Science in Coachford N.S.
Coachford N.S. has a long tradition in the promotion of scientific skills and exploration. We understand the importance of the promotion of science to our pupils and hope that it will spark an interest in our pupils as they progress on through their education into secondary school and beyond. Once again this year pupils are involved in the Discover Science initiative.
3rd & 4th Class investigating the various types of forces during their visit to the Lifetime Lab in Cork.
5th and 6th class took part in an energy workshop at the Lifetime Lab as part of our Science Week activities. This was a great day out for the pupils where they got to learn about different types of electronics and circuit boards. They had plenty of hands on experience making different types of electrical circuits and using these circuits to power light bulbs, fans, buzzers and mini cars.
Junior and Senior Infants conducted science experiments during science week. They were examining the waterproof properties of different materials by exploring 'What materials make the best boat?'. They also explored the strength of these waterproof materials and their ability to float or sink.
3rd and 4th class are partaking in the STEPS Young Engineer award this year. The objective is to design a piece of engineering that will assist the local community/environment in some way. For science week the children displayed and discussed their prototypes and ideas to the rest of the school.
1st and 2nd class were also busy conducting science experiments during science week. They explored the waterproof properties of different materials, they produced and experimented with static electricity and they made a rocket fueled by air pressure released from an inflated balloon.
5th and 6th class conducted some science experiments during science week. They explored the soluble properties of different substances, they examined evaporation, they studied refraction and the bending of light and they made and tested pinhole cameras.
Science experiments and activities took place in all classes during Science Week.
We celebrated Science Week throughout the school
Various science experiments carried out in different classes during February and March.
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Junior and Senior Infants conducted science experiments, investigating the effects of acid (from food stuffs) on tooth enamel and the waterproof abilities of paper, plastic, tin foil, rubber gloves and cloth.
5th and 6th class created and presented a power point demonstration to the school on Vex Robotics and body work.
5th and 6th class travelled to CIT in Bishopstown to take part in the VEX Robotics competition.
Children from all classes had fun investigating bug life with the expert help of one of our parents, Dr Simon Harrison, scientist and lecturer in UCC.
Children from all classes enjoyed exploring and investigating biodiversity at work in our school environment and beyond with the help of Jessica Mason, environmental scientist from the Heritage Council of Ireland.
Life Time Lab Workshop on Forces
Yesterday on the 20th of October we went to the Life Time Lab in Cork city. We took part in a work shop which focused on forces and in particular levers and pulleys. We learned all about Newtons which are the units used to measure how much force you put into something to lift or pull it. Newtons were named after the famous scientist Isaac Newton. We also learned that if you use a pulley it uses less force than if you were to lift something up yourself. 5th and 6th class were then grouped together for group work.
We completed some challenges during the day then with different materials in groups. We got to create our own pulley and lever systems. Our group was then chosen to build our own land yacht. We also had a quiz at the end which was very fun. We were divided into pairs and we got our own buzzer which we used with the interactive whiteboard. The weather wasn't great so we couldn't go outside to the playground. Overall I had a brilliant day and we came home knowing a lot more about pulleys and levers and how forces work.
By Aoife Riordan 6th class
We completed some challenges during the day then with different materials in groups. We got to create our own pulley and lever systems. Our group was then chosen to build our own land yacht. We also had a quiz at the end which was very fun. We were divided into pairs and we got our own buzzer which we used with the interactive whiteboard. The weather wasn't great so we couldn't go outside to the playground. Overall I had a brilliant day and we came home knowing a lot more about pulleys and levers and how forces work.
By Aoife Riordan 6th class
R.D.S. Primary Science Fair
Coachford N.S. entered the R.D.S. Primary Science fair for the first time this year. Preparations for the event commenced in October as the children of 6th class decided what area they wanted to focus their project on. After lengthy discussions the children couldn't decide on two possible topics they wanted to research which both fell under the biological sector. These topics were "Allergies" and "Ageing". Negotiations on which topic would be chosen came to a halt so an alternate solution had to be agreed upon. We then decided to divide the class and complete a project on each of the topics. Mr Horan's group would complete a project on "Allergies and how they affect us" and Ms. O'Driscoll's group focused on "The Ageing Process". The projects were then completed over ten weeks from October to December.
The children really enjoyed the scientific experience and were introduced into the field of gathering and correlating information, displaying their information on graphs and charts and finally coming to conclusions from the data shown in particular in the area of allergies. One group also held interviews with their peers, relatives and friends about ageing and how it has affected them to date and the changes they have noticed as they have got older. Both groups compared photos and learned to make findings and conclusion. Children in both groups learned valuable research methods and techniques in particular when researching for information online.
Unfortunately only one project is allowed from each school to be represented in Dublin and the project “Allergies and how they affect us” was the one chosen by the class to be displayed. It was a memorable experience for the children and for those who represented us in Dublin in January. 6th class are already looking forward to learning more about science next year in secondary school.
The children really enjoyed the scientific experience and were introduced into the field of gathering and correlating information, displaying their information on graphs and charts and finally coming to conclusions from the data shown in particular in the area of allergies. One group also held interviews with their peers, relatives and friends about ageing and how it has affected them to date and the changes they have noticed as they have got older. Both groups compared photos and learned to make findings and conclusion. Children in both groups learned valuable research methods and techniques in particular when researching for information online.
Unfortunately only one project is allowed from each school to be represented in Dublin and the project “Allergies and how they affect us” was the one chosen by the class to be displayed. It was a memorable experience for the children and for those who represented us in Dublin in January. 6th class are already looking forward to learning more about science next year in secondary school.