Bradán Poem by Niamh Murphy Caim NS
Something Fishy
Something Fishy is an exciting national programme for primary school children, aimed at increasing awareness of rivers in the local area. This programme provides lesson plans and resources relating to river wildlife, water pollution and water quality, the environment and fishing. All schools have access to this wonderful online programme at www.somethingfishy.ie
This programme is offered by Wexford Education Support Centre in association with Inland Fisheries Ireland. This programme is extremely popular. Throughout the year your pupils are asked to let us know how they are enjoying their participation in the Something Fishy Programme by posting photographs, poetry, art work, videos etc, on the Something Fishy upload facility.
Later in the school year, the pupils will participate in a supervised field trip to a local river where they will learn about water quality, fish, the environment and angling. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) officers will conduct different experiments, judging the overall health of the river. While encouraging safety and awareness they will demonstrate the importance of conservation and promote the anti- pollution and anti-litter message. They will show samples of fish life in the river by ‘electric fishing’ and they will promote angling, as a hobby and encourage fish, as a healthy food source.
SOMETHING FISHY PROGRAMME
The programme is aimed at fifth and sixth classes in primary schools. It explores different aspects of fish, their life, their life cycle, the water they inhabit, fish stocks, angling, fish as part of the river food chain, conservation of our lakes and rivers, invasive species (biosecurity) and the fish's ecosystem as a whole.
HOW IT WORKS
The Something Fishy process starts off in the classroom as the teachers and students engage with the 8 lesson plans and resources on the website. The programme includes an introductory session with each school, where Inland Fishery officers visit the school and discuss the programme and later on in the year they join the class on a field trip to a nearby river. At the end of the programme each class is asked to complete a project for a National Competition.
SOMETHING FISHY FIELD TRIP
The Something Fishy field trip consists mainly of kick sampling, looking at the river invertebrates using bug pots and small microscopes/magnifiers to identify the macroinvertebrates which are used to determine the water quality of the river being sampled.
The next part of the field trip involves electro fishing where fishery officers obtain fish samples from the local river and the children have an opportunity in learning how to identify fish and hold them correctly, so as not to stress them. Both invertebrates and fish are returned without harm to the rivers from which they were taken.
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.SUITABLE FOR ALL CHILDREN
The Something Fishy programme is ideal for schools as it is an interactive and interesting way for the children to learn about the environment around them, at a local scale.
Everyone learns in different ways, but children generally prefer to learn through greater sensory engagement.
LEARNING TO LOVE AND PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
The idea of the Something Fishy programme teaches young children about life in the river and why it is so important to conserve and protect it.
The programme is designed not only to educate and encourage children about Ireland's waterways, but also to help them understand and appreciate the environment that surrounds them. In this way, it is hoped these children will grow up with a renewed appreciation for rivers and their ecosystems.
List of schools participating in the Something Fishy Project 2024
- Scoil Íosagáin Coolgreany
- Scoil Mhuire Horeswood
- Danescastle NS
- Carlow Educate Together NS
- Castlebridge NS
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Calling all schools interested in taking part in the Something Fishy Project 2019
Following the nationwide success of “Something Fishy” in schools last year, Co. Wexford Education Centre is inviting schools to participate again in this year’s programme, which is aimed at 5th and 6th classes in Primary school.
Check out www.somethingfishy.ie
If you would like your school to participate in the Something Fishy Programme, during this school year, please complete the application form and return it to Co. Wexford Education Centre by Friday 27th September 2019. Thank you. Enjoy taking part in this wonderful project!
Some of the fanastic work been done by our schools
Here are some of our aboriginal fish, created using cotton buds. Pointillism in action….. Coolgreany NS
Bradán
Bradán started off as an egg
She was under a pile of gravel,
All the food was there so there was no need to beg.
When she hatched, she had her first paddle.
She turned from egg into fry
And from fry to parr.
When she gets skills and learns to hide,
She is maturing fast like we are.
Now at 12- 16 centimetres.
Bradán was told all about algae and silage juice
She wanted the human to put themselves to use
Now some rivers have fences, to protect them
From menaces.
Known animals such as the cow, the sheep and even the hen
And now some rivers are safe,
From animals hooves.
Can we save the fish race,
So protect rivers and be cool dudes!
Sabine, created a beautiful project on different types of fish. Well done Sabine!SN Mhuire Lourdes Tullow