[Dónal Ó Grádaigh]

Some great initiatives out there. My children participated in the Nature Hero Awards last year and it awoke a great interest and love for nature and eagerness to learn more about our  biodiversity

[Dónal Ó Grádaigh]

I have registered my garden for the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. I’d like to expand on my wildflower hedgerow and have a meadow in the back garden area. I invested in native Irish wildflower seeds a couple of years ago, each year since has had a differing range of flowers and differing amounts of growth. I didn’t know that by cutting and lifting or removing clippings in September, it would help reduce the fertility of the soil and in return would produce more wildflowers as they grow best in less fertile soil. So I will definitely cut long flowering meadows in September to help this.
Another thing we’ve done but not been consistent with is less mowing of the lawns. I will commit to not mowing especially in March/ April time to avoid cutting the dandelions.
Registering the school can be done on the website biodiversityireland.ie. and an account can be created. To map the school grounds an online mapping tool can be used to identify current or planned pollinator-friendly areas. Actions that the school could take to help pollinators could include-
Planting different flowers/flowerbeds that are pollinator friendly
Letting dandelions grow, not mowing until late summer
Plant willow, fruit and vegetables.
Organise a local beekeeper to speak with classes

[Dónal Ó Grádaigh]

Great ideas here. We carried out a whole school simple but effective survey during the last school year on native birds in our school environment. each classroom had a tally sheet with a list of birds. The children not only learned facts about the individual birds but took great interest in identifying them in their locality and taking pictures, drawing conclusions etc

[Dónal Ó Grádaigh]

Seo plean ceachta do rang a dó i nGaelscoil.
Cruthaímid ár Léarscáil Féin!
Cuspóirí Foghlama:
Tar éis an cheachta, beidh na daltaí in ann:
Léarscáil shimplí a léamh agus a chruthú.
Treoracha bunúsacha a thuiscint agus a thabhairt (suas, síos, clé, deas).
Google Maps a úsáid le suíomhanna a aimsiú.
Léarscáil a nascadh le spás fisiciúil (an seomra ranga nó timpeall na scoile).

Acmhainní

Páipéar mór
Marcóirí, pinn luaidhe, criáin
Réada beaga (lego, pionnaí, srl.)
Ríomhaire / Táibléad le google maps
Cártaí le siombailí: scoil, siopa, teach, páirc, srl.

NASC A CHRUTHÚ

1. Plé gníomhach leis na bpáistí:
Cad is léarscáil ann?
An bhfaca tú léarscáil riamh?

2. Taispeáin léarscáil ar Google Maps
Téigh go dtí suíomh na scoile

3. Aimsigh cén chaoi a thaispeánann sé bóithre, tithe, páirceanna, srl.

AG FIOSRÚ
Mapáil an Seomra Ranga-
Roinn an páipéar le greille simplí
Tabhair ainmneacha do shuíomhanna sa seomrabo. (bord an mhúinteora, doras, fuinneog)
Leag amach rudaí beaga ar an léarscáil le cur síos: cuir pionna gorm ar an doras, an féidir leat do bhord féin a chur ar an léarscáil?

Cruthaímid Léarscáil den Ceantar Scoile
I ngrúpaí beaga, déan léarscáil shimplí de shráidbhaile / ceantar timpeall na scoile.
* Úsáid siombailí: m.sh Teach = △
* Plé suíomhanna éagsúla (ag úsáid treoracha: suas, síos, clé, deas)

NA CÉAD CÉIMEANNA EILE

Iarr ar chuile grúpa a léarscáil a thaispeáint agus ceisteanna a chur:
m.sh Cén áit ina bhfuil an pháirc ar do léarscáil?
Céard atá ar thaobh na láimhe clé den siopa?

[Dónal Ó Grádaigh]

The paper argues that STEM education should not be limited to the basic interpretation of its acronym. Instead it presents STEM as a complex, multi-dimensional approach to learning that extends beyond the isolated teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Emphasis is placed on developing STEM literacy, which encompasses skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and the capacity to make informed decisions.
Bringing this into the classroom, to begin with, instead of starting from scratch I’d build lessons using STEM curricula already familiar with. When confident in the material, that confidence is passed on to the students which would create a strong foundation for learning. When structuring a lesson, the goal would be to make meaningful connections between academic concepts and real-world applications e.g. in Science, could students design an experiment or build a model that demonstrates a key concept? In maths, could they use physical tools like blocks, or apply technology to create graphs etc. The more real-world relevance you provide, the more likely students are to engage with and retain the material.
I’d encourage students to collaborate in small groups, participate in experiments and tackle problems creatively. This type of interactive learning promotes critical thinking, creativity and collaboration—skills that are essential for navigating both academic and real world challenges.

[Dónal Ó Grádaigh]

Emma, this is a very engaging lesson plan. Lots of hands on activities and collaborative work for the children to enjoy. Thanks for sharing.

[Author]

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