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:
An initiative Kildare County Council, ‘Brigid 1500’ festival will engage communities with the story and heritage of St. Brigid, providing a connection with the past through events and programmes.
Read moreRead lessThe ‘Brigid 1500’ school programme includes videos on making crosses; Bridóg dolls; harvesting rushes/reeds; pollinators and legends of St. Brigid. There's also lots of pdf resources with tales, colouring sheets and more.
A new free resource developed with support from Creative Ireland and Westmeath County Council called Seed Journeys. It includes illustrated stories and activity ideas for primary school children for connecting with nature through the lens of seeds, in English and Irish.
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.
Read moreRead lessIt 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:
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
It’s time to get out of the classroom with the Eco Ranger’s school programme and use active learning with your pupils to discover, learn and connect with nature. Once you’ve registered for Eco Ranger’s offline and have received your confirmation, you can go ahead and register here on the website https://www.ecorangers.ie/.
Read moreRead lessNature and biodiversity is something that Bord na Móna is investing in as part of our day to day work. This is why Bord na Móna created Eco Rangers- Guardians of the Land an initiative for schools that gets children outdoors and connecting with nature and learning about the importance of protecting it. See more at https://www.ecorangers.ie/.
Get muddy and run wild!
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Discover a range of Nature Detectives activities for all ages from the Woodland Trust.
Making bird feeders is fun, cheap and very easy with help from Nature North West ..
The Frog Blog contains short and snappy science articles on a rich array of topics, from astronomy to zoology. It's created for science enthusiasts of all ages, so enjoy!
An introduction into different types of buildings that are in the locality.
Read moreRead lessThings To do
1. Go on a building ramble. Ask the children to look at the different types of houses that are in their neighbourhood. Do a mini survey of where they live and what kind of house/ apartment they live in.
2. Download the Front Doors worksheet below and draw a picture of four different doors they see on their way to school.
3. Tell the three Little Pigs Story and get the children to draw the three different types of houses.
Saint Brigid is remembered for her spirituality, charity and compassion. Her feast day is on the 1st February, the first day of spring. It is customary on St Brigid’s Day to make a cross, known as a ‘St Brigid’s Cross’, out of rushes or reeds (other materials may be used if no rushes or reeds are available).
Read moreRead lessOnce the cross is woven, it is blessed with holy water by a priest. It is then hung on the front doors of homes and left in place all year, to be burned and replaced with a newly-woven cross on the next St Brigid’s Day.
How to make a St. Brigid’s Cross
You will need:
Instructions:
