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Our STEM Blog
Recording Great Work /2021- 2022
On this page we want to share our ongoing great work with everyone, providing the steps to repeat our experiments when we can and acknowledging the investigative work being carried out on a daily basis by our pupils!


LEGO Spike Kits
Our 3rd–6th class students enjoyed using LEGO Spike kits this month as they explored programming and engineering concepts. They designed and built a variety of models and then wrote code to make them move and respond using motors and sensors. They also learned how to debug their code by testing, identifying errors, and making improvements when things didn’t work as planned. Students developed important skills such as coding, problem-solving and critical thinking. They also sh
rathleenationalsch
Jan 241 min read


STEM
We are having great fun being engineers with our new resources during activity time. We are also using the tablets this month to work on our maths skills
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Nov 19, 20251 min read


Science Week 2025
We had a busy week investigating light and static electricity. We used a torch to investigate whether items were transparent or opaque and recorded our results. We learned how static electricity can be caused by things rubbing together. We rubbed a balloon on a woolly jumper and touched items such as paper, tissue paper, card and our hair! Finally, we are investigating the importance of washing our hands correctly. We are using bread to demonstrate this. We are continuing
rathleenationalsch
Nov 19, 20251 min read


Rathlee NS Science Fair 2025
We had an exciting day in Rathlee NS as our 3rd–6th class pupils proudly showcased their projects for our Science Fair, held as part of Science Week 2025. The event gave pupils the opportunity to become real scientists - investigating, experimenting, and sharing their discoveries with others. Each class began by presenting their experiments in their own classroom. Pupils demonstrated their work, explained the scientific ideas behind it, and answered questions from their peers
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Nov 14, 20251 min read


Growth Mindset
In SPHE, 3rd and 4th class have been learning all about growth mindset—the idea that we can develop our abilities through effort, perseverance, and a positive attitude. We explored how challenges help us grow, mistakes are opportunities to learn, and that with resilience, we can achieve great things. To reflect on this learning, we created inspiring animal-themed artwork, each paired with a motivational message. From brave lions to calm koalas and determined ants, the art sho
rathleenationalsch
Oct 17, 20251 min read


Maths Week 2025!!
Junior and Senior Infants had great fun participating in Maths Week this year! Working in pairs, the boys and girls played a tower-building game using a dice. Each roll decided how many blocks they could add to their tower — there were lots of giggles, teamwork, and careful counting as they tried to see who could build the tallest tower without it tumbling down! They also enjoyed a colourful Skittles sorting activity, where they grouped the sweets by colour and displayed thei
rathleenationalsch
Oct 17, 20251 min read


Curious Minds Gold Award
We are delighted to share that our school has been awarded the Curious Minds Gold Award. This is our 16th science award. This...
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Jun 22, 20251 min read


Curious Minds - STEM
We learned all about water pollution this week. Our 5th and 6th classes demonstrated to our 1st and 2nd classes an experiment about how different pollutants can impact water quality.
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May 9, 20251 min read


Internet Safety Week
Junior and Senior Infants were learning all about how to use the internet safely, with tips from Buddy, the internet safety dog. Buddy taught the children a song to remind them of ways to be safe when using the internet🎶
rathleenationalsch
Feb 17, 20251 min read


Lifecycle of a frog
1st and 2nd class have been learning about the lifecycle of the frog in our SESE class. We wrote a report on the frog also.
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Feb 10, 20251 min read


STEM- Foil boats
We had great fun trying out a STEM challenge today in class. In groups we made a boat from tinfoil. The boat floated in water and we counted how many tens and units the boats could carry before they sank. We practised our skip counting in 10’s.
rathleenationalsch
Jan 20, 20251 min read


Smartie Maths
We explored data this week using smartie sweets. We sorted all the smarties into coloured sets and then counted each of the sets. We coloured block graphs to display the contents of our smartie box. We had great fun and enjoyed having them as a treat after the maths activity.
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Dec 20, 20241 min read


STEM Lego Floor Plans
We have been learning about homes and floor plans in geography this week. We worked in pairs designing a floor plan on paper and then created it using Lego. We had lots of fun.
rathleenationalsch
Nov 17, 20241 min read


Skittles Experiment
We have been covering pattern in maths. We decided to integrate this science experiment with the topic. You will need Skittles White plate Warm water Instructions Place the skittles around the edge of the plate. Carefully pour warm water over the top. Watch as the colours spread through the water! The Skittles are coated in food colouring and sugar. When you pour water over the skittles the coloured coating dissolves and diffuses through the water. Colourful patterns can be
rathleenationalsch
Nov 17, 20241 min read


Marshmallow Fun
We had great fun making shapes with mini marshmallows, cocktail sticks and spaghetti.
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Nov 6, 20241 min read
Germ Buster Experiment
We demonstrated a handwashing science experiment that reminded us the importance of using soap when washing our hands. Soap makes "germs"...
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Nov 4, 20241 min read
Maths Week 2024
1st and 2nd had fun exploring the school grounds today. We completed a shape trail in pairs.
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Oct 14, 20241 min read


Mouldy bread- how clean are our hands?
We used bread to demonstrate the importance of washing our hands. The class touched one slice with unwashed hands and one slice with...
rathleenationalsch
Apr 20, 20241 min read


Measuring
Our class had fun using cubes, lollipop sticks, hand span and metre strings to measure items in the classroom. We have been learning...
rathleenationalsch
Mar 26, 20241 min read


STEM Day
Our 6th class were invited to Coláiste Iascaigh on March,13th where they had a very interesting and enjoyable day. Meanwhile the 5th...
rathleenationalsch
Mar 21, 20241 min read


Sound - investigating high and low sounds
We used four glasses to investigate high and low sounds. We filled one glass with water and left one glass empty. When we tapped each...
rathleenationalsch
Feb 29, 20241 min read


Busy Builders
We have been busy constructing lots of different types of buildings with Lego and Mag Snaps. We even built a whole army!
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Feb 20, 20241 min read


Spaghetti Tower Challenge
In class we worked in groups to see who could construct a tower of spaghetti that would hold one marshmallow. We attempted to make the...
rathleenationalsch
Feb 14, 20241 min read


Máirt na hinide Ag Déanamh Pancóga
Comhábhair : Plúir,so uibheacha, bainne, im. 1.Nigh do lámha 2.Cuir an plúr sa bhabhla. 3.Cuir bainne agus ubh sa bhabhla freisin....
rathleenationalsch
Feb 13, 20241 min read


Aquatic Biodiversity Workshop with Dara Timpson, Heritage in Schools
The aim of Dara's workshop is to immerse the students in the abundant biodiversity that exists in their local streams, rivers or lakes,...
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Feb 9, 20241 min read


Energy and Forces
We had fun today investigating slopes and friction. We used our maths books to prop up a ramp made from a kitchen roll. We timed how...
rathleenationalsch
Jan 24, 20241 min read


STEM - Beebots
The Bee-Bot is an interactive tool used to create hands-on and engaging learning experiences for primary school students. It is an...
rathleenationalsch
Dec 21, 20231 min read


Static Electricity
Last month we investigated static electricity in Science class. We cut up paper into small pieces. We inflated balloons and rubbed the...
rathleenationalsch
Dec 17, 20231 min read


Oobleck
We had lots of messy, sensory fun playing and experimenting with Oobleck - a mixture of cornflour and water. When we squeezed the oobleck...
rathleenationalsch
Dec 15, 20231 min read


Science/Living Thing
Planting spring bulbs, hyacinths and snowdrops . We planted 1 hyacinth bulb in water and more in clay for indoors. We planted...
rathleenationalsch
Dec 2, 20231 min read


Building Houses
We used straws, marshmallows, lollipop sticks and Lego to make houses for the three little pigs. Hopefully the Big Bad Wolf won't blow...
rathleenationalsch
Nov 29, 20231 min read


Maths: Fractions
We used Kahoot to assess our understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, mixed numbers and improper fractions.
rathleenationalsch
Nov 28, 20231 min read


STEM with Lego
We have been learning about homes in our SESE this month. We worked in pairs to build a variety of buildings from Lego. Wonderful...
rathleenationalsch
Nov 25, 20231 min read


Maths Games
We have been playing gumball in pairs this week. It has been fun while working on our mental maths skills.
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Nov 25, 20231 min read


Marine Mammal Skeleton
Thank you to Jacob for bringing in the marine mammal skeletons which he found on the seashore with his family. Our investigations lead us...
rathleenationalsch
Nov 19, 20231 min read


Science Week Static Electricity
We investigated static electricity today 13/11/2023. 1. We rubbed our hair with balloons and electrons were transferred from our hair...
rathleenationalsch
Nov 13, 20231 min read


Transparent or Opaque?
Materials: Properties and characteristics of materials In groups we tested a variety of materials to find out if they are transparent or...
rathleenationalsch
Nov 12, 20231 min read


STEM-Can you make a paper bat fly?
Living things: plants and animals Energy and forces: Forces Maths:measuring We have been learning about bats in English this week. We...
rathleenationalsch
Oct 30, 20231 min read


Halloween Ghost
Materials:Materials and Change You will need: 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of bread soda, funnel, white balloon, bottle and black...
rathleenationalsch
Oct 24, 20231 min read


Shape Hunt
We finished up Maths week with a shape hunt in the school yard. We worked in pairs and recorded what shapes we could see in our environment.
rathleenationalsch
Oct 20, 20231 min read


STEM with Marshmallows
As part of Maths week we have been busy constructing 2D and 3D shapes using marshmallows and cocktail sticks. We worked on our counting...
rathleenationalsch
Oct 18, 20231 min read


Hyacinth bulb
Experiment: to examine how the roots of a bulb grow. We filled a bulb jar with water. We placed a hyacinth bulb in the jar. Over the...
rathleenationalsch
Oct 17, 20231 min read


Maths Fun
1st and 2nd class had fun working in pairs during maths class. They were working on counting items within a set and completing the number...
rathleenationalsch
Oct 1, 20231 min read


Sharks
We were learning about sharks in SESE. We read the book Sharks by Phillip Clarke and learned some very interesting facts. We used old...
rathleenationalsch
Jun 2, 20231 min read


Making Floating Devices for Lego People
We had lots of fun experimenting with different materials to check if they would float and make vessels to float for Lego people.
rathleenationalsch
Jun 2, 20231 min read


Edible Landscape Project
Our apple tree is healthy and growing well. Taragh was with us today and we planted chives, parsley, rosemary, lavender, marigolds,...
rathleenationalsch
May 15, 20231 min read


How Strong Is A Piece of Paper?
We tested the strength of paper, folded in differently shaped columns, by piling books on top. This is very similar to how columns are...
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Apr 25, 20231 min read


STEM Showcase
Today we carried out an experiment in the Senior room for some of our younger pupils to observe and enjoy ! Materials: - Several cups...
rathleenationalsch
Apr 21, 20231 min read


Sewing Pumpkin Seeds
Bhí an aimsir ar fheabhas inniú mar sin chuireamar síolta puimcín.
rathleenationalsch
Apr 20, 20231 min read


Maths Trail
We were very fortunate with the weather today so we really enjoyed our Maths Trail.
rathleenationalsch
Apr 20, 20231 min read
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