Hundreds of pupils in 35 Co Galway schools have been involved in a unique programme that trained them to become wildlife film-makers, writes Lorna Siggins
They don't have surnames like Attenborough or de Buitlear, but National Geographic and the Discovery Channel would be proud of them. Several hundred Galway primary-school pupils have now become proficient in making wildlife and environmental documentaries, thanks to the award-winning "Fionn" science programme.
Night-fishing for eels on the River Corrib, v-notching lobsters off the Aran islands, experimenting with air, and studying the lifecycle of the oak tree are among the subjects covered in documentaries made over the past three years, and going into a fourth season, by some of the 35 participating schools.
"Putting the 'wow factor' into primary school science," is how Fionn co-ordinator, Brendan Smith, summarises the project aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging use of good scientific skills and practice.
Funded by the Government, Fionn has been unique to Galway, and is administered by the Galway Education Centre and the Galway Science and Technology Festival Board. Some 35 schools which opted back in 2002 to participate have been provided with sufficient video training and digital camera technology to create their own child-centred films. Pupils have been encouraged to select themes from their everyday lives and to integrate art, heritage and other disciplines into their "experiments".
Under the arrangement, schools can keep the equipment on completion of four annual three-minute documentaries. "You're out of school and you're learning as well," is how Jack Lahart (13), a pupil at St Brendan's National School in Eyrecourt, east Galway, describes the experience. He and his senior school mates recently worked with teacher Frieda Kenny on a documentary entitled, Birds of Eyrecourt.
"We are a three-teacher school and the senior classes - fourth, fifth and sixth - have been involved with Fionn for the last three years," Kenny says. "We've looked at how birds are brilliant recyclers, we have studied the yew tree as we have a yew walk near Clonfert, and we have looked at light. It gives the children a great sense of self-esteem, and represents a marvellous integration of subjects and disciplines."
Tomás Ó Conghaile and his 34 pupils at Scoil Chaomhain on the Aran island of Inis Oirr made a documentary entitled Gliomach, on lobsters, several years ago. Last year they focused on the island lighthouse, working with the assistant keeper Micheál Ó Catháin, and created a model in papier mâché for the school stand at the Galway Science and Technology festival in November. This year, their choice is birdlife of the area, and they've been out over recent weekends scouring the island for nests.
"It's quite easy to use the equipment, and we have been allowed to bring it home so we can continue filming," says Soracha Crowe (12), a sixth-class pupil at Scoil Chaomháin. Doireann Coneely (11) remembers that the big challenge last year was to "get the light in the model lighthouse to work", but the pupils were assisted by Micheál Seoighe, a secondary school student on the island.
Brendan Smith, Fionn co-ordinator, says that one of fruits of the project has been to draw out a dynamic and "fun" element to teaching science, promoting a interdisciplinary and inclusive approach. Skills attained include film direction, project planning, drama, presentation skills, art, sculpting, construction, music and public speaking.
"Pupils who may have had an aversion to science previously get involved through the Science film, because they are good painters, good publics speakers or whatever. Likewise, the success of the interdisciplinary approach in the programme can be gauged by the diverse range of awards secured by individual schools for their Fionn films over the years - awards in heritage, art, technology, film production, which don't in any way dilute the quality of the science content."
The emphasis on selecting a theme form the locality also affords pupils and teachers an opportunity to see their own locale in a different light, and to view it scientifically. Unfortunately, due to the absence of continued State funding, there are no immediate plans to repeat the four-year cycle with a new set of schools.
However, Smith says that the Galway Education Centre and the National Centre of Technology in Education are working on a programme to ensure Fionn films are easily available in an accessible format to all primary schools as a teaching resource.