Maths Trails!
A Maths Trail is an organised walk through an area close to school where pupils can experience maths in the real world. A trail will help to highlight for them the huge use we make of number in our everyday life and how Maths surrounds us in even the most unusual areas.
Here are some 5th class pupils dong maths trails!
Here are some 5th class pupils dong maths trails!
|
|
Victoria White from the Dodder Action Group recently visited our school. As part of her visit, which you can learn more about below, she informed the 5th class children of a competition the South Dublin County Council were hosting.
The “Dodder Monsters” competition, was aimed at primary school children attending schools in the vicinity of the River Dodder.
It saw children creating their own monsters from the litter items that threaten the river.
Children could build monsters from clean waste found at home or in school. They were encouraged to use litter items commonly found in the river such as tin cans, beer cans, milk bottles, waste paper, old clothes, tyres, bits of bicycles etc.
Many of our 5th class pupils submitted entries and we were thrilled when one pupil, Niamh McGarry, from Ms. Ní Reachtabhra's 5th class won first prize. Well done Niamh.
See Niamh's winning entry below.
The “Dodder Monsters” competition, was aimed at primary school children attending schools in the vicinity of the River Dodder.
It saw children creating their own monsters from the litter items that threaten the river.
Children could build monsters from clean waste found at home or in school. They were encouraged to use litter items commonly found in the river such as tin cans, beer cans, milk bottles, waste paper, old clothes, tyres, bits of bicycles etc.
Many of our 5th class pupils submitted entries and we were thrilled when one pupil, Niamh McGarry, from Ms. Ní Reachtabhra's 5th class won first prize. Well done Niamh.
See Niamh's winning entry below.
Here are some more examples of the monsters created by our 5th class pupil.
Our Journey along the River Dodder
By Rachel Byrne - Room 27, Ms. Naughton
Over the last few weeks the 5th classes have been looking at the River Dodder, Pollution in the Dodder and Life on the Dodder. Victoria White came into us to talk about it and what we can do to stop pollution.Victoria’s husband is head of The Dodder Action Group and she is an expert on the Dodder. She told us all about animal habitats in and along the Dodder. Examples of animals included foxes, rabbits, bats, otters, salmon (in some parts of the river), badgers, grey herrings, kingfishers, ducks and robins.
Victoria also told us what junk has been dumped in the Dodder, glass, bottles, metal, plastic, bags, carpets, furniture, plastic bags, tyres, trolleys, cans, toxic waste and coffee cups.
We now know what this does to the animals and us. The rubbish can build up and raise the water level.This can cause the river to over flow and flood. Some animals might mistake rubbish for food and will try to eat it, his can cause them to choke and die.
We now know what this does to the animals and us. The rubbish can build up and raise the water level.This can cause the river to over flow and flood. Some animals might mistake rubbish for food and will try to eat it, his can cause them to choke and die.
Based on what we had learned my class and I have put together a piece of art on the Dodder.This piece is at the back of the class on a board and we have called it Life On The Dodder.Each student made their own creature that lives by the Dodder. A few other kids in my class and I helped the teacher make the background. We made a field of green using recyclable materials and using blue crepe paper we made the River Dodder. When we were finished that we placed trees,bushes, stones, rocks and our animals on top.
Ian Barbour; The Viking Man!
By Conor Doyle - Room 27, Ms. Naughton
One morning, not that long ago, Ian Barbour, an expert on Viking civilization came to see all of the fifth classes and explained to us how the Vikings lived. He drew a map and showed us where the Vikings came from and where they went to. The Vikings discovered new lands like Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and America. He told us the Vikings discovered America long before Christopher Columbus. He also told us that there is evidence of Vikings having been in Canada.
Later in the day Ian came back to us dressed as a Viking called Ragnar. He was wearing a helmet, a green top and trousers, with a belt and satchel. He had long hair and a bushy beard. He told us he was a combmaker that came from Norway. He showed us replicas of bones, swords, shields and spears.
All of my class found the day very interesting and were glad that Ian came to see us.
Eric Dempsey
The renowned ornithologist Eric Dempsey visited the 5th classes recently and introduced us the fascinating and wonderful world of birds.
Eric visited each class and spoke to the pupils about the extraordinary journey swallows make each year, from our back gardens all the way to South Africa. We found out about the dangers facing barn owls in our region. 30 years ago there were 30 pairs of barn owls in County Dublin, compare that to last year when only two pairs of barn owls were spotted.
Here are some fascinating facts we learned:
- Female bird are generally dull, brown and very boring looking. Whereas males are brightly coloured and attractive. The reason for this is when females lay their eggs they will be camouflaged by the nest, protecting their eggs
- Birds look bigger in winter, this is because they put on more layers of feathers to keep warm and they eat more too.
- Birds don’t have ears. Instead they have holes.
- Birds can hear ten times better than we can.
- The swan is the heaviest flying bird in the world
- Flamingos gets their colour from eating shrimp.
Room 15’s Recycled Christmas Tree
Our class entered the Airfield Recycled Tree competition.
For it we made a lovely Christmas tree using only recycled materials. When our teacher, Ms. Ní Reachtabhra announced the competition all our faces lit up with excitement as we love competitions!
To begin with Ms. Ní Reachtabhra asked us all to make recycled decorations at home. Decorations were poured from every child. There were ‘Sock Snowmen’, owls, stars, Santas, reindeer, icicles made from bottle caps, crocheted tinsel to name but a few. We used all sorts of recycled materials; cardboard, socks, tubes and old decorations. In school we also made lollipop Christmas characters, stars from lollipop sticks, paper-plate angels, cork reindeer and many, many more decorations. We worked really hard at the decorations but thankfully the effort paid off…they looked great.
The tree itself was made from chicken wire from Ms. Ní Reachtabhra’s shed and a hula-hoop from the PE storeroom. Maurice, our caretaker using cable ties, assembled the cone shaped structure as it was quite dangerous to manipulate. Once completed, our tree looked unique and fabulous.
We took photographs and emailed them to Airfield and waited impatiently to hear back. Two days later we received the news that our tree had been shortlisted in the competition. We roared with excitement and the atmosphere was tremendous. Ms. Ní Reachtabhra was very pleased too, as was our SNA, Jacintha, who helped us.
The tree is now on display in Airfield, along with other schools’ trees. The public now have to vote for their favourite tree. The winning class will get a trip to Airfield!!
So if you are in Airfield during the month of December please, please vote for our tree…we really want a trip to Airfield!
