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:

Geography

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.

The Year Round Organic School Garden: A guide to designing, creating and using an organic school garden

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.

It 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:

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

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.

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.

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

A tale of two beetles: Nessa Darcy

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.

Gardening for Biodiversity

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.

Taking 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.

Discover the Walled Towns of Ireland: a workbook for primary school children

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.

A lovely workbook for primary school children introducing them to the the walled towns of Ireland.

'Shapes of Fish' by Carmel T. Madigan

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

The Irish Tree Trail

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.

Easy 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/...

Nature in the Park - a self-guided handbook for primary school teachers to facilitate the use of local parks as outdoor classrooms

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

Wild things at School by Éanna Ní Lamhna

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.

Robby the Christmas Robin ... is not in a Christmas mood!

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.

Hard copies they can be obtained through Naturally Wild at €5 each or €8 for two plus postage.

Harry the Hedgehog ... will you be my friend?

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!

Hard copies they can be obtained through Naturally Wild at €5 each or €8 for two plus postage. 

Explorers planning guide for primary school teachers: ocean literacy and engagement

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.

The Explorers Education Programme™ aims to build on Ireland’s marine and maritime heritage by increasing awareness of the value, opportunities and social benefits of our ocean wealth and identity. This ocean literacy and engagement guide provides ocean facts, evaluation tools and ideas for the classroom.

https://oar.marine.ie/handle/1...

Empowering Teachers and Pupils for a Better Life through Nature

Empowering Teachers and Pupils for a Better Life through Nature - some useful resources for pre-school and primary school teachers.

Last July BirdWatch Ireland hosted 60 preschool and primary school teachers for an environmental education training course as part of the Empowering Teachers and Pupils for a Better Life through Nature project, funded under the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme. These lectures and training sessions were filmed and are available to down load free of charge.