LEAF PROJECT

This post is also available in: Gaeilge (Irish)

Rang 4 have been really lucky to be chosen this year to take part in An Taisce’s Leaf Project. This involved a forest based workshop in Curraghase and a school based workshop. During the autumn the class went on a guided forest walk in Curraghase and learned all about the various trees growing there and the animals and insects that are dependent on the forest. We also visited De Vere House and learned about its history and how the lesser horse shoe bat has inhabited the ruins of the house.

In the beginning of February a tree expert from An Taisce visited the school and we conducted an inventory of the trees in the school grounds. The children got to examine the different trees and learn their names. Our school has many different varieties of trees such as the Downey Birch, Ash, Sycamore, Cherry Bloosom, the rare Turkey Oak, White thorn and Ivy to name but a few. The children were fascinated to learn that we have an old Alder tree growing in the grounds the same type of the tree the famous alder wand in Harry Potter was made from. During the day we also planted our own acorns in the school garden.

We will be continuing our work learning about the importance of trees and sharing our knowledge with other classes in the school as the school year unfolds.

Tá an t-adh le Rang 4 i mbliana agus iad roghnaithe le páirt a bhaint san Tionscadal Leaf á reachtáil ag an Taisce. Mar chuid den tionscadal seo bhí ceardlann bunaithe sa choill agus cearlann bunaithe sa sheomra ranga. Le linn an fhómhair chuamar go Curraghase agus d’fhoghlaimíomar faoi na crainn éagsúla atá ag fás ann. D’fhoghlaimíomar chomh maith faoi na hainmhí agus na feithidí ar fad atá ag braith orthu. Chonaiceamar Teach De Vere freisin agus insíodh stair na tithe dúinn. Fuaireamar an chuid eolais faoin Lesser Shoehorn Bat atá ina chónaí anois i bhfothraigh an tí.

Ag tús an Feabhra, tháinig saineolaí ón Taisce chun na scoile agus rinneamar liosta de na cineál crainn éagsúla atá ag fás timpeall na scoile. Scrúdaíomar na crainn agus d’fhoghlaim na páistí a n-ainmneacha. Tá go leor crainn éagsúla againn sa scoil seo mar Beith Chlúmhach, Fuinseog, Seiceamóir, Crann Silíní, Dair Toirc, an Sceach Gheal agus eidhneán chun cúpla cinn a ainmniú. Bhí sceitimíní ar na páistí nuair a thuig siad go raibh crann fearóige againn sa scoil, an crann céanna is a bhí an Alder Wand cailiúla ó Harry Potter déanta. Ar an lá chomh maith bhí deis againn ár síolta féin ón gcrann darach a chur i ngairdín na scoile.

Beimid ag leanúint an obair seo le linn na bliana agus ag roinnt an t-eolas faoi cé chomh tabhachtach is atá na crainn don saol, leis na ranganna eile sa scoil.