Spring 2025 Courses

Course Descriptions

No prior knowledge is needed. Courses may be updated. If you have any queries about the courses please enquire at youthacademy@universityofgalway.ie

Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof: An introduction to the German language 

While the German language may be rather notorious for its complex grammar and propensity towards seemingly endlessly long words – Mark Twain once famously claimed that one would need an eternity just to learn German - getting started with the language is actually much easier than it seems! 

In six weeks, this course aims to familiarise students with the German language and to get them comfortable with basic communication in a foreign language. To achieve this, this course is intended to make beginners interact with the language organically (through games, crafts activities, and group work) and to introduce them to various aspects of German culture. 

By the end of this course, students will have learned how to 

• introduce themselves and talk about their family 
• count to 20 and solve basic equations 
• talk about food, hobbies, and daily routines 
• read and write simple German texts 
• use some common German idioms 

Learning modern foreign languages at primary level helps children to be careful listeners and has been shown to benefit literacy in general, as well as smoothing the path for future studies at secondary. 

Impariamo coi cartoni! Learning Italian by captioning and re-voicing cartoons 

This course is focused on the needs and interests of children who want to learn the Italian language for the first time. Children learn more effectively when they are having fun and enjoying the learning process. Learning a foreign language can be an enjoyable activity, and this course aims to create a comfortable and friendly environment where children can maximise their learning experience.

During this course, children will have fun learning how to give voice to cartoon characters through captioning and re-voicing, inventing stories and rearranging plots, sparking their imagination and expressing their creativity.

They will meet popular Italian cartoon characters and will learn how to create an audiovisual product, using innovative online platforms. Additionally, they will develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills while improving their pronunciation, and their communicative and intercultural competence in the Italian language.  

Learning modern foreign languages at primary level helps children to be careful listeners and has been shown to benefit literacy in general, as well as smoothing the path for future studies at secondary. 

Checkmate! A Path to Chess Success

From opening moves to checkmating the opponent, this course offers a full overview of everything chess!

Considered by many to be the 'gentleman’s game', chess has captured the hearts of millions of girls and boys with its strategic depth and endless possibilities. Open to any level, including new beginners, students will soon discover why this classic game has stood the test of time.

This course will teach students how to:

• Strategize, spot tactics and position their pieces so that they always have the advantage over the competition
• Learn chess theory such as openings, chess fundamentals and endgames, they will then be able to put this theory into practice by playing the game and solving chess puzzles.
• Students will also study games from Grandmasters to gain top level insight.

By the end of this course, students will not only have elevated their chess skills to the next level, but they will also obtain the important life skills that chess teaches such as patience, creativity and critical thinking. So, get ready for chess success because in this course, all roads lead to checkmate!

Pay attention! Seeing more, knowing more, grabbing less - The Philosophy of Attention 

Children are frequently reminded to ‘pay more attention’ by their teachers, parents, and even society at large. 

They are often compared unfavourably to previous generations for having shorter attention spans, allegedly due to increased media consumption. 

But what does paying attention truly mean? 

In this course, participants will engage in philosophical dialogues, learn about great philosophers and, through games and story-telling, explore what competes for our attention in a modern, digital world. 

Through the Philosophy for Children (p4c) approach, this course invites children to explore areas such as education, friendship, art, democracy, and climate change, and work together to envision innovative ways to bring attention to these urgent issues. 

This course offers a caring and democratic space for children to think critically together and develop a deeper understanding of how the finite resource that is attention shapes the world and their role within it. 

Wizarding World of Galway Book Club 

The Wizarding World of Galway Book Club is for all Harry Potter fans! The book club will be reading Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone over the six sessions of the Youth Academy (a copy of the book will be provided). All participants will receive a copy of the book at the first session and then before each subsequent session children will need to read 3-4 chapters of the book. At each session, students will get a chance to explore the imaginary world of Harry Potter by making crafts, playing games, and learning more about this wonderful, magical world! The book club is open to all, whether they've read the series before or not.  

Sounds Class! Analysing media and making your own radio show/podcast  

"Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. This includes; television, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music, and all other forms of media."  

 Over this course you will:

• Identify programme formats, production features and target audiences of different shows 
• Start the lifelong habit of active interaction with media, as opposed to passive consumption 
• Learn basic technical terms for radio, podcast & television production 
• Use storyboards and running orders to describe how a programme is structured 
• Plan segments for a show using the broadcast clock 
• Develop a production plan, divide up team roles, prepare a running order and script for your own show 
• Look at interview structures, skills, and plan an online audio interview with a person you admire 
• Use online recording sites, and free to download software to make a short programme which will be broadcast on Flirt FM 101.3, and uploaded to the station's Mixcloud to listen back later 
• If time permits, design visual assets to promote your show/podcast  

Kick off your amazing career in media! 

Fundamentals of Computer Programming 

This introductory course offers a fun and accessible way for students to begin their journey in computer programming. We start with Scratch, a visual, block-based programming tool that simplifies core programming concepts, making it ideal for beginners. In the first two weeks, students will develop a foundational understanding of programming basics by building interactive games and animations. 

From the third week, we transition to Python, a versatile text-based language, which empowers students to create small projects and further explore programming. The course covers essential topics such as: 

• Introduction to Programming
  • What is programming and why is it beneficial for kids?
• Getting Started with Scratch (emphasizing programming fundamentals over character animations).
  • How to create and structure a new project
  • Using blocks to build simple programs
  • Implementing loops, conditions, sounds, and graphics in interactive games 
• Introduction to Python
  • Why Python? Exploring its strengths as a beginner-friendly language
  • Navigating error messages and debugging
  • Understanding variables, data types, operators, and expressions
  • Working with input and output functions
  • Applying conditional statements and loops
• Final Week Project
  • Students put their skills to the test with a hands-on project. 

Each topic includes tailored exercises, with additional tasks provided based on each student's pace and understanding. 

Basic Electronics: Understanding Electrical Circuits 

This hands-on course introduces students to the fundamentals of electronics and the principles of electrical circuits. Through practical activities, students will explore key components and the functions of simple electric circuits.  

Introduction to Electronics and Electrical Circuits:

• Importance and applications in everyday life:
• Flow of electricity: voltage, current, resistance, and series vs. parallel circuits
• Basic components: LEDs, batteries, resistors, switches, transistors, and more  

Interactive mBlock and Arduino-Based Projects:

• Introduction to mBlock and Arduino o mBot-based robotics control
• Project examples:
• LED Blinking and Dimming
• Traffic Light Simulation
• Switch and Photoresistor-Controlled LEDs
• Room and Body Temperature Sensing
• mBot activities: Obstacle Avoidance, Line following and more  

Further Exploration and Resources:

• Tips for continued learning
• Additional resources and project ideas

Outcome: By the end of the course, students will gain foundational knowledge of electronics and practical experience in circuit building and electronics logic-based control. 

Foundations of Marine & Coastal Engineering: Oceans Unleashed! 

Dive into the dynamic world of Marine & Coastal Engineering! This course empowers young learners to explore how engineers tackle real-world challenges, from safeguarding coastlines to building resilient structures in ocean environments.  

Topics covered include: 

• Overview of what marine and coastal engineers do and why Ireland needs them!
• Understanding waves, currents and tides and why they matter in engineering
• Coastal protection structures
• Engineering for rising sea levels
• Underwater engineering and marine ecosystems
• Observation techniques including remote sensing, buoys and satellite data  

Perfect for budding engineers, each session combines theory with interactive experiments. Through hands-on activities, students will engage with wave mechanics, construct model coastlines and design protective structures. 

 Join us and 'seas the day'! 

Engineering the future: An introduction to civil structural engineering 

There is civil engineering all around us. From the house we live in, to the roads we drive on, everything is built by civil engineers. But how do you make such huge structures from skyscrapers to long bridges to massive airports?  

This course will introduce the students to the basic principles which govern the basis of all structures. Each week includes hands-on activities such as engineering drawings and building towers and truss bridges, enabling students to see these principles in action. 

By the end of this course, the students will have knowledge about: 

• Different types of building materials
• Shapes and structures
• Forces on structures
• Why structures fail – examining relevant case studies
• The circular economy in construction, which is of utmost importance in today's market with global warming and climate change being at the forefront of engineering decisions worldwide! 

How Science and Engineering can heal our bodies: Design Medicine using Biomaterials 

Do you want to discover how you could help the human body to fight against illnesses or repair bone fractures? Put on your lab coat and surgical gloves and join our biomedical scientists and engineers for this hands-on course! 

From looking at how the human body works to how to treat illnesses, this course introduces something called biomaterials, which are substances that can be designed to help the body to heal itself and are used in cutting-edge scientific research across Ireland and the world. 

You will learn about how biomaterials are designed and how useful they are in modern science through interactive activities and games. You will discover how scientists and engineers can create safe and efficient ways of delivering medicine to exactly where it is needed in our body and how it can also create bones and organs. Finally, we will learn how science can be used to adapt medical treatment to suit each person’s needs. 

Join this adventure and take part in the following activities: 

• Molecular cuisine: How to encapsulate a drug into a biomaterial? 
• Biomaterial production: Slime for the brain 
• Look through the microscope at cells and even found objects from home 
• Visit to Galway Atlantaquaria 
• Think like a forensic scientist with…. a murder investigation!

Innovators in Action: The Ultimate Engineering Expedition

Calling all young explorers and future world changers! Join us for an electrifying journey that turns ordinary kids into extraordinary problem-solvers and inventors!  

Design bridges that can withstand challenges, create electronic gadgets and explore how engineers are real-life superheroes who solve the world's puzzles. 

Each week is a new learning adventure into a different aspect of engineering : 

• Soar through aeronautics 
• Dive into electronics 
• Construct sturdy structures
• Explore how technology can help heal and save lives 
• Unleash your inner software wizard 
• Learn how engineers are changing the world, one brilliant idea at a time! 

This is your chance to play, experiment, and discover the incredible world of engineering.  

A world that we cannot see: The secret life of microbes 

This course teaches you all about microorganisms, the good, bad and evil! Learn all about their secret world through fun and interactive experiments. Some activities include: 

• Ever wondered about microorganisms in our food? Uncover how good microbes can be used to make food products. Carry out your own fermentation experiment at home to learn about the process of bread making.
• Let's put hand hygiene to the test! You will carry out an experiment using agar to see how many microbes are killed when we clean our hands.
• Discover the dangerous side of microorganisms and how they can cause disease. You will be shown magnified images of different microbes and learn all about the illnesses they can cause.
• Find out how we can fight harmful microorganisms. Discover the world of vaccines and antibiotics, but also how microorganisms can fight back. Can you help the scientist figure out which antibiotics will save the patient?
• Finally, you will get to be the doctor for a day! Learn about how infection is diagnosed and how to check vital signs when microbes make us sick! 

Thinking caps on! From brain waves to brain teasers, a Brain-cation awaits! 

Want to learn about the most complex organ of the body? Of course you do- it's a no-brainer! Come along while we explore many key aspects of neuroscience:  

• The brain is boss- why is the brain so important and what structures make it up?  
• No man is an island- how does the nervous system help the brain carry out its functions?  
• Communication is key- how do neurons help the brain to communicate its messages? 
• Our brain has superpowers- what are some of the amazing things our brain can do?
• It’s all an illusion- how does perception play a role in how we see things?  
• Time to catch some brainwaves- how can we use EEG to see and interpret brain activity? 

Extras: brain jokes & puns, quizzes, brain teaser activities, riddles and neuroscience art 

The Secret Life of Physics: A rollercoaster ride through Life, Energy, and Cosmic Wonders! 

From our toes to the sky: Physics is everywhere!

Calling all young scientists!

Ever wondered why things fall when you drop them?

Or how our planet stays floating in space? From the smallest atom to the depths of the ever-expanding universe, there is so much to explore.

Welcome to The Secret Life of Physics, where we’re going to explore the wild science that makes our world, and the whole universe, go round!

• Explore the secrets of matter, density, and forces!
• Dive in to electricity and electromagnetism!
• Blast off into astronomy!
• Study waves (hint: not all of them are in the sea!)
• Uncover the mystery of radiation!
• What's the reason for eclipses?

Physics is all around you, and it’s way cooler than you think! Come along with us, and let's understand our world a bit better, one experiment at a time!

It is Bond, Hydrogen Bond 

“I feel sorry for people who don’t understand anything about chemistry. They are missing an important source of happiness!” - Linus Pauling 

Chemistry is part of our daily life: starting from the food we eat to the clothes we wear but is not always easy to understand how it can be a “source of happiness”. 

In this course, we are going to do experiments (some of them even reproducible in your kitchen!) and learn how we can scientifically explain the outcome. The idea is to have an insight in our molecular world and make this experience as fun as it can be! 

Experiments that we will do includes: 

• Combining matter to make your own soap 
• Reproduce a Volcano using acid/base chemistry 
• Find luminescence in natural product (i.e. spinach leaf or turmeric) 
• Extraction of strawberry’s DNA 
• The “Oobleck” of Dr. Seuss 

…And much more! 

Come along, wear your lab coat and goggles, and have fun!   

Bone Voyage: Discovering the Secrets of Your Skeleton

In this course, students will embark on an in-depth journey through the skeletal system from a biomedical perspective. Participants will examine the anatomy of bones, from the structure of the skull down to the toes! 

Learn the secrets of our amazing skeleton at the cellular level, revealing bone composition and its vital functions, and discover the processes in bone re-modelling and repair.  

Take part in engaging activities such as Bone Bingo, building a robotic hand, and safely testing bone fractures, helping you gain a deeper understanding of bone structure, function, and development, as well as recent research advancements.  

Students will discover how bones heal, what can go wrong with fractures and in osteoporosis, and explore the effects of space travel on astronauts' bones.  

From observing bone tissue under a microscope, and making and testing splints for fractures, this course will ignite curiosity and excitement about the critical role bones play in health and biomedical research. 

Biomedical Engineering: A Journey Through Our Body, the Marvelous Machine (Virtual class - Online only)

Calling all young innovators and problem solvers! Are you curious about how engineering can shape the human body's incredible systems? Join us on this 6-week journey into the marvelous machine that is our human body! 

Throughout this course, we'll blend engaging hands-on activities so you can discover the engineering behind our human body to; (1) understand the human heart, (2) explore the secrets of the nervous system and (3) discover the mechanics behind our musculoskeletal system. Once you learn how you can apply your problem-solving skills to design lifesaving medical devices, you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve! Buckle up and get ready to think like a biomedical engineer, as we embark on this journey through our body, the marvelous machine. 

Topics Include:

• Think Like an Engineer
• Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
• The Heart and Cardiovascular System: The Engine of Life
• The Brain and Nervous System: The Control Centre of our Body
• Musculoskeletal System: Mechanics of Motion
• Future of Biomedical Engineering