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 information pack and associated video and presentation is intended for
delivery to the senior end of primary schools as part of the community outreach
in the LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project.
Read moreRead lessIn the LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature target area, schools are invited to take
part in an educational programme delivered through the Heritage Council’s
Heritage in Schools Scheme.
The Heritage Council is one of several partners in the project and was tasked with the action to develop, and pilot test a schools’ programme in 2022. The aim would be to promote local awareness of the LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project amongst schools and involve children in assessing a local blanket bog habitat using a scorecard.
Read moreRead lessLIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature works with landowners and local communities to conserve and improve the quality of blanket bogs and associated habitats in the northwest of Ireland (https://www.wildatlanticnature...). The Heritage Council is one of several partners in the project and was tasked with the action to develop, and pilot test a schools’ programme in 2022. The aim would be to promote local awareness of the LIFE IP Wild Atlantic Nature project amongst schools and involve children in assessing a local blanket bog habitat using a scorecard. The hands-on, practical involvement would introduce children to the project and their local blanket bogs and build enthusiasm for blanket bogs generally - an enthusiasm which, it was hoped, they would share with their families, friends, and neighbours. The suite of resources were developed by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council and Aengus Kennedy (NatureNorthWest) with input from the project partners.
An initiative Kildare County Council, ‘Brigid 1500’ festival will engage communities with the story and heritage of St. Brigid, providing a connection with the past through events and programmes.
Read moreRead lessThe ‘Brigid 1500’ school programme includes videos on making crosses; Bridóg dolls; harvesting rushes/reeds; pollinators and legends of St. Brigid. There's also lots of pdf resources with tales, colouring sheets and more.
A new free resource developed with support from Creative Ireland and Westmeath County Council called Seed Journeys. It includes illustrated stories and activity ideas for primary school children for connecting with nature through the lens of seeds, in English and Irish.
A practical guide for teachers and other education practitioners who wish to bring nature, native habitats and biodiversity into the school grounds. The book aims to help with the planning, design, creation and use of an organic school garden with and for students.
Read moreRead lessIt demonstrates the huge possibilities of designing and developing the school grounds into a highly stimulating and interactive educational resource, with organic food production and biodiversity as its central themes.
The book has unlimited cross-curricular potential. It particularly ties in with Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE), Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), Wellbeing, Art, Languages, History and Maths.
It sets out practical projects on growing local food, creating biodiversity and native habitats in the school grounds, and encourages healthy eating, nature-based activities and getting students active.
Available to order from the following sites:
An introduction to the ancient world of weaving and basket making including step-by-step instruction from Beth on how to weave a fish from willow or materials you might have at home.
A step by step tutorial showing you how to draw a biodiversity/habitat map of your garden so that you can record where different garden species are located.
Suited to children from 3rd to 6th classes.
This tutorial will help students to discover and understand the hidden world of moths and their importance in maintaining a healthy environment.
Suited to children of all ages.
In this tutorial Maura demonstrates how oak gall ink is made and includes a simplified recipe which can be made from household vinegar.
Suited to children from 2nd to 6th classes.
Kay's tutorial, filmed in a woodland, demonstrates how to build an insect hotel with materials found at home and in a garden or woodland.
Suited to children from 2nd to 6th class
Learn how to create a pitfall trap in your garden to catch live ground beetles and other invertebrates for a closer look.
Suited to children from 2nd to 6th class.
This tutorial encourages children to explore and record their local heritage by taking a walk locally and making a 3D map of what they have seen.
Suited to children of all ages.
Dale and Nathan show us how to construct a solitary bee hotel from materials you'll find at home.
Suited to children of all ages.
Discover the natural resources growing near your own doorstep! Learn about sustainable plant fibres as we learn how to process nettles to make cordage.
Susanna demonstrates the story of wool from carding to spinning to dyeing and weaving.
Suitable for children from 1st to 6th class
Learning how to grow potatoes is a skill for life and a small step in increasing the sustainability of our everyday lives.
Suited to children from 3rd to 6th class.
Kay's tutorial, filmed in a garden, shows where to find different invertebrates, how to safely trap and identify them using a pitfall trap.
Suited to children of all ages.
Moths are attracted by the scent of fermenting fruit. You can make up a sugary treat for moths. There are many different recipes and why mot experiment - Albert shares his receipe here.
A self-guided handbook for primary school teachers to facilitate the use of local parks as outdoor classrooms. Published by Dublin City Council and an action of the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan 2015-2020
Counties Laois, Meath and Monaghan came together with Éanna Ní Lamhna to develop this book and series of worksheets for Primary School teachers called Wild Things at School as a joint project under the County Heritage Plan Scheme.
The Heritage Council co-funded the publications however it does not have hard copies of the publication.
It’s time to get out of the classroom with the Eco Ranger’s school programme and use active learning with your pupils to discover, learn and connect with nature. Once you’ve registered for Eco Ranger’s offline and have received your confirmation, you can go ahead and register here on the website https://www.ecorangers.ie/.
Read moreRead lessNature and biodiversity is something that Bord na Móna is investing in as part of our day to day work. This is why Bord na Móna created Eco Rangers- Guardians of the Land an initiative for schools that gets children outdoors and connecting with nature and learning about the importance of protecting it. See more at https://www.ecorangers.ie/.
Get muddy and run wild!
Read moreRead less
Discover a range of Nature Detectives activities for all ages from the Woodland Trust.
Making bird feeders is fun, cheap and very easy with help from Nature North West ..
The Frog Blog contains short and snappy science articles on a rich array of topics, from astronomy to zoology. It's created for science enthusiasts of all ages, so enjoy!
