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I was always told salmon was good for the brain growing up! Looking forward to a lovely thematic lesson on lifecycle of salmon, Nuitrition and slamon of knowledge this September
I enjoyed the Goldilocks analogy too Muireann …though one wonders if we are heading towards porridge being too hot after the summer heatwaves . Not in comparison to mainland Europe of course
I agree Rosemary that many students do not know what is on their doorstep. We live in such a fast paced world with so much information that often we know more about countries far away that we visit on holidays than what is around us in our local area. I hope this course will help my students (and myself!) to better understand the area in which they live.
Co Clare in particular where I live in Ennistymon has many active groups in the area of environmental awareness and protection. We have access to many talks and workshops on enhancing biodiversity and protecting our wages and wildlife. This weekend gone was all about rekindling skills in farming and other areas that enabled farmers to work with nature rather than against her. The students in my school are active participants in green school initiatives around the school but also in the local environment such as clean up days , tree planting and second hand swap and sell days to encourage recycling . I feel very lucky that children are learning from example of others how individuals can make a difference by taking action in their own communities to protect and enhance the environment in which they live.
I enjoyed this module as I am very interested in nutrition on a personal level . I can see potential for a lovely set of lessons based on the food pyramid . Graphs on eating habits of children focussing on how much and what type of seafood their household consumes on a weekly basis. Discussions on the nutritional content of fish , shellfish and seaweed. I would also like to collect seaweed (in a sustainable responsible manner and experiment with some recipes ..eg carrageen mousse, Dulse crisps. The use of seaweed in Irish diets during the famine and the restrictions on fishing and harvesting during this time will give us opportunity to reflect on the importance of a varied diet and how overreliance on any section of the food pyramid is bad for our health and the environment.
I am really looking forward to using these resources with my 3rd and 4th class this year. As we live close to Lahinch beach in Liscannor bay I will bring them there for an exploration of the seashore. I can see many opportunities for crosscuricular links maths , science, geography and history and art. Then looking at areas where aquaculture is popular along the coast I will invite the students to surmise why it is not viable in Lahinch (popular tourist beach, poor water quality, sewage issues, shallow waters). We will compare and contrast with other areas on the coast which have viable aquaculture industries and why perhaps these areas need it(poor employment prospects/decline in fish stocks etc). I feel the Arc materials will help to broaden their understanding of the topic greatly when we return to the classroom after field trip.
I grew up on Achill island . As a child I ate wild salmon and other fish caught off the island and didn’t think about it. Now the only salmon we can buy is farmed and it is next to impossible to buy locally caught fish. The local SuperValu sells fish that travels overnight from the east coast. Hotels and restaurants have to buy fish from Killybegs or worse from big delivery companies . It saddens me deeply that what was once an organic industry where fish were caught according to the season is now managed to the extent where salmon in its farmed form is barely recognisable from its wild predecessor . Turbot is the same. Yes aquaculture provides employment and food but at what cost ? Surely if we are serious about protecting our natural environment on and off the land we need to return to local food eaten locally and not mass production of certain species at the expense of others . We once had small boats fishing off our coasts supplying their localities . The cost of licenses made many of these people give up and get a job on a fish farm. Surely the former was a more sustainable and healthier existence ?
