6th Class Solar System Projects
Children in 6th Class were asked to Design and Make their own solar system at home using materials from home.
Some did this by using Solar System Fact Cards and finding the diameter of each planet then they did the following;
- Round the diameter to the nearest thousand.
- Divide this by 1000.
- Divide again by 5.
- Now half this to find the radius.
- This is what you will measure using your compass to help you draw your circles.
Once they figured out their measurements they drew their circles on scarp card or cardboard, painted or coloured them to match their planet colour and finally pasted them on a black paper background in order. Alternatively, they were able to research different ways to create their own solar system. Children then brought them in and showcased them to senior infants and 1st class outside at a safe distance for our SPACE WEEK STEM -SHOWCASE.
Space Picnic in Junior and Senior Infants
Miss Noonan’s Class enjoyed a lovely space picnic with @cosmickidsyoga during Space Week. They also learned how to brush their teeth in space and lots of other fun astronaut facts with @colchrishadfield. They also enjoyed of Space themed Aistear activities during the week such as building rockets, cut and pasting 2D shape rockets, painting rockets in space and crafting planets, stars, moons and rockets out of playdough. Lots of budding astronauts and engineers in this class!
5th Class Moon Phases and Tides Investigation
5th Class learned the different phases of the moon and explored how they affect tides. They incorporated art into their learning by creating a ‘Phases of the Moon’ Painting. Once they gained an understanding of the relationship between phases of the moon and tides they set off investigating whether or not in general high tides are at their highest and low tides at their lowest during full and new moon phases. To do so they studied Foynes Tide Tables and created a table showing the heights of tides at new moon, 1st quarter, full moon and 3rd quarter phases for each month of the year. They incorporated maths and technology by creating line charts comparing tides at different phases. Through examining the line charts they were able to see that in general “high tides are at their highest and low tides at their lowest during full and new moon phases”. This information is important for engineers for constructing bridges and docks. Fishermen for fishing. Sailors for navigating ships and surfers for surfing waves.
Senior Infants and 1st Class
As part of Space Week senior infants and 1st class learned about our solar system. They learned the names of the different planets, their distance from the sun and some facts about each. They then recorded a presentation about this using 3D inflatable planets kindly loaned to us by one of the children in our class. They also included art in their learning by creating luminous solar system pop art and by labelling and painting the planets in order. Children also explored space through the lens of the story ‘Back to Earth with a Bump’. This book helped them to learn facts about Earth, the Sun, Mars, stars and the Moon. They then sequenced events in this story. Afterwards, children labelled and coloured the different parts of a rocket and learned about their functions.
Children also conducted a science investigation where they investigated how shadows are formed. They tested different materials with a torch to see if light shone through them and subsequently classified and sorted them into sets of transparent, translucent and opaque materials. Through this they learned that shadows are formed when an opaque object blocks the light. Following this they designed and made rocket puppets to block the light and form rocket shadows.
3rd and 4th Class Investigating Shadows
3rd Class researched the First Landing on the Moon. They wrote a news report recounting this epic moment in history. They also incorporated drama and roleplayed the parts of interviewer and interviewee. Check out one of their recorded interview with ‘Neil Armstrong’.
They also investigated shadows. The measured the length of different shadows at different times of days and observed how their length changed depending on the position of the sun. They also did some space themed art.
2nd and 3rd Class Super Satellites
During Space Week, 2nd and 3rd class researched satellites. They learned the names of different satellites, what they are, their function, their appearance and how they get up to space. They were then tasked with designing and making their own satellites out of junk material they could find at home. Finally, the brought them in to school to see if there satellites would sustain the turbulence challenge. Check out their super satellites and excellent explanations with such delightful detail. Hugely impressed with the amount of thought that went into this design and make challenge. Incredible engineering from all the children involved!
They also researched space travels and journeys to the moon. The painted pictures of their imaginings. Children then imagined they went on their own journey to space and wrote a recount detailing their experiences. Check out this deliciously detailed recount of journey that was truly out of this world!
SCIENCE WEEK SHOWCASING AND EVENTS
Dinosaurs with Dale
Ms. Brennan’s Class participated in the online workshop ‘Dinosaurs with Dale’. Dale Treadwell of Naturally Wild is well known for his RTEjr Television slots with Albie the Why Guy and Dustin the Turkey featuring wildlife to be found in Irish back gardens. Dinos Down under took us back to Dale’s childhood back garden of Australia but with a twist, it was from 100 million years ago !! Dale was be joined by some realistic Cretaceous Creatures on this interactive show. Children learned lots of fun facts about dinosaurs through this Science Week event.
Science Experiments
During Science Week, children in the school were tasked with researching and conducting a science experiment at home. Children could pick to do whatever they wanted. Then on the Friday of that week, they brought in their experiments to show to their classes.
Children also wrote up their science experiment using our whole school Science Investigation template.
Classes also conducted their own experiments that were teacher designed during this week to help children understand how to conduct scientific investigations. The whole school theme was materials and change.
Ms. Noonan’s Class investigated how to make a Skittle Rainbow. Skittles are coated with sugar and food colouring. When you add warm water to the Skittles, the sugar and food colouring start to dissolve. They have similar amounts coated on them so they dissolve at similar speeds and stay in their lanes. During this investigation children learned a bit more about dissolving, absorption and how colours mix.
1st and 2nd Classes explored the density of liquid, oil and gas and wrote up their investigations.
1st Class cvonducted the Fizzy colours experiments where they observed how acid and bases have a chemical reaction when mixed by releasing carbon dioxide. They also saw how mixing different food colours created new colours.
Children also wrote up their science experiment using our whole school Science Investigation template.
