Explorers showcase bringing the Ocean into the Classroom at Feilte 2018

President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabine been presented with a framed picture of the Real Map of Ireland at Feilte 2018. Photo Conor McCabe Photography Ltd. The Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme™, recently attended FÉILTE 2018, the Teaching Council's annual Festival of Education in Learning and Teaching Excellence, held at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick to highlight some of the wonderful work teachers have been including in using marine concepts in their cross curricular teaching.

As part of the FÉILTE festival teachers shared some of the wonderful work they do in their classrooms with other teachers and the wider community. Teacher Mr Peter Kane, from Kilglass National School, Co. Galway, has used a number of the Explorers modules and highlighted the value of teaching students about our marine at the event.

"It was great to be able to share some of the projects we have been involved with in our school were we have used maths, science, geography, history and art to learn more about the ocean. The Explorers Education Programme provides teachers with over 100 free marine themed lesson plans that can be used on the national curriculum supporting cross curricular teaching" said Mr Kane

"A special highlight was getting to meet President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabine, where we presented him with a framed picture of the Real Map of Ireland. As an island nation, with a marine resource ten times the size of its land area, he commented on the importance of the ocean to Ireland," said Ms Anna Quinn, Explorers Education Officer.President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabine been presented with a framed picture of the Real Map of Ireland at Feilte 2018. Photo Conor McCabe Photography Ltd.

Visitors to the Explorers stand also included Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council and Joe Killeen, President of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, who were keen to learn more about the Explorers team visiting schools and teachers training opportunities. "A number of marine projects we are currently working with schools around Ireland demonstrate issues concerning the marine environmental care, particularly highlighting the impacts plastic is having on the ocean and how we can act local, go global," Ms Quinn explained.

The Explorers Education Programme, funded and supported by the Marine Institute, is available for schools to take part in throughout a number of coastal counties in Ireland. The unique programme involves the use of saltwater aquariums in the classroom; seashore safaris on local beaches; marine based projects about species, habitats and environmental care; as well as a range of workshops. For more information, please visit www.explorers.ie

ENDS