Author Archives: Marion McLoone

🐷 STEM Meets Storytime: A Three Little Pigs Investigation

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This week Ms. Mc Loone’s class took part in an exciting STEM challenge inspired by the story of The Three Little Pigs. The children became engineers and scientists as they designed and constructed houses for the pigs using three different materials: straws, lollipop sticks, and bricks.

Once the houses were built, it was time to meet the Big Bad Wolf! In our investigation, the wolf was represented by a handheld electric fan. The wolf huffed and puffed and tried to blow down the children’s creations.

✨ The Investigation

  • The children explored how strong the wolf had to huff and puff to knock down each house.
  • They tested how close the wolf needed to be for the houses to collapse.
  • They carefully observed and communicated their findings.

🧪 The Results

  • The straw houses were blown down easily.
  • The lollipop stick houses were stronger but still fell when the wolf got close enough.
  • The brick houses stood firm – the wolf couldn’t blow them down at all!

🔍 Taking It Further
Curious to learn more, the children extended their investigation. They tested how strong the wolf had to huff and puff to move other everyday materials such as tissue, fabric, and paper. The children loved combining storytelling with STEM.

Congratulations to our 4th Class on their Stellar Victory at TUD Space Fest!

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We are beyond proud to announce that our talented 4th Class pupils have won the prestigious TUD Space Fest Art Competition! Their incredible lunar base design showcased not only their creativity but also their impressive teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Every pupil played a vital role in both the design and construction of the lunar base, applying the artistic and scientific skills they’ve developed in class. Through careful planning, imaginative thinking, and hands-on collaboration, they brought their vision of a futuristic moon habitat to life.

Adding to the excitement, the class is now eagerly looking forward to exploring their well-earned prize—a class set of Sphero indi Robots, valued at €2,000! These programmable robots will offer them an exciting hands-on experience in coding and robotics.

Winning this competition is a testament to their dedication and enthusiasm, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to celebrate their achievement. Well done to all involved—your passion for learning has truly reached for the stars!

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Conversation: 4th Class Pupil Chats with an Astronaut on the ISS

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On June 4th, an unforgettable moment unfolded at TUD, where one of our pupils had the extraordinary opportunity to speak with astronaut Commander Takuya Onishi aboard the International Space Station (ISS). This exciting exchange was made possible through ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), a programme that connects students worldwide with astronauts in orbit, inspiring the next generation of explorers.

As the radio signal linked Earth and space, our student eagerly asked their question, engaging in a real-time conversation with Takuya Onishi. The astronaut shared insights about life in microgravity, scientific experiments in space, and the wonder of looking down at Earth from above.

The excitement was felt across the entire school as pupils tuned in to witness this historic moment. Our 4th Class gathered in the TUD Concert Hall, watching the live connection unfold on the big screen, while other classes joined in from their classrooms. 

Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/@ARISSLIVE  and https://live.ariss.org/