Skip to main content

Gormley Launches Archaeology in the Classroom "It’s About Time 2"

13/11/09

Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today (13 November 2009) launched a new Resource Pack and Website that will introduce Transition Year students throughout the country to Ireland’s rich and varied archaeological heritage.  “Archaeology in the Classroom “Time in Transition - It’s About Time 2” was unveiled by the Minister in Glenstal Abbey School, Murroe, Limerick.

Time in Transition- It’s About Time 2 is a multimedia resource that will present archaeology to Transition Year students in an interesting and interactive way. The series of twenty four modules has been designed with an eye to students’ own experience of everyday life – the lessons attempt to link events and happenings in students’ own lives to those of our ancestors.  The Minister said that the aim was to “make archaeology more relevant, to show that it has a value in its own right and to dispel the idea that it can only be of interest to academics and professionals”. 

Describing the resource pack as “a very readable, engaging and meticulously researched and presented publication”, the Minister said that it provided “a wonderful opportunity for Transition Year teachers to delve into different and interesting archaeological themes and, most importantly, to open up new and enriching trajectories of learning for their students”.

The Transition Year Resource Pack and Website are the fruit of a joint initiative between the Department of the Environment’s National Monuments Service and the Limerick Education Centre.  The funding was provided by the Department.  It’s About Time 2 is the second of two initiatives to have emerged from this collaboration.  A Resource Pack for Primary Schools, Archaeology in the Classroom - It’s About Time, was previously published in 2005. “The success of that first venture, and the welcome it has received from teachers, parents and pupils alike, has greatly encouraged both sides to also support the Transition Year Programme in secondary schools”, the Minister said at the launch.

Copies of the Resource Pack are now being distributed to over 580 secondary schools offering Transition Year courses to their students.  It can also be downloaded, free of charge, from www.itsabouttime.ie”

Ends.

Media queries:
Press and Information Office
Tel: (01) 888 2638  (direct)
(01) 888 2000
E-Mail: press-office@environ.ie
Web site: www.environ.ie

Back

  • Print this page

Publications & Documents

News and Speeches

Legislation