Teachers' Resources

This sheet provides some word activities relating to nature that work quite well on their own or you might like to use with the class after a nature walk.

Spring flowering plants project: can you help by submitting records of these 14 plants to the national database in 2017. Click on photos to see full accounts for each species. This recording initiative is a collaboration between the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the BSBI.

This sheet contains some lovely ideas for creating an adventure with your class when out on a walk. Suggestions include questions you might ask the group, activities you can try out or simply some things to highlight to the children as you go along.

These fun and colourful pocket guides are great for kids to bring with them when out and about in nature. Titles include Have Fun with Fungi, Sow Some Wild Flowers and Tune into the Dawn Chorus. 

This booklet explores Ireland's wetland wildlife - everything from dragonflies, butterflies, frogs and newts to wetland birds, right up to our largest carnivore - the otter.

Notice Nature is Ireland's public awareness campaign on biodiversity which aims to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity and to encourage everyone to play their part in its protection. Their website has a great resource section for children which includes live animal web-cams, posters, information, games and puzzles.

My First Book of Irish Animals is written by our very own Heritage Expert, Juanita Browne! The book is aimed at introducing young children to the wonderful world of Irish wildlife.  Filled with fascinating facts and beautiful illustrations by Irish artist, Aoife Quinn, this book will capture the imagination of young children.

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!

Pupils can bring these handy little sheets out and about with them on their nature walks, encouraging them to engage with the environment around them. Activities include Bird Food Bingo, Leaf Hunting Sheet and Wild-Day Out.

Bugs! In all shapes and sizes, big ones, small ones, long one, tall ones, slow ones, quick ones, with over 1 million known species, it’s time we got to know our neighbours a little better.

Trees are more than just a place for birds to rest! They give air, food, shelter, warmth. It may look like trees just stand around and do nothing. Actually, they are very busy doing a variety of jobs that are essential to animals and the environment.

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

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.

iSPY Nature aims to encourage young Irish people to get involved with nature and wildlife. Apart from providing a great range of photos, resources and project ideas, users can record their own wildlife sightings and notes on the interactive site.

Why not plant some clover or other plants that will attract bumble bees into the school garden? There are lots of other tips and tricks for turning your school garden in to a ‘hive of activity’ on the website too! 

Lots of fun and colourful activity sheets relating to healthy eating.

Fun for younger age groups with simple, step-by-step instructions for growing the first letter of a child's name using corn seed!

Simple and straightforward directions for growing your own tree from a seed!

Comedy and science collide as host, Neil Delamere puts team captains, PJ Gallagher and Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin and their teams of comedians and science personalities through their paces, in this original science-comedy quiz.

This BBC resource has lots of interesting facts and information about flowers and fun ideas for related activities, including how to dissect a flower!

Get the children to recognise what they are eating and were it comes from. Explaining the difference between root and leaf vegetables and the importance of eating their five a day.

Not just a pretty face. Flowers can change the world, learn how plants reproduce, and many insects would die without this vital source of nutrients. A flower is the part of the plant that makes the seeds. The main parts of a flower are the carpals and stamens. These parts are often found in the centre of the flower. There are egg cells in the carpel and pollen cells in the stamen. All flowers have four basic parts: sepals, petals, carpals and stamen. Different flowers have different numbers and shapes of these parts.