PRESS RELEASE
7th November 2016
IPCC launch new education pack- bringing peatlands to primary schools
The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC) are delighted to announce the launch of the ‘Discovering the Wild Bogs of Ireland Primary Schools Education Pack’. The pack was writen by the education team at the IPCC who have over 30 years experience in the delivery of educational resources to schools. The pack contains cross-curricular worksheets for primary school students. These worksheets are age appropriate and take a spiral approach to teaching students about peatlands with 4 worksheet booklets available as follows: Junior/Senior Infants, 1st/2nd class, 3rd/4th class and 5th/6th class. This will ensure that children expand on their knowledge and understanding of peatlands as they progress through school. Each booklet contains 12-23 pages with original artwork and exercises appropriate to the cognitive stage of the students.
The worksheets focus on SESE Geography and SESE Science curricular areas exploring bogs but also include activities that will develop student’s skills in literacy and numeracy – key priorities in all primary schools. The senior worksheets also offer students practical investigations that can be undertaken in the classroom using the new teaching approach of practice in enquiry-based science education. These worksheets are now available to download at www.ipcc.ie/discover-and-learn/resources/.
With the support of Meath County Council under their Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2016 the IPCC were able to develop the education pack and produce CDs containing the worksheets plus a PowerPoint presentation with teachers notes to explain how bogs are formed, an information poster on Girley Bog in Co Meath and a Girley Bog visitor guide. These CDs were sent to 121 primary schools in County Meath.
The ‘Discovering the Wild Bogs of Ireland Primary Schools Education Pack’ is a very useful resource for teachers. It offers a new, fun and exciting way to learn about peatlands in the classroom while encouraging teachers and students to visit Girley Bog and experience this amazing ecosystem first hand. It builds an appreciation of peatlands and the important services that they provide and at the same time delivers part of the school curriculum. It also fosters awareness of Natural Heritage Areas and the importance of conserving and protecting sites such as Girley Bog NHA.
‘This education pack is a brilliant way to build awareness of Ireland’s peatlands. It also provides teachers with a fun way to bring nature and wildlife to the classroom’ says Katie Geraghty, IPCC Campaign Officer.
If you would like any further information about the ‘Discovering the Wild Bogs of Ireland Education Pack for Primary Schools’ please contact bogs@ipcc.ie or call 045 860133