We have had two amazing and epic adventures to Turlough Park recently.

Huge thanks to Tom and the teams.

We undertook some exciting, speedy and challenging orienteering using the latest in digital tech! Orienteering is part of our PE curriculum. Bodies and brains got a work out as the children raced around the park grounds to meet the challenges.

Map-reading, part of Maps, Globes and Graphicacy skills are fundamental to our geography curriculum. In addition, the mathematical elements emerge as the children engage with pattern, co-ordinates and shape, space and measures. It’s a wonderful all-rounder and might be available to families soon. Keep an eye on their website.

They are dashing around in the distance!

A Mini-Beast Workshop was next on the agenda.

The children made their way to the river, and after a short talk, some were brave enough to investigate the straining nets for aquatic and amphibious creatures!

We made our way back to the courtyard workshop for some investigations. We used pipettes, petri-dishes, magnifying canisters and containers with mirrors and magnifiers to bounce light around- these helped us see the creatures from the top and beneath!

They’re fast little swimmers, comedic at times!

We classified the creatures we saw, using a nifty map key, and used a microscope to observe further.

Ms Walsh isn’t afraid of these tiny foe, and settled many-a-nerve for some present!!!

We learned a great deal about these creatures and the health of our water systems, based on their very presence. We’re lucky!

We’re studying the weather at school.

As part of our practical work, we investigated heat.

We used thermometers and some spoons to affirm our conductor predictions! The metal spoons reduced the temperature of the water.

We took temperature measurements as part of our investigations and recorded these in tables.

We’re making charts and will have projects at the end of the unit of work.

As part of project design, we’re stepping into the new curriculum framework and the children have had a huge voice in our undertakings. This includes one specific area of focus, and in the design of our assessment tools and self-assessment practices; from learning quality ‘facts’ to delivery of presentations! Superb work from the gang.

Notably, in many circles, the weather is considered a science…STEM or SEE in the future? We’ll see! But we will continue with thematic integration as always for now!

Here are some simple snaps of their investigative work yesterday…

We did an experiment today to see what colours are in M&Ms and skittles! We discovered all of the colours using a technique called chromatography. Of course, we had to taste the treats too!