‘Hands on Science’ features fun activities to encourage ‘learning by doing’ amid Science buffs

Primary pupils nation-wide are being encouraged to discover just how relevant and exciting Science is by conducting their very own experiments with everyday bits and bobs found in their classroom and in their homes.

The brand new ‘Hands on Science’ handbook is curriculum linked and tailored specifically to Irish classroom needs. It is set to be a bible for Science buffs as Science Week gets into full swing and enthusiastic, fun-loving pupils revel in the wonder of the world around them.

Leading book publishers, Prim-Ed Publishing, have produced the books in-house and have come up with three different colourful, age appropriate handbooks which feature 36 fun activities, experiments and lots more.

The fun activities encourage ‘learning by doing’ through conducting experiments, investigating, designing, making, constructing, cooking and even role-playing. They encourage pupils from junior infants right up to sixth class to do everything from making a bird’s nest or design a shadow-maker to dissolving rocks or developing an understanding of weather maps. 

‘Hands on Science’ was developed in-house and tailored specifically to the Irish curriculum and to Irish classrooms and encourages collaborative learning that makes science both exciting and interesting, Prim-Ed Publishing Managing Director, Seamus McGuinness, explained.

Prim-Ed has published three separate, age-appropriate editions, one or very young primary pupils, the second for those in the middle classes, the third for older children at primary school.  Each comes with a high-quality CD- rom which brings each of the books to life.

“The aim of ‘Hands on Science’ is to help pupils gain understanding of essential scientific concepts and learn new skills. It is very age appropriate and shows pupils just how fun and exciting Science is and how relevant it is to our everyday lives.

“Conducting experiments and instilling a love of Science in pupils is not always easy in very full classrooms, many of which have little or no Science equipment. But it can be done and we show pupils and teachers how. They can use coins, paper, eggs, vinegar, a torch or balloons of various shapes and sizes to conduct the most fascinating of experiments.

“Hands on Science features detailed teachers notes to accompany each activity, including motivational lesson starters, easy-to-understand explanations of scientific concepts, step-by-step instructions and answers.

“We want to help spur an even greater interest in Science and with Science Week in full swing and interest in Science at an all-time high, we hope that ‘Hands on Science’ will help even more schools reach out to pupils and get them learning in a fun and exciting way,” Mr McGuinness added.

During Science Week from November 9 to 16, up to 90,000 pupils in schools all around the country will attend over 400 events and activities around the country.   The theme for this year’s Science Week is ‘Science – Shaping our World’.

Further details on Prim-Ed Publishing is available on www.prim-ed.com

Media contact: Neans McSweeney, Bance Nolan Ltd; (051) 845 403/ (086) 2620 355