Cork school children get creative while learning about climate action
What does sustainability mean to you? This was the question asked to pupils in a Ballingeary national school recently, who then channelled their creative skills for an art competition.
Around 50 pupils from 3rd to 6th Class in Scoil Fhionnbarra, Béal Átha ‘n Ghaorthaidh entered the art competition, which was sponsored by FuturEnergy Ireland. The competition offered a creative, interactive way for children to learn about climate change, the environment and how to be ecofriendly.
The standard was extremely high, prompting FuturEnergy Ireland to choose two lucky winners, one from 3rd and 4th classes and the other from 5th and 6th classes, who were presented with a Samsung Galaxy tablet each in assembly while six runners-up received vouchers to use in Cronin’s Cafe in Gougane Barra.
For winner Sean Ó Laoire, 10, his aunt’s house provided inspiration with its polytunnel, trees, pollinators, a beehive, recycling bins, solar panels, a bicycle and a backdrop of wind turbines. Sustainable living at its best! Meanwhile 12-year-old Róisín Uí Tuama showed her vision of an environmentally conscious Ballingeary complete with communal vegetable garden, an abundance of flowers and trees and even a Luas stop for public transport.
Fionnuala Uí Chéilleachair, Príomhoide Scoil Fhionnbarra, said: “Bhíomar chomh tógtha leis an rud ar fad agus tá an-áthas orm go bhfuaireamar an deis páirt a ghlacadh sa chomórtas. Chuir sé páistí na scoile ag machnamh faoi chúrsaí aeráide agus cúrsaí timpeallachta ar fud na cruinne. Is dócha an rud is suntasaí faoin gcomórtas seo ná gur tharraing sé aird na bpáistí ar chúrsaí timpeallachta agus chomhshaoil ina bpobal féin. Chaith siad roinnt ama ag plé mar a chuireann cúrsaí aeráide isteach ar an timpeallacht agus conas go bhfeádfadh siad mar pháistí agus mar phobal cabhrú leis an athrú aeráide.
“Chabhraigh gach rang sa scoil leis na mboscaí bláthanna. Dhear siad na boscaí lena gcuid ealaíona, líon siad iad le plandaí agus crochadh ar fallaí na scoile iad. Cuireann siad go mór le timpeallacht na scoile agus cuireann siad cruth álainn ar an tsráidbhaile. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt do Mhúinteoirí Eimear [Ní Thuama] agus Treasa [NÍ Laoire] chomh maith as an tionscnamh a threorú ins na ranganna. Comhghairdeachas leis na buaiteoirí chomh maith.” *
The art competition followed a flower box project recently carried out in the school with the support of Coiste Bailte Slachtmhara and FuturEnergy Ireland. Pupils had lots of fun decorating and planting the flower boxes, made by FuturEnergy Ireland’s Community Liaison Officer Brendan Twomey from recycled pallets, to brighten up the yard. The students will now take charge of taking care of them, watering and deadheading the plants.
Brendan Twomey of FuturEnergy Ireland said: “Bhí foireann FuturEnergy Éireann an-tógtha leis an obair ealaíne a cruthaíodh ag scoláirí. Léirigh na hiarratais leibhéal ard tuisceana ar athrú aeráide agus ar inbhuanaitheacht, rud a chuireann réasún go maith don todhchaí! Ba shásamh é a fheiceáil cé chomh gníomhach atá na scoláirí nuair a bhí siad ag maisiú agus ag plandáil na bhoscaí bláthanna, agus a d’ónóir ina n-obair ealaíne. Ba mhaith liom freisin buíochas a ghabháil leis na múinteoirí Eimear agus Treasa as a gcuid cúnamh maidir le comórtas ealaíne a chomhordú agus le maisiú na boscaí bláthanna.”**
FuturEnergy Ireland has a comprehensive education programme across its project areas. For more information, visit www.futurenergyireland.ie.
* Fionnuala Uí Chéilleachair, principal at Scoil Fhionnbarra, said: “We were so taken with the whole initiative and I’m very happy that we had the opportunity to take part in the competition. It got the children thinking about climate issues and environmental matters around the world. Probably the most notable thing is that it drew the children’s attention to environmental and ecological issues in their own community. They spent some time discussing how climate issues affect the environment and how they, as children and as a community, could help address climate change.
“In addition, all classes in the school helped with the flower boxes. They decorated the boxes with their artwork, filled them with plants, and put them on the school walls. They greatly enhance the school environment and add a lovely look to the village. We are very grateful to Brandy and FuturEnergy Ireland for their support with this project, and of course to our wonderful children who created beautiful art pieces. I would also like to acknowledge teachers Eimear [Ní Thuama] and Treasa [NÍ Laoire] for leading the initiative in the classes. Congratulations to the winners as well.”
** Brendan Twomey of FuturEnergy Ireland said: “The FuturEnergy Ireland team were extremely impressed by the artwork created by pupils. The entries showed a high level of understanding of climate change and sustainability, which bodes well for the future! It was a pleasure to see how engaged the pupils were when decorating and planting the flower boxes, and their pride in their artwork. I would also like to thank teachers Eimear and Treasa for their help in coordinating both the art competition and decorating the flower boxes.”
