go-with-the-flow

The Primary 3, 4, 5 and 6 pupils had the chance to build and launch rockets, measure lung capacity, safely launch objects using the air bazooka and ride on a hovercraft.

This year we visited Loughview, St Joseph’s Ballyhackamore, Knocknagoney and Cregagh.

We then watched video extracts of how these ideas are used in the world around us and also saw the fascinating story of Felix Baumgartner’s jump when he attained a speed of 843.6 miles per hour (377 m/s) and became the first person to break the sound barrier unaided by a vehicle.

This was a great day for staff and students alike and a big thank you to 9CRR/Mr Mathison/Mr McCann/Mr Carleton (Lagan), Mrs Fox (Grosvenor) and also to Miss Duffy (OLSPCK) for her witty and informative commentary.

We met up with the National Trust wardens in the morning and spent the day in Cregagh Glen.  The students set up a Kelly Kettle and boiled water to make a warming cup of tea or hot chocolate which was very welcome in the windy weather.  We also made fencing and a shelter which will be on display in the new children’s play area currently under construction.  A further activity involved pond dipping and we assisted the Trust in gathering information about water life in the stream.  The final fantastic activity involved woodworking using only hand tools and the students made a seat which the Trust donated to the school.

This was an amazing opportunity for our students to continue working with the National Trust wardens and we would like to thank them for all their hard work and for making the day so enjoyable.

Science Club continues to meet each Wednesday after school in Sc4.  We have had fun in the greenhouse, we have built impressive marble runs and spaghetti towers.  We have held a contest to see who had the best reaction times and last week we designed and built masterpieces of engineering to see how many marbles we could stop sinking with just a few pieces of paper, straws, splints and polystyrene cups.

Congratulations to Peter Shaw Year 9 who built the best marble boat which held over 120 marbles.

On Wednesday 13^th March the girls from 9RS and 9RSL attended a Stadium STEM event at W5.  The girls heard about the interesting developments happening in the regeneration of Casement Park, Windsor Park and RavenhillPark, the stadiums for GAA, Football and Rugby.  They were able to speak to architects and project managers involved in these projects.

The girls were split into teams and given a challenge to design and build a stadium from recycled material.  Their stadium had to be 30cm high on three sides, it needed to have an entrance and an arch that would hold 500g.  Points were awarded for the design, the teamwork,  the economic use of materials and the description that the girls gave explaining what sports could be played there and the rationale of the name of the stadium.

From all the schools, and teams that took part I am delighted to say that our girls took BOTH first and second place prizes in this competition.  The girls in first place each received a £15 iTunes voucher and the second place team each received a large Easter egg.  Congratulations to all the girls each of the teams designed a stadium that was interesting and unique and I am sure the judging was a difficult decision.

I hope the girls enjoyed their trip to W5 and that they have a better idea of the careers that STEM subjects can lead to.

Since Christmas our pupils have been busy working on ideas that can be entered into the Bill Bryson competition this year.  The theme of the competition this year is “How Science Keeps Us Healthy”. 

We received some fantastic entries from students in Years 8, 9 and 10 showing amazing creativity and detailed information.  The science teachers met to judge the entries and we had a very difficult job to do.

Prizes and certificates to the students in each year group will be awarded during assemblies this week.  Year 9 in particular had lots of very impressive entries.

Well done to everyone who entered this completion.

There are many entries that will be further entered into the Bill Bryson Comeptition below is a picture showing some of the poster entries.  We also had several video entries.

some of the great entries from our students

On Wednesday, 20^th March, 2012 the Year 13 Biology students attended a bioethics and science workshop at Jordanstown, University of Ulster. 

During the workshop they discussed their views about the advances in science and medicine and the ethics involved. Issues debated included the following topics

- Should we allow drugs in sport?

- Would you eat genetically modified meat?

- What would be the pros and cons if you could design a baby to be an Olympic Gold Medalist?   

The students now have the opportunity to write an essay discussing one of the issues and if successful take part in a debate being held in the University. 

Many congratulations to the two Lagan College rocket teams (from Year 8 and Year 11) who competed recently in the NI final of UKAYRoC (UK Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge). The teams where great ambassadors for the school and really enjoyed the challenge and experience.

The challenge was to design and build a model rocket that would take a raw egg to an altitude of 750 feet and return it unbroken in a flight time of 48 to 50 seconds. A very precise and challenging set of success criteria. The teams made a big commitment to this project as they have been meeting after school since Christmas, to design and build their rockets.
Launch Day ……….

On a wet and windy day the teams assembled at the old airfield at Langford Lodge, Crumlin (now owned by aerospace company RLC) to secure a place at the national finals and compete to win the coveted Thales trophy.  After a few hours preparing the rockets and making a few adjustments (see photos) the teams made their way to the launch site (disused runway).

It was obvious to everyone that launch conditions where far from ideal, but nevertheless, several rockets where successfully launched and a few others where left on the launch pad or exploded a short distance from it.  The Year 8 team where delighted when their rocket took off from the launch pad (see video clip) and successfully separated. It did return to Earth but at present the section containing the egg and data is stuck 40 feet up a tree (On Health and Safety grounds Mr Ewart was not allowed to climb up and get it).  Our hosts at RLC have assured us that they will retrieve, our by now very soggy rocket, to see if our egg remains intact and equally important get the data from the altimeter.  Unfortunately the Year 11s did not get the opportunity to launch their rocket as the wind strength increased further and the launch had to be called off on safety grounds. They were not alone, with the result that another launch date is to be scheduled.  A bit disappointing for the Year 11 team but  a perfect illustration of what will happen for Engineers developing similar projects in the real world ……… poor weather NO launch.

The event was attended by several VIPs from local aerospace companies including Aero Engine Designs, Thales, RLC etc.  The VIPs watched the launches and mingled with the students afterwards to discuss their rocket designs.  Stephen Farry, The Minister for Employment and Learning spoke to the students about the importance of the aerospace industry to our local economy and the opportunities for interesting well paid jobs.

Our thanks go to our sponsors Queen’s University and a number of key individuals for their invaluable support - Ken McMullan, AES, Robert (Lagan’s very own super Technology technician), Andy Willis (Space Connections), Mark Brockbank (Longstone School).

And so Lagan now has their very own ‘Rocket Scientists’  and the story will be continued …….

Miss Murphy & Mr Ewart