Category: Science Foundation Ireland – Discover Science & Maths

Evidence of Herbertstown National School’s commitment to achieving an award for STEM Excellence.

Step 1 – Science

Step 2 – Technology

Step 3 – Engineering

Step 4 – Maths

Step 5 – STEM Show & Tell

4th/5th Class Investigate the Impact of Salt on Ice

Staff

In this experiment we investigated the impact of salt on ice. We placed ice cubes in a tin can, laid the string on the ice, added salt and after approximately one minute we pulled the string out of the water with all the ice cubes attached.

When salt is sprinkled over the ice, it lowers the ice’s freezing point and causes it to melt. Water around the ice forms and then the string sinks into the ice.

Science Week – 1st & 2nd Class

Staff

Making Bubbles

Challenges included:

  • Make the biggest bubble you can make.
  • How many bubbles within a bubble can you make?
  • Can you pick up a bubble?
  • Can you put something in your bubble without it popping?
The children learned that you can pick up a bubble if their hands are wet but if their hands are dry, then it will pop! – Mr Franklin

Heritage in Schools – Archaeology Explored in Herbertstown

Staff

Archaeologist Francesca O’Callaghan was in the school on Monday as part of the Heritage in Schools Programme. The visit also coincided with Science Week.

Francesca gave very interesting workshops to 4th & 5th class and then 6th class. She brought examples of different artefacts and show the children some examples of the types of materials used for clothing during the different Ages.

It was a great start to Science Week 2022!

Green Flag – Biodiversity

Staff

Huge congratulations to the boys and girls across the school who have achieved a fifth Green Flag for Biodiversity!

Speared headed by the Green Schools Committee and Mrs Murphy, there has been fantastic work over the course of two years into the areas around biodiversity, as well as the previous elements of the Green Flag process.

The following speech was proudly read by members of the Green Schools Committee at the flag raising ceremony today.

We are the Green Schools Committee and we are delighted to be raising our 5th Green Flag for Biodiversity! We’ve been working hard as a school to get this flag and we appreciate all the work everyone has put in. We’d like to say a big, special thank you to all our sub-committee members: the Litter Legion, the Switch-off Squad, the Water Wardens, the Travel Team, the Bio-D Bunch, Ms, Murphy, Breda, Louise and Niall for all your hard work too!

Since we began our Green Schools Adventure years ago, we have put recycling bins in our classrooms, raised awareness with signs everywhere, done lots of litter picking, installed Barry our Water Barrell, gone for lots WOW walks, installed a bicycle rack, planted trees and bulbs, improved our garden with a bug hotel and bird feeder and have had many fun Action Days to show how much we care about our planet!

Biodiversity is so important for our planet and our well-being. From the smallest seed to the largest tree. From the tiniest insect to us humans, we all depend on each other, so it’s a great honour to raise this flag now! Thanks again to all the staff and pupils for all the work you have put in over the past 2 years especially when Covid made it so hard to come together. Please give a big bualadh bos for our brand new Biodiversity Green Flag!

Incredible Edibles

Staff

Congratulations to the boys and girls in first and second class who have received a gold award from the Incredible Edibles programme.

Their work over the course of the year included encouraging wellbeing within the outdoor classroom, learning where your food comes from and how to support Irish, as well as learning how to grow, cook and eat your own food!