Plaque of STEM Excellence 2016/2017
In 2016/2017, the whole school participated in STEM programme to highlight the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Feedback from the adjucators:
“Congratulations to all in St. Mary’s & St. Gerard’s N.S. This is a well structured digital log with clear evidence of all the steps – interest in and enjoyment of learning and skills in the area of STEM subjects. Clearly you have made excellent use of the CPD workshops. Molaim sibh go h-ard.”
We are proud of all the STEM work conducted in St. Mary’s & St. Gerard’s N.S. This log is not a record of all the STEM activities engaged in by all classes during the year. It provides only the evidence needed to demonstrate that our school meets all the criteria required for the Plaque of Stem Excellence.
Step 1 ~ Science
Living Things
Junior Infants investigated conditions for growth of bulbs. They were very delighted to see the bulbs planted in autumn flowering in the spring.
Energy & Forces
Magnetism
First Class explored magnetism, including purposeful play with magnets of different shapes and sizes to explore their effects on different materials and investigating that magnets attract certain materials through other materials. First class also looked at designing and making magnetic games.
Senior Infants also explored magnetism, including purposeful play to explore the effects of magnets on different materials and investigating the fact that magnets attract certain materials.
Light
5th Class explored Light and investigated the refraction of light. They used prisms to break up light and create rainbows.
Materials
Second Class investigated the properties and characteristics of materials. Problem-Teddy went on a picnic and packed loose tea leaves. Nobody likes loose tea leaves. Can we design our own tea bags using materials in the classroom?
Fourth class looked different substances and how they mixed. They investigated whether oil and water could be mixed. They created lava lamps.
Click on the photo below to see our lava lamp in action.
Environmental Awareness & Care
4th Class explored water sanitation and investigated how we can filter water.
6th Class also investigated the filtration of water and investigated the best materials and combination of materials to use to filter water.
Visit to Airfield House and Farm
Junior Infants and Senior Infants visited Airfield House and Farm. It was a wonderful day out and the highlights of the day included seeing the cows being milked, tasting the lovely jersey milk, making butter and seeing the new baby lambs (including the two only born that day), the piglets and calves.
Step 2 ~ Technology
Irish Computer Society Scratch Competition
We invited all our pupils to get coding and create their own animations and games using Scratch for our Annual School Scratch Competition. We had participation from Infants right up to Sixth Class. Six projects were selected to go forward to the National Scratch Competition 2017. These projects were:
Animal Rescue Centre by Amelia ~ Senior Infants
The Solar System by Aislinn ~ First Class *Shortlisted for National Final*
Marvelous Macaroons by Ellie ~ Second Class *Shortlisted for National Final & Overall Winner* 2nd-4th Class Category
Rainbow Factory by Anna ~ Sixth Class
Chip Guy by Christina & Archie ~ Sixth Class
Weather by Alex ~ Sixth Class
Powerpoint Presentations
The children in Fifth and Sixth Classes are comfortable producing and Powerpoint Presentations and often use this technology to present group work to the class and other classes across the curriculum. Two examples of these Powerpoints are:
Glorious Gifts – a presentation as part of the Junior Entrepeneur Programme
Step 3 ~ Engineering
During Engineers Week, Third Class had a visit from Engineer Martha Burton. They had a busy and enjoyable day investigating currents and engineering radios, buzzers and other interesting projects.
Second Class used their engineering skills to construct rollercoasters.
Step 4 ~ Maths
Angle of Launch
6th Class investigated if the angle of launch affects the distance travelled by the rocket.
Maths Trails
6th Class designed and created maths trails for other classes throughout the school. Below are photos of 5th Class working on the Maths trails designed for them by 6th Class.
Step 5 ~ STEM Show & Tell
Intel Mini-Scientist
This was our first year to participate in the Intel Mini-Scientist Competition. We held our In-School Exhibition on Friday 25th November 2016. It proved a great success. There was a great buzz and many sparks of learning. All were impressed with the quality of the research and the presentations. Aoife and Isobel were selected as overall winners for their project “The Kermit Effect” which looked at how and why copper in water turns hair a greenish colour. The girls went forward to the Regional Finals in Intel Headquarters.
Many students are already thinking and talking about their projects for next year.
Primary Science Fair 2017
Sixth Class entered their project “Do Different Liquids Effect the Growth of Rocket Seeds? ” in the Primary Science Fair in the RDS. It was a great experience and the judges were highly impressed with the project, particularly with the involvement of all the class and the ideas of how to develop the project in the future.
