by Alan Jacques
Well, last week national school teachers from across Limerick city and county travelled boldly to the far reaches of the galaxy to learn all about rocket science, astronomy and lunar mission activities. Actually, they only got as far as Lough Gur to attend a five-day professional development course, but the end results proved just as rewarding.
Titled ‘Space, it is Rocket Science!’, the key objective of the training was to bring science, maths and engineering to primary level students in a fun and active way. The course was run by Science Foundation Ireland and was supported by the European Space Education Resource Office.
As part of a new approach to training, the teachers were taken on a visit of the Lough Gur sites to learn how simple mathematical equations could be used to measure and build the earliest settlements. The County Limerick tourist attraction’s own great Grange Stone Circle is often referred to as an observatory so the area makes for a perfect base to interpret the stars and constellations.
Chairperson of Lough Gur Development, Aine Barry, explained, “Science, maths and engineering, forms part of everything that surrounds us from the old churches, castles, tombs and even the lake. Lough Gur is an ideal location to discover the mysteries of science.”
Teachers from primary schools across the county from Kilfinane to St Paul’s in Dooradoyle, and Bruree, attended the course.
Principal of Kilmallock Primary School, John English, said he found it “highly practical” and a pleasure to attend.
“It provided teachers with useful experiments which they can redo in the classroom. The true value of the course will be its usefulness for children when teachers return to their schools with this new information and many concepts,” John told the Limerick Post.
The tutor for part of the programme was Dr Vincent Casey, senior lecturer in Physics at the University of Limerick and a native of the Lough Gur area.
“The children are in good hands if the enthusiasm of the teachers is anything to go by,” he revealed.
