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We love nature walks too Claire, and Green schools activities and projects incorporate a lot of the sustainability ideas and food waste, litter etc.
Living in County Wexford means I am surrounded by the sea and can really see how important aquaculture is to our local area. With Kilmore Quay just a short drive from my school, it has always been part of the local landscape, but this course gave me a much deeper appreciation of its role in creating a more sustainable future. I now have a better understanding of how responsible aquaculture can help protect marine ecosystems, reduce pressure on wild fish stocks and provide healthy, locally produced food while supporting coastal communities and livelihoods.
As someone working in SET and coordinating Green-Schools, I found myself constantly thinking about how these ideas could be brought into the classroom. Sustainability is already at the heart of so much of what we do, and the course offered plenty of practical ways to build on that. I think the course gave lots of examples that encourage children to explore their own surroundings and develop a stronger awareness of their local environment and the importance of protecting it for the future.Love the brain boost lunchbox idea. As part of our Green Schools, the committee had a ‘plastic free’ lunches day last year and this really encouraged the children to think about what goes in their lunchboxes too.
This year as part of our Green Schools we will be working on the theme of ‘Global Citizenship – Food and Biodiversity’. We also do the Food Dudes programme in our school so we have done and will do a lot of lessons on food, food pyramid and healthy eating etc. We can talk about how fish is a great source of protein, helps our muscles grow and repair, and contains healthy fats like omega-3, which are good for our brains, hearts and eyes.
There are lots of hands-on ways to make the learning interesting. Children could compare food labels, create healthy meal plans, or investigate the different types of fish caught or farmed in Ireland. They could also carry out simple surveys about favourite seafood dishes or even prepare a simple fish recipe with the help of a teacher or visiting chef.
Linking the topic to subjects like Science, SPHE and Geography helps children understand where their food comes from and why making healthy food choices is important. It also provides a chance to discuss sustainable fishing and caring for our oceans.
By making the lessons interactive and connected to everyday life, children are more likely to develop a positive attitude towards healthy eating and gain a better understanding of the benefits that fish can bring to a healthy lifestyle.Great idea Deirdre, and I agree the clean up initative is a lovely idea and can be implemented across all classes. We do versions of this currently through our Green Schools committee.
I liked that the ARC online lessons gave practical ways to bring more ideas on aquaculture into the classroom. I work in SET currently but am also the green schools co-ordinator. As Green-Schools Coordinator, I can see lots of ways to use what I have learned in my own teaching and across the school. Green-Schools projects are a great way to bring STEM to life because they allow children to investigate real issues that affect their own environment, as well as the fact that children love project based work. Activities like measuring energy use, monitoring biodiversity, reducing waste or collecting rainfall data give pupils the chance to ask questions, gather information and work together to solve problems in a fun and meaningful way.
The STEM Education Policy Statement encourages schools to make learning practical and relevant, and I think Green-Schools fits perfectly with this. It helps children see how science, maths and technology are connected to everyday life while developing important skills like teamwork, communication and critical thinking.
I also think STEM can become a bigger part of our School Self-Evaluation process. We can use data from our Green-Schools projects to identify areas for improvement, set goals and track our progress over time. Involving pupils in this process gives them a sense of ownership and responsibility for making positive changes in the school and wider environment. The topic of aquaculture fits so well into so many of the topics in Green Schools and all lend themselves naturally to STEM and thematic based learning.Hi Ellen, I thought those lessons were v interesting too, and i also loved the mapping lesson. It has so much potential for pupils of all ages and abilities. I hadnt thought about it before – so simple but effective.
Where I live in County Wexford, aquaculture is mainly centered around shellfish farming, particularly in and around Kilmore Quay, which is quite near to my school.
Kilmore Quay is best known as one of Ireland’s busiest fishing ports and aquaculture is also an important part of the local economy. The local fishing factories provide employment for a number of people while also creating work for boat operators, seafood processors, transport companies and marine engineering businesses. This means that the economic benefits extend beyond the farms / boats themselves, supporting a wide range of businesses in the area and beyond.
Aquaculture also helps keep the harbour busy throughout the year, making the local seafood industry less dependent on wild fish catches alone. Alongside fishing, it contributes to a more sustainable coastal economy. There are also a couple of very successful businesses doing boat trips over to the Saltee islands to see the wildlife and another in Wexford Quay in the town centre. Overall, aquaculture has become an important source of income and employment in Wexford, helping to support the local community while producing high-quality seafood that is sold across Ireland and exported to international markets.Yes, the chefs programme was so interesting too. We had the Arc visit our school and it was certainly a highlight of the school year!
I work in a school near so many beaches also. We try to utilise this as much as possible with beach visits and clean ups etc. We had the ARC this year! It was so beneficial to all the pupils and definitely a highlight of the year. There was great excitement when the lorry pulled up and the children in all the classes thoroughly enjoyed the lessons associated with it. Our green school committee also focused on sea and marine life issues which was our them this year so it was all tied in together.