Scoil Mhuire come 2nd in County Environmental Award

Receiving our Certificate

Discover Primary Science log.

We have worked very hard on this science log.There are a lot of experiments in our project!(example)water pressure and evaporation.There is even experiments that you can do.We had to complete four steps and they are:Step 1=activities from the DPS activity support booklet.Step 2=visit a DPS Discover Centre or invite a science or engineering related speaker to your school.Step 3=Participate in a Science Event.Step 4=Extra Science Activities.

Step 1: Prescribed Activities:
3 Curriculum Activities:
1. Paper Helicopters
2. Rainbow Spinner
3. Make A Lighthouse

3 Other Activities:
1. String Telephone
2. Make a Lever (Wag the Dog)
3. Air Pressure


Step 2:
A. Visit a DPS Centre
Visit to Blackrock Observatory, Cork City: http://www.bco.ie
We visited Blackrock Observatory where we took part in an
Science based exploration of comets using ICT.
Cosmos at the Castle:
Blackrock Castle is a 16th century castle located about 2km from the heart of Cork city on the banks of the river Lee. The inspirational “Cosmos at the Castle” project sees the final redevelopment of the Castle as a centre for scientific research, outreach and communication. The project is a joint venture between Cork City Council, Cork Institute of Technology and a private benefactor. A unique feature of the facility is the manner in which children and adults are encouraged to interact with science.

We learned about comet structure and movement and observed the creation of a home-made comet using the following:
 2 cups of water
 2 cups of crushed dry ice
 2 spoonfuls of dirt
 A dash of ammonia
 A dash of organic material
 A dash of salt

Step 2:
B: Invite a Scientist/Engineer to the school:
We invited Vincent Vaughan to our school. Vincent is a local pilot. He flies aeroplanes in Kilkenny Airport and teaches people how to fly. He taught us about the science of flight: how does an aeroplane fly. It uses four forces: drag, thrust, lift and weight. We looked at a model aeroplane that he brought in to the school to see the different parts of the plane. You can see a video of his visit on www.kilvemnon.net/vincent_vaughan.html

Step 3:
Science Day to display Lego Mindstorms project:
1. Roboshow St. Patrick’s Drumcondra (Tuesday 13th of May 2008)
For the past few months the senior classes (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th) have been working on a project with Lego Mindstorms. Kilvemnon N.S. is part of a SIP project {School Integration Project}
We travel to St. Pat’s Drumcondra on the 13th of May this year for the Roboshow. This is the National Day for Lego Mindstorms and schools who participate in this project from all over Ireland will be present.
These projects were set up in schools around the country to determine how best information and communications technology could be integrated into the school curriculum. The SIP project that Kilvemnon N.S. is involved in involved uses Lego materials and a computerized Lego brick to design, build and control robots.
It involves learning about gears, wheels how best to make the robots.
This year our project has been based on our Flight Project. Another DPS registered school that will take part are Scoil Naomh Fiachra, Clontubrid in Kilkenny.

Step 4:
 Subscribed to the www.science.ie monthly electronic science newsletter Since November 2004
 Other Activities not on list above
1. As we have been involved in DPS for the past four years we have included in our Science Log details of extra Science activities that were undertaken during the year. Some of these activities come from Eureka- a Science Supplement from CALMAST in association with The Irish Independent. Others are from class curriculum and teacher’s own.
2. We have also included at the back of our science log a copy of each issue of our monthly newsletter as written, edited and produced by our 5th and 6th class students. These show any other science activities that we have been involved in.
 Registered for the Green Schools Programme: This year we have achieved our first Green Flag. We will be awarded our Green Flag in Cork in May. Read more about the project on www.kilvemnon.net
 Set up a Science or school website: We have had a school website for the past eight years. (http://homepage.eircom.net~kilvemnon) Our school site for the past three years has been: www.kilvemnon.net and this year we started a blog: www.kilvemnon.blogspot.com
 We took part in the STEPS K’NEX Challenge. Our entry can be downloaded on www.kilvemnon.net
By Shorty