Today our students were very lucky to have a visit from a real scientist!! Dr. Michelle Hennigan is a Chemist and is Technical Operations API Team Lead at AbbVie in County Sligo. She came to our school today and started off with a fun experiment in the Junior Room. The Junior Room experimented with cornstarch and its properties. When mixed with water, it looks like a liquid. When being poured and handled gently it acts like a liquid, but acts like a solid when a force is acting on it. We had such fun grabbing it and letting it ooze out of our hands. We also enjoyed hitting it and not getting stuck in it!

Michelle also spoke to us about being a scientist, what her job entails and how science is a part of our everyday lives. She reminded us that when we ask questions we are just like scientists, wondering, investigating, experimenting and reasoning. 
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Michelle then facilitated an experiment in the Senior Room. The experiment involved creating a coating for a tablet and then testing its durability. Michelle discussed the importance of coating tablets, the purpose of doing so and how it affects the release of important medicine into the human body through the digestive system. designing the coating for a tablet involves science, technology, engineering and math to formulate the ingredients to make the coating, design it, test it and then produce it in bulk amounts. 

Each group were given the same ingredients and objective of developing a pill coating that could withstand the churning actions and acidic environment of the stomach. Each team created wonderful coatings and experimented with how different ingredients affected the properties of their coating. They then coated their tablets (Murray mints). All teams tested their coating’s durability by dropping their tablets into a cup of 7up which was used to simulate stomach acid. We were all amazed with the results of each tablet and discussed the effects size, texture, taste and thickness of the coating have for patients taking the tablets as a source of medicine.

All at Cloonlyon thoroughly enjoyed having Michelle visit us today. We would like to thank her for a wonderful morning and hope to see her again soon for some more amazing experiments. Happy Science Week!

Today 5th and 6th class created their very own paper gliders using card, a straw, a pair of scissors and some tape. Using the card they cut two strips of card and taped the ends of each strip together creating a nice round shape once taped. They created one large hoop and one small hoop taping each one at opposite ends of the straw. Then then held the straw in the middle with the hoops on top and threw their gliders into the air, similar to how you might throw a paper plane, angled slightly up.

They were surprised to discover that their gliders flew surprisingly well. The two sizes of hoops help to keep the straw balanced as it flies. The big hoop creates “drag” (or air resistance) which helps keep the straw level while the smaller hoop in at the front keeps the glider from turning off course.
 
5th and 6th Class discussed how the placement of the hoops on the straw might affect its flight distance and if more hoops would help the glider to fly better. We analysed how the weight of the card might affect how it lands. We discovered, despite many attempts, that the gliders will not turn over because the card hoops are heavier than the straw. Since objects of different weight generally fall at the same speed, the hoop will keep its “upright” position. 

5th and 6th class also continued their cycling lessons today with Gerry Butler of the Mayo School of Cycling. 

Today Gerry taught us about the correct ways to signal while cycling and the importance of signalling for other road users. We also learned how to safely move on from a stop sign and a yield sign. Gerry again discussed and reinforced the importance of road safety and bike safety. 
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Gerry challenged our cycling skills with an obstacle course and a ‘knock-out’ challenge, testing our balance and ability to carefully manoeuvre around cones in a synchronised pattern.

With their plans completed, the children set about constructing their towers. There were some issues and great discussions were had along the way. Each table completed the task of creating a tower that could support it's own weight and was more than 1 level. 

With the towers created, it was time for one last test! The Mr McGuire Earthquake! Thankfully all buildings survived. 

3rd & 4th class continued their cycling lessons today with Gerry Butler of the Mayo School of Cycling. 
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Today we set out a little roadway and junction and educated the children on the correct techniques for signaling and how to move on from a stop and a yield sign.

Making sure that the children were taking in all that they were instructed, penalty points were introduced. Even Mr McGuire picked up some as the Penalty Point Officer was out in force.  Although this was a fun activity, it really highlighted the importance of bike safety and road safety for the children. ​

We also had a team challenge where teams of 3 had to navigate an obstacle course. Each team got 1 point when then 3 members passed through the cones. Each team had 35 seconds and our highest score was 9. 

Lastly we worked on children's judgement on the bikes and their ability to travel slowly and maintain balance and giving way to people in the children's favourite "Figure of 8" game.