DESIGN A SUSTAINABLE VILLAGE IN IRELAND IN 2050

LIMERICK CITY & COUNTY SCHOOLS TRANSITION YEAR STEAM EDUCATION PROJECT

CLIMATE ACTION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Teachers must register interest before 5pm, September 27th 2024.

Click here to register interest

Vision, creativity, problem posing and solving are urgently needed to tackle the world’s most pressing problems, including climate justice and sustainable development. Therefore, we are challenging Limerick City & County  Transition Year students to design a community centric, futuristic eco-village, in Ireland, in the year 2050.

Students will work in groups of 4- 6

to produce a conceptual design which integrates:

  • The UN Sustainable Goals that they deem most important
  • New and emerging STEAM technologies and renewable energies supporting the development of a vibrant local community and for the greater good of a just society and thriving economy.
  • Social justice principles, which protect the most vulnerable and provide public services and equality between all village residents.

There will be prizes for projects that showcase outstanding contributions in

  • energy conservation
  • green housing
  • public transport
  • social justice

The overall winner will receive a FULL DAY VISIT to Cloughjordan eco-village. Other prizes to be announced.

Each school that participates will be gifted a ‘gimbal’ complements of EPI•STEM, the research centre in the University of Limerick, tasked with supporting STEAM Education for all.

Objectives

Teachers and students will have absolute flexibility to decide the best approach for their project, however, each submission must include these four components:

  1. A written and signed report of the agreed design and plan (maximum. 3-pages).
  2. A 5-minute video highlighting the sources of their inspiration from the locality of materials or people must be provided.
  3. Delivery of an artefact in a single medium or combined media (including. technical drawing, wood, metal, cardboard, artwork) illustrating their ambitious vision for a sustainable village in Ireland for 2050
  4. A written reflection sharing (a) the ‘personal and group learnings’ from participating in this TY project, and sharing (b) how this local project translates nationally and globally, especially into the social and scientific construction of a just and equal global world.

 

To support enquiry-based research and key skill development, a series of experiential learning experiences will be provided.

  • STEAM Sustainability and Biodiversity workshops at the Hunt Museum 
  • Talk to the experts at Epistem UL 
  • Teachers guide 
  • Digital resources 
  • Zoom information sessions 

Schools are required to visit the Hunt Museum, to participate in our new Sustainability workshop

Our sustainability STEAM education workshop, offers an enriching educational experience that combines history, culture, sustainability, and innovation. The museum has developed a specialized workshop tailored to guide students through essential aspects of designing a sustainable village.

Workshop Structure:

1. Exploration of Sustainable Village Infrastructure:

  • Building History: Students will delve into the history of the Hunt Museum’s building, examining the advantages and challenges of renovating old structures versus constructing new ones.

2. Cultural Analysis and Historical Perspectives:

  • Cultural Shifts: Students will explore the cultural transformations from the past to the present, gaining insights into how these changes have shaped our current values regarding objects and materials.
  • Historical Practices vs. Modern Consumption: By examining how people in the past repaired, repurposed, and recycled possessions like jewellery, bowls, and clothing, students will contrast these practices with today’s more disposable culture, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability.

3. Art, Heritage, and Social Change:

  • Role of Art and Heritage: The workshop will encourage students to analyze the significance of art and heritage in society and consider their place in a sustainable village.
  • Social Innovations: Students will explore the social changes and innovations that have improved our standard of living and contemplate the new innovations required to protect our planet.                                                                             

4.  Temporary Biodiversity Exhibition ( available between October and November only ): 

      • Exhibition Tour: Students can enhance their learning experience by booking a tour of the museum’s temporary biodiversity exhibition . This exhibition complements the workshop by highlighting the importance of biodiversity in sustainable living.

This comprehensive workshop at the Hunt Museum not only provides students with the knowledge needed to design a sustainable village but also encourages them to critically think about the cultural, social, and environmental aspects that influence sustainable living.

KRB 11-07-2024 Creepy Crawlies: Love/Hate, The opening official of a new exhibition at The Hunt Museum in Limerick by Diarmuid Gavin and Éanna Ní Lamhna ... Pictured at the event: -Photography by: Kieran Ryan-Benson

Book your visit before November 21st and get an additional tour of our Biodiversity exhibition " Creepy Crawlies "

Bring your students to the Hunt Museum before 21st of November, for an unforgettable experience where they’ll learn to appreciate the vital role of Creepy Crawlies in our ecosystem and gather inspiring ideas for their sustainable village project.

The Hunt Museum’s latest interactive exhibition "Nights Candles are Burnt Out: Climate, Culture, Change & Community”.

Through art, storytelling and interactive games, the children learned about the science and technology that can move us to a sustainable future.

"Night's Candles are Burnt Out" invites visitors to explore how Ireland can embrace its pioneering history and lead the way in addressing the Climate Challenge, by harnessing the immense renewable energy potential of the Shannon Estuary, particularly through wind and water. Exhibition runs until 29 February 2024. Picture: Alan Place

The Hunt Museum’s latest interactive exhibition "Nights Candles are Burnt Out: Climate, Culture, Change & Community”.

Through art, storytelling and interactive games, the children learned about the science and technology that can move us to a sustainable future.

"Night's Candles are Burnt Out" invites visitors to explore how Ireland can embrace its pioneering history and lead the way in addressing the Climate Challenge, by harnessing the immense renewable energy potential of the Shannon Estuary, particularly through wind and water. Exhibition runs until 29 February 2024. Picture: Alan Place

Meet the Experts event in EPI•STEM National Research Centre for STEM Education

EPI•STEM National Research Centre for STEM Education is hosting a ‘Meet the Experts’ support event for the participating students and their teachers in the University of Limerick.  During this event, the students will have the opportunity to discuss their projects with a team of facilitators (such as scientists, engineers, information technologists, digital designers, architects, health and education scientists, and more) and gain valuable insight into the planning, processing and implementation of their ideas.

 

Digital Resources

Digital resources will be made available to schools that register for this project. These resources are designed to support students in their research by providing valuable insights into sustainable village design. The content will include detailed innovations and case studies from the past, showcasing the practical application and impact of sustainable technologies. Additionally, the resources will explore the challenges faced in developing and implementing these technologies, highlighting the slow process of introducing their benefits to the public. By offering historical perspectives and detailed information, these digital materials will complement the in-person workshop, helping students to deepen their understanding of sustainable practices and their importance in future village designs. Schools must register to access these resources, which will enhance the overall educational experience.

 

Digital case studies

 

  • The Shannon Hydroelectric Scheme at Ardnacrusha 
  • ESB, How the introduction of electricity was received by the public
  • New innovations underway with onshore & offshore wind farms (Shannon Esquarry) 
  • Ecovillage in Clough Jordan 
  • SMART Travel 
  • Sustainable Fashion Vs Fast Fashion 

 

All projects submitted will be showcased and celebrated with an awards ceremony in April. Special guest speakers to be announced.

 

Teachers must register interest using the google link below by September 27th 2024, 5pm

Click here to register interest

A Collaborative Initiative Designed by
The Hunt Museum
EPISTEM, National Centre for STEM Education, The University of Limerick
Limerick Education Support Centre

John Hunt Collector & Archaeologist workshop delivered through zoom


Location: Zoom
Suitability: 3rd & 4th class
Duration: 30 minutes

Cost : Free

To Book contact the education team at

education@huntmuseum.com or call 061 490089

The Hunt Museum Collection speaks to John Hunt`s curiosity about the world he lived in, ancient cultures, archaeology, art and fine craftsmanship. 

In this live, online, taster workshop learners will virtually access the world of John Hunt through archival photographs, Collection images and short animations and a live discussion with a member of staff from the Hunt Museum. They will develop a broad understanding of the types of objects he collected, where he sourced them, as well as the impact he made in the field of Irish archaeology while living in Lough Gur. 

 

Curricular Links
History: Working as a historian; Stories from the lives of people in the past 
Science: Working Scientifically; Materials 
Geography: A sense of place and space; Maps, globes & geographical skills; Human Environments

Clay Through the Ages – Introductory Videos for Teachers

The pack starts with a short introduction video to the Three Muses, the Digital Teachers pack and some fun facts about clay.

The second and third videos are instructional videos showing you how to make slip in your classroom, and then to score clay and add slip to attach two pieces of wet clay together so that they are completely bonded when the clay dries. 

The instructional videos are designed to be watched before beginning any of the lessons, as these will help you to prepare what you need before starting!

Instructional Videos

Clay Through the Ages Lesson Plan 4: A Mexican Tree of Life sculpture from Limerick City Gallery of Art

Clay Through the Ages online game – Truffles the Treasure Hunting Piggy

Truffles the Treasure Hunting Piggy

Below is Truffles the Treasure Hunting Piggy. Your pupils will enjoy Truffles as a fun and educational complement to their learning from the above lesson plans, however this game can also be used as a stand-alone resource.

About Truffles

Help Truffles, the treasure hunting piggy, on a journey through Limerick City! Each level you complete will unlock a ceramic treasure from one of the Three Muses: The Hunt Museum, Limerick Museum and Limerick City Gallery of Art!

The layout of the old city of Limerick that Truffles navigates through is inspired by an illustration of Limerick from 1578 in the Limerick Museum Collection.

The colour palette for Truffles and the city was taken from a selection of watercolour paintings in the Permanent Collection of the Limerick City Gallery of Art.

Truffles our main character is inspired by Limerick’s ‘Pigtown’ food heritage.

The patrolling diver ‘guards’ are inspired by the diving suit in the Limerick Museum Collection.

The sweets that Truffles collects on her way to find the keys are inspired by the shapes of sweet moulds from Limerick sweet production, also on display in the Limerick Museum.

Look closely and you will see King John’s Castle, the river Shannon, the windmill from Windmill Street, and St. Mary’s cathedral. Look ever closer and you will see a Pike splashing in the Shannon. There are a number of stuffed fish in the Limerick Museum.

If you play the game with the sound on you will hear Truffles speaking, she speaks in Limerick slang! What can you hear her say?

Listen carefully – do you hear the Bells of St. Mary’s  Cathedral?

The objects and artefacts being hunted by Truffles are:

Tree of Life by Tiburcio Soteno from the Limerick City Gallery of Art Permanent Collection.

Play Truffles Online Game Now

To play, use Arrow keys, WASD, or D-Pad depending on your device.

Please click here to open game full page and to install on mobile or tablet.

How to install Truffles: Clay Through The Ages on your Mobile or Tablet:

  1. Use the link “click here,” to open the game on full page
  2. In your browser press the “Options menu”
  3. On Chrome browser click, “Add to Home screen.” If you’re using Firefox browser, press “Install.”
  4. Go back to your “Home Screen,” press on the piggy icon and play!

How to install Truffles: if you're using an iPhone or iPad:

  1. Use the link “click here,” to open the game on full page
  2. In your browser press the “Share option”
  3. Then choose the option, “Add to Home screen”
  4. Go back to your “Home Screen,” press on the piggy icon and play!

Clay Though the Ages Lesson Plan 3: A porcelain crest-ware pig from the Limerick Museum

Making Ink – ARMA

ARMA – Making Ink: Suitable for 4th – 6th Class

Primary School Arma Educational Resources

Medieval Manuscripts provide scholars and historians with insights into society and culture during the Middle Ages. They are also of interest to scientists, as they provide evidence of how different coloured inks and dyes were created using materials found in nature. Under this theme, primary school pupils will have the opportunity to experiment with pigments from natural materials inspired by those used in Medieval Manuscripts. The first video will introduce pupils to ink making in the Medieval period, recipes to achieve different colours, and the level of creativity and ingenuity required to make such inks. The second video provides tutorials on how to make ink from foraged and natural materials found in your nearby area.

Click here for ARMA Reading Aloud resource.

Click here for ARMA Calligraphy programme.

With Thanks to

Making Medieval Manuscripts – ARMA

Medieval illuminated manuscripts are hand-written books with pages made from animal skins,adorned with hand painted designs and precious metals. They are some of the most beautiful artifacts that remain from the period. The process of their creation tells us about scribal and artistic practices of the Medieval period. In this programme, post primary students will explore this process through a variety of resources created as part of the Art of Reading in the Middle Ages project for Europeana, including video-based resources, blogs, galleries and workbooks.

Click here for ARMA Reading in the Middle Ages.

Click here for ARMA Graphic Design Education Programme.

 

With Thanks to

Graphic Design – ARMA

Illuminated manuscripts in the Middle Ages can be viewed as objects of innovative graphic design featuring decorative fonts and images to engage readers. The term ‘design’ was not used in the same way during the Middle Ages. However, it speaks to the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the manuscripts in the Middle Ages. They were more than just books for writing in. The illuminators created elaborate fonts and artworks consisting of diverse shapes and sizes and examining these can inspire contemporary design. In this programme, post primary students will use medieval manuscripts, including fonts and imagery, as inspiration for their own graphic design projects.

Click here for ARMA Reading in the Middle Ages.

Click here for ARMA Making Medieval Manuscripts.

With Thanks to

Reading Aloud – ARMA

This programme will introduce primary school pupils to the practice of reading in the Middle Ages and how it was different from reading today. Pupils will begin by playing the interactive Reading Aloud Game, which will encourage them to think about what reading is and how it changed over time. The lesson plan that follows outlines a series of performance-based activities inspired by the research of Eleanor Giraud on Melodic Lection Marks, and how they aided with reading aloud. Following this programme, pupils will have a greater understanding of the practice of reading aloud in Medieval times, the shift towards silent reading, and how this changed our relationship with the written word.

Click here for ARMA Making Ink resource.

Click here for ARMA Calligraphy programme.

Play ARMA`S interactive Reading Aloud Game

With Thanks to

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