This article is from page 20 of the 2008-07-08 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
A TOTAL of 37 Clare primary schools took part in Greenwave 2008 — a mass experiment in which stu- dents were asked to study their envi- ronment and catalogue the first signs of spring.
The project seeks to track the arriv- al of spring across the country, rep- resented by a green wave which can be seen from outer space. Its aim 1s to encourage children to learn more about how their world works and fos- ter an interest in the applications of
science and technology to their own Tait
Almost 2,000 primary — school classes nationwide participated in the programme and their findings can be viewed on www.greenwave.ie. Pic- tures submitted by students are also available in the gallery section.
The students found that the north and northwest had unusually fine weather this spring; dry with lots of sun. The very north of the country — Malin Head — had more sunshine over the months of March, April and May than anywhere else in Ire-
land. Normally the sunniest areas are in the south. Primroses appeared a month earlier than last year, with the majority of sightings occurring in March.
Some other species appeared later than usual though with the horse chestnut and hawthorn appearing three weeks and two weeks later than usual respectively
Clare primary schools that par- ticipated in the experiment included Clohanbeg National School; Scoil Naisiunta Na Maighdine Mhuire; St Enda’s National School; St John
the Baptist National School; Scoil Naisiunta Baile Na Cailli; Scoil Naisiunta bunscoil na mbBraithre; Scoil Naisiinta Naomh Tola; Rock- mount Mixed National School; St Aidan’s National School; Scoil Naisiunta Cuan; Ennis Educate To- gether National School; Coolmeen National School; Scoil Naisitinta An Sraith; Holy Family Junior National School; Convent Of Mercy Nation- al School; St Mochulla’s National School; Liscannor National School; Querrin National School; Miltown Malbay Boy’s National School;
Scoil Naisiinta Mhuire; St Senan’s National School; Tubber National School; CBS National School; Scoil Naisiunta Mhuire; Scoil Naisiinta Iosef Naofa; Cahermurphy National School; Baltard National School; Holy Family Senior National School; St Senan’s National School; Doonaha National School; Gael Scoil Mhichil Chios6g; Sixmilebridge National School; Bansha National School; En- nistymon National School; Bodyke National School; Doora National School and Clonmoney National School.