On this page you will find information about the work we have completed as a school towards achieving our third SFI Plaque of STEM award.

Step 1: Science

Living Things

Ms. Murphy's Junior Infants discussed and identified some common trees and then went on an autumn nature walk to observe these trees and the seasonal changes they were undergoing. They collected leaves, fruits and seeds on their nature walk and explored and examined these in greater detail when they returned to the classroom. They observed the leaves they had collected and decided which tree they came from by comparing them to pictures of different leaves on the whiteboard. They then used some of the leaves they had collected to make leaf lanterns. 

Ms. Murphy's Junior Infants also carried out an experiment to find out how plants drink. Each group got two cups, poured some water into their cups and coloured the water red using food colouring. Each group put a white flower into one cup and celery into the other cup. We marked the water level on each cup with a marker also. We checked the flowers and celery each day and we saw the leaves of the flowers and celery begin to turn red and the water level in each cup begin to go down. We learned that water travels up the stem of the plant into the leaves and flowers. We recorded the steps involved in our experiment as well as the results of our experiment for display in the classroom.

As part of Science Week 2019 in Mr. Forde's 5th and 6th class, we looked at the impact of deforestation on the Amazon Rainforest. We were then able to discuss the importance of trees and plants to slowing the effects of global warming worldwide.

We investigated the conditions needed by plants to grow. We planted cress seeds in cups and observed how........

1. ​Plants need rich soil for nutrients
2. Plants need water for germination
3. Plants need air (carbon dioxide) for photosynthesis
4. Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis - we were even able to see how lack of sunlight would change the colour of a leaf

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• ​Cress Seeds planted in rich nutrients with sunlight, water and air will grow quickly in the right temperatures.

In Mr. Forde's class we were also able to see how water moves through the plant by observing how water with food coloring in it travels up through the stem of a celery stick all the way to its leaves.

Ms Feeney's class learned about the importance of washing hands before eating. Firstly the children listened to the story 'Wash your hands Rufus! This story was all about a monster called Rufus who learns that washing hands with soap and water kills germs. Next the class used some bread to investigate what would happen if we didn't bother washing our hands. Three slices of bread were put into sealed plastic bags.  One slice was inserted untouched and one sliced was inserted with unwashed hands which was named the 'dirty hands' bread by the boys and girls. Finally a third slice was inserted by hands which were washed in soap and water. The children then made predictions as to what might happen to the three slices of bread. After a couple of days the children noticed mould beginning to form on the 'dirty hands' bread and after ten days, a significant amount of mould had grown while the other two slices of bread remained unchanged. The children learned that it is indeed very important to wash our hands before eating. The boys and girls then showcased the experiment to Ms Murphy's Junior Infants who listened intently and with curiosity and gave them a big bualadh bos for their efforts.

Energy and Forces

Light

Ms. Murphy's Junior Infants identified and named different colours, sorted objects into different sets according to colour and observed colours in the local environment by going on a colour hunt around the school. They worked with their buddies from 5th Class to became aware of different shades of colour by completing colour tables and by using white paint to achieve different shades of colours in art activities and they also experimented with shadows.

The boys and girls in Ms.Feeney's Senior Infants class learned about shadows. They listened to a story about 'Misty' a cat who is afraid of her shadow. The children enjoyed some free play with torches and examined what happens when a torch is moved closer/away from toy animals. The children then worked in pairs to trace the outline of shadows. 

Heat

Ms. Murphy's junior infants decided to find the warmest place in their classroom. They picked 3 locations in their classroom (the windowsill above the radiator, their tent and the shelf in the cupboard) and they placed an ice cube in each place. They watched carefully to see which ice cube melted quickest. The ice cube on the windowsill above the radiator melted the quickest so they knew this was the hottest place in their classroom.The ice cube in their tent melted the slowest so they knew this was the coolest  place in their classroom.

Ms. Murphy's junior infants also worked in groups to investigate if wearing a coat would make a snowman warmer, colder or if it would make no difference at all to the snowman. Each group had 2 bottles of frozen water for their snowmen. Using fabric each group wrapped one of their 'snowmen' up in a coat. They used fabric and elastic bands for the coats. Each group left their other 'snowman' without a coat. After an hour they took the coats off the snowmen and compared them with the snowmen who had not been wearing coats. They found that the snowmen wearing coats had melted more quickly than the snowmen without coats. These results showed that wearing a coat would make a snowman warmer causing him to melt more quickly.

Ms. Murphy's Junior Infants investigated the effect of heating and cooling on chocolate by making Rice Krispie buns.

Materials

Environmental Awareness and Care

Space Week

During Space Week Ms. Murphy's Junior Infants learned about the Earth, the sun, the moon and the stars and also about night and day. They watched videos made by astronaut Chris Hadfield about sleeping, eating and brushing teeth on the International Space Station. They also created pictures of themselves as astronauts in space and designed their own rockets too!

Science Week

Green Schools (Biodiversity)

We learned all about the life cycle of the Robin. We sequenced the life cycle and made beautiful robins in Art.

Step 2: Technology

STEM with Johnson and Johnson

On Friday the 7th of February 4th class began learning about 3D programming. We met the wonderful team at Johnson & Johnson and learned all about what they do. We then split into two groups. One group learned how to use the 3D programming on the laptops while the other group learned how the 3D printer worked. 

Step 3: Engineering

Engineers Week (2nd - 6th March 2020)

Well done to everyone in Miss Keating's Rang V who created outstanding projects as part of Engineers Week 2020! Take a look at some of their wonderful creations, which they showcased in school at the end of the week. The pupils put huge efforts into their constructions and they should be very proud of themselves! Maith sibh! 

Everyone in 6th spent time working on their chosen experiments and STEM projects. We were lucky enough to showcase them to other classes.

Step 4: Maths

Length - 5th/6th class

The boys and girls in Mr. Forde's class put their Maths skills to use when they undertook a short Maths trail around the school to estimate and measure length. The children were asked to estimate the length and perimeter of some common objects they pass everyday in the school before being asked to measure them in pairs. It became clear to the boys and girls that our rulers were simply not up to the job of measuring some of the larger objects accurately and this allowed us to talk about the instruments that would be better suited to such jobs (i.e. measuring tape, metre stick, trundle wheel).

Step 5: STEM Show and Tell

The boys and girls in 6th class have recently been taking the scientific and technology skills they learned last year from Johnson & Johnson and teaching them to those in 5th class. The 5th class have learned a huge amount about coding in recent weeks using the 'Dash' and Dot' robots kindly donated from Johnson & Johnson last year. Full credit to all the children who have kept up their hard work in STEM activities since last year and it is great to see that STEM is alive and well in Scoil Bhríde!

3D modelling with 3rd Class. 

As part of engineers week, 4th class paired up with Ms Cronin's 3rd class to share with them all what we have been learning with Johnson and Johnson. They had great fun and were wonderful teachers.