The Marine Institute's has announced that over five hundred teachers and 15,000 primary school children will benefit from its Explorers Education Programme this year. Recent expansion in funding has enabled outreach centres in ten counties around Ireland, to triple the number of teachers and children being introduced to marine themes in the classroom.
Free lesson plans, teachers resources and more information about the Explorers Education Programme™ is available here
Explorer science lesson plans and activities relating to the marine are available in the following strands.
A selection of Explorer science lesson plans are also available through Irish.
Junior Infants Class and Seniors Infants Class
Strand: MaterialsStrand Unit: Materials and ChangeDesigning and Making a Dry Suit for Scuba SteveThe aim of the lesson plan is for the children to identify some materials that are waterproof.
First Class and Second Class
Strand: MaterialsStrand Unit: Materials and ChangeBeach Towels - What Material Works BestThe aim of the lesson plan is for the children to identify and investigate materials that absorb water.Strand: Energy and Forces
Strand Unit: Magnetism and Electricity
Exploring Materials which will protect Scuba Steve from Electric Fish
The aim of the lesson plan is for children to identify materials that allow electricity to pass through them. Experiments and demonstrations are to be conducted by the teacher. Students will become aware of the dangers of electricity as well as learn about animals in the ocean that conduct electricity.
Third Class and Fourth Class
Strand: Energy and ForcesStrand Unit: Magnetism and ElectricityDesign and Make a CompassThe aim of the lesson plan is for the children to explore relationships between magnets and compasses.Strand:Energy and Forces
Strand Unit: Forces
Density Experiment: What Floats and Sinks and Why?
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to investigate floating and sinking with a range of materials and objects. The students should make and test predictions about objects that will sink or float and group objects based on these criteria. The students will also develop an understanding of density and how fish swim in the ocean.
Fifth Class and Six Class
Strand: Living Things Strand Unit: Plants and AnimalsSeashore Exploration and Guided TourThe teacher and children will conduct a field trip on the seashore exploring the plants and animal life. Working scientifically the children will learn about the variety and characteristics of living things and processes of life typically found on the seashore.
Strand: Living Things
Strand Unit: Plants and Animals
Plant and Animal Life on the Seashore - Creating a Seashore, Species and Seaweed Guide
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to learn about the seashore, tides and tidal zones; the various living conditions of the animals; and the variety of species and characteristics of the animals and plants that live on the seashore. The children will create their own seashore guidebook by researching and recording information about the seashore, types of seashores, seashore zones, plants and species.* Note: The activities included in the lesson plan can be conducted over a course of study.
Strand: Living Things
Strand Unit: Plants and AnimalsSquid Dissection and Project lesson plan and worksheetThe children will be provided with an introduction to the life process of a squid. See the teachers resources for the 'Squid Dissection' Presentation. The children will learn about the external and internal parts of a squid. The children will also explore some of the ways squid have adapted to environmental conditions as well as discuss simple food chains. As an extension the children may complete a project on the different types of squid found in the ocean.
Strand: Energy and ForcesStrand Unit: Sound
Exploring Communication and Echolocation in Cetaceans
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to explore how sound travels through materials.
Strand: Energy and ForcesStrand Unit: Heat / Forces
Ocean Currents and Water Density
The aim of the lesson plan is for the children to learn about water density and what causes ocean currents. The children will become familiar with the features and movement of currents as well as understand the effects of currents on the planet (e.g. how the ocean affects our climate and weather).
* Note: These experiments can be conducted over a course of study.
