Waterways Ireland | Learning Zone

Celebrate National Biodiversity Week with Waterways Ireland!

Explore your local waterway during Biodiversity Week 2022!

Do you have what it takes to be a Waterway Hero? May is a lovely time of year to get outdoors and explore the waterways. Check out our free online workshop ‘Be a Waterway Hero’ as part of Biodiversity Week. The workshop features a virtual visit to the waterways highlighting the importance of being a responsible waterway user and respecting the environment when visiting your local canal, river or lake. There are lots of fun and interesting activities included like our Waterway Eco Wheel or Biodiversity Inspection which can be downloaded to bring along when you visit to your local waterway. There is also a ‘Waterway Hero’ certificate for all who take part!

Be sure to visit our Learning Zone website where the workshop is available until 22nd May: Waterways Ireland | Learning Zone | School Programmes

National Famine Way Education Pack

We were delighted to work with the National Famine Museum in Strokestown along with EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum on the recently completed National Famine Way Education Pack!

This new highly engaging and interactive education pack provides an insight into the most traumatic event in Irish history, exploring all its complexities through the experience of Strokestown’s Missing 1,490 and their last journey on Irish soil represented by the National Famine Way.

Ireland’s official Famine Heritage Trail is a 165 km cross country pilgrim walk with captivating layers of history, art and culture. Starting in Strokestown, it weaves through country lanes, villages, towns and Dublin city mostly along the banks of the Royal Canal.

Be sure to check out this fantastic resource which features maps and drawings from the Waterways Ireland Archive as well as information about building locks and the Irish Navvies! Visit HERE to find out more.

50 things to do for kids!

Looking for some fun activities to do as a family? Well look no further!

The Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands Team, in collaboration with the 9 Local Authorities, have recently produced “50 Things to do for Kids” map pads. Inside there is a selection of fun activities to do along Irelands Hidden Heartlands, so why not get involved?!

Just follow the link to access the resource: 50 things to do for Kids

Engineers Week 2022

Our hugely popular Engineers Week workshop is back!

Waterways Ireland is delighted to be part of the event again this year and we are excited to share our workshop on our Learning Zone website. This workshop is packed full of information which will introduce your students to the world of engineering including some of the projects Waterways Ireland is involved in. Linking to a range of fun and interactive activities the workshop is sure to put your engineering skills to the test!

The workshop includes our presentation ‘Who wants to be an Engineer?’ which features a Q&A session with one of our Senior Engineers. The workshop is live on our website from Monday 7^th March to Monday 14^thMarch and is most suitable for 4^th – 6^th/P5 - P7 pupils.

Get involved by following the link HERE

Make sure to tag us in any photos of you getting involved: @waterwaysireland @engineerireland #WILearning #STEPSEngineersWeek

NI Science Week 2022

We are delighted to be a part of NI Science festival again this year!

Waterways Irelands 'Waterways Wildlife Wonders' workshop is taking place 17th-27th February.

The workshop showcases our ‘Spotlight on Lough Erne’ presentation, this fun and interactive presentation introduces you to Lough Erne and some of the plants and animals who call it home!

The workshop includes a range of curriculum linked resources and will be live on our website until the 28^th February and are most suitable for P5/6/7 pupils.

We are also running an exciting competition as part of our workshop this year, check out our latest Social Media post to get involved!

Free downloadable resources available on the Learning Zone!

Like many others Waterways Irelands Education programme is adapting to the new norm.

Many of our hands-on workshops and special events have been unable to go ahead due new social distancing restrictions. In the absence of these events, Waterways Irelands Education team have been working hard to develop online workshops and a range of FREE online resources to engage, inspire and excite young learners. The programme has been developed to support the education curriculum in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Make sure to check out our resources under the resource section on the learning zone website!

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