On Wednesday 11th October, 4th & 5th Class enjoyed a really informative workshop learning about the wonders of the Burren which is right on our doorstep. This workshop linked in with strands on our History and Geography curriculum when we looked at the archeology, geology and culture of the Burren.
Karen van Dorg from the Burrenbeo trust led the workshop called The Calf & the Cuckoo.
She taught us how to identify rocks in the Burren. She had a very scientific method of identifying limestone using hydrochloric acid which she showed us in our groups.
We looked at the history of farming in the Burren right through from the Stone Age where archaeologists found artefacts from that era, through to the present day where the farmers walk their cattle up onto the mountains for the winter.
Karen told us that the cattle can stay out all winter because the stone absorbs the heat during the summer, allowing the temperature to remain at 5 degrees Celsius all winter long.
Karen will be back in the springtime to do another workshop on the flowers of the Burren. We hope to go on a field trip to the Burren in term 3 to see all our learning in action.
