Blas - Teacher Resources for Primary School
Primary school teachers in Fingal are invited to take part in the Blas project by using the Blas lesson plans to explore our strong local traditions of horticultural, farming and all things food related. The lesson plans include curriculum links, learning outcomes, a teacher’s guide, pupil activity sheets, photos, video and audio resources for use in class.
This is an opportunity to use the fascinating stories of local people and places to help spark curiosity about local history in your pupils - from memories of fruit picking to where the Cook sourced the food for fine dining at Newbridge House in the 1800s.
All classes that take part in the project by submitting samples of work, will be entered into a prize draw for a class tour of Newbridge House and Farm. A selection of work will feature on the Blas website.
Blas Lesson Plans
Harvest and Halloween in Fingal (Second to Fourth Class)
Pupils explore the history of the harvesting using historical evidence, consider the connection to Halloween and discuss the games and traditions associated with the Festival. They then create a piece of artwork to depict an autumn feast in Fingal or create a photo collage of signs of the harvest in Fingal.
Lesson Resources
Harvesting image (from Luttrell Psalter manuscript)
(Luttrell Psalter is justifiably considered one of the British Library’s greatest treasures. It was created c. 1320-1340 in Lincolnshire, England, and takes its name from its first owner and patron, Sir Geoffrey Luttrell (1276-1345).
Fingal Farming – a Proud Tradition, Fingal Food Production in the Past and Present (Fifth and Sixth class).
Using local historical evidence including photo, video and audio sources, pupils complete a mapping exercise on food sources and compare and contrast how food production is different today than in the past. They then apply this learning and their creative writing skills to create a diary entry as a Fingal farmer in the past.
Lesson Resources
- Video excerpt ‘The Big House’ food in the past at Newbridge House, Donabate, Co Dublin.
- Audio recording: Picking sprouts, topping and binding carrots, Rush 1940s-60s (Mary Leonard Lowndes, Swords. From Maurice O’Keeffe, Irish Life & Lore recordings, Fingal Series 1)
Fruit picking c.1940 Lambs Fruit Farm, Courtesy of the Donabate Historical Society Museum
Fingal’s Family Food Tree – have our meals changed from generation to generation? (First to Fourth class)
Pupils are asked to complete a family food tree by asking parents, and grandparents about their favourite childhood meals and comparing them to their own.
Lesson Resources
Gallery
Here are some examples of the fabulous work we have been sent by schools in Fingal taking part in Blas, Fingal’s Food Heritage project.
Fingal Family Food Trees
Third Class, at Balscadden National School asked parents, and grandparents about their favourite childhood meals and compared them to their own. The results offer a wonderful insight into our food heritage and how our tastes change from generation to generation. While there may be a shift from bacon and cabbage to pizza, carbonara and lasagne, the humble spud still features in the favourite meals of Third Class!
