SSE Airtricity and W5, Northern Ireland’s award-winning family science and discovery centre adjoining The SSE Arena, Belfast, have come together to bring Science Magic and Technology Trials to St Caireall’s Primary School, Killeter.
SSE Airtricity, Northern Ireland’s largest provider of wind power, is the official partner of Education at W5, and with construction underway at SSE’s Tievenameenta Wind Farm near Killeter, this was an ideal opportunity to give local school children the chance to learn more about science and technology in a fun and informative way.
The W5 team brought their interactive showcase to St Caireall’s on Tuesday, where they performed experiments for pupils from all classes. This included the Science Magic Show which looks at the forces and chemical reactions behind magic tricks, the Technology Trials Workshop where pupils design and construct a racing buggy, and Teetering Towers where pupils design and build the tallest tower possible.
Speaking at the event, Donal Gormley from SSE Airtricity, said: “ SSE Airtricity’s support of the W5 Education programme is designed to help raise the profile of science and technology for children. As well as supporting Education in W5 itself, we will also work with the W5 Team to bring their exciting Education Outreach Programme to selected local schools, and we are delighted that the first such W5 visit is to St Caireall’s. With the wonderful show from W5 and as these children see the turbines at Tievenameenta Wind Farm going up over the next few weeks, hopefully we will inspire a new generation to get more involved in science and technology.”
Judith Harvey, from W5, said: “W5’s mission is to fire the spirit of discovery, and our education and outreach programmes supported by SSE, enable us to bring science and technology to life for children through our hands-on, curriculum-linked workshops. Today at St Caireall’s the enthusiasm of the children was clear as they explored how the theory of the classroom is relevant to their everyday lives. It looks like we could have a few science stars of the future!”
Ms Mairead McHugh, Principal of St Caireall’s Primary School, said: “We were delighted that SSE Airtricity chose St Caireall’s for the first outreach event of their W5 education programme sponsorship. The interactive science and technology sessions are a refreshing way for the children to learn and they have certainly been inspired by what they have seen today.”