As an Island Nation every school in Ireland is connected to the Ocean around our shores. Through National, European and International Programs, students, teachers and schools can connect to our marine world, and fellow schools who celebrate the ocean in their classrooms. Join us as we bring you on a tour of some of the programs your school can get involved in to bring the ocean into their classroom.
National Programmes
The Explorers Education Programme
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme engages with primary schools, teachers, children and the education network, creating marine leaders and ocean champions in Ireland.
The Programme provides engaging activities, resources, and support for teachers, children, and the education network, delivering ocean literacy to primary schools. It inspires children and educators to become marine leaders and ocean champions by
promoting our marine and maritime identity and heritage, as well as making informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources. For more information see http://www.explorers.ie
Green Schools Global Citizenship Marine Environment
Green-Schools is Irelands leading environmental management and award programme for schools. The eight theme on the Green-Schools programme is Global Citizenship Marine Environment. This theme is all about recognising the importance of the marine environment, the threats it faces and how we can protect it. There are a number of essential actions that schools must complete to earn the Green flag for this theme. Schools must must carry out a Marine Litter Awareness Survey, investigate the sources of marine litter and carry out a #2minutebeachclean. The Global Citizenship Marine Environment theme is kindly supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Explore your shore!
Ireland has 3,171 km of coastline and yet we have relatively few records of intertidal and coastal marine species. We lack a strong tradition of the public recording intertidal species. Explore Your Shore is a Citizen Science project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency focused on increasing our knowledge of the distribution of our intertidal species, exploring their potential as bio-indicators of water quality and climate change, and highlighting actions we can all take to tackle water pollution and climate change. For more information see https://exploreyourshore.ie
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
The IWDG was founded in 1990 to establish an All-Ireland sighting and stranding scheme and to campaign for the declaration of Irish territorial waters as a whale and dolphin sanctuary. It is through Education and Outreach that we can raise awareness of our marine environment and the Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises that inhabit them. If we can ignite a passion within the greater community for our oceans and their inhabitants, then there is great hope that they will prosper into the future. For more information see http://www.iwdg.ie
Other National Initatives
in 2021 the Water Forum compiled a Water Education Resource Pack which provides information on water education programmes and resources available across the country.
The Global Impacts of how we use Water from the Water Forum
The module is suitable for secondary school teaching and learning. It will be particularly useful for teaching the new Leaving Cert Subject Climate Action and Sustainable Development or for Transition Year. The module comprises a resource book for teachers that includes 5 lesson plans, the supporting Power Point presentations and links to additional information.
There is also a student workbook. The module is designed so that students develop skills in critical thinking, debating, sharing information and communication. The module was developed by Maigue Rivers Trust with academics from Mary Immaculate College with the support of the Water Forum.
Access all the new resources launched in 2024 at https://thewaterforum.ie/resources-category/education-resources/
International Programmes
European Blue Schools -Find the Blue Challenge
Schools that take up the Find the Blue challenge shall identify an ocean-based topic that is relevant to their students, and collaborate with their pupils to create a school project. The aim is to make the ocean a relevant part of the school curriculum through project-based learning. Student ownership, collaborations with other organizations and people involved with the ocean and creating a community with the same passion will be key values of these projects. By successfully completing the Find the Blue challenge, schools will receive a European Blue School certification.
All certified European Blue Schools become part of the Network of European Blue Schools, where teachers and students:
- become agents of change for ocean sustainability;
- share experiences with teachers and students from other schools;
- connect to the wider ocean literacy community.
For more information including the handbook, criteria and application form see https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/maritimeforum/en/node/5494
The All-Atlantic Blue School Network
In June 2021, the All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network (AA-BSN) was formally launched. The AA-BSN is one of six All-Atlantic joint pilot actions which comprise the All-Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance.
Ireland is part of this Alliance, and we are in the early stages of establishing a The All-Atlantic Blue Schools Network here in Ireland. 2022 marks our pilot year and The Irish Ocean Literacy Network and Galway Atlantaquaria are delighted to take on the role of National Coordinator for the All Atlantic Blue Schools Network in Ireland.
The programme is open to all schools, from early years to 3rd level, and can be carried out in collaboration with another National or European Marine Education Programme. Your National Coordinator can help you find a school to collaborate with from around the Atlantic if you would like to take part. Links below for:
And the All-Atlantic Blue School Concept Note are available to download below. Contact allatlanticblueschools@gmail.com or noirin@nationalaquarium.ie for further information.
UNESCO ‘A new blue curriculum: A toolkit for policy-makers’
Ocean Literacy is a fundamental tool to enhance ocean knowledge and contribute to school curricula frameworks across the world ! The development of a “blue” curricula enriched with Ocean Literacy is a process that can be implemented in cooperation with governments, curriculum developers, education stakeholders, and civil society reinforcing the need for sustainable behaviors towards the ocean.
Please click and watch the recording of the event “A new blue curriculum: A toolkit for policy-makers” and join this movement
Download the full document here