Build Your Own Unknown – Art and Marine Science Project

The 'Build Your Own Unknown' art and science project involved the 4th class at Cregmore National School building a hydrothermal vent sculpture and short film. The collaborative project was completed in 2017 by TULCA OFFshore, involving artist Louise Manifold and education coordinator Joanne McGlynn; as well as marine scientist Dr Andy Wheeler, University College Cork; and Cushla Dromgool-Regan from the Explorers Education Programme.

The project featured at the national maritime event SEAFEST 2017 in Galway and was also awarded Highly Commended in the best mid-size sponsorship category at the Allianz Business to Arts Awards in 2017.

'Build Your Own Unknown' art and science project engaged teachers and students in understanding the ocean literacy in a meaningful way. The children learned about how the ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of earth; and how it supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

The children learned about the science and discovery of the Moytirra hydrothermal vents that had been discovered by scientists during an expedition on the research vessel RV Celtic Explorer in the mid-Atlantic in 2011. The children engaged with scientists, Dr Andy Wheeler through posting him a series of personalised postcards, asking questions about the discovery. Via an online class visit, Dr Andy Wheeler answered the questions and shared his experience seeing the Hydrothermal vents 3000 metres under the sea using the ROV Holland I. The children also got to speak to Louise, while she was at sea on the RV Celtic Explorer on an expedition across the Atlantic.

As part of the project, the children also visited the RV Celtic Explorer, while in Galway where they meet the Captain, crew and ROV Holland I operator.

Through art, science and STEM activities in the class, the children learned about hydrothermal vents and the deep sea species found in this harsh marine environment. They created a hydrothermal sculpture and animals from paper-mâché. They developed their skills of interpretation, communication, and analysis, writing a film script and story board and produced a short film telling their story about a hydrothermal adVENTure.

View the short film: Build Your Own – A hydrothermal AdVenTURE.

BUILD YOUR OWN UNKNOWN ART AND SCIENCE PROJECT - TEACHERS GUIDE

The Build Your Own Unknown Art and Science Project - Teachers Guide provides teachers with links to a selection of presentations, cross curricular lesson plans and activities that guides teachers through completing a 'Build Your Own Unknown' sculpture and short film project.

A HYDROTHERMAL adVENTure POSTER

The Hydrothermal adVENTure Poster can be downloaded and used in the class to help share interesting facts about the Moytirra hydrothermal vents discovered in the Mid-Atlantic in 2011.