Teachers' Resources

An introduction to Irish hedgerows and their benefits with lesson plans and resources for primary schools developed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. 

Irish hedgerows stretch for an incredible 689,000km up and down the roads and fields of Ireland. This is the equivalent of wrapping around the earth 17 times!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The 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.

An introduction to some of the fish species found around the Irish Coast. Design and drawings by Carmel T. Madigan.

Join Eanna Ní Lamhna, 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.

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.

This is the second tale from Dale Treadwell about Robby the Robin's adventures and all the feathered friends he meets along the way as he forages for food in the garden.

This is the first tale from Dale Treadwell about Harry the Hedgehog as he goes in search of a friend. Join him on his journey!

A planning guide from the Marine Institute for primary school teachers on ocean literacy and engagement - oceans facts, evaluation tools and ideas for the classroom.