Tag: STEM

2nd and 3rd Class Become Engineers for Science Week

Staff

Mr. Gubbins’ class became architects and engineers for science week when they looked at how bridges are built.

First, they learned about the longest suspension bridges in the world – some of them nearly reaching an amazing 2km in length! Next, they created a list of words that describe a strong bridge, including: ‘sturdy’, ‘supported’ and ‘stable’. Then it was down to work!
In groups, the girls and boys task was to create a bridge across their desks that a toy car could drive across. They were given points for teamwork, the strength of the bridge, and the overall bridge design. Some fantastic problem solving and cooperation was seen by all the groups and, although some bridges didn’t go exactly to plan, lots was learned about what makes a bridge strong and safe. It was great fun!

Maths Week Quiz

Staff

Well done to our pupils who participated in the Maths Quiz hosted by John the Baptist Community School.

 

The quiz took place during Maths Week and in a very competitive event, the Herbertstown NS team finished in 1st place. The pupils picked up vouchers for O’Mahony’s Booksellers and certificates for their efforts. Well done to everyone that took part!

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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.

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

Science Week 2017

Staff

Here are some of the activities which took place to mark Science Week 2017

 

Second/Third Class

This week we did some experiments. We did an experiment with Coke and Mentos. We found out that by  putting Mentos into Coke, you can make an explosion!

It exploded because when you put in more sugar, it makes more bubbles and the more bubbles you get, the bigger the explosion you get.  The bubbles push the liquid out of the bottle.

We also did another experiment.  We showed that air pushes  an object in the opposite direction.  Check out our photos of the air balloon race.

We thought that it was very exciting. Maybe you could try this at home.  If you are trying it at home, you will need; two chairs, a balloon, string, a straw and tape. Race your friends to see whose balloon is fastest!

By Niamh and Molly (2nd Class)

 

Third/Fourth Class

Third/Fourth class experimented with water and how changes to temperature and density can affect it.

Buoyancy in fresh water/ salt water.

Analysing the difference between the amount of sugar which can be dissolved in cold water vs warm water.

 

Maths Fun in Third/Fourth Class

Staff

Third/Fourth class had great fun today with Origami Times Table Fortune Tellers.

 

After a bit of cutting and folding, the children were left with a fun resource to help test their friends on their tables with. Other hands-on maths activities during maths this week included using lollipop sticks to make groups and knock-out oral maths games.

 

Space Week 2017

Staff

Space Week 2017 was marked in Herbertstown NS with the launch of six bottle rockets.

 

The pupils of third and fourth class designed and constructed the rockets using a variety of materials. Their designs were inspired by prior study of The Space Race and the International Space Station.  Each rocket was graded in terms of appearance/design and its performance in flight. These scores were provided by the pupils of fifth and six class. The winning group was group 3!

 

 

Science Foundation Ireland – Discover Science & Maths

Staff

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

Step 1 – Science

Science Investigations:

Living Things– Plants & Animals – observing and identifying a variety of living things in the environment.

https://www.herbertstownns.ie/2016/09/28/detectives-work-herbertstown-ns/

Living Things – Plants & animals -Senior infants & first-   becoming aware of life cycle of common animals

Farm Visit

Living Things – Plant & Animal life – 5th & 6th class – investigating the factors which contribute to plant growth – Sow &Grow project; growing runner beans and baby carrots.

Energy & Forces – Magnetism & Electricity- 3rd & 4th class – investigating current electricity by constructing simple circuits.

https://www.herbertstownns.ie/2017/03/10/bright-sparks-3rd-4th-class/

Materials – Properties and characteristics of materials – identify which materials are useful for absorbing water.

Senior Infants & 1st Class experiment with mixing colours.

Energy & Forces – Sound – 5th & 6th class – explore how sound travels through materials – using a metal clothes hanger, pupils tested how sound travelled through timber vs metal.

Energy & Forces – Forces – Floating and Sinking (Junior Infants investigate which objects will float in water and which will sink)

Materials – Materials & Change – 5th & 6th class investigate how two materials react when mixed together. Creation of cornflour slime.

Environmental Awareness & Care– 5th & 6th class – Study of Water Cycle – investigation of condensation, evaporation, precipitation, collection, water vapour. 

 

Materials – Materials & Change – 5th & 6th class – investigation into the effects of water on metals – rusting. Identifying areas in the school environment where rust is an issue.

Green Flag – Water – Whole school effort in conserving water both at home and in school.

Green Schools Committee 2016

Water Forum Day

https://www.herbertstownns.ie/2017/03/22/world-water-day/

Lough Gur Clean Up

 

Guest Speaker:

Pilot Barry Cason Visits Herbertstown NS

Step 2 – Technology

Accelerated Reader Programme – The school purchased a suite of Microsoft Surface computers to aid learning in the school. One of the most successful applications of these tablet computers has been their use to aid the implementation of the Accelerated Reader programme in the school. Pupils read books (from the school library or books at home) and use the tablet computers to visit the Accelerated Reader website and complete quizzes on the books they have read. They can also access information on their previous results in quizzes, the amount of words they have read and view suggested titles.

Graphing results:

In order to present the findings of their survey of tea habits in Herbertstown, the pupils of 5th class used Microsoft Excel to create graphs. These graphs were then in posters which were on display at the Fair.

 

Step 3 – Engineering

Design & make – Construction of bottle rockets.

Space Week!

Investigate engineering in local area – water tower. Pupils undertook a field trip to the local water tower where an engineer explained how the tower worked.

Water Tower Trip & Barry the Water Barrel

Step 4 – Maths

Tally Charts – Tally charts were used by the pupils of 5th and 6th class when compiling information on their projects for the RDS Science Fair. The 5th class surveyed parents on their tea preferences and the 6th class surveyed pupils on their attitudes towards hurling helmets. (the tallies of the tea survey were then used to create graphs using Microsoft Excel).

Math Trail – 5th & 6th class – Maths trail on school grounds with an emphasis on 2D & 3D shapes, symmetry, counting & numeration, fractions & decimals and data collection.

Investigation of symmetry – 3rd &  4th class – exploration of symmetry in the school environment.

Symmetry All Around Us

Step 5 – STEM Show & Tell

RDS Primary Science Fair

Symmetry All Around Us

Staff

Third and fourth class have been keeping their maths eyes peeled this week for symmetry. We went on a symmetry hunt around the school and found lots of cool examples of symmetry all around us. Have a look at some of the things we found!