Science Facilities:

• 3 Science labs – one Biology, one Chemistry and one Physics
• Each lab is fully equipped for Junior Cycle Science
• Each lab has a preparation room and suitable chemical storage

Each lab also has :

• Data projector & Visualiser
• Computer
• Whiteboard
• Microscopes
• Hotplates
• Waterbaths
• Fridge freezer
• Dishwasher

• All students study science in 1st – 3rd year, at common level.
• Transition year students complete a 7 week module in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. 
• Senior students can choose to study one or more of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in 5th and 6th year. See detailed information below on each subject.
• Classes at senior cycle are mixed ability.
• Science Week is celebrated with activities both inside and outside the classroom.
• Students are encouraged to participate in the Young Scientist Exhibition, where they are supported by their science teachers during their experience. 

 

CHEMISTRY

A.   About:

·         The composition of matter, their changes and relevance to each other.

·         It involves everything we eat, wear, use etc. including plastics, medicines, preservatives etc.

·         Looking at findings as a result of scientific experiments and investigation.

·         Chemistry exists everywhere not just in laboratories but in every living thing on land and sea and in our bodies.

·         It is often described as ‘the central science’ containing a lot of formulas.

 

B.   Main topics covered – Organic and Inorganic Chemistry

·         Atomic structure, Chemical bonding, Properties of gases, Rates of reaction, Water and Environmental chemistry, the Composition of Matter, the laws of Chemical change, Equations, 28 compulsory experiments etc.

 

C.   What type of student would do well at this course?

·         Students need to be very comfortable with Maths.

 

D.   What careers is Chemistry a useful subject for?

·         Dentistry, Medicine, Dietetics, Food Science, Nursing, Speech Therapy, Forensics, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Engineering, Pharmacy, Veterinary, Education, any Laboratory science area etc.

 

E.   Similarities/Differences between Junior and Senior Cycle?

·         LC Chemistry follows on from JC Science with a lot more topics and in more detail.

 

F.    How is the subject examined in Leaving Certificate?

·         3 hour written paper.

·         Students must also write up all practicals also.

 

G.   What other school subject/s is it linked to at Leaving Certificate?

·         Maths, Physics and Biology.

 

H.   What type of skills will it help develop?

·         Practical skills.

·         Analytical skills.

·         Teaches students attention to detail and logic.

 

I.      What do students like about it?

·         Practical work.

·         Relevant to everyday life.

·         Answers tend to be short and exact.

 

J.    What may students find hard about it?

·         If you miss out on grasping the core concepts early on, it is very hard to build on information.

 

PHYSICS

 

A.   About:

·         The dictionary definition of Physics is ‘the study of matter, energy and the interaction between them’, BUT, what that really means is that Physics is about asking fundamental questions and trying to answer them by observing and experimenting.

·         Physicists ask really big questions like – How does the sun keep on shining? Or.. What are the basic building blocks of nature?

·         If you think these questions are fascinating, then you’ll like Physics!

 

B.   Main topics covered?

·         Light, Sound, Waves, Electricity, Mechanics (measuring velocity, acceleration etc.) Modern Physics (which includes particle physics, radioactivity, x rays, electronics).

·         The skills needed to study Physics are – Drawing graphs – Rearranging formulae – Describing experiments.

 

C.   What type of student would do well at this course?

·         Students who achieve an A or B in honours JC Science and/or Maths would not have a problem with LC Physics (assuming the work ethic is still intact in 5th Year!).  This does not mean students who have not achieved these grades are excluded from studying Physics – it is meant as a guide.

·         A student who likes logic.

·         A student who likes experiments.

 

D.   What careers is Physics a useful subject for?

·         Engineering, Radiography, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Aviation, Geology, Meteorology, the Navy, Oceanography, Electrical and Electronic areas, Astronomy, Architecture, Computers and all Science courses have a Physics module / core etc.

 

E.   Similarities/Differences between Junior and Senior Cycle?

·         The material covered for the Physics part of JC Science is expanded on and some new material is included.

 

F.    How is the subject examined in Leaving Certificate?

·         3 hour written paper.

·         Section A – 4 questions on experiments. Students must complete 3 of these questions.

·         Section B – 8 questions covering theory and experiments. Students must complete 5 questions.

·         A laboratory notebook must be kept by students in which they record the experiments completed in class.

 

G.   What other school subject/s is it linked to at Leaving Certificate?

·         Maths, Chemistry, Geography, History and Applied Maths.

 

H.   What type of skills will it help develop?

·         Problem solving skills

·         Understanding concepts.

 

I.      What do students like about it?

·         Students also enjoy the smaller classes associated with Physics.

·         Students who like hands-on practical work and experiments like this subject.

 

J.    What may students find hard about it?

·         Many apparently complicated things in nature can be understood in terms of relatively simple mathematical relationships. The mathematical equations used in Physics often look far more complicated than they really are. Nevertheless, if you are going to study Physics, you will need to get to grips with a certain amount of Maths. Until students grow in confidence, some students find manipulating formulae to find an answer to a question challenging.

 

BIOLOGY

A.   About:  

Covering the study of life and living things (human, plant and animal).

 

B.   Main topics covered?

·         Unit One: The Study of Life: 1. What is Biology? 2. Nutrition. 3. Ecology

·         Unit Two: The Cell: 1. Cells. 2 Metabolism. 3. Genetics

·         Unit 3: The Organism: 1. Diversity of Organisms. 2. Flowering Plants. 3. The Human Body

 

C.   What type of student would do well at this course?

·         A student who is good at remembering very specific information and in lots of detail.

·         A student who is accurate and neat.

·         A student who is good has a good capacity for learning difficult vocabulary.

 

D.   What careers is Biology a useful subject for?

·         Nursing, Beauty Therapy, Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Food Science, Zoology, Dietetics, Horticulture, Microbiology, Genetics, Nutrition, Environmental Science, Speech & Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Sports Science, Education, Animal Care, Agriculture and all Science and Medical careers etc.

 

E.   Similarities/Differences between Junior and Senior Cycle?

·         Built on JC Science.

·         22 practical experiments that are all written up.

·         Theory in far greater detail. Many new topics.

 

F.   How is the subject examined in Leaving Certificate?

·         3 hour written exam.

·         Section A = short questions.

·         Section B = questions based on experiments.

·         Section C = Long questions.

 

G.    What other school subject/s is it linked to at Leaving Certificate?

·         Social & Scientific (small overlap), Geography and Agricultural Science.

 

H.   What type of skills will it help develop?

·         Knowledge is very relevant to everyday life.

·         Students like being able to apply the knowledge that Biology gives them to themselves and their environments.

 

I.   What do students like about it?

·         Students like doing the experiments.

·         Personal interest because a lot of the course focuses on the human body.

·         This subject develops environmental awareness which students like.

 

J.      What may students find hard about it?

·         There is a lot of learning.

·         Difficult vocabulary.

·         Very specific information to learn and remember.