We discovered some fascinating Freshwater Mini Beasts living in our local stream. Our finds included The Greater Water Boatman, The Lesser Water Boatman, Worms, Freshwater Snails, Larvae and a dangerous looking but harmless Water Scorpion. We even caught a young trout. Stephanie from Heritage in Schools explained the life-cycles of these Freshwater Mini-Beasts and how unpolluted freshwater is vitally important as a habitat for these creatures. The children in the Senior Room were fascinated by the many creatures that live in a freshwater stream before returning them safely to the stream.
Category Archives: S.E.S.E
Stream Visit
The children in the Junior Room visited our local stream this week. Stephanie from Heritage in Schools helped the children identify the mini-beasts they had discovered and explained their life-cycles. The children were delighted to show their finds to each other before we returned them safely to their habitats.
Flower Pressing
Flower pressing is an age old tradition with many varations. Stephanie from Heritage in Schools visited Togher N.S. to explain some of the many ways that flowers can be pressed and presented to create beautiful displays and artworks. The children in the Senior Room were soon busy foraging and identifing the local flora for their flower pressing projects.
Celebration Time
We have had a very productive year so far – a winning 3D Printing National Competition project, another National Science Award, a hugely enjoyable Sciath na Scol GAA football campaign and a beautiful First Holy Communion Sacrament. The children enjoyed pizza and cream cake to celebrate our efforts and achievements.
Frog Spawn
The children in the Junior Room are learning about the life cycle of the frog. It has been fascinating to watch the tadpoles hatch from the frog spawn and begin their development into adult frogs.
To facilitate nature studies in schools around the country a blanket licence allows teachers to collect frog-spawn for use in the class-room. Frog eggs, laid as spawn, gradually turn into tadpoles and they in turn go through metamorphosis – the process whereby aquatic tadpoles turn into juvenile frogs. Frog spawn kept in glass tanks in class allows the children to observe and learn about the development stages of the frog.
Science Project
The children in the Senior Room were given the task of fabricating a model capable of flight. It was fascinating to see the wide variety of shapes, sizes and fabrication techniques that the children used to create their models. The children demonstrated their models and discussed their fabrication with the younger children.
Lifetime Lab
The children from 3rd to 6th classes had a fantastic day at the Lifetime-Lab on Friday. Lifetime Lab, with its interactive exhibit area, dedicated classroom space, onsite playground and historical importance, is an ideal location for primary school children to engage with science and maths (STEM subjects). The primary science workshops focus on the skills, concept development and content objectives of the SESE Science Curriculum. This year the theme of the workshop was electricity. The children were soon creating and drawing electrical circuits, making battery operated models and learning about amps, conductors and resistors. Find out more about the Lifetime-lab here http://www.lifetimelab.ie/