Nature of Science

In order to explore the ESA education material relevant to the various topics in the Junior Nature of Science curriculum please select a topic from the list below:

Science Week 2021 Creating our Future Toolkit

Use this Space themed discussion toolkit to debate and discuss the future of Space: Satellites and Space science with your class.Science Week 2021 Secondary-School-Booklet-Space

Other STEM related Toolkits are available at https://www.sfi.ie/engagement/science-week/resources/

Hello, Is this Planet Earth? Programming a LEGO rover to communicate using light (NoS 9,10)

Hello, Is this Planet Earth – Programming a LEGO rover to communicate using light NoS 9, 10

In this activity, students will communicate with a rover on Mars. The objective of the mission is to send an automatic message from Earth to a rover located on Mars via an Orbiter. This message is sent by a programmed, LEGO-built, robot running an automatic switch. The rover on Mars receives the code via a LEGO light sensor, and students analyse and model the data to translate the message. Students learn how a basic telescope works by magnifying images of Mars using two lenses.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes NoS 9 & 10

Build Your Mars Exploration Rover – Building and programming a LEGO rover to collect Science Data (NoS6, PW4)

Build Your Mars Exploration Rover – Building and programming a LEGO rover to collect science data NoS 6, PW4

Students will design and program a LEGO built rover. Basic instructions are first programmed with the LEGO brick. Then, to remotely control the LEGO-built rover, students will program it with the LEGO Mindstorms EV3 software. The objective is to conduct a space experiment using a scientific approach and collect data. Measurements will be analysed and modelled so that they can be compared with the student’s hypothesis.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes NoS6, PW4

Whoosh Bottle – Applying Newtown’s laws to rockets (PW2, NoS5)

Whoosh Bottle – Applying Newton’s laws to rockets PW2NoS 5

In this activity, alcohol and air are mixed in a large plastic water bottle before being ignited, to simulate the physics principles of chemical rocket engines.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes PW2, NoS5

Space and Major Disasters (NoS9, PW4)

Space and Major Disasters NoS9, PW 4

As part of science and technology, this supplement is a teaching aid for the study of the manifestations of the Earth’s activity. It is designed to enable
pupils to think about the attitude to adopt in the event of a major risk, earthquake or volcanic eruption. The subject may be tackled in connection with current events, be based on the use of documents (photographs, magazines, audiovisual and multimedia documents) or be taught in the framework of activities involving initiation to geography.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes NoS9 and PW4

Plants On Mars – Build an automatic plant watering system (NoS8, PW5)

Plants on Mars – Build an automatic plant watering system

Students will explore technology used in space through the Arduino tool. They will build an automatic watering system that measures soil humidity and waters a plant accordingly.
The basics of programming in C++ will be introduced using the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) software.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes NoS8, PW5

Could Life Survive in Alien Environments – Defining environments suitable for Life (E&S8,NoS1)

Could Life Survive in Alien Environments – Defining environments suitable for life E&S 8, NoS1

Students will consider whether life found in extreme environments on Earth could survive elsewhere in the Solar System.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes E&S8, NoS1

Infrared Webcam Hack – Using infrared light to observe the world in a new way (E&S8, NoS7)

Infrared Webcam Hack – Using infrared light to observet he world in a new way E&S 8, NoS 7

In this activity students will to make an infrared camera by hacking a normal (old) webcam.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes E&S8, NoS7

After the Storm – Tracking Hurricane Matthew and analysing its impact (E&S7, NoS 10)

After the Storm – Tracking Hurricane Matthew and analysing its impact

Students will learn how a hurricane develops and the impact that extreme weather can have on the society.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes E&S7, NoS10

This activity supports ESA’s Climate Detectives competition

Highways of the Oceans – Sea currents and the connection to climate (E&S7, NoS10)

Highways of the Oceans – Sea currents and the connection to climate

students will use an multimedia module to learn about sea currents, the highways of the oceans, and how they are important for understanding local climates.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes (E&S7 , NoS10)

Water on Mars – Programming a LEGO Rover to study changes of state (NoS7, CW6)

Water on Mars – Programming a LEGO rover to study changes of state (NoS7, CW6)

Students will design and develop an entire space mission to Mars.

This activity supports Junior Cycle Science Learning Outcomes (Nos7 and CW6)

Space Bears: Lab-experience with Tardigrades (NoS3)

Space Bears (NoS) 3

Students will investigate the survival abilities of tardigrades.

This activity supports Junior Cert Science Learning Outcome NoS 3

This activity supports ESA’s Moon Camp Challenge competition