Category Archives: Fifth Class

Summer Term 5th class

Steam project

Steam: Week 1

  • How does the Leaning Tower of Pisa not fall?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was built by Bonanno Pisano in 1173, now that’s a long time ago! It was built in Pisa. Enough of the facts, lets now find out how the Leaning Tower of Pisa hasn’t fallen yet! 5 years after the tower was built it started to lean 0.2 degrees north of vertical. A few years later the tower tilted 1 degree south.     

           Outstandingly it’s still tilting up to this day! The reason why this beautiful tower started to tilt is the foundation under the tower started to soften a lot. It was because it started to rain quite a lot in Pisa, Italy. That is how the Leaning Tower of Pisa is still leaning is said to probably live for another 200 years! Thank you for reading this.

Steam: Week 2

Today during ‘Steam’ I learned about process engineering. ‘Process Engineering’ is the branch of engineering that is concerned with industrial processes, especially design, operation and control. We were shown a powerpoint about process engineering. In the powerpoint we learnt about isometric dots. Isometric dots are dots that engineers use to sketch the things that they will build. We were given an isometric dot sheet to do. We had to draw certain shapes on the sheet. We also learnt how rice is made. It was very interesting. Then we did our daily assignment. We had to make working sweet factories that had working systems.

Steam: Week 3

Today during ‘STEAM’ I learned about mechanical engineering. Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that is concerned with design, construction and use of machines. We were shown an interesting PowerPoint. During the PowerPoint, we were shown a video of a man who found a very interesting and inventive way of opening his door. It would be way easier and faster to just open the door manually. Nevertheless it was still interesting and creative. Then we had to blutac two marbles on either side of a ruler and then put the ruler halfway off the table to see if it will balance. Then we were taught about wind turbines and had to make our own one. It was hard but my team and I got ours finished. That’s this week’s steam round-up.

Steam: Week 4

Today during STEAM I learned about ‘transport engineering.’ Transport engineering is the branch of engineering that is concerned with functional design and operation. We were shown a powerpoint. During the powerpoint we were shown a video on how a plane works. It was hard to understand but at least I learnt something. Then I had to make a paper plane.  We then learnt a bit more about transport engineering on the powerpoint. Then we had to do our weekly assignment. We had to make boats that floated and could hold cargo.

Steam: Week 5

Today during ‘STEAM’ I learned about environmental engineering. Environmental engineering is the branch of engineering concerned with using natural sources. We were shown a powerpoint. During the powerpoint we were shown a video.

Art Activities

CLASS TOUR OUTDOOR FUN!!!

Cooking All Stars at Cloonakilla NS


Over the past 6 weeks the children from 5th class have been taking part in the Cooking All Stars Programme with Mrs. Cronolly, Ms. Harney and Breege. SuperValu provided all of the recipes, cookery equipment and aprons, and Smith’s SuperValu Monskland generously provided the ingredients for each week’s lesson. We learned lots of cookery new skills and practised making some delicious new recipes. We tried out a new one each week.

  • On week 1 we learned about the food pyramid and healthy eating.
  • For week 2 we made scrambled eggs.
  • In week 3, on Pancake Tuesday, we made pancakes with healthy bananas as a topping.
  • On week 4, we made granola.
  • We made tomato marinara sauce for pasta on week 5.
  • We made hummus on week 6.
  • We had lots of fun each week and we each got a little recipe booklet at the end with some new recipes to try at home with our families.

COOKING ALL STARS AT CLOONAKILLA NS 2019!

COOKING ALL STARS AT CLOONAKILLA NS 2019!

The children from Ms Harney’s Class are taking part in the SuperValu Cooking All Stars Programme during Tem 2 2019. Each week the focus will be on learning a key cookery skill and learning fun facts about a hero ingredient. Then we will have a demo by Ms Harney and Mrs Cronolly and a practical lesson where we will cook a healthy recipe for our classmates. We can then take our skills home and practise cooking healthy meals with our families.













Term 2 6th class

Public Speaking Event at Cloonakilla NS

On the evening of December 11th pupils from 5th and 6th classes and their teachers Ms Connaughton, Ms Kiely, Mrs Cronolly, Ms Harney and Ms Cunniffe held a public speaking event for our parents in the school hall. It was a great success.

The theme of the event was “Role Models.” Some of the children read a Seamus Heaney poem, others read aloud pieces they had written about their own personal role models. There was a debate on the night. The motion was “We need better role models for our generation” and the debaters on both sides had excellent speeches prepared. There was lovely musical entertainment provided by the children and Mrs O Rourke.

We were delighted to see so many of our families there to support us on the night. Our teachers and parents were very proud of us. We debated again with 4th class as an audience the next day and we hope that some of the children in that class will take part in public speaking next year. We will have another debate next term.

Term 2 6th Class

Confirmation 2019

Confirmation

On April 3rd 2019  we  made our Confirmation with children from Clonown  parish , in St Peter’s and Pauls Church Athlone.  We went to the church on Friday the 29th of March for a practice. We had an excellent practice and we were all feeling confident for the big day. We all had a splendid day with amazing reading from Katie Browning and Luke Duignan and some lovely Prayers of the Faithful from Therese Farrel, Juilet Shine, Zoe Collins, Kevin Jordan, Eleanor Gaffey and Lucy Barclay. Then Caimin Macken, Ryan Carberry, Dylan Berry, Amyleigh Harkin Brown ,Sarah Keenan, Mya Conroy and Seán Noone. Also some excellent singing from Kaitlin Mitchell, Tara Duignan, Kyra Brennan Donovan, Stephany Faria Fogaca, Aoife Carroll and Aaron Hurley. Finally we had the Reflection from James Doherty and Emma Fitzpatrick. We all had a wonderful day making our Confirmation and everyone did absolutely brilliant. We hope everyone had a nice day with their families .  Thanks to our wonderful teachers who helped us along the way Ms Kiely and Miss Connaughton, and to our marvellous choir from 4th and 5th classes and Mrs O’Rourke who played the piano. WELL DONE TO EVERYONE!!!! By Aaron Hurley and Zoe Collins.

Seachtain Na Gaeilge 2019

Ceilí

During Seachtain Na Gaeilge 2019 our school had a Ceilí in our hall. Children from 3rd 4th 5th and 6th classes took part in the Ceilí.The 3rd and 4th class pupilsperformed “The German Clap Dance” and the “Siege of Ennis”.The children from 5th and 6th classes danced “The Walls of Limerick” and “La Vinca”. Then Fionn played the harp, Cathal played the accordian, Leon played the violin and Lauren danced a jig.Everyone had a great time dancing and performing the dances they worked hard on learning.

Soccer

Spar 5-a-side Soccer League.

During March, three girls teams and three boys teams represented our school and took part in the Spar 5-a-side soccer league. Every team played three games. One of  the boys teams qualified for the semi -finals. Cornafulla N.S., Ballybay N.S., Roxborough N.S. and Abbeycarton N.S. were also at the tournament. There were very strong teams at the tournament. Everyone at the tournament had fun. By Sarah G, John Hurley and Sean Noone.

J.E.P Showcase Day

On 21st of March 2019 our fifth and sixth classes showcased their J.E.P products in the school hall. Parents, teachers and pupils could buy the products and enter various competitions on the day.

The four J.E.P. products were

  1. D.I.Y The Healthy Way
  2. Bangin’ Bracelets
  3. Multiboxes
  4. Premium Tye – Dye T- shirts

Every group sold lots of products and made a profit. Everyone had great fun at the showcase day and we learned all about being entrepreneurs.

Saving Energy Lesson

During March we had a “Switch It Off Month.”

We learned all about energy and how to save energy with Mr O’Leochain. We discussed renewable and non-renewable sources of energy.

We looked at a clock that was getting the energy from two potatoes. The clock was connected to the potatoes with two wires.

We also looked at a dinosaur plant that has been dormant for 50 years and we tried to bring it back to life. We placed the dinosaur plant in a bowl of water and it slowly started to turn green and make its own energy through photosynthesis.

We also looked at a shrimp. The shrimp hadn’t been fed for 3 or 4 years, but it feeds itself by from the algae on the glass.

We also observed small pieces of volcanic rock. It had lost all of its energy and therefore was lighter than a normal rock.

Then Mr O’Leochain explained how the bog is formed and the energy that comes from a sod of turf.

We all enjoyed learning about energy and that there is energy in everything!

Cycling Course

6th Class did a cycling course as part of the Active Flag Programme in the School. We did it for four weeks and it was a lot of fun cycling.

We learned how to be safe on the road cycling and we also learned the m-check and the signals on the bike. We learned about the two o’clock position on the bike and also the primary and secondary position on the bike and why we have to wear a helmet safely. We got up on the bikes and to put this into practice. We split into two groups and practised cycling around the yard then we moved onto the carpark and practised our signals. Once we knew all these skills we moved onto the road and went for a small cycle. We have all learned a lot from the course and we had a lot of fun participating in the cycling course. Now we all know how to ride a bike safely and carefully without being in danger. 

Term 1 5th class

Orienteering with Padraig Higgins

An orienteering expert came to carry out a workshop on this interesting strand unit of our PE curriculum. First, he introduced us to the topic with a powerpoint and some real life examples of maps. He then brought us outside to carry out an orienteering exercise based on our school grounds. Here is what some of the pupil had to say:

“Orienteering is very similar to a treasure map.”   Charlie Whyte

“It is easy to get lost in orienteering.” Oisin Connor

“I felt like a pirate searching for treasure!”  Adam Donaldson

“It’s like a really cool treasure hunt!” Rachel Murphy

“Always use your map to ensure you don’t get lost.”  Ruby O’Leary

“There’s a few symbols to remember…. a red circle fora control, a red triangle to signal the starting point and concentric circles to indicate where you finish.”  Lauren O’Brien

“I wonder what it would be like to do orienteering outside of school.”  Emily Mullally

Writing to Padraig

5th class decided to write letters to Padraig to express our gratitude. We all hope he liked them, because we sure loved orienteering! We had fun getting used to the format of a letter and using the correct terminology when writing a letter to someone.

Scavenger Hunt & Pumpkin Village

During October, Ms.Cunniffe’s 5th class went out on a nature walk to collect sticks, twigs, moss, leaves, wildflowers etc. to create our very own pumpkin village. We were divided up into teams of 3 to design and become engineers of the future. There was an element of problem solving involved as it was a little tricky. We tried to avoid the use of manmade products like glue and used cocktail sticks and pins instead. You can see clearly from the pictures how imaginative and creative 5th class were during this fun project.

Maths Games

As part of Maths Week , Ms.Cunniffe’s 5th class made maths games for 1st class to enjoy! We were in various groups to come up with these games. We had to be imaginative and come up with suitable games that would be fun but educational for a first class pupil. Some of the games were called “Mathsnopoly” and “Bingo Shapes”. It was a very successful project that we enjoyed and first class were a great audience.

 Halloween Art

Before the Halloween break Ms Cunniffe’s 5th class did Frankenstein art. We were all given a purple, dark green, light green, black, and white card. The purple card was the background, the two toned green cards were for Frankenstein`s face, the black card was for the hair, pupils and eyebrows. It was hard but fun cutting out weird shapes. Finally the white card was for the eyes. When we were finished we hung them up and they looked great in our classroom display.

Ms. Cunniffe`s 5th class did Halloween Silhouettes! It was lots of fun! We chose our preferred silhouettes, carefully cut them out. This was a little tricky as the shapes were quite detailed. We integrated our Maths skills with art as we had to use our compass to draw circles with radii of 7 cm and 9 cm to use as the disks for our backgrounds. Finally we glued the silhouettes to our circular disks. We put them on the window and it looked like a spooky shadow of a creepy ghoul!               By Ruby Rose O’Leary 5th Class

Writing

GAEILGE

 

Amber Flag Fundraising 2018/19:

The Amber Flag Committee Bake Sale!

The Amber Flag Committee held a Bake Sale to fundraise for Pieta Midlands. Pieta helps people with mental health difficulties who are feeling sad and depressed. We raised €750! We will present a cheque to Gerard Tiernan from Pieta at our Amber Flag raising ceremony next week.

The Amber Flag Committee held a raffle to fundraise for the school’s planned new Sensory Room. We raised €902! A cheque will be presented to the Board of Management.

Connaught Cross Country

Cross Country

We went to a Cross Country on the 4th of October 2018. It was in St.Brigid’s. Our experience at the cross country was very enjoyable. The competition was for 3rd -6th classes. The distances were 900m and 1200m. We have two boys from our school that made it to the Connaught Final. Their names are Shay Mc Guinness from 4th class and Cathal O’Brien from 6th class. Cathal came in 10th place, Shay came in 12th, and they both got medals. We all had an awesome time at the cross country and hopefully we get to go again soon. Best of luck to the boys in the Connaught Final.