e-Newsletter
New activity
Looking for something to exercise young minds? Why not try out this new activity, Investigating Refraction?
This activity will explain how light bends through lenses and water, and is aimed at children in 5th and 6th class.
Awards of Science & Maths Excellence
Interested in applying for an Award of Science & Maths Excellence? Well from January 5th until March 20th 2015 you can register your school’s intention to apply for an AoSME here. Each year we are amazed by the amount of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) work in primary schools all over the country. It is so encouraging to see both schools that have really captured a whole school approach to engaging students in science, and schools that are starting this journey with a few of their classes. This year to ensure we continue to recognise all this effort, two awards will be available as follows:
- A Certificate of STEM work in school
- A Plaque of STEM Excellence for deeper engagement, whole school involvement and external science engagement
More information about the steps to receiving a Plaque of STEM Excellence or a Certificate of STEM participation can be found here.
Continued Professional Development
This year DPSM is partnering with the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) Ireland to offer support in their science and maths teaching to teachers from 50 schools which did not receive a workshop in the 2013/14 academic year.
More information can be found here.
Looking for a Summer Course?
We plan to run the popular ESERO Ireland/DPSM ‘Maths - it is Rocket Science!’ summer course again this year in CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory (Cork), Dunsink Observatory (Dublin, with a visit to Armagh Planetarium), Birr Castle (Offaly) and Lough Gur Heritage Centre (Limerick) from July 6th-10th 2015. The course looks at teaching science and maths through the theme of space, a topic that excites and fascinates children and adults alike and we have received fantastic feedback from participating teachers in previous years. There is a course specifically for teachers of infant and junior classes available at CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory, Cork. If you’re interested in attending one of our summer courses or need further information please e-mail stephanie.oneill@sfi.ie.
Investigate the signs of Spring!
Although the Greenwave project will not be going ahead this year you and your class can still look out for the signs of spring in your local area. There are a range of resources to help so why not:
- Watch the What is Spring video
- Use the Spotters Guides to observe common species like the frog, primrose and horse chestnut in your area, as they react to the warmer, longer days
- Observe and record weather in your area over the coming months; click for resources to help with measuring temperature, wind speed and rainfall.
- Check out some weather folklore and climate change facts
Here are some great citizen science projects if you are interested in observing nature around you and sharing your observations and sightings:
- A website has been developed by the National Biodiversity Data Centre to facilitate the recording of species records by members of the public - record everything from bumblebees and butterflies to frogs and ladybirds at http://records.biodiversityireland.ie/. To make it easier the Data Centre has released a biological recording app which allows anyone, young or old, to send it details of sightings of wildlife directly from their phone. The mobile app Biodiversity Data Capture is free to download for iOS and Android phones. So far the project has collated an amazing 113,000 records of more than 60 species. Details can be seen on the Atlas of Mammals in Ireland website. See more here.
- Spring Alive is an international project to encourage children’s interest in nature and the conservation of migratory birds and to get them to take action for birds and other wildlife. By posting their first sightings of birds like the Barn Swallow on the http://www.springalive.net website, children from Europe, Central Asia and Africa create a real-time map of the incredible journeys these birds take every year. For more information see http://www.springalive.net/en-ie/springalive/about-spring-alive-17.
ISTA Conference
A Science Day for Primary Teachers, with talks, activities and teaching ideas, will take place on Saturday 28th March 2015 at University College Cork. Organised by the Irish Science Teachers Association in association with Lifetime Lab, this event will be an opportunity to bring together Primary Teachers who are interested in developing the teaching of science within their schools.
Attending will help teachers:
- Build on their knowledge and confidence in the teaching of science
- Meet teachers who share a similar interest in Primary Science
- Gain ideas to inspire children and colleagues who enjoy science
During the day teachers will have an opportunity to attend different sessions addressing a variety of areas of the SESE Science Curriculum and to share ideas and good practice with colleagues.
Click here for online registration and information or see http://www.lifetimelab.ie.
Fees: Early Bird Registration €25 (before 6th March); Late Registration €30 (after 6th March). This will cover registration and entry to all the talks, a sandwich lunch and access to the exhibit area where science resources supply companies, publishers and national science programmes will have a variety of stands.
Register Early and Win! The first 20 teachers to register will get a free teachers science book.
Discover Primary Science and Maths on Facebook and Twitter
We are posting regular updates and some great videos to our Discover Primary Science and Maths Facebook page and Twitter account, so come and Like us!
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