Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
1st Class Young Explorers: Investigating Our World
A hands-on introduction to scientific inquiry where students observe patterns in nature, test the properties of materials, and explore how energy moves. This course emphasizes the development of process skills through active investigation and outdoor exploration.
01Living Things and Their Environments
Students explore the diversity of plants and animals while identifying the basic needs required for survival.
Investigating the basic structure and function of the eye, ear, nose, tongue, and skin, linking them to sensory perception.
Identifying major human organ systems (e.g., digestive, circulatory, respiratory) and their primary functions.
Exploring the structure of a flower and its role in sexual reproduction, leading to seed formation.
Investigating the process of photosynthesis, including reactants, products, and its importance for life on Earth.
Exploring how water and nutrients are transported throughout a plant via xylem and phloem.
Exploring small, distinct areas within the school grounds to identify living things.
Introducing the hierarchical classification system (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species) and its use.
Discussing human impact on local habitats and simple ways to protect them.
Introducing the concept of simple food chains using examples from local ecosystems.
Explaining the properties of solids, liquids, and gases using the particle theory of matter.
Differentiating between physical properties (e.g., density, melting point, conductivity) and chemical properties (e.g., reactivity, flammability).
Investigating the concept of density and its relationship to whether objects float or sink in liquids.
Introducing the three basic states of matter and their observable characteristics.
Exploring melting, freezing, boiling, and condensation as processes involving energy absorption or release.
Exploring how liquids can turn into gases (evaporation) and back again (condensation).
Investigating what happens when solids dissolve in liquids and identifying soluble substances.
02Materials and Change
An investigation into the properties of everyday objects and how they can be transformed.
Exploring simple methods to separate mixtures, such as sieving, filtering, and hand-picking.
Observing changes that cannot be easily undone, like burning paper or baking a cake.
Defining force as a push or pull, identifying different types of forces, and introducing units of measurement (Newtons).
Investigating how surface type, weight, and lubrication affect the magnitude of frictional force.
Introducing gravity as a force that pulls objects towards the Earth.
Investigating how vibrations produce sound and experimenting with different sound sources.
Relating the pitch of a sound to its frequency and the loudness (volume) to its amplitude.
Investigating how sound travels through different materials and how some materials absorb sound.
Introducing the electromagnetic spectrum, identifying different types of electromagnetic radiation, and their uses.
Investigating how light reflects off surfaces and refracts (bends) when passing through different media.
Exploring how materials absorb, transmit, or reflect light, leading to the perception of colour.
Investigating magnetic fields using iron filings and understanding the concept of magnetic poles.
Exploring how electric currents can create magnetic fields and constructing simple electromagnets.
Identifying various applications of magnets in common objects and technologies.
Investigating the layers of the Earth's atmosphere and the composition of air.
Learning to use basic instruments like a thermometer, rain gauge, and wind vane.
03Energy, Forces, and Motion
Students explore how things move and the different types of energy we use every day.
Exploring the causes and effects of climate change, including global warming and extreme weather events.
Explaining the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun as the cause of seasons.
Exploring how animals adapt to seasonal changes through migration, hibernation, or other behaviors.
Investigating how plants respond to seasonal changes, such as leaf fall and flowering.
Observing and tracking the sun's position in the sky throughout the day.
Explaining the phases of the Moon based on the relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.
Introducing stars as distant suns and identifying simple constellations.
Investigating different types of waste produced at home and school.
Investigating advanced waste management strategies beyond the 3 Rs, including composting, anaerobic digestion, and incineration.
Practicing sorting different materials into appropriate recycling categories.
Exploring the water cycle and where our tap water comes from.
Exploring the unique physical and chemical properties of water (e.g., polarity, specific heat capacity) and their significance for biological systems.
Identifying practical ways to conserve water in everyday situations.
Brainstorming everyday problems that can be solved using simple designs or tools.
Applying design thinking principles to generate and develop innovative solutions to scientific or technological problems, including rapid prototyping.
Constructing a simple prototype of a design and testing its effectiveness.
Developing skills in communicating scientific findings and design solutions effectively through presentations, reports, and engaging in peer review.
Understanding the basic steps of scientific investigation: asking questions, observing, and predicting.
Focusing on making precise quantitative observations using appropriate measuring instruments and recording data systematically.
Learning to set up a fair test by changing one variable at a time.
Learning to represent data using appropriate graphs (bar charts, line graphs) and interpreting trends and relationships.
Understanding basic safety rules and practices for conducting science investigations.