(a) Junior Cycle Science
"The only source of knowledge is experience." - Albert Einstein
Aims of the Department:
Junior cycle science aims to develop students’ evidence-based understanding of the natural world and their ability to gather and evaluate evidence: to consolidate and deepen their skills of working scientifically; to make them more self-aware as learners and become competent and confident in their ability to use and apply science in their everyday lives.
More specifically it encourages all students:
- to develop a sense of enjoyment in the learning of science, leading to a lifelong interest in science;
- to develop scientific literacy and apply this in cognitive, affective and psychomotor dimensions to the analysis of science issues relevant to society, the environment and sustainability;
- to develop a scientific habit of mind and inquiry-orientation through class, laboratory and/or off-site activities that foster investigation, imagination, curiosity and creativity in solving engaging, relevant problems, and to improve their reasoning and decision-making abilities;
- to develop the key skills of junior cycle to find, use, manage, synthesise, and evaluate data; to communicate scientific understanding and findings using a variety of media; and to justify ideas on the basis of evidence;
- to acquire a body of scientific knowledge; to develop an understanding of Earth and space and their place in the physical, biological, and chemical world and to help establish a foundation for more advanced learning.
Facilities offered by the school for the Department:
- Three well equipped laboratories with white coat, goggle and gloves for safety;
- A whiteboard and data projector which are used to show online images and notes related to the Junior Cycle Science curriculum;
- Science week and Space week which are each held once a year.
Information on Junior Cycle/ Syllabus:
This is a three year course consisting of five strands; the unifying strand, Nature of Science and the four contextual strands: Physical world, Chemical world, Biological world and Earth and Space.
At present First Year students have three class periods per week. In second and third year, students have four class periods per week.
The textbook used by all junior cycle science students is “Essential Science” published by Folens.
Materials and Equipment needed for this subject:
- The prescribed textbook, workbook and lab notebook
- Science copy/ notebook
- Calculator
Activities that can support a student in their study of Science:
- Useful websites such as www.scoilnet.ie and www.studyclix.ie
- Reading science related news articles and stories in the newspaper/magazines, online or on TV.
- Family trips to Science events or Science museums
(b) Leaving Certificate Biology
"Biology is the most powerful technology ever created. DNA is software, proteins are hardware and cells are factories." - Arvind Gupta
Aims of the Department:
- To teach the prescribed syllabus in such a way that all students with different learning abilities and needs will have a full understanding of the Biology being taught. Part of this will involve carrying out prescribed experiments to support various topics on the Biology Leaving Cert syllabus.
- To support productive learning students will be doing out notes to suit their needs during each topic of /the course ,where the teacher will act as a facilitator for the student based notes using the book as a guide.
- Where topics are particularly difficult or students have trouble understanding topics handouts produced by the teacher will be given.
- We also aim to instill a love of Biology as a leaving Cert subject. This in turn would instill a love and appreciation of our flora, fauna and surrounding environment.
Facilities offered by the school for the Department:
- A well equipped Biology Laboratory with white coats, goggles and gloves supplied for safety.
- A white board and data projector which are used to show online images and notes related to the Leaving Cert Biology course.
Information on Leaving Certificate Course/Syllabus:
- This can be got at Leaving Cert Biology- Curriculum Online
Materials and Equipment Needed for the subject:
- The prescribed text book.
- An A4 hard back Science copy for experiments.
- An A4 hard back note book or an A4 pad and Biology folder.
- An A4 pad for homework which can be kept in a Biology folder.
Activities that could support a student in the subject:
- Useful websites such as : www.studyclix.ie www.examinations.ie
- YouTube revision website such as Bugbears
- An ecology trip /Industrial Biotechnology visit.
- Attending any environmental talks available to senior students by third level instructions such as UCC and CIT or Industry.
- Attending Leaving Cert Biology Revision courses available to us through UCC and CIT.
"If you can't explain it simply, you simply don't understand it well enough." - Albert Einstein
(c) Leaving Certificate Chemistry
"Every aspect of the world today-even politics and international relations is affected by Chemistry." - Linus Pauling
Aims of the Department:
- To teach the Chemistry syllabus as prescribed by The Department Of Education And Skills;
- In doing so we also aim to teach students the fundamentals of the scientific method through prescribed experiments;
- Students will carry out these experiments in the Chemistry Laboratory and develop skills to carry out further experiments at third level or in industry;
- We guide the students on how to study Chemistry in a way that suits each students individual needs and we also guide students on revising for in house exams and for the final Leaving Cert Exam;
- We hope to instill a love of Chemistry which could lead our young ladies to follow a career in any aspect of Science that they would be interested in.
Facilities offered by the school for the Department:
- A very well equipped laboratory including white coats, goggles and gloves to ensure safety during practical work as prescribed by the Chemistry Syllabus.
- We also have a white board and Dara projector used to show videos of experiments before doing the practical in class and also to find notes that students might find useful to understand a topic in a different format in class.
Information on Leaving Certificate Course/Syllabus:
- This can be found in Leaving Certificate Chemistry Syllabus-Curriculum Online.
Materials and Equipment Needed for the subject:
- Prescribed text book,
- A4 Science hard back copy.
- Hard back A4 copy for notes or A4 pad plus Chemistry folder.
- Homework A4 pad kept in Chemistry folder.
Useful sites and activities that would be helpful to a student studying Chemistry:
- Websites e.g. www.studyclix.ie www.examinations.ie etc.
- YouTube site Bugbears (Chemistry Section)
- Competing / Attending The BT Young Scientist Exhibition
- Attending talks related to Science provided by third level institutions such as UCC and CIT.
- Attending revision courses during 6th year provided to the school by UCC and CIT.
"Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela.
(d) Mathematics
"Mathematics is like checkers in being suitable for the young, not too difficult, amusing, and without peril to the state." - Plato
Aims of the Department:
The aim of mathematics is to provide relevant and challenging opportunities for all our students to become mathematically proficient so that they can cope with the mathematical challenges of daily life and enable them to continue their study of mathematics if they wish to do so. Mathematical proficiency is conceptualised not as a one-dimensional trait but as having five interconnected and interwoven components:
- conceptual understanding—comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations
- procedural fluency—skill in carrying out procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately
- strategic competence—ability to formulate, represent, and solve mathematical problems in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts
- adaptive reasoning—capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, justification and communication
- productive disposition—habitual inclination to see mathematics as sensible, useful, and worthwhile, coupled with a belief in diligence, perseverance and one’s own efficacy
Facilities offered by the school for the Department:
- Each teacher has their own classroom with laptop and white board and access to a visualiser
- JCSP Initiatives which contributes to the understanding of Maths
- Maths Week which is held once a year.
Information on Junior Cycle/Junior Cert Course/ Syllabus:
- This is a 3 year course, students have 5 class periods a week
- Students may access the Higher, Ordinary or Foundation Level
Information on Leaving Certificate Course/Syllabus:
- This is a 2 year course, students have 5 class periods a week
- Students may access the Higher, Ordinary or Foundation Level
Materials and Equipment Needed for the subject:
- Text Book
- Maths Copy
- Calculator
- Maths Set
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