Prize Day with a difference

Prize day was a special day for students and teachers at Dun Karm Sant Primary, Gharghur.

What made it unique this year was a short weather presentation by Year 6 students during which the children spoke about various weather instruments and explained their own models during science lessons.

This helped the children build their self-esteem and taught them how to handle scientific instruments and an overhead projector. An exhibition featuring samples of the children's work in primary science and technology from Kindergarten to Year 6 was also put up.

A successful twinning project on primary science was also celebrated during Prize Day.

Patri Tumas Xerri Primary School, Bahrija, and Bice Mizzi Vassallo Primary School, Pembroke, both embarked on this weather project. To launch the project, a staff development session was held at each school, during which teachers were given a brief overview on the subject.

The main objective of the project was to enable children to become familiar with the use of weather instruments. Secondly, the children attained first-hand experience in collecting, recording and interpreting data. The parameters involved were temperature, wind speed and direction, air pressure and humidity.

Data were collected over an eight-week period and at specific times at both locations. This done, children had the task of comparing data from both localities and presenting them in graphical form.

Year 6 students from the Pembroke school were invited to Bahrija to share experiences, as well as a day of science-oriented activities.

A cross-curricular approach was also taken where aspects of the weather were related to religion, social studies, English, Maltese, science and technology, maths, etc. Children also paid a visit to the Meteorological Office where they saw the experts at work.

Apart from being involved in research, the children designed and made models of weather instruments.

To celebrate the completion of the project both schools put up an exhibition of the children's work for Prize Day. The project was made possible through NCC funding (the purchasing of instruments and materials used), the support and co-ordination of the Primary Science Unit, the Curriculum Department within the Education Division, the support of the Meteorological Office in Luqa, the help of heads of school Mr W. Cassar (Bahrija) and Ms L. Pace (Pembroke) and the teaching staff and students at both schools.