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In my local area there are lots of different initiatives to support sustainability. One of the most noticeable ones is the tidy towns committee. They ensure the town is clean and tidy and that the area is well taken care of. There is an emphasis in protecting nature in our local area. There are ots of green spaces in the area and there is an emphasis on planting trees and lots of different plants to encourage biodiversity. There are wildflower areas where the grass isnt mown to allow more space for the bees and different insects to find a home. There are spaces left in the green ares for hedgehogs and lots of other animals to get protection. There is an increase in bins in the area and the local community are pushing to have them sectioned out into recyclable bins and non-recyclable bins. There is also a lovely farmers shop in the area which sells local produce in their shop. To connect this to the classroom i would love to involve some fo the children in these incentives. The 6th class in our school gets to help decorate the community garden at different times of the year and we try and ensure the children get out to help litter pick in the local area to help the tody towns committee. In our younger classes the children take part in picker pals which encourages them and their families to get outside and pick litter.
Hi Niamh,
I agree that kids are always very curious and learning about the benefits of seafood would really peak their interest. With a younger class there is definitely a lot of scope to explore lots of language with them. It also allows for children who have a knowledge on Fishing or seafood to share their very specific knowledge on the topic which can always boost confidence. I love your idea to tie in the Green Schools programme with learning about where seafood comes from.
Having an understanding of the nutritional value of seafood gives an opportunity tto promote and encourage healthy eating habits along with scientific inquiry in the classroom. Seafood contains many essential nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids, high quality protein, iodine, selenium and vitamins D and B12. These support brain development, cardiovascular health, and their general wellbeing.
This can be integrated across many different curricular areas. In Science we could have discussions around the different food groups and healthy eating and this can then be enriched by examining all of the different types of seafood, the different habitats and the roles each of these play in a balanced diet. In SPHE lessons this can be linked together by exploring how children can make informed food choice which can support their health. This can then have a cross-curricular link with Geography and Literacy as they can research where different seafood comes from and then write an informative report.Hi Claire,
I love the idea of incorporating maths into the lesson and plotting the aquaculture sites on a map. There is so much opportunity for integration in these lessons. Connecting to their real life will give children a real understanding of Aquaculture. Having debates in the classroom is always a good way to get the children engaged and to have them think more critically about the topic.
Looking at the different ARC online lessons and resources there is clearly a dynamic and practical approach to including STEAM in the classroom. The lessons have an emphasis on inquiry based learning, collaboration, creativity, and real-world problem solving, each of these align closely with the goals of STEM Education Policy Statement. As an example the use of cross curricular integration – in particular the mix of science with literacy and numeracy – is especially useful. By including these lessons in my own teaching, i can encourage children to think critically, ask questions and engage in engage in hands-on activities.
In a school wide approach STEM education can be incorportated in SEE by specific goals for example promoting digital literacy across subject areas and enhancing pupil engagement through different STEM challenges. By using the ARC resources as a professional development took we can ensure consistency , collaboration and good progress across all class levels.You have really captured the true importance of aquaculture in Ireland. The rural and coastal communities have always relied on more traditional industries like farming and fishing. The features of the west coast – the coastline, clean water and the climate- make it the ideal type of environment for aquaculture.
The ephaisis you plae on aquaculture as a way to sustain communities is very powerful. The way that aquaculture can sustain communities and offer consistent year round employment and provide young people with an alternative to leaving their homes. This can help particularly with rural depopulation and preserve smaller communities.
There will also be huge benefits to local services as you mentioned like the boat repair teams, packaging and even local schools and shops. Aquaculture doesnt just work on its own it can allow for wider economic development and social activity. This was a very relevant and enlightening comment to make.
Around Ireland aquaculture farms are based around the coastline making use of the rich marine resources this island has to offer like clean waters and sheltered bays.You will generally find these in Counties Donegal, Kerry, Cork and Galway. These counties are ideal for farming salmon, mussels and oysters. These farms help to not only support sustainable farming but also help to strengthen the costal community socio-ecnomically.
The presence of aquaculture offers a lot of job opportunities in areas that often have little access to jobs due to rural isolation. Thes jobs can include but are not limited to hatchery operations, farm maintenance and processing and logistics. It can also support the local economy because of demand for transport, equipment supply and tourism.
Finally aquaculture can encourage investment in infrastructure and education in an area. It supports a sense of identity and pride in the local community.When managed correctly it can be an important part of coastal resilience too.I completely agree with this. This module offers work which could be engaging for children from JI-6th class. Everything is really user friendly and accessible which makes it easier o integrate it into the everyday classroom. The ARC sounds like a really fun and interactive day for the children and would be an exciting hands on experience for everyone. As I said in my post the children in our school wouldnt have a great knowledge of the costal areas in ireland. However the marine environment and aquaculture has relevance to their lives. The information in this module shows them that there are so many possible career paths through the ocean. Its also interesting to see how you connected aquaculture to the broader environment and their responsibility to take care of it by recycling etc. It’s important that students see the connection between daily actions and global environmental impacts. By exploring aquaculture, they’re not just learning about fish farming—they’re developing a mindset of sustainability and awareness that can carry into other areas of life.
I will be teaching 6th class in a DEIS band 2 school this year. A lot of the kids would struggle to name beaches in Dublin let alone the types of fish you would find in Irish seas. There are some excellent tools introduced in this first module to introduce the children to the topic of Aquaculture. The lessons set out on the BIM website are interactive and engaging. The videos are a great tool to teach the topic of aquaculture. The quizzes afterwards are a great way to ensure the children were listening and to ensure the retention of the content they have covered. The ARC is another really interesting resource and one I would hope to have come to our school. Understanding Social License helps them recognize the importance of public trust, ethics, and stakeholder engagement in industry practices. This helps the children develop their critical thinking and become a more informed citizen.