Cummer school enjoys a week-long nature session with heritage expert

By JACQUELINE HOGGE THE so-called â€ËœPlaystation generation' got a lesson in listening this week as a heritage expert brought his love of nature to Cummer National School. Tom Cuffe has been in the school all week to teach the children more about the nature that surrounds them and instil in them an interest in and love for their local environment. The project, which is funded by the Heritage Council and managed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation, is running in 37 schools throughout the country. The children of Cummer are well placed to avail of Tom's expertise, given their rural location and perfect blend of habitats in the lands surrounding the school.[private] 'All you have to do is listen and you hear how plentiful the local bird population is,' said Tom. 'There are 120 resident birds in Ireland and every year in County Galway over 200 species are recorded. Over in Moylough they are hosting a Spanish bird, the Glossy Ibis, which locals are calling a Black Curlew, and here in the school we've discovered a nesting site for starlings. The children have also spotted swallows and a willow warbler, both of which have recently returned from Africa, while the school site itself could have up to 30 different species in the surrounding area.' Staff at the school are delighted with the children's response to the classes, as they say it gives them a new-found appreciation for the environment around them and also develops other skills in the classroom. Deputy Principal Siobhan Lynskey said the sessions draw from several aspects of the curriculum and are helping to put into context the value of their environment to the children. 'We are learning a lot this week through the art classes Tom has been teaching where he shows the children how to draw a bird. He has also taken us out with binoculars to show us how many different birds we have here at the school. 'We've seen chaffinches and a ­mistle thrush with the children now able to distinguish between the call of both these birds,' she said. 'The children have taken part in quizzes and word search activities and even having them sit and listen to the wonderful stories Tom has shared with them about the wildlife that is here on their doorstep has been a wonderful opportunity for them.' Teacher Mary Burke said the experience has honed the children's listening skills, which is a big benefit of the sessions. 'The environment to many of these children is a virtual one, so by bringing it to them in a very real way, at their own level, you can see their senses being heightened and genuine excitement at what they are discovering,' she said. Siobhan added that because this generation of children is more in tune with their Playstations than the outside world, the opportunity to include such an interactive learning environment into the curriculum benefited both the teachers and the students. 'It's not like when we were children and we spent all our free time outdoors, climbing trees and soaking up knowledge about the environment as a natural part of our childhood,' she said. 'Anything that can enhance children's awareness of and appreciation of the environment has to be welcomed and the experience of having Tom here for a full week, whereby every class in the school will benefit from his expertise, is something we will hopefully get the opportunity to do again in the future.' The children seemed impressed at the variety of birds spotted in trees and hedges on the school grounds, with many declaring their findings to be â€Ëœso cool' while back in the classroom they were mesmerised by the many facts Tom shared with them regarding birds, from the barn owl's hunting pattern to the fact that white bread is harmful to the majestic swan. 'Children are phenomenal in the knowledge they have and there have been schools where I've been left speechless by the amount of information they have concerning wildlife,' added Tom. 'As well as making them aware of what is around them, I try to teach them the different varieties of birds in Ireland, as well as to record the birds they do see. 'They are amazed when they look through the field telescope I bring to schools but even with a pair of binoculars they can see that the humble wood pigeon is pretty impressive up close.'[/private]