Innovative Fisheries Education Programme for Primary Schools
‘Something Fishy’ – a resource pack on fish and fishing
Southern Regional Fisheries Board promoting the environment and local learning
Launched in Wexford Education Centre, Enniscorthy, this new primary school programme communicates to both teachers and pupils on water, fish habitats and conservation, together with fish and fishing while fulfilling curriculum objectives. The programmes’ approach also emphasizes learning about fish and the environment in a local context.
The programme consists of an education pack supported by a full colour poster with 44 illustrated fish species and a booklet setting out some facts about the fish featured on the poster. This programme provides an opportunity to link fisheries with schools and education in a way that is fresh and engaging for both the teacher and pupil. Developed by the Central Fisheries Board in collaboration with Blackrock and Monaghan Education Centres, it is being piloted in the Wexford, Monaghan and Dublin areas with a view to expanding it nationwide in the future.
The programme is activity-based and is designed to ensure that it will be interesting and attractive to both teachers and students. It is available in Irish as well as English. Next year the Regional Fisheries Boards in collaboration with their local education centres will roll out the programme to other areas of the country. The involvement of the Fisheries Boards is particularly important, as their local, on the ground knowledge and experience will be invaluable when they visit the classroom.
The Programmes’ Resources
- Education Pack: The pack is designed as a teaching module for fifth and sixth classes and is relevant to the SESE and SPHE syllabi. It comprises of 9 double-sided activity cards for pupils, which explore different aspects of fish life. The cards provide factual information and activities designed to develop a deeper understanding of the topics covered in the lessons. Teacher notes, which accompany each activity card, include relevant background information, guidelines on working through the lesson and suggestions for practical activities and experiments to reinforce learning.
- Fish Poster: A full colour A1 poster accompanies the pack with 44 illustrated fresh and salt-water fish species named in both English and Irish.
- Booklet on Fish Poster : A booklet has also been developed outlining facts about the fish featured in the poster and is intended to aid the learning process.
- Online Resource: An online resource in the form of a teacher training course and online classroom resource is also being developed by Blackrock Education Centre and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). This interactive course includes the material in the pack, as well as photos, animations and links to other relevant web sites. It also provides tools for online collaboration and communication among teachers and pupils and this will be launched in the autumn.
Further information can be obtained from: http://www.somethingfishy.ie/