Entry Criteria
Know exactly what you need to do before you submit your entry for a Curious Minds Award.
All entries to the Curious Minds Awards must cover criteria from the five steps outlined on this page:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Maths
- STEM Show and Tell
We recommend dividing the steps out between classes to share the workload.
Step 1: Science
For step 1, we need to see that your learners are engaging in science activities in school, outdoors or online.
The four curriculum strands in step 1 are:
- Living things
- Energy and forces
- Materials
- Environmental awareness and care
You may come up with your own activity ideas or use existing resources. Check out our Teacher Resources page and ESERO resources for inspiration.
- Participate in science events or projects run by other organisations. See examples on our events page and curiousminds.ie.
- Invite a science speaker to your school.
- Visit an SFI Discover Centre.
- Take part in Science Week.
- Take part in Space Week.
- Show how pupils have used STEM skills in environment or sustainability projects. See SEAI, Marine Institute or Green schools Ireland for ideas.
Step 2: Technology
For step 2, we need to see that your learners are using technology in school work, specifically information communications technologies (ICT), coding, robotics.
- Record and analyse data using a medium like a spreadsheet or graph.
- Develop a blog, website or video.
- Use electronic components to build circuit.
- Take part in coding and computer science initiatives. Examples include National Scratch Competition, Hour of Code and EU Code Week.
- Explore robotics. Examples include First Lego League.
- Engage pupils in game-based learning through games such as Minecraft.
- Use microscopes during investigations.
- Participate in Tech Week.
- Explore renewable energy technologies. An example includes using a solar energy kits
Step 3: Engineering
For step 3, we need to see how your learners investigate engineering in the classroom, your local area and beyond.
- Plan, design, make and test a model such as a bridge, boat, rocket, water pump or catapult.
- Investigate the engineering of something in your local area, such as a bridge, factory or wind farm.
- Investigate and develop an understanding of how everyday items, such as bicycle gears, work.
- Organise an event during Engineers Week.
- Use the Engineers Week classroom pack.
Step 4: Maths
For step 4, we need to see how your learners apply their maths knowledge and skills in practical ways.
- Use maths skills as part of Science, Technology and Engineering.
- Apply maths skills during activities such as baking or gardening. This might include ordering, measuring and analysing data using maths operations such as ratios, percentages and averages.
- Use Maths to record and analyse science investigation results.
- Take part in Maths Week.
- Develop a Maths trail around the school using templates from our Classroom Resources page.
- Use Maths to explore and help solve real-world problems.
Step 5: STEM Show and Tell
For step 5, we need to see how your learners present their STEM work outside their class. This is a requirement for all awards.
- Show learners presenting their STEM work to other classes.
- Hold a science open day or evening where students present their STEM work to the school, parents or wider community.
- Take part in a science event with another school where students present their work.
- Take part in a science fair where children can present and discuss their work. Examples include ESB Science Blast and Junior Lego League.
Awards criteria
For a brief overview of the Silver, Gold and Platinum Awards, check out our Awards Levels page.
Continue reading to learn exactly what you will need to provide when you submit an entry for any of our awards.
For the Silver Award, schools must show evidence of the following:
- Step 1: Science – three hands-on science investigations from any of the four curriculum strands
- Step 2: Technology – one or more example of learners using technology in school
- Step 3: Engineering – one or more example of learners investigating engineering
- Step 4: Maths – one or more example of learners applying their maths knowledge and skills in practical ways
- Step 5: STEM Show and Tell – an example of learners presenting their STEM work beyond their own class
For the Gold and Platinum Awards, schools must show evidence of the following:
- Step 1: Science – one hands-on investigation from each of the four curriculum strands (four activities in total) plus two or more examples of informal STEM learning activities
- Step 2: Technology – one or more example of learners using technology in school
- Step 3: Engineering – one or more example of learners investigating engineering
- Step 4: Maths – one or more example of learners applying their maths knowledge and skills in practical ways
- Step 5: STEM Show and Tell – an example of learners presenting their STEM work beyond their own class
For the Platinum Award, schools must choose outcomes relating to STEM awareness for learners, teachers and parents that they would like to achieve throughout the year.
You must provide evidence of how you achieved these outcomes and show the impact this has had on your school community.
To find out more about the awards entry process, see our Submit your Award Entry page.