The Natural Environment Level B
Communities relied on the resources available in the immediate natural environment for self-sufficiency and survival. This exhibition looks at how the way of life in rural Ireland was influenced by the landscape and its resources. This is explored through vernacular architecture and illustrated by using different raw materials to make similar objects.
Find out how your school can make the most of this exhibition...
Some of the activities listed also relate to other exhibitions.
Tours & Activities
Tour: Housing in the Last 100 Years
Curriculum Links: SESE: History, Geography, Strands: Local Studies, Continuity & Change
Concepts & Skills: Working as an Historian
Tour: Sustainability
Curriculum Links: SESE: Geography, History, Strands: Environmental Awareness and Care
Concepts & Skills: Geographical Investigation Skills
Tour: Nature Ramble
Curriculum Links: SESE: Geography, History, Science, Strands: Natural Environments
Concepts & Skills: Geographical Investigation Skills
Demonstration: Straw Basket
Curriculum Links: Arts Education/Visual Arts, SESE: History, Geography, Strands: Construction, Life, society, work and culture in the past
Concepts & Skills: Working as an Historian
Trail: Treasure Hunt
Curriculum Links: SESE: History, Geography, Strands: Life, society, work and culture in the past
Concepts & Skills: Working as an Historian; Using Evidence
Interactive Gallery Tours for Infant Classes
Curriculum Links: SESE: History, Geography, Strands: My Family
Concepts & Skills: Working as an Historian; Using Evidence
Activities for Infant Classes: Housing in the Past Workshop
Curriculum Links: SESE: History, Geography, Strands: Myself and My Family
Concepts & Skills: Working as an Historian; Using Evidence, construction
Handling Collection
We have developed a handling collection so that children can investigate first hand many of the objects that on display. Using these objects as aprimary source can develop the skill of working as an historian.
Objects relating to this exhibition are available in the Resource Room.
In the classroom, there are several follow up activities you can do with your class to continue The Natural Environment topic.
We suggest:
- Study of Vernacular Buildings in your local area
- Conduct an Environmental Audit: Assess the impact of human acivity in the local area
- Talk about how life has changed and stayed the same
- Press leaves and create display adding folklore of individual trees (Art) Ask Grandparents for their tree lore or superstitions (History)
- Make an object using straw
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