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

Learn-it-Lego Primary School Robotics Competition

Staff

On Saturday the 10th of March Eva Murnane, Jack Gleeson, Ella O’ Toole and Ava O’ Connell went to Mungret College for an Analog Devices Learn-it-Lego Primary School Robotics Competition.

 

At 10:45 there was an advanced Robotics workshop. All the schools got their own desk, laptop and robotic making kit. Then we set to work building our robots. At first we found it quite hard to build our robot Herby. But then we realised we could just build a normal robot and add on our own features. At 12:00 we got a lovely lunch. At 12:30 we went back to the main hall to complete our robot. After that it was time for the challenge; the robots had to sumo wrestle. We programmed the robot to attack other robots and try and push them off the ring. There was 30 schools involved in the competition and our team finished in the top 12 teams. And at the end of the day each team member got a medal. All in all we had a great day.

SESE Studies in Second/Third

Staff

The pupils in Miss O’ Dwyer’s room have been busy learning about different history, geography and science topics. The pupils have worked hard writing reports on ‘The Antarctic’ and ‘Mount Everest’. They also created lovely art displays about the Antarctic and the Bronze Age.

LEGO Robotics

Staff

On the 9th of January Mrs.Heelan told us that she was going to enter us into an Analogue Devices, Learn-it LEGO robotics class .There were only 30 available spaces through out the whole of Limerick and the lines opened at 10 o’clock with a first come, first served system so we had to be quick. We were one of the lucky schools to successfully apply.

On the 25th of January two people called Fergal and Marvee came to our school to show us how to build and program robots which were made of LEGO. At the start Mrs.Heelan put us all into groups of 3.Then we were set to build our robots with a manual on the computer screen. When we were all done building our robots Fergal showed us how to program our robots to go forwards and backwards. the he set us a series of challenges. Then he showed us how to turn and rotate the robot. After that he put down a maze mat and we had to program our robots to go around the maze mat. It was quite difficult!! Team 9 got the furthest on the maze and then we had to say goodbye and dismantle our robots. Now it was time for Fergal to announce the winner which was … team 7! (Jack,Ella and Eva ) with an extra edition of Ava O’Connell. We had a great day

 

Ella O’Toole

Jack Gleeson

Ava O’Connell

Eva Murnane

Water Forum

Staff

On Friday 19th January the Green Schools Committee went to the Woodlands Hotel in Adare for a Water Forum, where the Committee members represented Herbertstown NS as a model school to other schools present, in order to show them how to go about achieving the Water Flag.

RDS Primary Science Fair 2018

Staff

Ash – Is it the only suitable wood for the clash?

 

Our fourth class made the short journey into Limerick today to exhibit their project at the RDS Primary Science Fair in Mary Immaculate College. The children have been working on the project since October. Elements of the investigation involved a fieldtrip to hurley maker Ed Shanahan, identifying alternate woods for hurleys, testing the ‘new’ hurleys and interpreting the results.

 

The project was very well received by visitors to the Fair and huge credit is due to the pupils both for the effort they put into completing the investigation and also for the way they represented their school today. In a nice co-incidence, the judge assigned to our school was 18 time All Ireland winning camogie and football player Rena Buckley. The Cork legend gave some feedback to the class on the project and presented the pupils with an award for their hard work.

 

Here is the feedback received by the class:

The research question was both clear and catchy. The class predicted that the traditional timber, ash, would be best. It was obvious that huge thought was put into the design of this project, to test the various timbers in every aspect of the game of hurling/camogie. This was very impressive. The results of the tests were presented very clearly using a bar chart and the use of different colours to combine results of all the tests meant patterns were very easy to follow. The hurleys on display also contributed positively to the project. The discussion of the results and the preferences students relayed showed how each student contributed and enjoyed the project. This was a really impressive project which was excellent from both a science and interesting point of view – well done to all.

Some of fourth class at their stand

Former Limerick footballer and Mary Immaculate College Sports Officer John Reddington visiting our stand.

Our pupils with 2017 Rose of Tralee Jennifer Bryne

The class receiving their award from Cork star Rena Buckley.

 

Pupils Call Mr. Gubbins in America

Staff

On Monday our pupils had a video call with last year’s third/fourth class teacher Mr Gubbins.

 

Mr. Gubbins is currently studying at West Chester University in Pennsylvania and the children had an opportunity to ask him questions about life in America. Topics included food, hobbies, travel, sight seeing and sport.

Fourth Class Visit Hurley Maker

Staff

As part of their investigation into the use of ash for making hurleys and possible alternatives, fourth class went on a recent field-trip to Shanahan Hurleys in Clarina.

Here are two accounts of the trip:

 

“Last Friday the fourth class and Mr. Fitzgerald went to Clarina to see Ed Shanahan. First we got the bus at 11:45am to Limerick. The workshop was in Shanahan Hurleys in Clarina (Limerick).

 

When we arrived Ed was working on some hurleys. We went in and he greeted us. We needed information on hurleys because we are doing a project on hurleys for the RDS Science Fair. We watched him demonstrate how to make a hurley and we asked a lot of questions. Then he sanded the hurleys until they were spick and span. 

 

Mr Fitzgerald had ordered two hurleys before that and I got to hold one. We took a photo and said goodbye and thanks to Ed. Then we got the bus back to school.”

 

 

“Last Friday, November 24th, we went to see the Shanahan Hurleys’ workshop. We left school at 11;45 on the spot. We went on a bus. It was in Clarina in Limerick.

 

The hurley maker’s name was Ed Shanahan. It was in a garage. He showed us how to make hurleys. First he put them into the drier. Then he got a see-through hurley to use to draw the outline of the hurley. Next he cut it. Then he sanded the hurley. He said if he wasn’t happy with a hurley he would not give it to someone. We got our photo taken and finally we got the bus back to school.”

 

It was a very educational trip and it gave the children lots to ponder in their investigation. The Fourth Class will be exhibiting their project at the RDS Science Fair satellite event in Mary Immaculate College on January 18th.