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Hi Karl,
Thank you for your response to the third Module!
Connecting science, maths, and technology through real-world practices from the great examples you have mentioned here, makes STEM subjects all the more applicable and engaging for pupils. I also like how you have highlighted the socio-economic aspects of aquaculture. This is an excellent way to broaden students’ perspectives and introduce them to potential future career paths.
The Marine Sustainability Week or a student-led Aquaculture Team sounds like an excellent initiative! A fabulous way to promote ownership, cross-curricular collaboration, and deepen pupils’ connection to environmental issues.
Thank you,
Grace
Hi Evelyn,
Thank you for your response to Module 4!
It is great to hear that this module has given you ideas for your class! Omega-3 is a great one for the students to be aware of themselves as it is especially important for brain development in childhood thus allowing them to reach their full potential into adulthood.
Real-world application of what is taught in the classroom is a great way to consolidate the information freshly relayed to them and allows them think about what they choose to consume on a deeper level and how their choices will not only effect them themselves, but the environment around them.
Thank you,
Grace
Hi Marguerite,
Thank you for your response to Module 5!
Real-world application of sustainable practices makes it so much easier for the concepts to be taught in the classroom. Witnessing everyday habits in their local area allows them to see the differences we can all make in a way they can relate back to themselves. A sense of respect and responsibility for their environment can be enforced from posing questions as you have mentioned here as it allows them to come up with their own solutions and approach sustainability as a concept on their own terms, thereby giving them the opportunity to independently navigate eco-friendly implementation.
Thanks!
Grace
Hi Evelyn,
Thank you for your response to Module 2!
Ireland’s rugged coastline is perfect for aquaculture farms. Shelter from storms is definitely an ideal local condition as it will reduce costs for the farms as it prevents harm to equipment that will have to be replaced/repaired as well as decreasing the likelihood of predators gaining access to the fish if there was to be a rip in oyster bags/ hole in salmon pen nets for example.
The Gulf Stream is key to the ‘Goldilocks climate’ in Ireland which allows for high levels of food production all year round. However the rocky terrain along the West makes it less suitable for land farming which is why aquaculture is all the more important for the people living there by means of income and tourism boosting as you have mentioned. The culinary experience involved in some communities along the West Coast also has a part to play in the tradition of a particular area i.e, Dingle in Kerry is known for their top quality seafood production with 32 businesses involved in the aquaculture industry! This has boosted tourism and brought income to Dingle Bay.
Cross-curricular learning is so beneficial to the students as it allows for a learning opportunity where information can re-consolidated and perhaps even understood better when thought of in relation to a different topic.
Thanks,
Grace
Hi Isobel,
Thank you for your response to Module 1!
The interactive activities always generate great excitement for the students on board the ARC! They allow for the student to explore their senses in a different way to the traditional classroom methodology. It definitely has promoted enthusiasm and attentiveness during the workshop with the students which makes it easier for students to take in what they have learned on the day and make for a more well-rounded learning experience. Not only this but it appeals to students who might have a different learning style i.e a visual learner who could benefit from using the VR headsets for example.
The crossover with multiple different subjects as you have mentioned here with SPHE, STEM and Geography creates a dynamic classroom environment where open discussion is welcomed and each student is involved in contributing as much as they can!
Allowing for this knowledge to be accessible to students goes hand in hand with social licensing. The promotion of aquaculture in Ireland is so important for us as an island so that we know how best how to nurture this resource that benefits not only our environment but our economy too.
Grace
Hi Sandra,
Thank you for your response to Module 5!
It is great to hear that there are sustainable practices implemented into your school. I especially like the idea of the student council as I feel it gives the students a chance to explore sustainability on a personal level and come up with their own ideas to put into practice! Knowledge dispersal throughout the family is great and it gives the students a chance to consolidate what they have learnt in the classroom by re-hashing it out with their families in their homelife.
Community led efforts are so fantastic for the promotion of environmental stewardship by encouraging a sense of responsibility for each individual to look after their surrounding areas. This makes long-term change all the more likely.
Thanks,
Grace
Hi Brian,
Thank you for your response to Module 1!
Yes aquaculture is often overlooked which is a little odd as it is such an interesting and vast topic that can link in with many different parts of the Irish curriculum!
Social licensing is very important when it comes to the Irish aquaculture industry as it allows for the public to see how beneficial it is not only to our economy but to our environment as well!
Thanks,
Grace
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for your response to Module 4!
Seafood is incredibly nutritious as you have pointed out there the wide variety nutrients it contains. Omega 3 in particular is so important for the brain development of young children so they can reach their full potential as adults. It is important that this is taught in the classroom so they know the benefits of consuming healthy food at an early age.
Nutrition is a versatile topic and you are correct in saying it applies to multiple different subjects! Mathematically speaking measuring the amount of nutrients in food is a great skill to have as well literacy skills by way of thoroughly understanding the list of ingredients in food as well. Forming healthy habits now that the students can bring into adult-hood is an invaluable tool when making health-conscious food choices.
From a geographical perspective, learning about how physical features such as the climate, soil type and position on the globe will effect the different type of foods grown/harvested/consumed in an area presents itself as an opportunity to learn about not only the traditional foods in that area but also the culture associated with cuisines of a variety of locations. For example the Salmon farm on Clare Island is suited to that area due to their proximity to the strong currents of the Atlantic as well as the deep water needed for the Sea pens. This has made for a culture and tradition of seafood consumption on the island.
Exploring how we can use food to correctly nourish ourselves when growing and taking part in sports can also feed into subjects like SPHE and Physical Education. I.e., for students taking part in sports and exercising on a consistent basis the Omega 3 fatty acids found in Salmon and other fatty fish will aid recovery by way of its anti-inflammatory nature as well as the high protein content which will aid protein synthesis promoting muscle replenishment.
Overall seafood is a great source of nutrients for children and it is important that they are aware of what they are consuming in order to carry healthy habits into adulthood.
Grace
Hi Aoife,
Thank you for your response to Module 5!
The Green Schools programme is a great scheme for promoting long-term, whole-school action for the environment. The encouragement for walking/cycling to school is not only eco-friendly but can also be good for physical and mental health!
Pollinator protection not only increases native biodiversity but can beautify the space by amplifying the variety of plant-life within the area.
Composting can be very beneficial from enhancing soil health, reducing waste, increasing plant survivability. Recycling reduces the extraction and consumption of raw materials, decreases energy use, and mitigates pollution.
The importance of community led programmes consolidates the sustainability lessons the students are taught in the classroom hopefully encouraging eco-friendly habits long-term into adulthood.
Overall these sound like great ways to teach the students about how they can take responsibility for their environment!
Grace
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for your response to Module 5,
Being near the sea offers the students a unique opportunity to practice sustainability in real time. Having the ability to apply what they learn in the classroom to their local area is invaluable in terms of their learning and understanding of what it means to actively be environmentally friendly.
It is wonderful that you partner with the older students in a nearby secondary school. This offers the students at a variety of ages to explore the topic of sustainability through different perspectives. I am sure both groups learn something from each other!
Empowering the students to make their own hands on decisions regarding the environment provides them with the opportunity to consolidate what they have learnt in the classroom and be implemented into their day to day habits. Hopefully these eco-friendly habits will be brought into adulthood by the students.
Grace
Hi Ailbhe,
Thanks for your response to Module 5!
The tidy towns is a great organisation and I actually took part in my local committee during my transition year of secondary school. I can vouch from my first-hand experience that it teaches young people to respect their local environment and wild-life, ‘pick-up’ (no pun intended! 🙂 ) small and easy ways to help reduce litter and to think about the future of their area.
I had so much more appreciation for my local surroundings after taking part!
It is great that the 6th class students get a chance to decorate the garden and litter-pick during as it gives them a sense of autonomy and responsibility over sustainability practices. This consolidates what they learn in the classroom about sustainability and allows them to apply it to their day- to- day lives encouraging them to make conscious environmentally beneficial choices into adulthood.
For the younger children it is great to have their families involved as well and make it a fun family day out. This can show how caring for your environment can be an enjoyable learning experience for us all no matter the age!
Grace
Hi Hannah,
Thank you for your response to Module 2!
Aquaculture sites in these areas are successful due to the geographical conditions of these areas. Access to the coast to the coast allows for the employees to easily maintain the farm to carry out duties such as transport of the fish, processing, and equipment supply and upkeep.
We see the ripple effect of the opportunities in places like Clare Island where the inhabitants can remain on the island sourcing their income directly or indirectly from the salmon farm located there.
You are correct in saying that it can give people a sense of identity and it is important to acknowledge the success of aquaculture in Ireland and the diligent work that was put into it that allowed it to progress into the successful industry it is today.
Grace
Hi Dolores,
Thank you so much for your response to Module 3!
Inquiry based learning is beneficial to primary school students as it allows for them to have autonomy over their learning experience. Nourishing a child’s curiosity allows them to pose questions that they can relate back themselves which makes for a more engaging opportunity.
Collaborative learning can enhance communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills. Using the school as the basis for the projects is great as they can learn about the environment with which they are in on a day to day basis which again they can relate back to themselves.
I really like the idea of carrying out an experiment on a weekly basis which can give the students an opportunity to see the structure and process of an experiment in real time. It might even inspire some of them to take the STEM route as adults!
Co-ordination with staff across different school subjects is key as this allows for the key lessons to be re-enforced thus consolidating the overall comprehension of the information delivered to the students. The ‘Smart Classroom’ sounds like a brilliant way to enhance the learning experience on a school wide basis.
Grace
Hi Kevin,
Thank you for your response to Module 4!
Seafood is one of the most versatile and nutritious food sources we have! As you have stated from it’s high protein content to the Omega 3 fatty acids which are of particular importance to primary school students as it aids brain development.
Tying food to culture, identity and sense of community (particularly in coastal communities where people rely on this resource for income!) allows students to see the value of food as a way of social cohesion as well as preserving traditions.
Reading food labels gives students a sense of autonomy over choosing food that is not only good for them but beneficial to the environment. Creating posters allows them to explore this topic in a creative way.
Healthy eating habits taught effectively at a younger age can form the basis of life-long health conscious lifestyle choices that will in turn benefit not only the person themself but the environment around them when they choose to shop sustainably.
Grace
Hi Susan,
Thank you for your response to Module 5!
It is so lovely to hear that you practice sustainability in your school everyday. Small consistencies provide students with the basis for long-term sustainable habits. I had a compost programme in my school many moons ago and my favourite job was bringing the bin out to the caretaker! It can teach kids about interdependence as well and how we can make life easier for each other by helping others out i.e., the caretaker.
In a digital age, looking at saving electricity is one of the most effective avenues you can take to reduce energy consumption.
Tidy towns is a fantastic initiative and it is great that the whole family is involved! I am sure the adults can take something away from the weekend litter collection as well.
Grace
