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There is much focus where I live on the “Returning to Nature” initiative, and very good progress being made on the commitment to give 30% of the land on Catholic Church grounds over to biodiversity and rewilding by 2030. Some of the aspects include planting native trees, protecting pollinators, reducing lawn mowing, installing bird boxes, education of those planning for and maintaining this etc. Tidy towns and community efforts continue to flourish. Beach clean- ups are another visible reminder to all about caring for the environment. Recycling centres are easily accessible. Signage around litter prevention is prominently displayed. Continuing to increase children’s awareness around these initiatives through nature walks where they see the progress being made, and project work where they work collaboratively and increase their knowledge through carrying out further research are some of the ways I would engage pupils to explore this further. Such means would lead to the children being increasingly attentive to and speaking about sustainability, and ultimately hopefully carrying out positive action in this regard.
Seafood is such a nutritious food. The nutritional value has been clearly highlighted in this course. While many people really love seafood, I believe that even quite a number of adults seem to express not doing so. That is why I think that it is so important that we teach children from a young age how healthy seafood really is. I love the ideas other participants have posted about incorporating food tasting as a means of doing so. Adults who say they do not like seafood may not have had much opportunity to taste seafood as children and thus not acquired a palate for it. Others may have been influenced by negative attitudes towards it. This is why I believe that it is so important to actively promote positivity around seafood in meaningful ways in primary school. Incorporating seafood into work on data in mathematics as mentioned by another course participant. I believe as another participant mentioned that it is very important that we promote wild fishing. I believe that participating in national competitions and initiatives is very valuable work in the classroom as the resources tend to be very good and motivational for children.
Thank you Niamh, love the ideas about the Dublin- based projects also as it makes it all so concrete for children to learn about what is actually happening in Ireland now.
There are so many ways to apply the concepts and skills covered by using the online lessons and resources developed in The ARC- Online Lessons & Resources line with the STEM Education Policy statement. The possibilities for differentiation od same across and within classes is a very positive aspect of them also. They very much support how STEM education can be addressed as part of the SSE process on a school- wide basis. Cross- curricular teaching of content with focus as outlined on using skills and content knowledge to creatively solve problems, imagining, questioning and exploring, collaborating with others, engaging in inquiry and analysis, innovating, designing and making, testing and modifying solutions to complex problems all very much foster STEM skills. They are very much in alignment with STEM Education Policy Statements. They are very much in alignment with how STEM education can be addressed as part of the SSE process on a school- wide basis also.
The location of aquaculture farms is largely along the western, Atlantic coastline of Ireland, in bays, inlets, and on the shoreline. The course material here also informed us that they are in sheltered from the full force of the Atlantic. The context of their location highlights their great significance in terms of employment particularly for the people in these regions. While there have been and continue to be advances technologically regarding remote working etc., transport and distance still mean that the availability of continuous employment, particularly beyond seasonal work is still a challenge in many of these areas. Aquaculture provides steadily in this regard and has so much to offer socio-economically beyond the obvious and direct means.
The aquaculture farms by the very virtue of their location alone undoubtedly have so very much to contribute socio-economically to coastal communities, in both direct and in indirect ways. Their presence pertains to the continued focus on efforts to retain and promote Irish heritage and culture also.I really agree about thinking that the children would find the videos very informative and I believe that they would learn so much from them
I really think that the topic of Aquaculture is an area that merits much more focus in school than it has been, and is being given. While focus is given to lifecycles and food production, particularly farming such as dairy farming etc., the area of fish- farming has not to date been highlighted as much as it should. Given its relevance to Ireland, and the number of fish farms particularly along the west coast it surely merits due attention. The benefits of this would pertain to advantages for pupils now and in the future from learning more about nutrition to employment opportunities. I was not aware of the resources available through ARC which sounds wonderful and so appealing to children with VR headsets to facilitate and enhance the learning experience. Other projects such as the Young Chef Ambassador Programme are wonderful initiatives to promote also. It is undoubtedly advantageous for pupils to learn about Aquaculture and Social License.