Maths Week
Recently the classrooms of Courtnacuddy N.S. were taken over by budding scientists as we celebrated National Science Week. It was great fun for all the classes and we are already looking forward to next years Science Week.
Junior and Senior Infants tried out several different experiments. First we made balloon rockets. Thrust is the pushing force created by energy. In our balloon experiment our thrust comes from the energy of the balloon forcing the air out – making our balloon rocket move. Next to create bubbles the children used cleansing pads, washing up liquid and a small bit of water. They discovered that bubbles are just air trapped in soap film. Finally the kids experimented with mixing colours to create new colours.
Seniors and First class investigated what would happen if we put gummy bears in different liquids, made a rainbow from skittles in different liquids, had our very own science demonstration from a senior infant scientist showing us how to make slime, pepper and water trick and we made raisins dance in vinegar and bread soda.
Rang 2 & 3 used science week to investigate to amount of sugar in cereals. We examined the packaging and read the nutritional information. This was linked to maths by creating a bar chart of the sugar content in some of our families cereals. Finally we weighed out the amount of sugar in a bowl of each cereal and compared them. We were very surprised at some of our findings.
While learning about sound waves and vibrations, Rang 2 & 3 made string phones. We tested them and discovered the conditions needed for them to work properly. We also invented a three way phone using 3 cups and two pieces of string. It was so much fun!
Rang 2 & 3 also identified a range of materials in our environment and investigated some of their properties. We learned some new vocabulary for describing properties of materials
3rd and 4th class were busy scientists for Science Week 2018.
Firstly, we explored how Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Then, we investigated how vibrations can travel along a piece of string. We used this information to create a home-made telephone, using 2 clean, empty yoghurt pots and a long piece of string. We discovered that the string has to be pulled tight in order for the vibrations to travel effectively.
We also created simple electrical circuits, using battery packs, wires, bulbs, buzzers and switches. We loved sharing our findings with 1st class on Friday. It was important not to break the circuit because if it is not complete, the bulb will not light. It was amazing to realise that this is what happens every time we turn on a light switch in a room.
5th and 6th class travelled to Waterford Institute of Technology on Tuesday to attend a talk entitled ‘It takes Guts’. This talk explained the workings of the Digestive System (in graphic detail!!) The children loved seeing how all the different parts of the body play a part in digesting our food all the way from our teeth grinding and chewing our food right up until we go to the toilet!!
Later in the week we looked at the Stoop test, a neuroscience test. The famous "Stroop Effect" is named after J. Ridley Stroop who discovered this strange phenomenon in the 1930s. Here is your job: name the colors of the following words. Do NOT read the words...rather, say the color of the words. For example, if the word "BLUE" is printed in a red color, you should say "RED". Say the colors as fast as you can. It is not as easy as you might think!
Junior and Senior Infants tried out several different experiments. First we made balloon rockets. Thrust is the pushing force created by energy. In our balloon experiment our thrust comes from the energy of the balloon forcing the air out – making our balloon rocket move. Next to create bubbles the children used cleansing pads, washing up liquid and a small bit of water. They discovered that bubbles are just air trapped in soap film. Finally the kids experimented with mixing colours to create new colours.
Seniors and First class investigated what would happen if we put gummy bears in different liquids, made a rainbow from skittles in different liquids, had our very own science demonstration from a senior infant scientist showing us how to make slime, pepper and water trick and we made raisins dance in vinegar and bread soda.
Rang 2 & 3 used science week to investigate to amount of sugar in cereals. We examined the packaging and read the nutritional information. This was linked to maths by creating a bar chart of the sugar content in some of our families cereals. Finally we weighed out the amount of sugar in a bowl of each cereal and compared them. We were very surprised at some of our findings.
While learning about sound waves and vibrations, Rang 2 & 3 made string phones. We tested them and discovered the conditions needed for them to work properly. We also invented a three way phone using 3 cups and two pieces of string. It was so much fun!
Rang 2 & 3 also identified a range of materials in our environment and investigated some of their properties. We learned some new vocabulary for describing properties of materials
3rd and 4th class were busy scientists for Science Week 2018.
Firstly, we explored how Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Then, we investigated how vibrations can travel along a piece of string. We used this information to create a home-made telephone, using 2 clean, empty yoghurt pots and a long piece of string. We discovered that the string has to be pulled tight in order for the vibrations to travel effectively.
We also created simple electrical circuits, using battery packs, wires, bulbs, buzzers and switches. We loved sharing our findings with 1st class on Friday. It was important not to break the circuit because if it is not complete, the bulb will not light. It was amazing to realise that this is what happens every time we turn on a light switch in a room.
5th and 6th class travelled to Waterford Institute of Technology on Tuesday to attend a talk entitled ‘It takes Guts’. This talk explained the workings of the Digestive System (in graphic detail!!) The children loved seeing how all the different parts of the body play a part in digesting our food all the way from our teeth grinding and chewing our food right up until we go to the toilet!!
Later in the week we looked at the Stoop test, a neuroscience test. The famous "Stroop Effect" is named after J. Ridley Stroop who discovered this strange phenomenon in the 1930s. Here is your job: name the colors of the following words. Do NOT read the words...rather, say the color of the words. For example, if the word "BLUE" is printed in a red color, you should say "RED". Say the colors as fast as you can. It is not as easy as you might think!