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As an infant teacher, I think the ARC online lessons and resources could be a really useful way of introducing STEM in a fun and engaging way. Young children learn best through play and hands-on activities, so I liked that the lessons encourage children to explore, ask questions and investigate the world around them. The activities are simple enough to adapt for younger classes and could easily be linked with Aistear and SESE.
In my classroom, I could use these resources to encourage children to make predictions, sort and classify objects, observe changes and talk about what they discover. The videos and interactive activities would also help to keep the children interested and make learning more meaningful.
As a school, I think we need to do more to promote STEM across all class levels. These resources could be a great starting point for developing STEM throughout the school. Teachers could work together to share ideas and plan activities that build children’s STEM skills from infants right up to sixth class. This would also support our School Self-Evaluation (SSE) process by helping us improve how STEM is taught and giving children more opportunities to develop problem-solving, teamwork and critical thinking skills.
I also agree that it’s so important to find a balance between supporting the industry and protecting the environment.
Before starting this module, I honestly didn’t know much about aquaculture or why farms are located in certain parts of Ireland. I now understand that they need clean, sheltered waters where fish and shellfish can grow well. It also made me realise just how important the sea is for many people living in coastal communities.
I live in Bandon, so I’m only a short drive from Kinsale and often go there with family and friends. Growing up, I used to go fishing with my dad from the rocks near the Old Head of Kinsale Golf Course. I always loved being by the sea, but I never really thought about how many people make a living from it until I completed this module.
Aquaculture provides jobs in fish farming, seafood processing, transport and tourism. It also helps support local cafés, restaurants and shops, as people visit coastal towns to enjoy fresh seafood and the beautiful scenery. I think it’s great that it can help keep these communities thriving while also producing food in a sustainable way.
As a primary school teacher, I think it’s important that children learn about topics like this. Many of the children I teach in Cork City don’t get many chances to visit the coast, so bringing these lessons into the classroom is a great way to help them learn about the sea. It can also encourage them to care for the environment and understand why our coastal communities are so important.
I really liked your point about teaching children where their food comes from and helping them understand the importance of caring for the environment from a young age.
I teach infants in Cork City, and although I grew up in Bandon, close to lots of beaches, many of the children in my class do not get many opportunities to visit the coast. These resources would allow them to learn about sea life and the people who work on and around the sea without having to leave the classroom.
I liked that the lessons use videos, pictures and interactive activities because these work well with younger children. I could use them during Aistear by setting up a fishing village or seaside role-play area, or in art by making sea animals and ocean pictures. We could also read stories about the sea and talk about why it is important to keep our beaches and oceans clean.
I would talk about working together, respecting nature and thinking about how our actions affect other people and animals. Children are naturally curious, so I think this topic would encourage them to ask questions and explore the world around them. Overall, these resources would help children develop an appreciation for the sea and understand why it is important to protect our environment from a young age.