Ireland · NCCA Curriculum Specifications
1st Year Young Explorers: Discovering Our World
A foundational science course for Year 1 students that emphasizes hands-on inquiry and observation. Students investigate the living world, the properties of materials, and the physical forces that shape their daily experiences.
01The Living World: Plants and Animals
Students explore the diversity of living things and identify the basic needs required for survival and growth.
Students will classify objects as living, non-living, or once-living based on observable characteristics and discuss their reasoning.
Students will identify and label the main parts of a plant (roots, stem, leaves, flower) and explain the role of each part in the plant's survival.
Students will observe and sequence the stages of a plant's life cycle, from seed germination to mature plant, through hands-on activities.
Students will investigate various animal habitats and discuss how these environments provide essential resources like food, water, and shelter.
Students will sort animals into simple groups (e.g., mammals, birds, fish, insects) based on observable physical characteristics.
Students will explore simple ways to protect local environments and discuss the importance of keeping natural spaces clean for plants and animals.
02Ourselves: Senses and Growth
An exploration of the human body, focusing on how we use our senses to perceive the world and how we change as we grow.
Students will engage in activities using each of their five senses to gather information about different objects and environments.
Students will use their senses to identify mystery objects or sounds, emphasizing observation skills and sensory discrimination.
Students will compare their current abilities and physical characteristics to those when they were younger, recognizing patterns of growth.
Students will identify different food groups and discuss the importance of eating a balanced diet for energy and growth.
Students will participate in various physical activities and observe how exercise affects their bodies, emphasizing the benefits of movement.
Students will learn and practice essential hygiene routines like handwashing and teeth brushing, understanding their role in preventing illness.
03Materials and Their Properties
Investigating the characteristics of everyday materials and how their properties determine their uses.
Students will use descriptive language to categorize materials based on their texture, hardness, flexibility, and appearance.
Students will conduct simple tests to compare the strength and flexibility of different materials, recording their observations.
Students will observe and describe changes in materials when heated or cooled, such as melting ice or hardening clay.
Students will experiment with bending, stretching, and twisting various materials to observe how their shapes can be altered.
Students will apply their understanding of material properties to design and build a simple object for a specific purpose.
04Energy: Light and Sound
Discovering the sources of light and sound and how they travel through our environment.
Students will identify natural and artificial sources of light and discuss their importance in daily life.
Students will experiment with light sources and objects to create shadows, observing how their size and shape change.
Students will explore how sounds are produced by vibrations through hands-on activities with musical instruments and everyday objects.
Students will investigate how sound travels through different materials and explore the concept of high and low pitch.
Students will identify and categorize sounds as loud or quiet, discussing how sound intensity affects their environment.
Students will learn about the importance of protecting their ears from very loud sounds and identify safe listening practices.
05Forces: Pushes and Pulls
An introduction to forces and how they affect the movement and shape of objects.
Students will identify and demonstrate pushes and pulls in various everyday activities, observing their effects on objects.
Students will experiment with applying different amounts of force to objects to observe changes in their speed and direction.
Students will investigate the properties of magnets, identifying which materials are attracted to them and exploring magnetic fields.
Students will experiment with two magnets to observe how they can attract or repel each other, understanding the concept of poles.
Students will test various objects in water to determine if they float or sink, discussing the properties that influence this behavior.
Students will use different materials to design and build a small boat that can float and carry a load, applying their understanding of buoyancy.
06Earth and Sky: Seasons and Weather
Observing patterns in the weather and the environment across the four seasons.
Students will identify and describe the distinct characteristics of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter through observation and discussion.
Students will discuss and illustrate activities and clothing appropriate for each season, connecting weather patterns to human behavior.
Students will observe and record daily weather conditions using simple terms and symbols, recognizing common weather phenomena.
Students will use simple tools like rain gauges and wind socks to measure and compare local weather conditions over time.
Students will explore the concept of day and night, understanding that the sun provides light during the day and the moon is visible at night.
Students will observe and describe the appearance of the moon and stars in the night sky, recognizing simple patterns.
Students will explore the basic concept of the water cycle, focusing on how water evaporates, forms clouds, and falls as rain.
Students will discuss simple actions they can take to care for the Earth, such as recycling and conserving water.