Ireland's territory extends far beyond our coastline up to 220 million acres, an area more than 10 times our land mass. The Real Map of Ireland shows Ireland's current designated Irish Continental Shelf. The continental shelf is the area of seabed around a large land mass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean. Ireland has sovereign rights over the continental shelf to explore and develop its natural resources. To start, get your class to examine the importance of Ireland's marine resources by analysing the data in Ireland's Marine Atlas.
Watch the following video clips about INFOMAR and their work and take the quizzes which follow.
Engage with INFOMAR resources by using these teacher-created activities and lesson plans.
This sketch map activity is based on the Real Map of Ireland. It is created from the detailed research carried out by INFOMAR around the Irish coast. It maps the extent of the Irish continental shelf. It would be a useful resource for JC classes after exploring the rocks section of their course.
View full descriptionStrand: 1. Exploring the Physical World
Strand unit: 2. Rock Types
Suggestions for use: This activity sheet could be used at the end of the lesson on rock types to revise the material covered and also to help examine some basic map drawing skills in a more integrated way.
Key Skills: Being Creative Managing Information and Thinking Literacy Numeracy
This worksheet was created with material from INFOMAR. Through the example of Bull Island, we see the GIS skills that are used to create digital maps. We also explore the range of uses for these digital maps in todays society.
View full descriptionStrand: 2. How We Interact With the Physical World
Strand unit: 7. Surface Processes (Manage & Interactions)
Suggestions for use: This worksheet could be used to explore geographical skills with classes and also map interpretation skills. Once the basics in maps skills are completed students could be shown the advances in mapping and how GIS and 3D mapping are all around us from smartphones to laptops.
Key Skills: Communicating Managing Information and Thinking Working with Others Literacy Numeracy Managing Myself
This worksheet uses information supplied by INFOMAR about the human activities that lead to the formation of Bull Island, Co. Dublin. Through the use of geographical skills students can examine the formation of this sand spit.
View full descriptionStrand: 2. How We Interact With the Physical World
Strand unit: 7. Surface Processes (Manage & Interactions)
Suggestions for use: This worksheet can be used with classes to revise the coastal depositional landform of a sand spit and basic map reading skills. It can also exam map interpretation skills through the questions at the end. Students could carry out this activity in pairs to stimulate more conversations about the material.
Key Skills: Communicating Managing Information and Thinking Working with Others Literacy Numeracy Managing Myself
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