Science Week School Report 2008
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Each year we at Discover Science and Engineering get to talk to lots of people that took part in a Science Week event. We especially love to hear from school students or their teachers about what they did to get involved. Scoil Ghobnatan in Mallow, Cork, is one such school that we talked to in 2008, that really rolled up their sleeves and got involved! They had visits from Colette Creedon from the Energy Agency Office in Mallow, who played ‘renewable energy’ games with the students. Paul O’Flynn from the Adult Education Centre came in to talk to 4th Class students about organic horticulture. Roddy Crehan, a veterinarian surgeon, spoke to Junior Infants and 6th Class about life as a vet, while Andrea Doolan from the Biosciences Institute, UCC, spoke to the children about the immune system.
Nollaig Murphy, is a dedicated, science-loving teacher from the school, and took inspiration from her 1st Class student’s enthusiasm and sent us in the reports that her students wrote. Below is a selection of their work and a chance for you to meet some of Ireland’s youngest, budding scientists!
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Jessica Sheehan, 5th Class
Saving Energy, by Jessica Sheehan, 5th Class
It is very important that we save energy, to 1) reduce global warming and 2) save fossil fuels. Everyone can make a difference by doing simple things, for example, turning off lights and closing doors to keep heat in. If you are cold don’t turn up the heating or put more fuel on the fire, get a blanket or put on a warm jumper. Don’t leave things like televisions on stand-by because that still uses up 20% of energy. Turn it off fully. Insulate your house properly and you will find your house is warmer. Try and take the bus, walk or even carpool. Everybody should use energy efficient light bulbs and if you really want to make a difference, use solar panels in new houses. Everyone can make a difference, we don’t all have to come together, we can do it by the power of one.
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Laura Colgate, 4th Class
Organic Horticulture Report, by Laura Colgate, 4th Class
On Tuesday 11th November, Paul Flynn came in to talk to us about gardening for Science Week. We learned about what plants need to grow and live. He tested the PH in the soil using a PH tester. This is a small machine that reads the goodness in the soil. He also told us how to work out how old trees are, which I found very interesting, as I didn’t know that before. He told us that compost is made from orange peel, banana skins, dry grass, leaves and apple cores. I really enjoyed the talk for Science Week and learned a lot of new information.
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Alison Buckley, 5th Class
The Immune System, by Alison Buckley, 5th Class
A lady called Andrea came to our class. She works in the APC where they have over 200 scientists working. It is also part of UCC. The presentation she gave us was delightfully interesting. She told us about our first line of defence, your skin, which is very important in keeping you healthy; your sweat, because it keeps us cool in hot weather; your mouth because your digestive system starts there; your nose because it allows you to breathe and finally your digestive system, because you need food to help you grow! Our immune system is the body’s special defence system and helps make us better when we are sick. Some of you may not have heard of fungi before. Good fungi are mushrooms, yeast and penicillin, bad fungi is mainly mould. Andrea did an experiment on how bacteria spread from one person to another through coughing, sneezing and shaking hands. Microbes live in, and on, humans and animals. They can enter the body by the mouth, eyes, nose and in cuts. To stay healthy we need good hygiene and by eating a healthy diet. Finally, Andrea taught us about GI Jake who helps with digestion and fight bad microbes like pathogens.
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Megan O’Connor, 5th Class
The Immune System, by Megan O’Connor, 5th Class
Science Week is all about learning more about science. Microbes are very small organisms in our bodies. Micro means tiny! Pathogens are some of the bad microbes. There is up to 1 kg of good and bad bacteria in your gut. Antibiotics kill off the bad bacteria but can also kill the good as well. Your blood has red and white cells. Leukocytes are special white blood cells that eat pathogens. Antibodies are another type of white blood cell that recognise and fight pathogens. We did an experiment about germs and viruses and how they can be passed from one person to another. We used gel and glitter as germs and shook hands with the person beside you. If you wash your hands the germs won’t get passed on. I know someone who had a virus called MRSA and was in hospital for over two months. I know a bit more about this now and understand the importance of good hygiene. This is what I learned in Science Week.
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Shona O’Brien, 5th Class
Immune System, by Shona O’Brien, 5th Class
Inside your body there is an amazing protection system called the immune system. It is designed to defend you against millions of bacteria, microbes, viruses and parasites that would love to invade your body. The immune system will help you fight the germs, bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi.
We also need essential vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy immune system. These are found in fruit and vegetables. Each day you inhale thousands of germs in the air but your immune system deals with them! Occasionally they get past it and you catch a cold or get the flu. The fact that your body gets over the flu is a sign that your immune system was able to eliminate the invader after learning about it.
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Aidan Murray, 6th Class
Science Week 2008, by Aidan Murray, 6th Class
On Wednesday 12th of November, a vet called to our school as part of Science Week 2008. His name was Roddy. He talked to us about what being a vet is like. He told us about his job as a horse breeder and how he reared horses and worked in stables.
Then he showed us all kinds of equipment that he used to treat animals. He showed us a scanner which he used to see if a horse was pregnant. He showed us an endoscope which he would put down the horses nose to look at his lungs. He also showed us a stethoscope which is used to monitor the horses breathing. The part I enjoyed the most was when he was showing us the equipment!
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Claudia O’Donoghue, 6th Class
A Visit from the Vet, by Claudia O’Donoghue, 6th Class
Roddy Crehan, a vet that works on Grange stud farm in Fermoy, came in to talk to us about his job. When he was in 6th Class he did not get the chance to talk to a vet. He showed us an instrument that is used to scan a horse’s body. It is called an ultrasound. It has a screen and a keyboard. When you pressed a brown lead against the horse’s body you can see everything inside, even the blood moving. He showed us a stethoscope like the doctors have in a hospital, to listen to its lungs or heart.
He also showed us a big long rope that would be put up the horses nose and travel down to the chest so the vet could see what the problem was. It was called an endoscope. It was very interesting and a great help to people who wanted to be a vet. He answered a lot of questions as well. He finished up by telling us about science week and showing us prizes and t-shirts.
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Many thanks again to the students of Scoil Ghobnatan in Mallow, Cork and Nollaig Murphy, for sharing your Science Week experiences with us. We hope you continue to participate and celebrate Science Week each year with us!