The Maori People

The class have studied Maori culture recently. We made Maori masks with facial tattoos and learned the Maori war dance, the haka.

Rivers: Shapers of the Land

This month wehave been studying how rivers, through deposition and erosion, have shaped the land around us. We took a field trip to a tributary of the Kinnypottle River that splits the Cavan Institute campus in two. We measured the speed of the stream by measuring the length of time it took an orange to pass between two poles, two metres apart. (photos to follow)

We collected samples of sediment from the stream-bed in jars to assess how much sediment and what type was deposited on the left-bank, mid-stream and the right-bank. As our photograph illustrates, the jar labelled 'Mid-Stream' shows the least sediment which is sandy and fine. That labelled 'Right-Bank' holds more sediment which is coarser, even containing some small stones. The jar labelled 'Left-Bank' contains most sediment which is muddier than the sediment found in the other jars. These findings were consistent with our study of river erosion and deposition in relation to the processes which form river features, in this instance meanders. The right bank sample was taken from the arc of a meander whilst the left bank sample was taken downstream and on the opposite side to another meander.

Geography Mini-Projects

The class have all done a number of mini-projects, thus far, based on a European and an Asian country of their choice. They are also preparing a Powerpoint presentation on one of their chosen countries to present to the class. As well as examining the physical geography of their selected country, the girls further research the country under the headings of culture, food, pastimes, famous people, links with Ireland and weird facts. Here's a fine example by Hannah Murphy

Symmetry

The girls have been studying symmetry in Maths. We decided it would be fun to combine what we were learning in Maths with our art lesson. These samples show how

 the girls used compass, pencil, protractor, ruler and the naked eye to achieve some great symmetrical art.

Conas cupán tae á dhéanamh

Is maith linn tae i rang a sé agus seo h-iad na treoracha chun cupán iontach a dhéanamh, buíochas le Amy Ní Loinsigh.

Papier Mache

Here's a few of the girls' papier mache monsters from Halloween

Pop Art Creations

The girls have been studying Pop Art.

They've studied the work of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein

As well as completing work that was an homage to these two artists, the girls are working here on a 3-D piece of Pop Art of their own

After teacher cut the mdf to size...

...we gave them a generous coating of acrylic paint.

We chose acrylic as it meant we wouldn't need to varnish them.

We then put them outside to dry in the sunshine.

It didn't take too long for them to dry.

We had previously made a template of card which outlined the word/slogan we wanted to create

We had marked the points where the nails were to go. Wwe hammered them into place.

We ripped up the template as we worked.

It was hard...

...and noisy work.

Using different coloured wool, we began to create our images.

It took a long time...

...and a lot of nails...

...but I think you'll agree that the final results were..

...pretty...

...cool...

...,right?

The Life Cycle Of A Fly

Mr.Arkins provides us with the raw materials; plastic cups, rubber gloves, labels, tinfoil, rubber bands and of course, maggots.

Maggots are the second stage of the fly's life-cycle, the larva stage. They can remain in this stage for 4-10 days

It's now time for us to get stuck in!

We put on our gloves and take maggots for our containers

Some are braver than others...us, not the maggots!

Once are maggots are collected....

....we provide them with some food....

...then we will cover them with tinfoil..

...which we poke holes in to provide air...

...We label who they belong to and the date the experiment began...

....and then we will seal the tinfoil with a rubber band to make sure they can't escape.

We leave them on the radiator next to the window (maggots like a nice warm environment)...

...and then we wait. We observe and record any changes every day as they gradually change to the next stage; Fly pupa. Keep an eye on the blog for updates

Great News!! Just as we were about to give up....

....we'd even written their obituaries in our science copies...

...after 23 days of an experiment!

There was life!! There's no flies on us! Get it? No flies on...nevermind