STEM

At St. Kevin’s GNS, we value the importance of STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) for our students and we endeavour to expose them to STEM in interactive and fun ways across many subject areas. Every year, classes participate in Maths Week, Science Week as well as Engineering Week and Code Week. Classes also regularly participate in STEM mornings, Science and Engineering fairs, projects, coding across the curriculum, external school STEM events and visits from people working in STEM areas.

 

ESB Science Blast

On Wednesday the 4th of March 2020, girls from Fourth Class presented their project ‘The Microbit Bin: Life on Land: Can a BBC Microbit help the UN Global Goal?’ at the ESB Science Blast in the RDS Dublin.

Their project investigated whether a BBC Microbit could improve levels of recycling in their classrooms. Through the project they created and coded a device that could easily be placed on a recycle bin and record levels of recycling within their classrooms. They also investigated attitudes towards recycling, levels of recycling in their classes and whether the implementation of a device could improve these levels and attitudes. The girls chose this project as it links easily with the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 14: Life on Land.

The girls had a fabulous day in the RDS. After an early start, they arrived at the RDS and set up their project. They explained and demonstrated how their Microbit Bin worked incredibly well, wowing the judges with their scientific investigation skills. They went to shows such as ‘The Science of Soccer’ and visited various exhibits, collecting lots of ‘free stuff’! Well done to the girls involved. Once again, they represented themselves and our school so well. As such, we’re all looking forward to Kilnamanagh’s first Nobel prize in the future!!

 

Maths at Home Week

In June 2020, St. Kevin’s G.N.S. hosted a fun ‘Maths at Home’ week to continue to promote positive attitudes towards Maths and Maths-related areas in the school. ‘Maths at Home’ week also aims to show how Maths is integral to our daily lives at home and to reinforce practical problem-solving skills in fun and interactive ways. The whole week was deemed very successful with lots of fun hands-on activities and, as an added bonus, there was NO written Maths work set for any class during the week! Activities included daily practical tasks and activities, Maths trails, and a whole school St. Kevin’s Bake Off! A big thank you to all the parents/guardians for helping their child participate in the week in these exceptional circumstances. We loved seeing all the photos of the girls baking and completing fun games and tasks. Check out the school Twitter @stkevinsgns and the school website for a selection of the fantastic work our pupils completed during the week.

Engineers’ Week 2020

In March, St. Kevin’s G.N.S. celebrated Engineers’ Week. Across St. Kevin’s, many activities and lessons took place centred around the importance of engineers in our everyday lives. Many classes looked at the impact of female engineers on society and took part in engineering-based activities.

During the week, students in 2nd, 3rd and 4th Class designed and created engineering projects as part of an Engineering Fair. The standard was exceptional. Each student explained their project, how they created it and how it worked very well to the other classes and teachers who visited the projects on display. There was a prize-giving for winners and highly commended projects at assembly on Friday. Well done to the girls who worked so diligently on displaying their projects. It’s safe to say, the future of engineering is safe in the hands of our fabulous students in St. Kevin’s.

Primary Science Fair

In January 2018, sixth class were chosen to present their project at the Primary Science Fair at the BT Young Scientists Exhibition in the RDS. Their project ‘Microbes in the Classroom: How Clean is Your Classroom?’ examined and measured the amount of micro-organisms found on commonly-touched classroom surfaces. It was a wonderful experience and has hopefully inspired some of the St. Kevin’s girls to pursue science further in their education.