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I think the green schools initiative is a great way to get children involved in learning about sustainablilty. It gives them the chance to take part in practical activities and make small changes in their school and local community. It also helps children understand that everyone can play a part in looking after the environment.
<p class=”isSelectedEnd”>Due to its close link with the sea and the natural environment North West Donegal is very good at promoting sustainability. As a coastal community people understand the importance of protecting the sea beaches wildlife and local habitats. The protected areas along the coast and around islands such as Gola Island, Inishmeane and Tory Island help protect important habitats and marine life.We also have a lot of wind farms in north west Donegal which promotes sustainability. We have in the past taken fifth and Sixth class to visit the local wind farms to learn how renewable energy is produced and how natural resources can be used in a cleaner way. Local groups also play an important role. We are very fortunate that two local marine biologists have set up the organisation The Sea Collective ,and they work closely with schools, community groups and other local organisations. Their school activities include hands-on work about marine animals, the seashore, ocean pollution, climate change and caring for the sea .In our school we have taken part in beach clean-ups and worked towards our Green-Schools Flag by focusing on caring for our environment and reducing waste. Before completing this course I was not aware of a nearby oyster farm. A visit would allow pupils to see how oysters are grown how aquaculture can support sustainability and how food production. This all helps children understand that sustainability is part of their own community and that everyone can play a role in caring for the environment.</p>
I agree with you about the eye spy game .I thought it was a great way to get the chldren engaged too. It opens up so much discussion, curiosity and helps children learn about different types of seafood in an interactive way. These are the kinds of activities that make learning more enjoyable and help children remember new information.
I always knew seafood was a healthy food choice, but I did not realise how many important nutrients it contains. I knew about the benefits of omeaga 3 for the brain that you got from oily fish and that was about the height of it. I never thought about the other benefits. Whenever I thought of protein it was always meat and eggs and I didn’t think much of fish and shellfish in that category. I learned that different types of seafood provide different benefits for our bodies. Vitamin D which is important teeth and bones in high in salmon. I was also surprised to learn that mussels and oysters are high in iron, selenium and vitamin B12.There are so many curriculum links between this area and other areas of the curriculum. There are many ways this could be used in the classroom. Children could learn about the food pyramid and where seafood fits into a healthy diet. They could compare the nutritional value of seafood with other foods and look at how much protein, vitamins and minerals different foods provide. They could also examine seafood packaging, read labels and look for logos that show the food has been produced in a sustainable way. This topic could also help children understand where their food comes from and how food choices can affect our health and the environment. Children would enjoy creating healthy meal ideas, creating a seafood menu. This coud be integrated into an art lesson where they could design a seafood menu. They could do a class/ school surveys, make simple graphs integrating technology and maths. All this would make the learning practical and enjoyable. Learning about seafood integrates with many areas of the curriculum, geography, science, technology, SPHE, maths , art . Children learn how tomake healthier choices, learn about sustainability and develop a better understanding of the importance of Ireland’s marine environment
I agree that STEM activities give children opportunities to explore, ask questions and learn through doing. The best way to learn. The hands-on nature of STEM makes learning more enjoyable and meaningful . It allows the children to develope skills such as teamwork, creativity and problem-solving.
After looking at the ARC online lessons and resources, I have a better idea of how STEM activities can be used in my classroom. I liked how the activities encouraged children to ask questions, try things out and work together to find answers. It showed me that children learn well when they are given chances to explore and learn by doing. Thinking about my own teaching, I can see that I can include more STEM activities in different subjects. Allowing children to build, test, investigate and try different ideas helps them enjoy learning and develop skills for solving problems. It is also important that children understand that mistakes are a normal part of learning. i think its important that teachers share ideas and work together to give children more chances to take part in STEM activities which will help the teachers who lack confidence in teaching STEM.The ARC resources have given me new ideas that I can use with my pupils. They have encouraged me to provide more opportunities for children to explore, ask questions and learn through practical activities.
I really enjoyed this module. I learned so much . I now have a bettter understanding of why these farms are located in particular areas and how important they are to the local communities. Living in a rural coastal area myself I can see the positive impact that the industry has on the local economy and on the people who depend on it. In areas such as Killybegs in Donegal, marine-based industries provide opportunities that may not otherwise be available in smaller rural towns. Without these industries many young people would leave to find work somewhere else in cities or emigrate. Aquaculture helps to create employment and supports other local businesses connected to the sector. Aquaculture also helps to preserve the strong traditions and cultural connection that Irish coastal communities have with the sea. It shows how communities can use their natural environment in a sustainable way to support economic development. The growth of aquaculture should be balanced with environmental protection, other marine activities and the needs of local communities.
I thought you described very accurately the important role that aquaculture plays in supporting employment and sustaining communities in rural coastal areas. I also agree that as teachers we could make better use of our local environment to help children understand the connections between geography, sustainability and the economy. Encouraging pupils to explore both the benefits and challenges associated with aquaculture would provide them with valuable real-world learning experiences.
I totally agree with you. We are a coastal school and are not taking advantage of the opportunities available to teach the children about aquaculture.
Learning about aquaculture and Social Licence can have a positive impact on pupils by helping them develop an understanding of sustainability, biodiversity and the importance of caring for the environment. It also encourages children to appreciate the connection between local communities and the sea. Introducing these topics at an early age can help pupils become informed, responsible citizens while developing curiosity about the natural world around them.
Although my school is on the coast this topic has not been explored much in the class. Being coastal we as educators have such an advantage over other schools that our lessons can be linked to the local community.
The BIM Social Licence projects were very inteesting and highlighted the many ways in which aquaculture can be explored in the primary classroom. The Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC) provides engaging lessons that can be linked to science, geography and SPHE. I think the children would really enjoy this. Rather than seeing the topic as something difficult or boring, pupils would have the opportunity to learn through videos, discussions and hands-on activities.
Although i do think the Young Chef Ambassador Programme is such a amazing experience for those chefs