S.T.E.M. Activities
Pupils in our school embrace the S.T.E.M. subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and engage in many activities throughout the year that provide meaningful learning environments in these curricular areas. Students also participate in a Shared Learning Programme with Creeslough National School based on these subjects.
Below are some of the activities/investigations that pupils have carried out during the year.
Science:
Space Week:
All students took part in many activities during Space Week. Creeslough School visited on one of the days and pupils shared information and gave presentations based on the topic of space. Pupils learned about space in a fun and engaging way. Senior Room pupils read their Science Apprentice books based on space and tweeted about their activities to raise awareness of Space Week.
.png)
Science Week:
All pupils got involved with Science Week 2019. This is a week that children look forward to each year. Pupils in both the Senior Room and Junior Room conducted investigations each day based on the strands of Living Things, Energy and Forces, Materials and Environmental Awareness and Care. Senior Room Pupils engaged with PDST Primary STEM and ESB Science Blast through Twitter and attempted challenges set by them e.g. asking testable questions and investigating them.
.png)
.png)
Senior Room pupils researched famous scientists and made powerpoints about their lives and work. They then presented these to the class.
The following video gives a flavour of some of the other Science lessons that took place during the 2018/2019 academic year.
Technology:
Here in Cloughfin N.S., technology is embedded into daily life when it can be used to enhance teaching and learning outcomes. We participate in Safer Internet Day (SID), Code Week EU, Vex Robotics Competition, Tech week, Hour of Code and many other activities throughout the year. We were delighted to be chosen as part of a cluster for the School of Excellence Fund - Digital. Along with Crana College, St. Eunan's College and Letterkenny Educate together, we are focusing on coding using the Microbit and integrating this with other subjects. We recently were invited to St. Eunan's College for a Microsoft Dreamspace pop up event based on the STEM subjects. Students use technology for research, creating digital content, typing activities, coding and playing educational games.
.png)
.png)
Engineering:
Pupils in both rooms take part in Engineering challenges throughout the year. We also participate in Engineers' Week. Below are some photos/tweets of some of the activities.
Maths:
Pupils participate in engaging maths activities each day in school. They use websites to play educational mathematical games and use the online platform Khan Academy to practise and reinforce learning. The school has recently purchased Izak 9 maths cubes. We participated in Maths Week and visited our partner school Cresslough N.S. during Maths week for some shared education based on Maths. Senior room pupils entered the Pangea Maths competition run by the Educational society of Ireland for the first time this year and are awaiting results. Senior Room girls also gave a maths presentation as part of the Vex Robotics competition In Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT)
S.T.E.M. Showcase
On the 11th of April we held our S.T.E.M. Showcase which is a requirement when appluing for the DPSMA. Our Creeslough friends visited once again and we showcased for them. After they departed parents visited the school and pupils demonstrated some experiments for them.