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
Last spring, the 1st & 2nd class planted pumpkins in each of the 5 classroom raised beds in the school garden. Only one plant grew a large pumpkin and it just happened to be our own classroom’s. We used it to make a Jack O’Lantern for our window.
1st & 2nd class also gathered sunflower seeds from the school’s sunflowers and have stored them for planting next spring.
For the past couple of weeks 1st & 2nd class have been learning about apples.
From looking at the different apple varieties, to how they are harvested and creating an excellent apple harvest display they now have a great deal more knowledge on a favourite fruit for many.
In recognition of their hard work, they all got apples from the Apple Farm in Cahir. The variety they received was ‘Tipperary Pippen’.
The third and fourth class pupils recently investigated the importance of good hand washing and the results are clear to see in the photos below. The washing techniques which were compared were: ‘splash & dash’, ‘quick wash’ and ‘hospital wash’.
Mr Franklin’s class were challenged with creating the tallest ‘skyscraper’ possible using newspaper. Some fantastic constructions were created with groups with the highest skyscrapers reaching the dizzying heights of 47 and 45 inches!
The junior and senior infants released their butterflies last week. The 5 Painted Ladies had grown from caterpillars into butterflies in Mrs Murphy’s classroom.
3rd & 4th class completed an excellent investigation in their room last week. You can read about it in these write ups:
3rd & 4th Class explored the school grounds recently on a ‘Shape Scavenger Hunt’ which was designed by a pupil in the room.
1st & 2nd class have spent the last few weeks watching the seeds they planted grow into plants. Today, to kick off Biodiversity Week, they planted one plant into each of the raised beds in the school garden with the hope that each class will have a pumpkin of their own next October in time for Halloween.
Any visitors to the HDA carpark will be able to watch them grow over the next few months.
In science class with Miss Kennelly we were learning about kinetic and potential energy and gravity. We made rollercoasters out of insulation foam and masking tape. The challenge was to get a marble to go around a loop and into a cup at the end of the rollercoaster. Before we released the marble down the rollercoaster it had built up lots of potential energy. It was difficult for the marble to get around the loop because gravity was pulling the marble down, but kinetic energy helped the marble get around the loop and into the cup. It was really fun experimenting with the different types of energy and also building a rollercoaster. It helped us learn a lot.
Christian and Lucy
