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i think children exploring their local habitats is so important, to loo up from screens and appreciate what is on their doorstep
food waste is something that bothers me..having grown up in a large family with 2 options at dinner time – ‘take it or leave it’….It really bothers me to see children and families wasting food or being fussy about food ….any food waste programmes to address food waste in supermarkets has to be agood thing
As we know sustainability can cover many avenues in our world, including energy conservation , flood relief schemes, energy and waste management programmes , sustainable foods. etc
To date, in my school I have done a number of lessons on sustainability as they tie in nicely with my Green School themes.
The River Deel which flows behind my school has been accepted in the Blue Dot programme. The Blue Dot Programme is an Irish national specialist catchments initiative coordinated by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). It protects, restores, and highlights river catchments and waterbodies that hold the highest ecological quality status, supporting rich biodiversity and pollution-sensitive species. Their Key Objectives are to protect Excellence: Safeguard high-status water bodies from decline and restore those under threat. Raise Awareness: Educate the public, farming communities, and local stakeholders about the unique value of pristine “Blue Dot” waters. Community Stewardship: Foster local, grassroots engagement and practical local actions to manage catchments sustainably. The children often see fishermen, many European going down to the River to fish. We know from our work with the Heritage in Schools programme and water testing that the River Deel has pristine water and an abundance of fish and wild life that runs in to the Atlantic.
Other sustainability projects in operation near me is the Biodiversity wetlands project in Crossmolina. We have had a lot of flooding in Crossmolina so this has to be managed properly for the future. This project aims to nurture local wildlife in a sustainable way. The Crossmolina Biodiversity Park and wetland-associated initiatives in County Mayo involve local community planning, CLÁR funding support, and environmental management tied to the River Deel Flood Relief Scheme. These projects focus on local habitats, footpaths, central pond features, and washlands connecting to Lough Conn. Project Highlights & Background Funding & Development: The local community and municipal district advanced plans for a dedicated biodiversity park, backed by national grants like €100,000 in CLÁR funding for local site enhancement. Features: Design elements include public footpaths, seating areas, and a central pond structure intended to encourage local wildlife and community engagement. Environmental Context: Larger local engineering and drainage works on the River Deel incorporate designated washlands and protection for nearby sensitive habitats like the River Moy SAC and local alluvial woodlands. Community Action: Local groups coordinate through initiatives managed via Mayo County Council heritage plans and local Tidy Towns environmental programmes.
Crossmolina Tidy Towns funded a rain water harvesting tower which is in use.
Western Care run a local vegetable garden and provide local produce for themselves and for sale.
Crossmolina is in the SEAI programme, Sustainable Energy Communties programme which engages and enables energy citizens with communities nationwide to work together to achieve their energy goals.
So a lot going on locally and I try and inform my pupils as best I can as the real life contexts really bring learning to life.I think designing meal plans is a great idea with the focus on seafood. I think along with that, it would be good for the children to draw up their own nutrient labels with some predictions and comparisons with their peers. It would make them and us! think.
I think it is great that we can get Vitamin D from salmon and other oily fish. This is so beneficial when we know that we struggle to get Vitamin D through access to sunlight so it is a great way to increase the uptake!
I always believed that fish and seafood was healthy but learning more about the nutritional aspects of seafood in this module, really deepened my knowledge and increased my understanding that it plays in maintaining a healthy , balanced diet. Seafood is an excellent source of high quality protein , omega 3 fatty acids , vitamins D and B12 and essential minerals including iodine, zinc and selenium. These nutrients support brain development , heart health, strong bones and the immune system . I also learned that including a variety of seafood in the diet can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases while providing a nutritious alternative to processed foods.
As a teacher , it is easy to use the food pyramid as a visual for pupils but highlighting more the role that seafood and fish play, especially with regards to protein which is essential for bone, skin and muscle growth.
I intend to incorporate more lessons on sustainability , especially with older classes as we are focusing on Marine Environment for the Green School flag this year.
I think it would be good to do the eye spy activity in the supermarket and it would help children see that the food is sustainably sourced.
I like watching Sophie Morris videos on labels and nutrition and I think it would be good to bring in some seafood packaging and allow pupils to see the breakdown of nutrients in seafood comparing it with some processed foods which show excess sugar and additives.
The learning has reinforced the importance of nutrition education in early childhood. By encouraging positive attitudes to healthy foods , including seafood, this can promote healthy eating and a better awareness of the nutritional aspects of food and seafood which sometimes has been neglected in Ireland.
i love the idea of collecting data and making graphs etc I think this kins of work would really make young people think about possible careers in aquaculture in the future and open their eyes to other career options.
The Arc classroom looks amazing. I think kids would love it and staff! I am definitely going to apply for my school. I think it will definitely enrich the learning in a very exciting way!
The ARC resources are very practical and user friendly and they have shown me how STEM can be integrated into everyday teaching through practical inquiry based learning that encourages creativity and STEM subjects. This approach supports the STEM Education policy statement by promoting active learning , inclusion and the development of key skills for the future. As part of the School Self Evaluation process, I would work with colleagues to review our current STEM practices, identify areas for improvement and set achievable targets . By sharing resources , monitoring progress and celebrating pupils achievements , we can build a whole school culture where STEM is embedded across the curriculum and continuously improved for the benefit of all learners. We live near the Coast and I think grounding the STEM lessons in real life contexts really makes the learning authentic and worthwhile. I myself have gained valuable insight in to the possibilities of integrating STEM education in to Aquaculture and having access to the ARC lessons and resources makes these aims a lot more achievable.
I think the cross curricular nature of aquaculture appeals to me Tara. We are looking at Marine environment in Green schools this year and this course is giving me some good ideas.
I researched our local seafood farm Croagh Patrick Seafoods and I was lucky enough to visit recently, it is a very good model of aquaculture combined with tourism. Croagh Patrick Seafoods is a family oyster farm on the shores of Clew bay near Westport. The family lead a fascinating shore based tour of the oyster beds followed by an oyster shucking demonstration and tutored tasting.
the tour goes in to the world of oyster farming , from tiny seed to mature shellfish in the pristine waters. The Seafood business is part of BIMs Taste the Atlantic Trail celebrating Irish seafood. I found hearing about the tradition of oyster cultivation so interesting and how you can grade oysters from seed to table. I really enjoyed hand picking and shucking the oysters and of course enjoying tasting them with homemade brown bread at the end of the tour. They also farm mussels and clams . They supply local cafes and restaurants and you can also supply hampers to order. There has been investment in the business which comes from BIM and the government . This is great to see and the day I was there, there were lots of Europeans and Americans enjoying the tour and sampling the oysters. It really was gratifying to see how a family business can make a living from aquaculture and provide employment. it is also really good to see how the business can be enhanced through tourism which can provide other income streams to invest back in the business while also educating the general public about aquaculture, shellfish farming, marine biology etc. a win win in my books!it is so interesting to hear all the factors that converge to create the perfect conditions to allow a shellfish industry to thrive and flourish is so interesting.
yes erin
I concur…I used to think we have so much coastline why arent we using it more for aquaculture but this course reminds us all that there is so much more to factor in including clean water, inlets , accessibility etc …i also live near the Marine Institute in Newport. I should link more with these amazing resources on my doorstep . They also do educational workshops for schools I believe