Teachers' Resources | Heritage in Schools

Teachers' Resources

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:

Video

Travelling Voices

A 20 minute video filmed in July and August, 2022 highlighting the rich culture and heritage of the travelling community in Co. Wexford.

Traditional singer, researcher, folklore collector and Heritage in Schools Specialist Rachel Uí Fhaoláin (Ceol Mo Chroí) and Digital Storyteller/Filmmaker John Ó Faoláin (Traditional Archive Channel) worked with the travelling community in Co. Wexford in association with Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS) and the Heritage Council.

Participating children engaged in hands-on learning with the two artists and very open discussions around further opportunities for the travelling community in areas of filming, sound, lighting, traditional song, storytelling, performance, recording/archiving etc.

The learning outcomes included the development of important digital skills while exploring the importance of sharing and archiving the songs, language, customs & traditions which are passed onto the children from the older members of their families down through the generations.

The project was funded by the Heritage Council through the Heritage in Schools Summer Programme for 2022.

Gairdín Mháire na mBláth

Gairdín Mháire na mBláth is the latest offering from leading author-illustrator Tatyana Feeney. Beautifully illustrated, this book tells the heartwarming story of Máire na mBláth who, on noticing one day that there are no flowers planted in her local school, decides to share her gardening skills with the pupils. Between them, they plant a beautiful garden at the school.

In this short video Éanna Ní Lamhna talks about bees, flowers, pollination and this book from the beautiful Vandeleur Walled Gardens in Kilrush.

Let's go Fishing!: Beth Murphy

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.

How to make a biodiversity map of your garden: Michele Castiaux

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.

Let your imagination go wild! Mary Wallace

An introduction to wild garlic as a native Irish herb that has been eaten in Ireland for thousands of year with a recipe for a delicious pesto.

Suited to children from 3rd to 6th class

A plant with a past: Paddy Madden

This tutorial links a common wild plant, Charlock or Praiseach Bhuí to the Great Famine.

Suited to children from 4th to 6th class.

Discovering the hidden world of moths: Albert Nolan

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.

Oak gall ink: Maura Brennan

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.

Write a riddle poem: Ruth Marshall

Listen to Ruth’s Riddle poem about a heritage site in Co. Clare. Ruth will guide you to explore a place in your own area and write your own riddle.

Suited to children from 3rd to 6th classes.

A story to tell: Chris Thompson

Children are encouraged to examine the heritage significance of their immediate environment through familiar local landscape features.

Suited to children from 2nd to 4th class.

The example of an old tree is used in this tutorial. The activity encourages children to consider questions about past, present and future through personification and the creation of an unusual pictorial poem at the same time. The activity can be applied to other local features, a road, an old building etc.

Knitting needles: Ruth Marshall

Ruth will show how you can make your own knitting pins - using sticks, a pencil sharpener and a little bit of sandpaper.

Suited to children of all ages.

The lucky well: Mark Wilson

An introduction to the history of the traditional Irish farm well.

Suited to children and adults of all ages.

Time travel adventure: Áine Brosnan

There are old school houses in most communities so this is a very accessible monument type and this exercise aims to get the children thinking about what was different and what was similar long ago.

Suitable for children from 3rd to 6th class.

How to build an insect hotel: Kay Synott

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

Beetles in my backyard: Nessa Darcy

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.

Dáithí and the Woodlice: Martina Butler

This tutorial shows children how to find nature (Woodlice) in their own back yard. Woodlice can be found in most outdoor locations.

Suited to children of all ages.

Making a 3D map of your walk: Úna Halpin

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.

Solitary bee hotels: Dale Treadwell

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.

The heritage of hammers: Mark Wilson

Mark explains how finding the perfect hammer and learning to use it for its purpose has endless possibilities.

Suited to children of all ages.

The heritage of hats: Mark Wilson

By finding everyday items we can learn the heritage of our locality, the tools and items which we can find within our own house holds and the history and use that is attached to them to enhance our learning and future lifestyle.

Suited to children and adults of all ages.

Native flora in our hedgerows: Niamh O'Flynn

Niamh illustrates some plants from hedgerows: foxglove, herb robert, vetch, honeysuckle, nettles, gorse/ furze, hawthorn at stages of develeopment, decay and reseeding.

Suitable for children from 2nd to 6th class

Nettle cordage: Maura Brennan

Discover the natural resources growing near your own doorstep! Learn about sustainable plant fibres as we learn how to process nettles to make cordage.

The story of wool: Susanna Anker

Susanna demonstrates the story of wool from carding to spinning to dyeing and weaving.

Suitable for children from 1st to 6th class

All about potatoes: Roisín Cotter

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.