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:
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.
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 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.
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.
Mark explains how finding the perfect hammer and learning to use it for its purpose has endless possibilities.
Suited to children of all ages.
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.
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
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.
This tutorial shows younger children a little about some of the typical species that can be found in rock pools at the rocky sea shore.
Suited to children from junior to 1st classes.
Legend has it that two different types of beetle once fought over a juicy slug, but all may not have been as it seemed. Learn about the ecology and anatomy of ground beetles and the devil's coach horse beetle.
Suited to children from 1st to 4th classes.
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 booklet to assist everyone to help wildlife in their gardens. The brainchild of Juanita Browne, the booklet was produced by Laois County Council with the assistance of Local Authority Heritage Officers across Ireland, with support from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council.
Read moreRead lessTaking a very practical approach, the book details projects to help wildlife of all kinds under a range of headings, with tasks suitable for everyone from the total beginner to the more ambitious DIY enthusiast. With clear instructions and step-by-step drawings by illustrator Barry Reynolds, the guide offers the gardener lots of options to help our biodiversity.
A colouring book for children using the beautiful garden wildlife illustrations by Barry Reynolds has also been produced.
A pollinator newsletter for children on Protecting Farmland Pollinators. Learn about Pollinator Science, History and Geography with games, puzzles, art and competitions.
Read moreRead lessThe Irish Walled Towns Network (IWTN) was formed by the Heritage Council in 2005 to help the walled towns of Ireland become better places in which to live, work and visit. The island of Ireland has 56 known walled towns, 29 of which have joined the IWTN.
Read moreRead lessA lovely workbook for primary school children introducing them to the the walled towns of Ireland.
An introduction to some of the fish species found around the Irish Coast. Design and drawings by Carmel T. Madigan.
Join Eanna Ní Lamhna, Vice President of the Tree Council of Ireland and Heritage in Schools Expert as she takes you on a journey exploring the native trees of Ireland.
This film was produced in cooperation with Orla Farrell of Easy Treesie.
Read moreRead lessEasy Treesie's goal is for every child in Ireland to plant a tree and to sponsor one in the Global South. A million trees by December 2023. Read more at http://easytreesie.weebly.com/...
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council's Education Department has published a wide range of resources to help groups and individuals, teachers and educators learn about bogs and introduce bogs to your classroom.
Read moreRead lessThe resources are copyright free for educational use by teachers with their class group. The materials presented are taken from the Peatland Education Pack published by the IPCC. This publication and other packs, dvd’s, books, charts and pictures can be purchased from our Nature Shop.
Access the resources here: Bogs in the Classroom.
A short animation from the Biodiversity Office of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council which explains Ecosystem Services (Benefits of Biodiversity) in simple terms.
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
