5th & 6th Class
January - March 2024
It was another busy term for the 5th and 6th class children of Ardnagrath N.S. They’ve had a brilliant time learning both in the classroom and outside the classroom during this period.
The children finished reading ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ and spent an afternoon watching the movie. Although they found it to be a very moving book, they really enjoyed learning about what life was like during the War from the perspective of two boys on different sides of the fence. In Gaeilge, the children studied the ‘An Scoil’ and ‘Siopadóireacht’ themes. They also took part in Lá Glás for Seachtain na Gaeilge, where they performed ‘Riptide’ as gaeilge to the rest of the school. In Maths, the 5th and 6th class children were learning how to use different operations with decimals and fractions. They also went on a learning walk where they used a range of different utensils to measure length.
The children spent a large part of this term preparing for the ESB Science Blast. They done a fantastic job on the day, in the RDS, presenting their infinity mirrors. To coincide with their study of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’, the children studied all about WW2. This accumulated in them creating fantastic 3D models based on the war. Some of these can be seen below in the pictures.
On a sporting front, the 5th and 6th class children represented the school brilliantly. They took part in the FAI 5 aside competition in Gainstown, Mullingar. The girls qualified for the county final and ended up being runners up in the County. Both the boys and girls also played a number of Cumann na MBunscol games. They both done brilliantly and represented the School with great pride. The girls have qualified for the county semi-finals and we’re looking forward to supporting them in the big game in May.
Finally, the 6th class children received the sacrament of Confirmation at the beginning of March. They spent the weeks leading up to it preparing to receive the Holy Spirit. They did fantastic on the day and I know they will continue to display the fruits of the Holy Spirit going forward into secondary school.
Young Environmentalist Awards
Save our environment from early Retirement!
Our project is to create awareness of not just the devasting effects oil products have on the environment but also what the extraction of the oil, gas and other natural minerals causes to the earth’s core and the disasters that occur as a result.
Our research highlighted these resulting effects, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes and heating up of the earth’s surface. In different areas of the world this is leading to huge loss of life, destruction of our built and natural environment.
We raised awareness by presenting findings to all children and staff in school. Parents put our project on Facebook and the school website. Our Junior Mayor lobbied local councillors and a motion was put to the Council to provide rented bicycles in key areas in town to reduce use of cars.
In an event in TUS University Athlone we displayed our project, talked about our concerns and shared our ideas for a solution.
Knowledge is power. Pupils, parents have renewed eagerness to reduce, reuse, recycle, save energy, use alternative means of transport and reduce their carbon footprint.
We reached the semi final and are heading to Galway on April 9th! Fingers crossed!
ESB Science Blast 2024
The 5th & 6th class children at Ardnagrath N.S investigated how optical illusions worked and in particular infinity mirrors. They decided to choose this investigation as there were a number of infinity mirrors in the School sensory room.
After they had researched how infinity mirrors worked and understood that they needed two separate mirrors and a light source, the children went about developing their own infinity mirrors. They drew out concept designs for their own infinity mirrors and made a list of the materials needed to create mirrors with captivating optical illusions.
In small groups the children followed closely the Engineering Design Process to create their infinity mirrors. They used everyday products like old shoe boxes, LED christmas lights, plastic mirrors, plexiglass and semi transparent reflective film to create their magnificent optical illusions.
Upon completion, they tested their mirrors and evaluated how successful their mirrors were. The results varied depending on a number of factors including how clean the mirrors were, how well the adhesive reflective film was added to the glass and how straight the LED lights were placed in the shoe boxes. Finally, the children used their creative streaks to complete the aesthetic side of their mirrors.
The children wrote up their engineering design projects on large boards and travelled to the Science Blast exhibition with their infinity mirrors. Their project attracted large crowds through-out the day to their stall. The amazing optical illusions ‘wowed’ everybody who visited. Most importantly, it wowed the judges who said the 5th & 6th class pupils at Ardnagrath N.S had ‘shown huge interest in the topic, great research skills and had created fantastic prototypes and visual aids to explain how infinity mirrors worked.’
It was a fantastic day in the RDS for the children and one which no doubt inspired the next generation of scientists in the midlands.
World War II Projects
The 5th & 6th Class children have spent the first 6 weeks of 2024 learning all about World War II in S.E.S.E. They've loved learning all about the different battles during the War and where these battles took place. Alongside learning about World War II, the children studied the novel 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' by John Boyne. It gave the children a great insight of what life was like for both a German and Jewish boy of similiar age to them during the War. The children took inspiration from all they learned over the 6 weeks to construct 3D models of their choice based on the War. There was a great variation in the different projects that were created at home with the support of parents ranging from WW2 tanks & planes, to concentration camps and London burning after the blitz. All the children made brilliant efforts for this project!
September - December 2023
The 5th and 6th Class children have had an extremely fun and exciting first term back in Ardnagrath N.S. Both classes were delighted to begin this year in a brand new classroom upstairs in the new wing of the School. As the oldest classes in the school, the children have taken on the responsibilities that come with this and have been excellent role-models for the rest of the children to look up to.
They’ve worked really hard right across the curriculum in the first term; writing some fantastic narratives, solving the hardest of multipication & division problems and delving head first into learning the briathra rules in the aimsir chaite and aimsir láithreach. In SESE, the children have looked at life during the Industrial Revolution, learnt how we as humans have a responsibility to become more sustainable and studied the different states of matter. The children have created some beautiful pieces of seasonal art and these have been proudly on display in the classroom. In P.E the children have been lucky enough to travel to and use the fantastic facilities at T.U.S to develop their athletic skills. Finally, as part of the music curriculum, the children have been learning the ukulele. This has been a wonderful opportunity for them, and they’ve all loved it.
Somehow we’ve managed to find time to fit in some enjoyable extra-curricular activities during this period too. The children were lucky enough to get the chance to bake with Ms. Browne, travel to Clonkill for an Olympic Handball competition and create Christmas decorations as part of our Creative Clusters project.
It’s been a fantastic start to the new academic year in 5th and 6th class and we’re really looking forward to beginning term two.
September 2022
September
The 6th class students returned in September with smiles on their faces eager to make the most of their last year in Ardnagrath National School. They have worked extremely hard over the course of the first month back at school and have impressed Mr. Coughlan with their fantastic attitudes to learning.
Within their curricular activities this month, they’ve been learning all about eco-homes & self-sustainable villages. The children, in groups, designed their own eco-homes and ensured their houses included a range of features to ensure it produced zero-carbon emissions. In history, 6th class began studying the Renaissance. They’ve discovered some of the major inventions that took place during this time and began learning about some of the figures who made this such a prosperous time in European history. The children also created fantastic 3-D self-portraits and completed a collaborative image of Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ painting.
Looking forward, October will be a busy month for the 6th class students as they have a number of exciting days coming up. First up, the return of Cumann na mBunscol with both the girls and the boys playing matches across the month. They will also be competing in the Cross-Country Championships at Belvedere House and the Mini-Olympics in TUS Indoor Arena. A visit from the Rediscovery Centre on the 10th of October is also on the cards!
We can’t wait to begin a new exciting month!
Mr. Coughlan
5th and 6th
April 2022
5th and 6th have had a busy and exciting time since Christmas.
Outside of the normal curricular activities, we have enjoyed getting back into Gaelic football and Camogie training. Tag rugby has also commenced and we look forward to the blitz in mid April in Buccaneers Rugby Club.
The TUS ( formerly AIT) Athletics has made a welcome return and we are currently at the end of our 5 week block of running, long jump, high jump, relays etc. This is due to finish up before Easter but luckily we have swimming to look forward to after the break!!
Taking a well earned break!
In other areas, we have been exploring climate change through our Arcadia Climate Action Awards. This was a fantastic project which we amazingly started all of 2 years ago!! Our Lean Green Team focused on upcycling throughout the school. This included bringing otherwise redundant objects back to life such as old picture frames, shelving and even crayons!! Click on the following link ( or copy and paste into your browser) to see the fantastic website created by Chloe, Marians and Cian.
https://sites.google.com/view/ardnagrathnsarcadiaproject22/home
Old Crayons ready to be made new again for the our Arcadia Climate Action Project
In science, we explored the question:
' Have movement breaks/ ventilation breaks in primary schools affected our learning?'
We used the 6 step scientific method to explore the question, forming a hypothesis and analyzing the data collected.
We discovered that they have had a positive impact on our learning as was evidenced by our results on Day 2 ( when we took a break)!
Click on the following link (or copy and paste into your browser) to view the site built by William and Luke
https://sites.google.com/view/ardnagrath56esb-science-blast/home
We also have some really exciting news as we continue our STEAM Education after Easter. 5th and 6th will be engaging in a 5 week STEAM engineering block with an actual real engineer! Our 'engineering in a box' pack is due to arrive during the Easter holidays and we will then commence our weekly zoom call with Brian,our engineer.
We can't wait!
Check back in after Easter to see what other exciting activities 5th and 6th get up to!
April 2021
We are absolutely delighted to be back and have decided that we are so sick of ‘Seesaw’, we won’t even use one in a playground!!!
After a tough start to the year, school life has resumed where it left off before Christmas. We have continued with our PAX good behaviour games and are looking forward to our reward of a walk, picnic and sports day!!
In English we have continued with the various genre including report recount and narrative exploring Art, Susan Boyle and Hinin Boy. In Gaeilge, bhíomar ag déanamh Siopadóireacht agus Éadaí trí na scéalta ‘An siopa éadaí nua’ agus ‘Gleasta go breá’. Táimid ag iarradh níos mo Gaeilge a úsáid gach uile lá ag ullmhú don mheanscoil. Multiplication and division, data and area have all been explored since January. We are now navigating our way through Fractions. Wish us luck!! Along with the 3 core subjects, we have been busy learning about the Incan civilisation, Brazil, Europe and the EU and the mountains of the world.
It hasn’t been all work work work though and we were really excited when Alan, our GAA coach, returned. We love the Tuesday morning sessions along with our movement breaks between each lesson to help air, clean and ventilate the rooms. Our Westmeath Movathon was a great success with over €600 raised and hundreds of km covered! Rumours are circulating of an upcoming GAA skills challenge over the coming weeks also. We can’t wait!!
Check back before the summer to keep updated on all the news.
September 2020
Big hello to everyone from 5th and 6th. We're all delighted to be back. Despite some small changes, everyone has adjusted and March 20 seems like a long time ago. We have continued our PAX games and our reward for achieving 300 minutes was pizzas, pyjama and a movie day!! It was super.
We've been back to basics in Maths English and Gaeilge and definitely enjoyed 'no homework September'.
As always, we try to have a bit of fun as well and have enjoyed a few unique sports such as 'Swiss Ball Rounders', 'Olympic handball basketball' and 'relay pursuit'.
The highlight of each month is The Primary Planet magazine. We especially love the puzzle page and searching for Seimi!
Seesaw has once again been a huge help at home and is certainly been put to good use.
A big welcome to the newest member of the Ardnagrath family. Hollie joined us in September and has settled in really well. We're delighted to have you!
Check back in regularly for more updates and pictures in the coming weeks.
All in 5th and 6th