Case Study 2
(Primary)
Background Information
School location (county): Urban Boys Primary school
Class/Age/Educational setting: All Classes/Cross Curricular
Describe what happened
This urban boys’ primary school took a holistic approach to DE. The pupils’ learning was
connected across diverse subject areas linking the theme of water in both local (water in the
school and local park) and global (water in Uganda) contexts. The success was largely due to
good integrated planning by the teachers, who facilitated independent pupil group work and
research, while encouraging the pupils to share their individual learning experiences.
All of the teachers were involved, in that each agreed on integrating the theme of water
into a different subject.
•• Infants: Literacy – used a storybook about a hippo searching •
for water as a stimulus.
••1st class: Religion/Literacy – used a story from Alive – O 3, •
‘The Woman at the Well’ as a stimulus.
••2nd class: Geography – explored the geography and people •
of Uganda – water in Uganda.
••3rd class: Maths – capacity – the students measured and compared
the average amount of water used in Ireland and Uganda.
••4th class: Science – the students did a field study on their •
local environment, focusing on pollution in their local river. •
They experimented with various ways to filter water, and •
cleaned up the river.
••5th/6th classes: Maths/Science/Geography – researched and
highlighted water usage in homes and in school. They also suggested
and implemented water conservation methods throughout the school.
The pupils then set up an exhibition in the main hall to share their project with the rest
of the school.
Why do you consider this good practice?
Knowledge, Ideas and Understanding:
The pupils displayed the knowledge gained on the issue, by making suggestions,
and implementing, methods to assure more sustainable futures.