Science News
RDS Primary Science Fair
Can we drop an egg from a height and not let it break?
This is just one of the questions posed by primary school students as they undertake a class investigation for the RDS Primary Science Fair. The Fair takes place each January alongside the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and encourages teachers to facilitate a child-led, scientific investigation among their students. Last year schools from 23 counties from both Ireland north and south took part, with over 2/3 coming from outside of Dublin.
Project entries to the Fair must seek to answer a question which the students put forward themselves and which the whole class can work together to investigate. The Fair is not a competition - the emphasis is on students’ skills development and also facilitates the development of literacy, oral language and numeracy skills through the context of a scientific investigation.
Open to 4th, 5th, 6th and Key Stage 2 classes, the call for expressions of interest will open on September 3rd, 2014.
For further information please contact primarysciencefair@rds.ie Call: 01 240 7990 or visit www.rds.ie/primarysciencefair.
Beacon for climate change
In January 2014, the European Commission Representation in Ireland began an exciting campaign to light the first beacon for climate change in Europe.
European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn launched the campaign explaining the importance of climate change research in the EU's new Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme, and invited everyone to light a beacon.
A digital photography competition has just been launched entitled 'Why should I care about climate change?' for primary and post primary students (ages 9-18 years). To enter students simply have to take a photo – complete the entry form – and upload the photo to the website. The photo should portray the topic of climate change and include a 100 word max description of why they care about climate change.
The photos will be judged on their creativity, link with the topic, and quality of the picture. There will be two winners each receiving an iPad mini. The competition closes on 29th September 2014. You can find full details of the competition at www.lightabeacon.eu
SEAI
One Good Idea Winners help primary schools learn about energy.
Winners of SEAI’s One Good Idea competition have some great ideas on how primary school children can learn about energy efficiency and climate change. The overall winners, 1st years from St Michael’s Community College, Kilmihil, Co Clare devised a website with resources for primary schools. Jamie Mulqueen and Katelyn McCarthy are pictured above with their board game, designed and developed by themselves, where children are rewarded for completing everyday tasks to be more energy efficient.
Senior winners of the competition, from Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, Co Dublin devised 6 short videos which younger children will find very entertaining while also learning about energy
"Trees for Life" was the title of the Junior winners’ project, by two students from Abbey Community College, Boyle, Co Roscommon. They ran an art competition for their local primary school to encourage pupils to realise the importance of trees.
Another team at the finals developed an on-line interactive game for children, called "Earthlings." The game was devised by a group of TY’s from St Attracta’s Community School, Tubercurry, Co Sligo.
Engineers in the Classroom
The wonders of engineering are all around us - from the games we play on our computers to the medicines we take when we’re ill. Would you like a local engineer to visit your classroom to talk to students about the role of engineering in our everyday lives? Every year the Engineers Ireland STEPS team arranges hundreds of free school visits, linking up volunteer engineers with local schools, and equipping them with a fun, interactive presentation aimed at students in 3rd through 6th class.
For the academic year 2014/2015, we will be using new cloud-based management software to help arrange these school visits, which should speed up the process of matching your school with a local engineer.
Primary school teachers - register for a visit in 2014/2015 now.
Please note: If your school completed a registration form during the academic year 2013/2014, you do not need to register again. You will receive an email from us shortly with a username and password for using the new system.
Get your students chatting with real scientists
Blow away the stereotype of the mad scientist. Let your students find out about real science.
I’m a Scientist, Get me out of here! is a free online science engagement project where your students talk with real scientists. It takes place over 2 weeks during Science Week and this November 10th – 21st there is a dedicated zone just for Primary students. Students become more enthused about science at a crucial stage in their education, learn that science lessons relate to real life, and see that scientists are normal people.
“It was a really enjoyable way to 'open' pupils eyes to what is possible” – Teacher M Gillespie
Your students read about the scientists, ask them questions and have live online (text) chats with them. Students vote for their favourite scientist to win €500. It’s all run through the imascientist.ie website. It’s open to all primary schools across Ireland, for Fourth to Sixth Class students. All teachers are sent an introductory Teacher Pack with lesson plans.
The application form is at imascientist.ie/teachers/ along with more info, or contact rosie@gallomanor.com.
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