Castleisland Community College had a very exciting start to the last school term of the year with the completion of the second science lab in the school.
Students have now got access to two fully equipped science labs in which to undertake their studies, with the new lab coming with state of the art Information and Communications Technology equipment.
Link Science and Technology
This will help students to effectively link science and technology in every class and will prove invaluable to them in completion of course work for Junior Cycle Science and Leaving Cert Agricultural Science projects.
Science teachers, Máiréad Corridan and Cáit McEllistrem said the addition of the new lab means that students will have unlimited access to science labs while studying Leaving Cert. Chemistry, Biology, Ag. Science and Physics as well as Junior Cycle Science.
Inquiry Based Approach
“This allows for continuous inquiry based approach to learning in all science classes and is in keeping with the ethos of a student centred approach to learning that is central to our school,” they said.
The addition of the new science lab is not all that the science department in Castleisland Community College had happening this year.
Scientific Thinking
Science week back in November was action packed! Students engaged in a number of events throughout the week that fostered their creativity and scientific thinking. The week started off with a visit from Sirius Science who enthralled first and second year students in a 3D interactive workshop on earth and space.
This linked in with the new Junior Cycle science specification and also gave students an insight into the life of an astronaut.
Tomb in the Lab
The Transition Year students travelled to Tralee to engage in the ‘tomb in the lab’ which showed the students the interaction between archaeology and science and explored the importance of obtaining DNA in relation to dating of artefacts.
Each day at lunch time there was a great buzz around the corridors with students rushing to be first to the science lab door to answer the science question of the day and claim an elusive prize.
All Aspects of Science
Finally the week was rounded off with an annual science quiz which was held on Thursday evening. The junior cycle science students were put through their paces with questions relating to all aspects of science!
In addition, the Science Department at Castleisland Community College welcomed members of the UCC Chemistry faculty to the school in December to undergo a workshop with senior cycle chemistry students. And, there’s more!
Some of the Transition Year students are waiting anxiously to see if they have reached the final five of the Irish Angus Beef Producers competition in association with ABP Ireland and KEPAK Group!
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