Learn about science in everyday life, both past and present, with an interactive tour and a hands-on workshop.
Dates: Tuesday, 20 February 2024
Level: 5th and 6th Class
Group Size: 15
Location: Galleries and Activity Room
National Museum of Ireland - Country Life
Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Duration: 2 hours
Times: 10am to 12noon or 1pm to 3pm
Bookings and Information:
Please complete an online enquiry form and we will be in touch soon.
Alternatively, you can email the Bookings Office at BookingsCountryLife@museum.ie or telephone (094) 90 31751.
Curriculum Links:
SESE: Science, History, Geography
Learning Outcomes:
Tour: Farming, plants, crops, food and nutrition
This activity will take place in the museum galleries, using images and objects from the museum collection to develop concepts such as: How the soil and rock type of an area will determine what plants and crops can be grown; The process of photosynthesis and the importance of nutrients for plants and humans; The germination of potatoes and cereals; Learning about the harvest and recognising the associated tools and objects.
Workshop: Soil classification, testing for starch and pH level
Children will be divided into groups and will use worksheets to predict and record the outcome of each experiment. These hands-on experiments will provide for the distinction between acidic and alkaline soils, as well as gaining the knowledge of the three basic soil classifications of sand, silt and clay. Children will understand the concept of a PH scale and learn the difference between an alkaline and an acid. Children will discover the importance of starch and examine what starch is and where it is found.
Resources and suggestions:
Tour and Workshop Description (243KB, Adobe .pdf)
Worksheet and Experiment (1,172KB, Adobe .pdf)