The School of Irish Archaelogy
Education
Primary School Programmes
Watch a short introduction video about us – The School of Irish Archaeology – YouTube
We offer primary schools a basic introduction to archaeology which provides the children with a series of interactive, engaging and hands-on practical workshops. We ignite the imagination and creativity of every child by using the core components of the STEAM curriculum.
Our main goal is to bring history to life through archaeology by creating a fun and informative environment for children. We have a variety of exciting Ancient Craft & Technology Workshops that cover time periods from the Stone Age to the Medieval Times. Our approach promises to ensure the children will explore the world of their ancient ancestors, take part in fun, engaging, stimulating and educational activity workshops ranging from archaeological digs, sword fighting to recreating monastic sites and learning about ancient technologies.
Our workshops allow children to critically think for themselves while exploring their past. In our fun and friendly environment we will spark the children’s imagination and encourage them to explore and engage with historical timelines, history and most importantly, the job of an archaeologist!
We can tailor make programmes for schools who have specific needs and budgets by providing exciting day visits which includes our most sought after workshop, The Big Dig!
Watch a short video about The Big Dig Workshop – The Big Dig Workshop – YouTube
The School of Irish Archaeology – Ireland’s first and only archaeology school – has specialised in educating young people about Ireland’s exciting archaeological past. We explore this past using our most popular and sought after archaeological workshop – The Big Dig, to educate future generations about Ireland’s rich ancient culture and heritage. It is our mission to bring the past to life, enabling young people to learn about Ireland’s past in a unique, hands-on and (most importantly!) fun learning environment.
Our Big Dig provides such an environment – with no need for construction – this innovative workshop can be brought to schools and centres of education countrywide. Our interactive archaeological Viking House excavation offers a hands-on experience, giving children an opportunity to explore Ireland’s past with the help of a friendly team of qualified archaeologists.
The School of Irish Archaeology is an experienced provider for schools at primary level and is a member of the Heritage in School Scheme. We have carried out hundreds of school visits nationwide since 2016.
Please Note: Some of our staff are Heritage Specialists and are on the Heritage in Schools Scheme which is funded and subsidised by the Heritage Council. If you are a primary school you can avail of this resource.
Click Here to Book Now through the Heritage in School Scheme
Click Here to find out more how the Heritage in Schools Scheme works
We specialise in a variety of ancient craft & technology workshops for primary schools and educational groups nationwide. Our activities are fun, engaging and most importantly educational. Workshops can be tailored for an individual class or multiple classes throughout the school day. We can also visit the participating school over a number of days if required
Outline for the Day:
- Each session will consist of a lesson followed by an activity workshop of your choice.
- Classes should consist of no more than 30 children.
- Based on the needs of the school we will set a recommended itinerary for the school.
- Contact us or download our Pack for more information.
List of Workshops:
- An Introduction to Archaeology Workshop & Display.
- The Mini Dig Excavation Workshop.
- The Stone-Age Hunter Gatherer & Mesolithic Hut Making Workshop.
- The Stone-Age & Neolithic Clay Pot Making Workshop.
- The Stone-Age Axe Making Workshop.
- The Stone-Age & Passage Tomb Workshop.
- Monastic Ireland and Make your own Monastery Workshop.
- Viking Coin & Pouch Making Workshop.
- Archery, Combat and Sword Fighting Workshop.
- Viking Bead Making Workshop
- Viking Dagger & Scabbard Making Workshop.
- Medieval Weaponry & Shield Making Workshop.
- Historical Treasure Hunt to Glendalough.
- Specialised Walking Tours & Archaeological Excursions
Please Note: Our Ancient Craft & Technology Workshops are not funded nor subsidised by the Heritage in School Scheme. For more information please contact us directly.
Our programme offers children an opportunity to fully understand the fascinating subject of archaeology and its profession. Our school of archaeology achieves this by offering a variety of lessons and activity workshops.
SIA helps connect archaeology to the child’s immediate environment through the means of their history curriculum using STEAM as one of our core components. Our more direct, hands-on practical learning broadens the student’s awareness in the fields of archaeology, culture and heritage and also teaches tolerance and respect for the cultural diversities within Ireland.
We offer tailor-made programmes to suit the needs and budget of all primary schools or educational groups such as Home Education Networks (HEN). SIA works closely with each partner to deliver the right programme and to ensure the children benefit most from our workshops and activities.
Secondary School Programmes
Our curriculum-based workshops offers students an opportunity to fully understand the fascinating subject of archaeology and its profession. The School of Irish Archaeology achieves this through a series of activity workshops.
While working with the students our staff considers keys aspects of the curriculum – ‘to enable students to develop the necessary conceptual understanding, disciplinary skills and subject knowledge to investigate the actions of people in the past’. We feel our archaeological workshops complements this approach, giving students a hands-on opportunity to experience how archaeology helps in the study of the past.
With our style of hands-on and active learning we help students assimilate the knowledge they have been acquiring in school to a real-life practice and its’ relevance in today’s world. Students will participate together in small class groups and develop critical thinking skills in a friendly and exciting environment. Our workshops use a practical hands-on and scientific approach using various methods to broaden the participant’s awareness in the field of archaeology. Our dynamic workshops combined with the mix of ancient crafts and including our knowledge from real-life excavations, provide a perfect introduction to this cross-disciplinary practice which offers a little something for every student.
Our most popular workshop, The Big Dig comprises of our mobile Simulated Archaeological Excavation of a Viking House which can be setup in the grounds of any school. This mobile museum and excavation unit offers exciting one-day workshops which can cater for up to 100 students. We also have a two-day option catering for a maximum of 200 students. The day consists of a recommended maximum of no more than 8 sessions per day. Each session duration is 40min and caters for 12 students at a time. Times and scheduling can be discussed directly with us, so please contact us for more information.
At Junior Cycle, we are aware that the syllabus facilitates a variety of approaches to the teaching of History – for example, the use of a variety of types of historical sources. We feel that our archaeological workshop complements this approach, giving students the hands-on opportunity to experience how archaeology aids in the study of the historical past. Our Big Dig workshop also supports the structure of the History syllabus (eg: Section 1 – How we find out about the past), and would be hugely beneficial to students during their study of topics such as ‘Our roots in ancient civilisation’ – in which archaeology is used to study life and death in ancient civilisations.
Our exciting day visits covers many aspects of the Junior Cycle and focuses on different topics within the History Curriculum through the medium of Archaeology.
Outline for the Day:
- Our workshops can cater for one class group or we can work with multiple class groups with a repeat workshop throughout the duration of the school day.
- We recommend smaller groups and no more than 30 students in any workshop.
- Workshops vary from 1.5hrs – 2hrs depending on the agreed workshop.
- Contact us or download our Pack for more information.
List of Workshops:
- Introduction to Archaeology, Background Research & Field Techniques (2hrs – 2.5hrs) – Suitable for Multiple Class Groups.
- Introduction to Archaeology & Mini-Dig Workshop (2hrs – 2.5hrs) – Suitable for Multiple Class Groups.
- Introduction to Archaeology, Field Techniques & Mini-Dig Excavation, Recording & Processing (Full Day) – Suitable for a Single Class Group.
Learning Outcomes:
Our secondary school visits helps students assimilate the knowledge they have been acquiring in school to a real-life practice and to understand archaeology and its’ relevance in today’s world. It is an exciting and unique way to participate together in small class groups and develop critical thinking skills. We do this by helping students to understand the processes behind archaeology; from desktop research to an archaeological excavation, right up to when artefacts are displayed within a museum. These hands-on methods broadens the student’s awareness in the field of archaeology in a stimulating and dynamic way. Archaeology is a cross-disciplinary practice that has something for everyone, we feel our workshops are a perfect introduction to the practice of archaeology.
Our programme offers students an opportunity to fully understand the fascinating subject of archaeology and its profession. Our school of archaeology achieves this by offering a variety of lessons and activity workshops.
We offer tailor-made programmes to suit the needs and budget of all secondary schools. SIA works closely with each individual school to deliver the right programme and to ensure the students benefit most from our educational workshops and activities.
SIA helps connect archaeology to the student’s immediate environment through the means of their history curriculum. It is an exciting and unique way to participate together in small class groups and critically think for themselves. We do this by helping them to understand the processes behind archaeology; from research to an archaeological excavation, right up until artefacts are displayed within a museum.
Our more direct, hands-on practical learning broadens the student’s awareness in the fields of archaeology, culture and heritage and also teaches tolerance and respect for the cultural diversities within Ireland.
Our exciting day visit workshops are spilt into two sessions covering many aspects of the Junior Cycle as we focus on different topics within the History syllabus through the medium of Archaeology.
Outline for the Day:
- These workshops can cater for multiple class groups throughout the duration of the school day.
- We recommend smaller groups and no more than 30 students in any workshop.
- Workshops vary from 2hr – 3hrs depending on the agreed workshop.
- Contact us or download our Pack for more information.
List of Workshops:
- Introduction to Archaeology & Archaeological Case Study (2hrs) – Suitable for Multiple Class Groups.
- Introduction to Archaeology & Pottery Reproduction Workshop (2.5hrs – 3hrs) – Suitable for Multiple Class Groups.
- Archaeological Tours of Medieval Dublin & the National Museum of Ireland, Glendalough’s Monastic City, the Medieval Town of Trim or the enigmatic site of the Hill of Tara.
Learning Outcomes:
This unique and informative workshop offers an in-house engaging introduction to the profession of archaeology and how this discipline is relevant in today’s world. This is an opportunity for students to learn about the job of an archaeologist, their techniques, tools and equipment. Students will interact with us as they participate in our informative artefact and ecofact display & handling session where we outline the variety of objects an archaeologist may find in the field. The second part of our workshop will explore a case study of a recently excavated archaeological site or students can explore the world of ancient crafts and technologies by looking at how pottery in the archaeological record aids the archaeologist in the interpretation of a site. This workshop is completed by reproducing Neolithic or Bronze-Age pottery vessels with the help of our staff.
Our programme offers students an opportunity to fully understand the fascinating subject of archaeology and its profession. Our school of archaeology achieves this by offering a variety of lessons and activity workshops.
We offer tailor-made programmes to suit the needs and budget of all secondary schools. SIA works closely with each individual school to deliver the right programme and to ensure the students benefit most from our educational workshops and activities.
SIA helps connect archaeology to the student’s immediate environment through the means of their history curriculum. It is an exciting and unique way to participate together in small class groups and critically think for themselves. We do this by helping them to understand the processes behind archaeology; from research to an archaeological excavation, right up until artefacts are displayed within a museum.
Our more direct, hands-on practical learning broadens the student’s awareness in the fields of archaeology, culture and heritage and also teaches tolerance and respect for the cultural diversities within Ireland.
Adult Education Programmes
SIA is the only dedicated Archaeology School in Ireland. As experienced leaders in the field of cultural heritage, we are the choice provider of a wide range of interactive workshops for the culturally curious. We provide accessible adult education to meet the individual needs of our clients. As heritage specialists we take pride in our approach by delivering fascinating, engaging and a specialised form of adult education. We cater for individuals, small/large interest groups and the culturally curious visitor.
We offer a wide range of specialised adult education such as:
- Interactive Archaeological Workshops
- In-House Lessons/Presentations on Irish Archaeology
- Bespoke Cultural & Heritage Tours
- Corporate Events
Heritage Specialists
Education
Cultural Tourism
© All rights reserved The School of Irish Archaeology
Made with ❤ by TB
Heritage Specialists
Education
Cultural Tourism
© All rights reserved The School of Irish Archaeology
Made with ❤ by TB