P6 &7 activities

The P7 children have been chosen to take part in a programme with Queens University Students called ‘Medics in Primary schools’.

The Medics in Primary Schools (MIPS) programme provides an opportunity for medical students and primary school pupils to develop their communication skills.  The programme, which has been operating since 2001, has involved over 1000 medical students at Queen’s University Belfast, working with over 20,000 primary pupils.

We have been lucky to be one of the chosen schools this year.

The MIPS Programme:  The main aim of Medics in Primary Schools is to enrich the teaching and learning of health education in primary schools.  The role of MIPS is to help develop upper primary pupils’ knowledge and understanding of their bodies and how to look after them. 

 MIPS reflects the Key Stage 2 programme of the Northern Ireland Curriculum.  Areas covered are:

Sections 1 – 5 (body systems) includes most of the body except the skin, brain, heart and lungs,

Sections 6 – 8 (using food effectively and safely), looks at the relationship between a healthy diet and the development of pupils’ bodies. 

Sections 9 – 12 (the skin) concentrate on our largest organ, and

Sections 13 – 16 (the brain) enable us to think, memorise and learn as effectively as possible.

Sections 17 – 21 (the heart and lungs) consider the interconnected system of the heart and lungs, and their roles in blood and nutrient circulation

They will take place through one lesson a week where the student will join via Teams. The P7 children and Mrs Smyth were introduced to their student Eva McBride on Monday and found it very interesting. They are looking forward to these weekly lessons over the coming weeks.

The P6 and 7 children are also taking part in Highland Dance sessions which are being provided by the Schomberg Society and are hoping to continue the ‘Scoil Speagtha’ programme this year after winning accreditation by Gael Linn and University of Ulster last year. This programme aims to encourage and celebrate the use of Irish within the school.