Other Sources
DK Findout (https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/) is an online encyclopedia resource for schools that can be accessed from home so that learners can discover more about a given topic. Content can be filtered by subject area and the resulting articles are interactive (with some also containing quizzes to consolidate learning). Learners could be assigned topics from this resource to engage in project work for distance learning, or could visit an article and complete a quiz to consolidate their learning.
There are a host of teachers’ resources available on the website also containing sample ebooks, lesson plans and worksheets, available here: https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/teachers/.
Epic! is an online library which offers over 35000 resources including “Read to Me” books, audiobooks, student tracking, reading level linkage with Accelerated Reader and other reading levelling schemes. It also offers high interest texts such as National Geographic Kids and Guinness Book of Records. It is suitable for children from ages 4-12.
Teachers and librarians can sign up for free access by visiting www.getepic.com/educators and registering with a school email address e.g. msmurphy@scoilaine.ie or an eircom address usually works too. If you do not have a school email address, you can fill out an account request form. You then get an automatically generated class code so kids can log in via the website or the app (see links below) at school or at home. Teachers can set up student accounts where you can assign books or track what students have read by adding kids to your Student Roster on Epic. Children do not need an email address to be able to log in at home. This free service is only available during school hours as parents have to pay for this service outside school hours.
Once you have created your account, you can view this tutorial to see how Epic! Works: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bXzZyiQ-O1os6LJJWVhCx1r74aL9AR1W/view
Remember to seek parental consent when setting up online accounts for students under 16.
From 1937 to 1939, more than 50,000 children gathered folklore in their home communities. This included local geographical features, folktales and legends, riddles and proverbs, games and pastimes, trades and crafts. This can be found on the Dúchas website (www.duchas.ie).
This website is run by The Heritage Council and seeks to promote knowledge of Irish heritage amongst primary students. On this website, you will find numerous child-friendly resources including free access to the Wild Things at School digital book by Éanna Ní Lamhna and workbooks about the Walled Towns of Ireland, Nature in the Park and more!
Google Arts & Culture is an online platform where students can view images and videos of artworks and cultural artefacts from various museums and cultural organisations throughout the world.
This tool allows students to explore a variety of interesting places around the world.