Merry Christmas to all our Explorers Schools. It nearly time for schools to finish up for their Christmas Break and for some schools, their fish will leave them to return home for the holidays. If your fish cannot stay at the school over the Christmas holidays please return them to the aquarium or drop them off at the shore so that they can swim home to see their families over the holidays.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Good Weather and Great Wildlife
There can be little doubt in the fact that summer has now really started. This week is already shaping up to be a great week for all outdoor events. The Marine Month of Madness is well and truly in full swing. Last Saturday saw the canal clean take place with great work done. Also the first of the free weekly talks at Galway Atlantaquaria took place. Anyone who attended any of these events knows just how much fun they were. But fear not as there the month is far from finished. Tonight the second free talk at the aquarium is due to take place. "FREE talk this evening at 7pm at Galway Atlantaquaria- ''Fishing gears of Galway Bay'' Talk is by Dr. Peter Tyndall of BIM and Galway Boat Charters Email sarah.knight@nuigalway.ie to book your place" It is going to be a great talk. Another reason to be excited this week is the beach safari taking place at Gratten beach on Saturday afternoon. Contact Galway Atlantaquaria for details. It is however a completely free event open to everyone and if the weather keeps up it will be a smashing day out for all.
For all of you wondering how the sea safaris are going with the schools let me tell you that this year has been fantastic. Gealscoil de hide had a safari today out beside the Marine Institute in Rinville. A great shoreline with loads of shore crabs, blennies and butterfish. Liscannor N.S and Kilkee N.S both had similar trips finding the elusive Risso's Crab and my favorite Sea star the Cushion Star. Fanore N.S with their unique beach was a haven for juvenile fish with young pollack and herring found in the rockpools there. There hasn't been a dull moment on the beach yet.
If you have ever wanted to try your hand at some easy to do and very fun experiements at home the Explorers Education programme has what you need.
http://oar.marine.ie/handle/
This link will take you to some of the best water based experiments you will find. Easy to do and incredibly fun for all the family
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the sea? It's unlikely your answer is mathematics, but the Explorers Education programme has now combined primary level mathematics with the theme of the ocean. So if you are a tea...cher looking for a new and more fun way to teach maths or a parent looking to have some learning fun with your children then look no further. Already proving a popular hit with teachers and parents around Ireland why not check out some of these great Maths lesson plans
http://www.marine.ie/home/community/education/lessonplans/MathematicsandtheSea.htm
Enjoy the great weather this week all and we hope to see everyone for the free talks each wednesday as well as the seashore safari happening this Saturday the 26th May.
Padraic
For all of you wondering how the sea safaris are going with the schools let me tell you that this year has been fantastic. Gealscoil de hide had a safari today out beside the Marine Institute in Rinville. A great shoreline with loads of shore crabs, blennies and butterfish. Liscannor N.S and Kilkee N.S both had similar trips finding the elusive Risso's Crab and my favorite Sea star the Cushion Star. Fanore N.S with their unique beach was a haven for juvenile fish with young pollack and herring found in the rockpools there. There hasn't been a dull moment on the beach yet.
If you have ever wanted to try your hand at some easy to do and very fun experiements at home the Explorers Education programme has what you need.
http://oar.marine.ie/handle/
This link will take you to some of the best water based experiments you will find. Easy to do and incredibly fun for all the family
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the sea? It's unlikely your answer is mathematics, but the Explorers Education programme has now combined primary level mathematics with the theme of the ocean. So if you are a tea...cher looking for a new and more fun way to teach maths or a parent looking to have some learning fun with your children then look no further. Already proving a popular hit with teachers and parents around Ireland why not check out some of these great Maths lesson plans
http://www.marine.ie/home/community/education/lessonplans/MathematicsandtheSea.htm
Enjoy the great weather this week all and we hope to see everyone for the free talks each wednesday as well as the seashore safari happening this Saturday the 26th May.
Padraic
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Summer time = Safari time
Yes it is that wonderful time of year again when we take students to their local beaches to look for animals and plants so they can understand firsthand how life interacts on their doorstep. Schools embark on these safaris usually once every two years and they tend to run from May-June and September-October. I find there are two things that when used together make the perfect learning experience. Hands on interaction and fun. If these two criteria are met the benefit is to all involved is greatly increased. Luckily the seashore safaris deliver on these fronts.
There are a number of schools getting ready to don their wellies and rain gear (with the hopes of not needing it) and head to the beach to explore this unique and amazing ecosystem. Fanore N.S, Kilkee N.S, Liscannor N.S, Lahinch N.S and Rosmuc N.S to name but a few.
With a beach safari it is extremely important to have as little impact as possible. Any rocks we turn over we must put back carefully, any animals we catch must be returned to their homes. We are guests on their beach and they deserve to be treated kindly.
So ready the nets and buckets and prepare to venture to our favourite summer destinations- The best beaches and rocky shores in Ireland!!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Follow the Fleet 2012 Essay Competition
The Follow the Fleet 2012 Essay Competition Announced
The Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) is delighted to announce the 2012 Schools essay competition for the www.followthefleet.ie educational programme.
The IMDO reintroduced the Follow the Fleet education programme to Irish schools and classrooms in 2006 as an online teaching resource that brings the world of maritime trade and adventure alive for school children between the ages of 7 to 12. Since its launch in 2006, Follow the Fleet has recruited over 800 national schools with an estimated outreach to 28,000 primary school children registered to take part in the education programme.
This year the annual schools competition is sponsored by Irish Ferries and is also supported by Ardmore Shipping, BMCI Insurance & Investments and the Port of Cork. The competition will be centred around three key themes, maritime technology, trade, and heritage, all of which are interlinked with the lessons and Captain’s logs published on the website.
Speaking of their involvement with the annual competition, Irish Ferries commented : ‘Follow the Fleet’ is a concept that has echoes of earlier days when school children would trace the routes followed by the great Irish merchant vessels of yesteryear as they ploughed the oceans carrying bulk cargoes that would service the needs of communities around the world. As Ireland’s premier passenger and freight ferry company, Irish Ferries is proud to see that concept revived and to sponsor the Follow the Fleet Competition, thereby helping to foster in our young people a wider understanding of the shipping industry and its contribution to tourism, employment and the economy. ”
The 2012 Follow the Fleet Competition is offering some amazing prizes for the winning entries which will be judged by a panel headed by noted maritime journalist Mr. Tom McSweeney. Some of the prizes include a trip to the National Maritime College in Cork for the winning class where they will be able to command their own ship at sea in the world class ship simulators. The Overall School Winner Category will also win a laptop for their teacher and the category winners will see their essay scripted into a short animated film, voiced by actor Aidan Dooley of ‘Tom Crean –Antarctic Explorer’ fame.
The competition is open to all primary school classes registered on the www.followthefleet.ie programme, the deadline for the competition is the 5th of April 2012. All details of the competition and entry forms are available on-line on http://www.imdo.ie/followthefleet/news.asp
For more details contact marketing@imdo.ie or call the IMDO on 01 476 6500 for more information on joining the Follow the Fleet programme.
About Followthefleet.ie
The Follow the Fleet programme is unique as it uses web-based GPS technology in the form of a unique satellite tracker system along with six easy to follow lesson plans that meet the SESE criteria, a section for teachers and downloadable teaching plans all available online on www.followthefleet.ie Regular updates from the Captains and crew of the Follow the Fleet ships to provide schoolchildren with a real insight into the day-to-day life at sea, the ship’s crew and equipment, commercial trade by sea and an understanding of Ireland’s maritime history.
All details with essay guidelines, entry forms and competition details and rules are available on the news section of http:www.followthefleet.ie
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
January is a time of new beginnings. The beginning of the new year, the beginning of many peoples new years resolutions and the beginning of this years Explores programme. We are going full steam ahead with school visits again this term. Starting with Maree national school which is getting it's fish tank stocked on the 19-01-2012. Ourselves and the students are looking forward to seeing their wonderful display again this year and I'm sure the fish are excited to unpack and settle down in their new home.
As well as stocking we are continuing our experiment and seashore classes as well. Students will need to brush off their lab coats and get ready to do some really fun science as we have a host of new experiments ready to unleash in your classrooms.
The Mário Ruivo Marine Movie Competition is still open for applicants to send in their marine movies. So if you fancy yourself as a marine movie maker, a latter day Jacques Cousteau, a Stephen Spielberg or you just like making movies? If your answer to any of these questions is yes then we have just the thing for you. There are some great prizes and the chance for your marine movie to be seen by people from all over Europe.
As well as stocking we are continuing our experiment and seashore classes as well. Students will need to brush off their lab coats and get ready to do some really fun science as we have a host of new experiments ready to unleash in your classrooms.
The Mário Ruivo Marine Movie Competition is still open for applicants to send in their marine movies. So if you fancy yourself as a marine movie maker, a latter day Jacques Cousteau, a Stephen Spielberg or you just like making movies? If your answer to any of these questions is yes then we have just the thing for you. There are some great prizes and the chance for your marine movie to be seen by people from all over Europe.
I hope everyone is keeping an eye of for the Galway Atlantaquaria explores van as it will may be on its way to your school bringing fish for your tank or experiments for your classroom.
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