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:
Explore buildings of interest and different architectural style around the local neighbourhood, town or village.
Read moreRead lessThings To do
1. Download the Famous Buildings worksheet below and ask the children to name the buildings in the pictures.
2. If possible, take pictures of local landmarks and do a mini 'show-and-tell' about the buildings.
3. Ask the children to draw a picture of a local landmark and do a mini 'show-and-tell'.
This website documents a project in which six County Sligo schools explored and documented the heritage sites of the county. It has lots of resources that can be used by other schools in Sligo.
This website has lots of interesting information on the history and heritage of Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin for older age groups.
Loughnaneane Park is a free amenity provided by Roscommon County Council which is available to all. This pack aims to promote Loughnaneane Park as an education resource site, to be used by primary schools for field studies relating to natural, built and cultural heritage.
Would you like your class to learn more about their heritage, and Kilkenny's archaeology, in a fun and education-centred way? The Heritage Office of Kilkenny County Council has developed a series of four lesson plans focused on teaching archaeology to young children! The plans are aimed at pre-school, junior and senior infant classes. They are linked to the primary school curriculum and the Aistear curriculum.
Read moreRead lessThis project was developed in partnership with the Kilkenny County Childcare Committee, Kilkenny Education Centre, Dig-it-Kids, and with co-funding from the Heritage Council.
Through using the resources below, and undertaking a trail around Kilkenny Castle, the children should learn about:
1. The people associated with Kilkenny Castle – the Butler family and the servants.
2. Certain design features of the castle, such as limestone, moat, sally port, arrow
3. loop windows, servants’ entrance, coat of arms and lead hoppers.
4. The strategic site that the castle is built on.
5. How the building is changed and why. How the defensive character of the castle became less important as time went by.
Skills and concepts development:
Children should be able to:
1. Time and Chronology:
2. Change and continuity:
3. Cause and effect:
4. Using evidence:
5. Empathy:
Methodologies:
Among the methods which may be used are:
Sources Used:
Explore the past, the hands-on way! Archaeologists are scientists and historians who spend much of their time on their hands and knees, carefully digging through layers of earth to discover the past. What they find not only reflects the past, but also helps us to understand the present and to anticipate the future.
Read moreRead lessThings to do
1. Create a mini-dig 1 - Find the treasure!
2. Find a big box and fill it with loose soil or sand and place loose coins and artefacts (brooches, pins, and arrow heads) for the children to dig or find in the box. Discuss where and where the items came from.
3. Create a mini-dig 2 - What’s the person’s job?
4. Fill a big box with loose soil or sand and place articles that relate to a person's job in it for the children to find.
