Tag Archives: Biodiversity

Green Schools: Biodiversity: How to use this blog

Vegetable garden

We’ve been busy 🙂

Our Green Schools Blog was set up by the Green Schools Committee.

It plays a central role in our Greens Schools project.

This is a whole school project in which we learn about Biodiversity,

how to protect it

and how to encourage it in our school grounds,

our own gardens

and our neighbourhood

in order to earn a Green Flag for Biodiversity

 

The blog is a greener, paperless way of communicating

and works like a filing system for students, parents and teachers.

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All you have to do is put a keyword

like food web, birds, mammals

or pollination in the search box

on the top right hand side of this page

 

to find the information you are looking for.

Try it and see 😉

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Brigid the Biodiversity Bee got a surprise in the post from The Summer Buzz Bee!

Brigid the Biodiversity Bee got a surprise this week.

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A package arrived in school addressed to her.

It was the first time she ever got anything in

the post and she was terribly excited.

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It was from a good friend of ours. Her name is

The Summer Buzz Bee.  Brigid is on an mission.

Her mission is to help children learn about

Biodiversity.

Summer Buzz is on an important mission too.

She encourages children to love books and to read.

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The Summer Buzz Bee knows all about Brigid

and knew exactly what she would be interested in.

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She sent her a book about how kids can be green.

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And a book about an ant and a honey bee.

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Summer Buzz says Brigid can leave these books in

the school library when she is finished with them.

Summer Buzz is very kind.

Thank you Summer Buzz.

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Joint Project between St. Brigid’s, Greystones and St. Peter’s, Bray

Polly the Polar Bear from St. Peter’s, Bray came to visit us in St. Brigid’s.

You can read about the beginning of that adventure here.

Polly told us all about Polar Bears and why Polar Bears are endangered.

Now Polly has returned to St.Peter’s bringing our mascot

Brigid the Biodiversity Bee with her.

Brigid the Biodiversity Bee

 

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Guest Post: Growing Monterey Pine Trees From Seed

Growing Monterey Pine Trees From Seed

by Emily H

INTRODUCTION

My project is to show how I grew Monterey pines from seed.

I did this project because I have always had an interest in growing things from a very young age.

It was helped along when my Granddad contacted the former Mayor George Jones

to see if he would be interested in having some of the trees I had already planted

and succeeded in growing for the Greystones community.

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Mr Jones agreed and now as you can see from press cuttings.

there is one of my trees in Burnaby Park opposite the train station

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and also they took some of my trees and planted them along Shoreline car park.

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I am very proud of these trees and so I thought that I could grow some more for my science project for school

METHOD

Gather pine cones and place them in the full sun to dry them out. Once dried they will open up for easier retrieval of the seeds.

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Place the cones on a paper towel and roll them gently until the seeds fall out.

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Place the seeds in a container with room temperature of water.

The ones that sink will be the best growers.

Plant the seed in pots, pointed end down and cover with soil.

Keep watering and when the seeds fall off they can be transplanted to a larger container.

I will be keeping a diary following the progress of the trees.

Day 1

Date : 12.6.13

I planted the seeds in the compost pointed side down and watered them.

Day 2

Date : 13.6.13

Still no progress will be back in 2 weeks.

Day 11

Date : 25.6.13

We have our first Monterey shoot. The seed is still on the top.

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Day 12 

Date : 26.6.13

We have our second seed shoot. Also seed on top, First seedling has now lost its seed.

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Day 19

Date: 3.7.13

We now have 13 Monterey pine tree shoots.

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Day 25

Date: 9.7.13

We have 17 Monterey pine tree shoots.

Day 35

Date: 19.7.13

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The trees are growing fast.

Day 45

Date: 29.7.13

Still progressing well.

Day 55

Date: 8.8.13 

Strong and healthy trees growing fast.

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Day 65

Date: 18.8.13

Progressing well.

Day 75

Date: 28.8.13

Nearing end of project the trees are strong and healthy.

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About Monterey Pines

The Monterey pine, also known as the Radiata pine is a species of pine native to the coast of California. It’s the most widely planted pine in the world, valued for rapid growth and desirable lumber and pulp qualities.

Its native to 3 very limited areas located in Santa Cruz, Monterey peninsula, and San Luis Obispo counties. In Australia, New Zealand and Spain it is the leading introduced tree and in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Kenya and South Africa it is a major plantation species.

Monterey pine has a very small natural range on the central Californian coast, south of San Fransico and on Guadalupe and Cerdros islands off the coast of Baja California in Mexico.

Monterey pine grows best on deep, rich, dry soils or on infertile sandy soil types. It has also shown promise on old red sandstone soil in Munster. It will not do well on wet, shallow ground. It grows vigorously and is known to have a longer growing season than other conifers. In Ireland, Monterey’s commonly suffers from the ”yellows”, a disease sometimes associated with the fungus cyclaneusma minus which results in the yellowing and loss of all the previous years’ needles.

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Photo Credit: Wendy Cutler via Compfight

CONCLUSION

I found this project very satisfying because I enjoy growing and the output of this project will have a long term effect on the environment.

They help the environment by a number of factors:

1)     Trees reduce Carbon Dioxide – the same way humans breathe oxygen and exhale Carbon Dioxide, trees breathe in Carbon Dioxide and exhale Oxygen.  This Carbon Dioxide becomes sugars that can be eaten, burnt for fuel or enjoyed in its leafy form.

2)     Trees reduce ozone levels – In  large cities a reduction in ozone can mean milder temperatures and more breathable air.

3)     Trees reduce erosion by their roots keeping soil from washing away but also they absorb and store water.

4)     Trees provide an ecosystem for animals and insects  by providing a home and  food for them.

Every tree is a potential life-saver to certain species

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Well done Emily. Thank you for making Greystones a better place.

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Seas Suas.net

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We found signing up for Seas Suas.net

very useful as it aggregates posts from school blogs.

A lot of our work features in their Green Schools section.

You can see it HERE.

By being part of Seas Suas.net we can retweet our work

and communicate beyond this school, to parents and other interested schools.

We would really recommend signing up for Seas Suas.net.

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Now it is Brigid’s turn to tell Polly all about Bees; the important job they do and how they are endangered.

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Polly the Polar Bear, has come to visit St. Brigid’s Greystones,

all the way from St. Peter’s in Bray.

She has come to visit Brigid the Biodiversity Bee

and has told her all about Polar Bears

and why they are endangered.

Now it is Brigid’s turn,

to tell Polly all about bees.

 

‘Well first, said Brigid,

‘it is important to know about the important job bees do:

Read all about the important job bees do HERE

You can read more about

that important job of pollinating flowers HERE.

Why are bees endangered?

Well you can find out the answer to this question

if you click on THIS LINK.

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‘We’ve done a lot of good work,’ said Polly.

I think it is time,

I thought about getting back to Bray…’

Watch out 2nd Class, St.Peter’s,

Polly the Polar Bear is

on her way back to you 🙂

 

 

Polly the Polar Bear explains to Brigid how we can help the Polar Bears.

last one out please turn off the cams
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Valerie via Compfight

Polly the Polar Bear, has come to visit St. Brigid’s, Greystones

all the way from St.Peter’s in Bray.

She has come to visit Brigid the Biodiversity Bee

and tell her all about Polar Bears and why they are endangered.
eye contact
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Valerie via Compfight
Polly explained that ‘reducing our carbon footprint’

will reduce global warming and that will help the polar bears.
Are we there yet?
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Valerie via Compfight

We can do this by:

1. Turning off lights, computers, TVs

and other electrical equipment when we are not using them.

2. Turning off the water while we’re brushing our teeth.

3. Walking or cycling instead of using the car.

4.  Not wasting paper.

Remember to reduce, reuse and recycle.

5. Growing your own food.

6. Buying food that is grown locally

 

Polly said that you can find your carbon footprint

and how to reduce it by using this

Kids’ Carbon Calculator from Cool The World.com
Fun in the sun
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: patries71 via Compfight
‘Well,’ said Polly, now you have heard all about Polar Bears

and why they are endangered perhaps you can tell me about bees’.

‘Why certainly,’ said Brigid. ‘That’s what we will do tomorrow’.

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Polly the Polar Bear tells her new friend, Brigid the Biodiversity Bee all about Polar Bears and why they are endangered.

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Polly the Polar Bear, has come from St.Peter’s, Bray.

She is visiting Brigid, the Biodiversity Bee,

our Green Schools Mascot.

Today Polly told Brigid all about Polar Bears

and why they are endangered.

 

Click on the top tab on this link from Kids National Geographic.com

where it says ‘Video and Sound’

and you will see some of Polly’s Polar Bear cousins.

 

You can also learn about Polar Bears here:

Polar Bears for Kids – Polar Bears International.org

 

Brigid was wondering where Polar Bears lived.

Polly explained Polar Bears are found in the wild

in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland and Norway.

They are carnivores.

They don’t drink water.

They get the liquids they need from the food they eat.

Did you know Polar Bears are amazing long distance swimmers?

High Five!!
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Valerie via Compfight

Polar bear’s giant feet act like snowshoes.

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Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Ali Haines via Compfight

Brigid wanted to know why Polar Bears are endangered.

Polly explained that polar Bears are endangered

because of global warming.

Polar bears can only survive in places where the oceans freeze.

This is because they hunt the seals that live on, or under the frozen ice.

Because of global warming the ice isn’t there long enough

during the hunting season for the polar bear to catch enough seals,

to have enough food for the year.

They have to ‘fast’ for months.

 

That made Polly really hungry, so they went for something to eat.

They will talk some more tomorrow.

 

A Joint Project between St. Peter’s NS., Bray and St.Brigid’s NS., Greystones – Polly the Polar Bear and Brigid the Bee, tell us why their species are endangered.

But first the introductions:

Polly the Polar Bear is going to teach us

all about Polar Bears and how they are endangered.

Brigid, our Biodiversity Bee

is going to teach Polly all about bees

and why they are threatened.

Green Schools: Biodiversity: Three things we found helpful when working towards our Green School Flag

If you are working towards a fifth Green Flag on Biodiversity, here are three things we found helpful.

Brigid the biodiversity bee

Brigid the biodiversity bee

1. Take a bow Brigid, the Biodiversity Bee.
We found our Green Schools mascot really caught the students’ imaginations. The naming of Brigid also meant that everyone from Junior Infants up were familiar with that tricky word ‘Biodiversity’ and had it tripping off their tongue. Our Green Schools Mascot really linked in with all the work we did on pollination and what would happen if bees became extinct.

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2. Adopting Qiemo, the Snow Leopard from Dublin Zoo was another part of Green Schools that really interested the students. Qiemo’s adoption really brought home to the students what ‘endangered’ means, how a species can be threatened and what happens if a species is removed from its ecosystem.

 

Green School Blog

3. And then there was the Green Schools Blog itself. Teachers in school could check on it. Parents and children at home could read it.
Whether it was ‘bees’ or ‘mammals’ or ‘trees’, just putting the keyword in the search box would show you all the information and work we had done about this subject.

These were three of the ‘best bits’ of working towards our Biodiversity Flag.
What did YOU find useful or interesting?
Do comment. We would love to know!

Green Schools Assessment tomorrow!

We are ready for our Green Schools Assessment for tomorrow:

Have you seen the Bug Den?

The Bug Den is on the middle lobby by the back stairs.

Green Schools: Biodiversity: The Snow Leopard: Some Written Work from the Infant Classes.

You may have seen the lovely pictures Senior Infants did of the Snow Leopard as part of our whole school learning about Biodiversity for Green Schools. If you didn’t you can find them here. Sofia, from Senior Infants made a clay snow leopard at home and you can see it here.

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Senior Infants have also been writing about Biodiversity. Here is a sample of their written work when St.Brigid’s adopted a snow leopard from Dublin Zoo. The Leopard is called Qeimo and lives in Dublin Zoo.

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Green Schools: Senior Infants write about Biodiversity.

Working towards our fifth Green School Flag is a whole school project. From the youngest students to the most grown up, we are all learning about Biodiversity. Here is some written work that Senior Infants did about Biodiversity:

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They learnt that:

‘Plants and animals are linked.

They depend on each other.

We must look after their habitat.’

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Green Schools: Biodiversity: Two Visitors with Eight Legs!

If we told you that today two visitors arrived in school, in this big basket and that they had eight legs, you might think that two very big spiders came to school.
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If you opened the basket and looked in you might think two very large spiders had escaped and were scuttling around the school. How exciting!
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So we had better tell you that two visitors came to school today and that they had eight legs between them, so they had four each. Here is one of them:
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A very kind Dad brought two baby lambs into school for us to see:

This is what we learned: The lambs are one week old. One is a boy and the other is a girl. One is a twin. They like to eat grass and drink their mother’s milk. If triplet lambs are born the mother does not have enough milk so the farmer and his family feed them from a bottle.

Every class from Sixth to Junior Infants loved meeting the baby lambs. Thank you very much to Frank for bringing them and to Frank’s family for helping too. We had a very interesting and exciting day. It made today a very special one in school.

Sofia’s Snow Leopard :)

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The boys and girls in St.Brigid’s love learning about Biodiversity. In particular adopting a Snow Leopard from Dublin Zoo caught their imagination. Sofia from Senior Infants made a Snow Leopard from clay. She made the 3D Snow Leopard at home. Then she painted it. We think that it looks Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Green Schools: Learning about Biodiversity – Linking with Other Schools

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On Monday 10th February, 2014,

Brigid the Biodiversity Bee

sent an invitation to Polly the Polar Bear 

care of 2nd Class in St. Peter’s, Bray 

to come and visit us in Greystones.

Letter arrives in St Peter's

On Tuesday 11th February, 2014, 2nd Class St. Peter’s 

posted this lovely photograph on Twitter.

We were delighted our letter to Polly arrived safely.

We feel Brigid and Polly will have a lot to talk about

because although they are very different,

they have one important thing in common.

They are both ‘endangered’.

We have learned about how bees are endangered 

and now we can learn about the threats to Polar Bears.

Not Polly of course, who is well minded

by 2nd Class, St. Peter’s

but wild Polar Bears in The Arctic.

We will update you on this story as it happens.