English
Explorer English lesson plans and activities relating to the marine are available in the following strands.
A selection of Explorer English lesson plans are also available through Irish. Please see the Gaeilege section of the website for more information:
Junior Infants Class and Seniors Infants Class
Strand: Oral Language
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Ocean Swap Game and Marine Vo-back-ulary
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to experience, recognise and observe simple oral commands while participating in games relating to marine animals.
Strand: Reading
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
I Spy an Ocean in Our Class – Learning about Irish marine animals
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to develop and interest and an ability to think about marine animals through stories and games. The children will be able to predict future incidents and outcomes in stories.
First Class and Second Class
Strand: Oral Language
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Soundscapes and the Big Blue Sea
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to develop receptiveness to language by listening to stories and responding to them; listening to sounds and responding to them; and using gestures and movement to extend the meaning of what he/she is saying.
Strand: Reading
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
My Boat Story – Reading activities
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to continue to experience the reading process being modelled through receptiveness to language. The children will also engage in shared reading activities.
Third Class and Fourth Class
Strand: Oral Language
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language.Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Marine TV and Reporting on Marine Pollution
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to learn how to use key media questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? The children will discuss cause and effect in relation to processes and events and predict possible outcomes. They will also explore reactions to ideas through improvisational drama.
Strand: Reading
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Jigsaw discussions on Ireland’s Mackerel Fishery
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to develop their reading skills while learning about Ireland’s Mackerel Fishery. The children will learn skimming, scanning, note taking and summarizing. The children will explore non-fiction texts for a variety of purposes. They will also get to use information retrieval techniques in cross curricular settings.
Fifth and Six Class
Strand: Oral Language
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
The Energy Debate
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to develop cognitive abilities in developing ideas and discuss issues of major concern relating to energy. The students will justify and defend particular opinions or attitudes they have developed and try to persuade others to support a particular point of view.
Strand: Reading
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Marine Litter and What is in the News
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to explore new interests and perspectives through reading about the effects of marine litter. The students will continue to develop a range of comprehension strategies to deal with narrative, expository and representational reading materials.
Strand: Writing
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Explorers Aquarium - Creative Writing Book
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to become familiar with the English and as Gaeilge names of the animals that live on the Irish seashore by writing about the animals that live in their aquarium. The students will also develop their creative skills, writing a story about an imaginary species the class has discovered. The students are to write and read aloud the stories in class
Strand: Writing
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Creative Writing – Adventurers on the Seashore
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to create a short story using marine related themes and words. The students will demonstrate what they have learned about Ireland’s seashore and the animals they are studying. The students are to discuss their stories using English and/or as Gaeilge.
Strand: Writing
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Writing Poetry about Ireland’s Seashore and Oceans
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to learn about the different types of poems using structures and formatting techniques. As part of the lesson, they will read, listen and develop their understanding about a poem by expressing their reaction through discussion. The students will use their creative thought to write a poem about the seashore and Ireland’s oceans. Poems can written in English and/or as Gaeilge.
Strand: Writing
Strand Unit: Receptiveness to language. Competence and confidence in using language. Developing cognitive abilities through language. Emotional and imaginative development through language.
Writing a Newsletter about Our Seashore
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to become familiar with the process of producing formal written publications, such as newspapers and newsletters. The students will build their vocabulary and writing skills by drafting, revising, editing and publishing a class newsletter about Our Seashore / or Our Ocean. The students are to write a selection of stories in both English and as Gaeilge.