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The litter picking walk is a great idea. A great opportunity to discuss why this litter should be brought home and recycled or disposed of correctly. Personally I see much less cans and bottles on the roads near me now that the return incentive has been introduced.
Sustainability is big in my area and in my school. Focusing in school, the water in the school is drinkable so the vast majority of children have a reuseable water bottle which they refill each day cutting down on carton and bottle waste. We have really encouraged children and parents not to wrap lunch in clingfilm or tinfoil and to instead use lunchboxes and it has been very successful. Our school has an active Greenschools committee which focuses on different things, reducing water use, reducing electricity use and green travel. The pupils are very invested in the Green Schools project and really encourage sustainability in the school. We have recently gotten solar panels on the school roof. As a school we could look at what else we can do to be more sustainable and encourage pupil participation on this too. Biodiversity and an area for the pollinators springs to mind.
The cultural connection is an interesting one. In our multicultural classrooms it would be interesting to hear from children who come from or have family in other countries and their seafood meals. It would be interesting to discuss seafood from other places and traditions.
Seafood is a very healthy type of food and we can teach children that it includes fish, prawns, crabs, mussels as we often focus on fish, forgetting shellfish. Seafood gives our bodies important nutrients like protein, omega-3 fats, vitamins, and minerals. Children in senior classes are familiar with these terms and are aware that the sporting world places a big emphasis on protein for growth, repair and strength. Collectively, these help our brains, hearts, and bodies stay strong and healthy.
Omega-3 fats are something we hear a lot about. Children will be interested in finding out that these fats are good for your brain and heart, helping children learn better, remember things, and focus in school. Parents and grandparents may also be taking Omega supplements which gives the children an awareness about these.
In the classroom we can discuss the food pyramid, where seafood fits in and why it is important. Children could design a seafood menu and discuss what areas of Ireland this seafood comes from.
That’s a very good point about the similarities between farming and farming at sea. I’m sure the children would see similarities and differences between the two and again problem solving STEM activities could be incorporated.
The focus of STEM is igniting learners curiosity and solving real life problems. The ARC enables pupils to do that as they are being creative, applying knowledge and being critical thinkers in a real life context of aquaculture. In using these lessons and resources in the classroom I can teach about aquaculture in an engaging and child centered manner and broaden children’s knowledge while giving them an opportunity to engage in hands on group activities, to think for themselves and make informed decisions such as in the floating fish farm activity. Further investigation could be carried out on the various seafood and the conditions each needs to succeed, picking the suitable location for each. Problem solving is a key skill for the future, particularly as the broad employment opportunities in the areas of aquaculture and STEM are so relevant to the future and our children as they proceed through education.
Aquaculture could be integrated across all subject areas in a thematic fashion which would further engage the children. Visual arts in particular would be a wonderful thematic integration opportunity, giving the children the opportunity to be creative.
I also didn’t think of this aspect. Taking all these aspects into account really does highlight the vast number of people involved in aquaculture.
Aquaculture takes place mainly on the west coast of Ireland along with Waterford on the south coast. Bays and inlets are important for aquaculture and these locations are suitable as sheltered spots. Various different species are farmed in these locations with some locations being more suitable than others.
Aquaculture provides employment for people in the area. There is a lot of work in aquaculture, as mentioned in the module, the bags in which the oysters grow need to be shaken everyday to ensure the oysters grow evenly. Fish and produce need to be processed, packaged and delivered to shops or restaurants and is another source of employment. Aquaculture is a way of life and gives those involved an identity. Tourists to our island appreciate local seafood and give support to the industry. People and places benefit from the sites and will continue to do so if sustainability measures are used.
I completely agree about the need to discuss with children from a young age. In my school, the majority of the children have a reasonable understanding of agriculture, the work of the farmers and how our food gets on to the plate so I believe that infant classes can also learn about aquaculture.
As an island, the sea and marine life is so relevant in Ireland but many children and possibly adults are not knowledgeable about types of fish, shellfish or even the tides in Ireland. Learning about aquaculture can give children an awareness of the wider world around us and the diversity which exists in our seas. It also highlights the important role of fishermen/fisherwomen in the role of food production and indeed the importance of supporting these jobs. So many individuals benefit from Ireland’s aquaculture, from supermarkets to restaurants and it’s also important to recognise the route from sea to fork. This shows where food comes from and the importance of reducing food miles and eating locally produced, fresh food where possible.