Waterways Ireland | Learning Zone

Science Week 2020!

This Sunday (8th November) marks the beginning of Science week 2020! Waterways Irelands education team are delighted to be getting involved again this year.

This year we will be hosting a virtual visit to our waterways. Get involved with our interactive presentation which links to a range of resources available on our Learning Zone website. Learn all about Irelands inland waterways and the various plants and animals who call it home. The workshop will be available under 'School projects' on the learning zone website from 9th- 15th November.

Bugs & Beasties Halloween Workshop!

This year Waterways Ireland are celebrating Halloween online!

Get involved and gain access to a range of FREE downloadable content from the comfort of your own home! The workshop will be available under 'School Programmes' on the Learning Zone Website from the 22nd October- 6th November 2020.

The Bugs & Beasties workshop will include a range of fun and interactive resources which will introduce students to various animals, mini-beasts and aliens which can be found along our waterways! The resources also cover some spooky storytelling where students will be able to look at some heritage pieces written by previous generations and see how Halloween nights compare to the ones we have now.

We hope you enjoy getting involved. Happy Halloween everyone!

Education updates on Waterways Irelands social media

Over the last six weeks, Waterways Irelands education team have been busy sharing educational resources across our social media. Through doing this we hope to help people who have suddenly found themselves thrown into the role of teaching. All the resources contain curriculum links to help with lesson planning. Follow the updates online and keep your kids busy, by teaching them all about nature and the great outdoors- good for reducing your stress levels too! Follow the updates on social media at: WI Facebook

Waterways Ireland features on RTÉ Home School hub!

Waterways Ireland Education team are delighted to be featured on the RTÉ Home School Hub website:https://bit.ly/3aNUf1q. RTÉ home school hub is designed to help parents who have been thrown into the role of teaching, showcasing various resources which have curriculum links for children in 1^st- 6^th class. Waterways Irelands education resources can be found under 3^rd & 4^th class- Geography. Here you will find a range of fun and interactive activities and resources which highlight the biodiversity and history of the Waterways of Ireland and are sure to keep your kids busy and entertained by bringing the great outdoors to life!

Engineers Week 2020

Our hugely popular Engineers Week events ran during the first week of March with a series of activities taking place across the waterways. Engineering teams led the activities on the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal, the Erne, the North Shannon, the Lower Bann and the Barrow. From lock gate construction and replacement, lifting bridges to aqueducts and lock operation, interactive presentations to hands on engineering based workshops…. There was something for everybody!

These activities allow students to discover the world of engineering and to participate in hands-on activities showcasing the skills and expertise required in this field and hopefully inspire the next generation. We were delighted to support the event again this year with Engineers Ireland @engineersireland #EngineersWeek #STEPS

NI Science Festival 2020

Northern Ireland Science Festival 2020 runs from the 13^th- 23^rd February. Waterways Ireland was delighted to be part of the event once again this year! Schools took part in our 'Waterways Wildlife Wonders' workshops at our HQ in Enniskillen and at the Lock Keepers Cottage in Toome. We teamed up with Educational ecologist Billy Flynn, Source to Tap and the RSPB to deliver the workshops, which explored some of the living things found in and along Lough Erne and the Toome Canal. The focus of the workshops was discovery, with groups working together to identify some aquatic creatures, learn to identify some plants and trees and get familiar with some birdsongs and calls. Check out the Northern Ireland Science Festival website https://www.nisciencefestival.com/event.php?e=75 to find out more about the event!

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