Does laughter improve learning? Do plants grow better with music? What happens if sea level drops by a kilometre?
The younger Irish scientists gathered at this year’s BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition cannot be accused of lack of ambition in their research endeavours – and came up with surprising answers showcased at the Primary School Fair in the RDS.
A lesson from a comedian prompted sixth class pupils at St Damian’s School, Dublin 12, to investigate if laughter might enhance learning. They divided senior infants into two groups, their representative Selena explained. The “laughter group” listened to a comedy skit before a book reading and undertaking a quiz.
They completed the test in seven minutes, while the other group did normal schoolwork before being evaluated. “They were not that sure or confident in their answers. More of them gave wrong answers and took 8.10 minutes,” classmate Ciara said.
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“Laughter does help learning. I learned funny number songs in second class. I still remember them; they’re imprinted in my mind,” Selena said.
Fifth-class pupils at Mercy Convent Primary School, Co Kildare, tested a variety of plants to see if music boosts growth. “We found pop is best to play for your plants,” Fia said. Sweet Pea responded particularly well. After that, country and classical were neck and neck while plants that were not treated to music performed worst.
They believe upbeat rhythm and associated frequency of sound waves bounce off the plants placed in a plastic chamber with a CD player for six weeks.
Fia was so impressed with their findings she is going to trying pop music on her tomatoes being grown at home.
The 6th class from Clonown National School, Roscommon, made a plastic-like substance by heating milk in a microwave and added white vinegar to make PlayDoh-like clumps that could be shaped into a variety of things such as trees, stars and decorations. They were surprised how versatile the modelling material was, said their spokesperson Fia, especially because it was biodegradable. “We buried it in soil and it broke down after two weeks.”
Students in fifth class at Dún Laoghaire Educate Together National School know well sea-level rise is happening due to climate change, but decided to examine what would happen if sea level dropped dramatically with a new ice age or radical shift of the Earth’s tectonic plates, said pupil Kate.
The benefits, according to her classmate Emily, is that Ireland would be connected to Britain. “You could drive to the US or Russia. Almost everywhere would be connected.”
The downside would be disappearance of coral reefs, green turtles and manta rays, while birds, seals and flamingoes would have difficulty finding sea. Humans would be diminished due to loss of food (especially fish), water and oxygen.
Kate added: “There would be some good things. There would be more land for some countries, so more humans could live on it. There would be less of a housing crisis.”
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