Teachers Resources
Welcome to the Teacher’s Resource section!
Before engaging with the programme we recommend that teachers take a look at the Teacher’s Handbook. The handbook provides background information on the Green Home Programme, what the programme aims to achieve and how to implement the programme. The Green Home themes of Waste, Energy, Transport and Water are also outlined in this handbook. The Teacher’s Handbook is complemented by the Teacher’s section on our website. This section contains a suite of age appropriate lesson plans, relevant themed website, and householder challenges to be completed by each household on the themes of waste, water, energy and transport. Please click on the four themes to the right of the page to access the relevant materials.
Energy
1. Challenge Booklet
The main task in any one term is for some classes to complete the 5 week Energy Vampire Challenge with their families (see below to download). Please note that the Energy Vampire Challenge is more suited to senior classes. To access the Energy Vampire Challenge Booklet click here .
2. Lesson Plans
We have also developed a series of complementary energy lesson plans for infants to sixth class students. The range of energy lesson plans is available to download below:
Lesson Plans for Junior Classes
Lesson Plans for 1st and 2nd Class
Lesson Plans for 3rd to 6th Class
3. Activities
- Green Home House to Colour In
- Green Home Kitchen with Environmentally Friendly Features
- Green Home Kitchen with Potential for Improvement
- Green Home lounge with energy saving features
- Green Home lounge with potential for improvement
- Teacher's notes for illustrations to colour in
- Green Home House teachers notes
4. Useful Links
Here are some helpful primary level environmental education resources for your school. Although some of the resources come from outside Ireland, they are easy to use and require little if any adaptation. Some sites will require you to register your details in order to access the educational materials. All sites have a number of free resources.
Ireland
- Irish Curriculum based educational resources from the EPA.
- Online learning resource for animal and plant conservation from Dublin Zoo.
- School workshops and activities for teachers and students directly relating to the theme of energy.
- Safe use of electricity and energy conservation challenges for children. Also see Apps for grown ups!
UK & EU
- Educational resources based on UK curriculum.
- The site provides useful material for Environmental Education with a Mediterranean perspective! Recommended: “Medies in the Classroom” and “Waste in our Life” Educator’s book and Learners book.
International
- Excellent resource for all types of environmental education.
- National Geographic for Kids - Recommended: GeoGames
- Energy Quest - Recommended: The Story of Energy and Games and Puzzles Page.
Water
1. Challenge Booklet
The main task for this term is for some classes to complete the 5 week Water Wise Challenge with their families. For teachers printing off the booklet, in the properties section select 'flip on the short' edge and also remember to print on both sides to achieve the booklet format. To access the Water Wise Booklet click here.
2. Lesson Plans
A series of complementary water lesson plans are available to access / download below:
- Water Footprint Calculator & Other Lessons
- Environmental Cards : This lesson plan is suitable for pupils in infant classes to 4th and 5th classes.
3. Activities
- Alien drama: suitable for 4th, 5th and 6th class.
- Ten Green Bottles: Suitable for all primary level classes.
- Message in a Bottle. - Insert Bottlescroll.pdf
- Rainbow Bottles in the Cistern Campaign: Aimed at 3rd-6th class students
- Tooth Brushing Demo: A demonstration of how much water goes down the plughole if the tap is left running while brushing your teeth.
4. Useful Links to Check out
- Water Conservation - Irish Water
- Marine Institute - Explorer Lesson Plans
- Protecting our beaches, seas and marine life
- Marine Institute - Teacher’s Resources
- Useful information on water in Ireland and a good Flash animation of the water cycle.
- Water School website - a great site with downloadable activity sheets in the teachers section and lots of useful tips for reducing water usage around the school.
- This Water Family game - fun way to look at water issues in the home.
- TapTips - lots of useful material for water-related lesson plans.
- Virtual Water Video– Discover how much water is embedded in food products.
Waste
1.Challenge Booklet
The main task for this term is for some classes to complete the 5 week Slim Your Bin Challenge with their families. For teachers printing off the booklet, in the properties section select 'flip on the short' edge and also remember to print on both sides to achieve the booklet format. To access the Slim Your Bin Booklet click here .
2. Lesson Plans
3. Activities
- A Teacher's Guide to Composting
- For details on how to make Christmas decorations from recycled products
4. Useful Links
- Excellent short films on the story of some of the stuff in our lives and it's impact on the environment from production to disposal
- Excellent short films on the story of some of the stuff in our lives and it's impact on the environment from production to disposal
- Superb resource from Stop Food Waste on how to best manage your food and prevent food waste
- Householders Guide to Hazardous Waste Prevention
- Useful material for Environmental Education with a Mediterranean perspective!
Transport
1. Challenge Booklet
The main task for this term is for some classes to complete the 5 week Travel Green from Home to School with their families. For teachers printing off the booklet, in the properties section select 'flip on the short' edge and also remember to print on both sides to achieve the booklet format. To access the Travel Green from Home to School Booklet click here .
2. Lesson Plans
General Transport Lesson Plans
Climate Change Lesson Plans
4th/5th/6th class: Why not try making and using the Global Warming Wheel? This device can be used to calculate the impact of our use of energy in the home and by daily travel. For instructions on how to make and use this device
3. Action Plans
4. Useful Links
Ireland
- Climate Change & Ireland
- Carbon Footprint Calculator
- Information on food miles and a food mile calculator
- Travel Project Ideas from Green Schools Travel
- Travel Information & Ideas from Green Schools Travel
Other
- Science related – detailed outline of major pollutants caused from transport related emissions
- Lots of resources regarding information about cycling, the links between the physical and mental benefits of exercise and active travel, ways of encouraging greener travel
- A resource for both teachers and students with helpful information on how to set up a school garden.
- User friendly tool that allows you to calculate your environmental impact of your personal journeys throughout Europe.