Teach your pupils how to build a giant nest, create a butterfly garden or make their own family tree!
The resources provided here have been submitted by Heritage Experts, teachers or prepared by other educational organisations. The resources are both fun and educational and are designed to inspire and develop an appreciation and curiosity about Ireland’s wonderful natural and cultural heritage.
Resources can be searched for under the following categories:
This book is quick and easy to make, yet still offers flexibility and potential for children to create their own unique versions. They can be used for everything from storytelling to making guidebooks about a local wood or museum, what they put into your book is up to you!
Fun ideas for hands-on architectural projects for 8-12 year olds, including building a paper 'pet-house' and different styles of architectural columns.
There are several medieval churches still to be seen in Kilkenny City. St. Canice’s Cathedral is the most complete. It is called a cathedral because it was built as the principal church of the diocese. It was the special church of the Bishop of Ossory and he had his seat there. This was an actual chair which was called cathedra in Latin. St. Mary’s Church was the Parish Church of Kilkenny in the middle ages
Read moreRead lessThere were three churches which belonged to religious orders: The Black Abbey was part of the Dominican Priory. Besides the church which you can see today, there were lots of other buildings where the priests and lay brothers lived and worked. It also owned some land and had a mill on the river Bregagh. It lay outside the walls of Kilkenny, but was connected to the rest of Kilkenny by a gate. St. Francis Abbey was a Franciscan Friary. Part of its church can be seen from the main gate of Smithwick’s Brewery. This is only part of the original church and there were other buildings, now gone.
Franciscans and Dominicans were known as Mendicant Orders. A mendicant is someone who begs. The mendicant orders were founded to preach the gospel and to serve the poor. Instead of living off the produce of land which they owned, the Mendicant Orders got much of their income from the ordinary people. St. John’s Priory was an Augustinian priory. It was also the Parish Church of St. John’s Parish on the east bank of the River Nore.
Download the information sheets below to find out more about Kilkenny’s Medieval churches.
The city of Kilkenny is built on the River Nore. The name 'Nore' in Irish is An Fheoir, which probably means the boundary. The river rises far to the north in the Slieve Bloom Mountains between counties Laois and Offaly. The monastery, cathedral and small town which existed before the Norman invasion was built on the west bank of the river. Today the Nore is crossed by three bridges – Green’s Bridge, John’s Bridge and Ossory Bridge.
Read moreRead lessDownload the resources below to explore the history, science and geography relating to Kilkenny’s water.
Irish history has a cast of millions of characters, but every now and then one lad or lady sticks out as truly heroic. It’s time for Neil Delamere to take on Ireland’s Heroes. From the legendary warrior, Cúchulainn to the pirate queen, Gráinne Mhaol, Neil wants to get inside their skin and see if he has what it takes to be a modern day Irish Hero. Spoiler alert: He doesn’t.
A high cross is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. They were raised primarily in Ireland and Britain during the Early Middle Ages and sometimes later. They often, though not always, feature a stone ring around the intersection, forming a Celtic Christian cross.
Read moreRead lessThings To do
1. Download the High Cross worksheet below and ask the children to design their own high cross, maybe using symbols that are in use today.
A great genealogy website with games, ideas and resources, suitable for a range of age groups. Activities include a family history scavenger hunt and creating a time capsule.
Explore buildings of interest and different architectural style around the local neighbourhood, town or village.
Read moreRead lessThings To do
1. Download the Famous Buildings worksheet below and ask the children to name the buildings in the pictures.
2. If possible, take pictures of local landmarks and do a mini 'show-and-tell' about the buildings.
3. Ask the children to draw a picture of a local landmark and do a mini 'show-and-tell'.
This website documents a project in which six County Sligo schools explored and documented the heritage sites of the county. It has lots of resources that can be used by other schools in Sligo.
This website has lots of interesting information on the history and heritage of Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin for older age groups.
A fun and interactive site which engages children in maths, science and the visual arts through the medium of architecture.
Would you like your class to learn more about their heritage, and Kilkenny's archaeology, in a fun and education-centred way? The Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council has developed a series of four lesson plans focused on teaching archaeology to young children! The plans are aimed at pre-school, junior and senior infant classes. They are linked to the primary school curriculum and the Aistear curriculum.
Read moreRead lessThis project was developed in partnership with the Kilkenny County Childcare Committee, Kilkenny Education Centre, Dig-it-Kids, and with co-funding from the Heritage Council.
Through using the resources below, and undertaking a trail around Kilkenny Castle, the children should learn about:
1. The people associated with Kilkenny Castle – the Butler family and the servants.
2. Certain design features of the castle, such as limestone, moat, sally port, arrow
3. loop windows, servants’ entrance, coat of arms and lead hoppers.
4. The strategic site that the castle is built on.
5. How the building is changed and why. How the defensive character of the castle became less important as time went by.
Skills and concepts development:
Children should be able to:
1. Time and Chronology:
2. Change and continuity:
3. Cause and effect:
4. Using evidence:
5. Empathy:
Methodologies:
Among the methods which may be used are:
Sources Used:
Explore the past, the hands-on way! Archaeologists are scientists and historians who spend much of their time on their hands and knees, carefully digging through layers of earth to discover the past. What they find not only reflects the past, but also helps us to understand the present and to anticipate the future.
Read moreRead lessThings to do
1. Create a mini-dig 1 - Find the treasure!
2. Find a big box and fill it with loose soil or sand and place loose coins and artefacts (brooches, pins, and arrow heads) for the children to dig or find in the box. Discuss where and where the items came from.
3. Create a mini-dig 2 - What’s the person’s job?
4. Fill a big box with loose soil or sand and place articles that relate to a person's job in it for the children to find.
