Welcome to our Greenschool's Page.
We are having great fun learning all about Biodiversity.
First of all, let's meet the Greenschool's Committee .......
The Greenschool's Committee works very hard. We meet in the hall & discuss our plans. There are two pupil reps from first to sixth class. Vera our secretary, Ann, Mrs Quegan (Parents' Rep), Ms Norris & Ms Walsh and all the pupils work together to plan exciting projects and activities about Biodiversity.The pupil reps report back to their classes & tell everybody about the matters we discussed.
What is Biodiversity ?
Biodiversity is nature all around us. It is all forms of life from the smallest bug or plant to the largest mammal. It gives us food, medicine, shelter, fuel, air, water etc. We need to protect our environment and to take of it. In Scoil Naomh Eoin we love nature. We try our best not to litter, we reduce our waste, we compost our fruit peels, we recycle & reuse materials as much as we can. Look at us having fun in the trees.....
Our Greenschool's Motto
From the snails to the whales.
From the eagles to the seagulls.
From the ants to the plants.
From the bees to the trees.
From the camels to the mammals.
Creatures, earth, sky and sea.
We all live together in
Biodiversity..
By Creagh (3rd class 2014)
From the eagles to the seagulls.
From the ants to the plants.
From the bees to the trees.
From the camels to the mammals.
Creatures, earth, sky and sea.
We all live together in
Biodiversity..
By Creagh (3rd class 2014)
Here we are making a "Habitat Map". The pupils in fifth & sixth class had to identify, draw, measure & record all the different habitats on our school grounds. We found lots of habitats eg a hedgerow, grassland, wall area, compost area trees, a flowerbed etc. We made maps of our school area and put in all the habitats we found .
Visitors To Our School . . .
The Bee Pollination Project
Catríona McCabe came to our school and shared her knowledge about bees. We learned that bees have very important jobs in nature. They pollinate flowers, which turn into seeds. These seeds grow into plants and provide food for animals and people. Did you know that there are 101 species of bees in Ireland ? There is just one species of Honey Bee, twenty types of Bumble Bees & eighty species of Solitary Bees. The "Black Irish Honey Bee" loves wild flowers. It gathers nectar & returns to the hive to make honey. Bees are hard workers.. just like the boys & girls in Rath N.S. ! !
Catríona brought a bee hive and showed us the honeycombs and some wax. Conor tried on a "Bee Keeper's Suit". We had lots of fun with Catríona. We even went on a" bee trail" around the schoolgrounds.
Paddy Madden's Visit ....
Paddy Madden is a "nature lover". He knows everything about biodiversity. We were delighted to have him in our school. Paddy brought a variety of "nature displays."... everything from different types of rocks, mini-beasts, water creatures, plants , and even his very own "Rufus the Fox" !! We were enthralled listening to him as he shared his great knowledge & love of nature with us.
Paddy explained different habitats to us. Here we see him with a" Woodland Habitat". We can see the different "layers" in a woodland. At the bottom we have the "forest floor". Many small creatures live here, mini beasts such as woodlice and centipedes scavenge on dead leaves. Smaller mammals such as hedgehogs eat these mini-beasts. In the "shrub layer" smaller plants grow. These produce fruits like blackberrries, sloes etc and provide food for birds. Next is the "tree layer". Trees such as oak, ash,. birch grow very tall and provide us with oxygen and shade while also absorbing carbon dioxide.
As part of our "Day of Action" Paddy helped us to identify species of trees & birds on our school grounds. The boys had great fun identifying birds and their song........... using some of Paddy's little feathered friends.
Increasing Biodiversity Our School
As part of our "Action Plan" we decided to attract more species of plants & wildlife into our school grounds. We placed bird feeders & two bird boxes on some trees in front of the classrooms. This meant we could watch the birds feeding, identify & record them in our "Nature Diaries" . Many garden birds visit regularly, such as Blue Tits, CoalTits, Blackbirds, Robins, Sparrows, Starlings & Crows. To the rear of the school we observed some "Winter Visitors" ie Flocks of Thrushes & Blackbirds that have migrated from Scandanavia to spend the Winter months in Ireland . Some girls & boys. noticed how the thrushes crack the shells of garden snails in order to eat them. The Thrush finds a stone & bangs the shell against in . It cracks and then Mrs Thrush has a tasty meal ! Meg & Maria photographed the evidence for us !
Our Bug Hotel
This is "Our Bug Hotel" before it was furnished..
This is a picture of our "empty" Bug Hotel before it "opened" for business. Each class had to furnish a "floor" of the hotel. Ms Ryan & the infants brought in stones and grass for the bottom floor. We hope woodlice, earwigs etc will make their homes here. Ms. Howell & First & second Class brought in logs, pine cones , stones, hay for the second floor. Mrs Davis , Third & Fourth Class brought in old conkers, stones, bark, sticks, straw etc for the third floor. Ms Walsh, Fifth & Sixth Class brought in logs, hay, leaves, stones for the remaining floors. The "Balcony" on top is specially "reserved" for ladybirds & solitary bees who will hibernate in the tiny holes in pieces of timber.
The "Bug Hotel" is open for business. Pupils admire all the facilities & attractions for mini-beasts
Our Seed Beds
We decided to have four seed beds in front of the school. The Infants sowed wildflowers in the "Bee & Butterfly Patch". First & Second Class had a "Herb Patch". Third & Fourth Class created a "Garden Flower Bed". Fifth & Sixth Class sowed lettuce, onions, peas etc in their "Salad Patch". We watered the seeds and watched them grow. Many bees, butterflies & other insects were attracted to our mini garden.
Our seed beds grew, blossomed & flourished. All the pupils enjoyed looking at the bees & butterflies working in the flower beds. Everybody smelled & tasted the different types of herbs. Fifth & Sixth class harvested their salad plants, made sandwiches and even had a picnic !
Other Activities..
We integrate the theme of "Biodiversity" into our school life. Pupils in all classes have completed projects about animals, plants etc. Others have written poems, designed posters and explored the theme through music etc
Look at some of our work....
Look at some of our work....
