e-Newsletter
Looking for inspiration
Read on for inspiring stories from amazing schools that have achieved nine Awards of Science and Maths Excellence and are working towards their tenth!
Mrs Lavelle from Urbleshanny National School, Scotstown, Co.Monaghan tells her school’s story:
Our school has always placed an emphasis on Science. We felt that the time was right to widen the curriculum of science in our school to include more chemistry and physics while retaining the strong teaching always received by our pupils in the area of living things. When the Discovery Primary Science award began we were immediately interested as it gave structure and direction to what we were already trying to achieve. The use of recyclable materials and the fun aspect of teaching important scientific principles really appealed to us.
As a result of entering the AoSME we have moved away from textbook teaching. We use an experimental approach when teaching science. We do not have or feel the need to use science books. We find the DPSM lessons and videos most helpful. Personally, I love the Make a Lighthouse and Make an Electric Quiz lessons. When children understand a simple circuit and parallel circuit, these lessons allow their knowledge and imaginations to flow.
We do our own science week activities (again we love the ideas on the science week website) and we also attend science workshops in the locality. We look forward to Engineers Week and enjoy learning about the work of an engineer from different past pupils and parents each year.
Mrs Ann Gourley from Robertson N.S., Ballintra, Co. Donegal tells us about her schools approach to science:
Science has always been area of particular interest for us in Robertson. We have always felt that Science is an exciting, vibrant area of the curriculum that offers pupils vast and diverse opportunities for learning. The Discover Primary Science and Maths programme gave us a fantastic opportunity to make Science and Maths work in our school a special area of interest where everyone in school could become involved in working towards a common goal. As the awards have grown and changed over the years, so has our passion for Science! We have become even more enthused and active in our approaches and activities to ensure our school’s continued success in this important area.
Since entering the AoSME our approaches to Science have become much more child centred, practical and hands on. Our pupils have become more involved in the investigations taking place and their suggestions, questions and ideas lead the investigations we engage in. The children have become better at thinking things through, solving problems and reflective as a result. This has led to an enhanced and enriched learning experience for all concerned. A personal favourite for me is the Design a Boat activity. This activity is always a fun activity in my infant classroom as it creates lots of ‘sinking’ problems, which pupils are encouraged to work through and solve resulting in a beautifully floating boat (which we then sink again with ‘pea passengers’!) This activity offers children the chance to be hands on in their learning and ask questions such as ‘why?’ and ‘how?’.
Link to Top of Page
