enjoyed the experiment.
Materials: Fireworks in a glass
The children in 2nd and 3rd class were learning that oil is less dense than water and that it therefore floats on top of water in a layer. They carried out the experiment where they put warm water in a glass, added a little oil and a few drops of food colouring. They gave it a stir and watched the fireworks. The children loved doing the experiment.
During Science week 3rd & 4th classes began an investigation linked to what we had been learning about in SPHE about personal hygiene. The investigation was: does washing your hands make a difference to the spreading of germs? To explore this Mr Damien took one slice of bread from a new packet using gloves and placed this in a bag labelled 'control'. Then a volunteer from the class washed their hands using antibacterial hand wash and took a second slice from the packet and placed this in a bag labelled 'clean hands'. Then Mr Damien passed a third slice to the class and this slice was passed to every boy & girl before being placed into a bag labelled 'dirty hands'.
The results as you can see below are pretty obvious! The control had only a tiny bit of mould on it after a fortnight or so, while the clean hands was also pretty mould free but the dirty hands slice was absolutely covered in thick green mould!
Therefore we could clearly see that washing our hands makes a huge difference to preventing germs from spreading!
The results as you can see below are pretty obvious! The control had only a tiny bit of mould on it after a fortnight or so, while the clean hands was also pretty mould free but the dirty hands slice was absolutely covered in thick green mould!
Therefore we could clearly see that washing our hands makes a huge difference to preventing germs from spreading!
As a winter themed science experiment 3rd & 4th classes explored the science behind salt crystals. To begin we designed, coloured and created our own Christmas trees to use in the investigation. Then we created a salt solution and children discussed what they believed would happen if we allowed the solution to sit for a few days. Then, Mr Damien & Ms Ann settled all the trees into the solution and we allowed them sit on the windowsill over our Christmas holidays. The results were some really frosty & snowy looking trees when we came back in January! This was because as the water evaporated the salt crystalised leaving behing lovely snowy looking salt crystals! Great fun
Children in Rang a Dó heated coloured plastic, using 3D pens. They designed glasses, rockets and rocking horses. The plastic creations cooled and hardend within a few minutes. (November 19)
Materials: Lava Lamps
The 2nd and 3rd class children were learning that water and oil will not mix because water is a polar molecule. The children mixed the two components, added some food colouring and then added in an effervescent tablet. The children learned that by adding the effervescent tablet it reacts with the water to form carbon dioxide and sodium citrate. The loved watching the reactions of the water, oil and the effervescent tablets.
1.3+ More Investigation of Materials.
1.3 Materials & Change
First Class explored how materials change during the cooking process when they made delicious pizzas recently. Firstly we guided the children step by step to make the dough . Next we had great fun adding our chosen toppings . A pictures really does paint a thousand words when they sampled their creations. Yummy!
First Class explored how materials change during the cooking process when they made delicious pizzas recently. Firstly we guided the children step by step to make the dough . Next we had great fun adding our chosen toppings . A pictures really does paint a thousand words when they sampled their creations. Yummy!
1.4 Environmental Awareness and Care.
.......Our Garden.
Our Sen Infants can't believe how much the sunflowers have grown. They planted the sunflower seeds in early June and now the flowers are even taller than they are!! Organic growth!
Litter Picking
Children from Fourth & Fifth Class are very involved in caring for our school grounds. They regularly pick up litter from the yard, our garden and the school surroundings. Our Green School Committee are very active in caring for our school environment.
1.5 Participated in Science Event run by other Organisations .
We supported our local SEAI Centre : Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre welcomed Third Class. March 3rd 2020 for a fantastic, hands on Waste & Wildlife exploration into why recycling is important and how our waste affects the ecosystems around us.
1.6 Xmas Jam!
Active Homework in October '19 bore fruit. Children enjoyed picking berries with siblings and parents. They froze them and brought them to school for defrosting and brewing, mid December. Ms Brid/ Ms Margaret helped them turn the berries into jam, while showing them how to sterilize clean jars in the oven. She used gelatine powder, lemon, the odd apple, sugar and showed the kids how to wait patiently and test to see had it set before potting! All proceeds went towards our trip to Tralee Bay Wetlands. (SEAI Centre)
1.7. Participation in Science Week. Three classes attended two Science Events. Nov '19. In November 5th Class went to see The Eccentric Energy Show in the ITT. We learned all about different types of energy and there was also a strong emphasis on renewable energy, with purpose built experiments and challenges.
Science Week with Science Sue in Tralee IT
The children from 2nd and 3rd class (see above) had so much fun with Science Sue for science week. They learned about the force of gravity, static electricity and even got to make their own circuit. They were intrigued by all the science fun Sue had up her sleeve.
1.8 Trip to Tralee Wetlands Eco and Activity Park. (S.F.I. Centre)
First to Fourth Class visited Tralee Wetlands on a beautiful sunny morning. We observed the beauty of the world around us while walking to The Wetlands from the town centre. We were very excited when we got to make slime. We investigated how the materials we used changed ( baking powder, glue, food colouring , glue and contact lens solution ) in order to make slime .