At Global Action Plan, we believe everyone can make a change.
Our schools programme is aimed at supporting students, teachers and school communities in making a difference towards a healthier planet, a safer, more just world and a more caring global community.
Our schools programme consists of six main areas of work, listed below:
1. Primary and Secondary School Workshops
GAP delivers topical and bespoke interactive workshops for primary and secondary schools.
Our workshops have been developed in close collaboration with teachers and students all over Ireland.
Click on the workshop of your interest below to find out more about a specific workshop. You can also go to our Schools Workshop page to learn more about our approach and pricing.
Fast Fashion
Explore the topic of Fast Fashion through a global citizens perspective and dig in to the challenges, root causes consequences and solutions to an industry that has a huge impact…
Exploring Greenwashing
Self-charging hybrid” cars. “Made with ocean plastic”. Green nuclear energy?! Companies know you want to be more environmentally friendly, so they like to tell us how much good they are…
Circular Economy
Currently, we humans live in a TAKE, MAKE, WASTE model. We make products, consume them and then chuck them away, littering our planet in the process. But what if there was a different way to do things? A circular way?
Water Explorer
“Water Explorer” is a practice-oriented workshop for schools that explores the theme of water from a range of perspectives. Students are introduced to the environmental impacts of our water use…
Climate Action
“Climate Action” is a hands-on workshop for schools, which introduces them to current climate science and the topic of climate change in an age-appropriate, interactive, and action-focused way. The workshop…
Waste Wise
“Waste Wise” introduces students to the environmental impacts of our waste through engaging, participatory activities. Students explore overconsumption and waste in an age-appropriate way. The workshop can focus on the…
Budding Biodiversity
“Budding Biodiversity” is an experiential workshop for schools that introduces biodiversity at a local level. By exploring our community garden or your own school garden, children learn about different species…
Action on Global Citizenship
At GAP, we want to empower primary and secondary school students to take climate action as active global citizens. Though teacher training, resource development and in-school workshops, our Action on Global…
2. Teacher Training
Our teacher training builds educators’ knowledge and skills so they can develop students’ identities as global citizens, and lead climate action projects in their schools.
Critical Themes webinars
Critical Themes engages with essential topics for junior and leaving certificate, so teachers feel better equipped to discuss and act with their students. Past events include plastic, fast fashion and greenwashing.
Click here to see our upcoming training events, or sign up to our newsletter.
Action on Global Citizenship
– Teacher training
Every teacher can be a global citizenship educator!
Our introductory course develops key concepts in global citizenship and climate action, using hands-on, engaging methodologies. Click here to find out more.
Nature-Based Outdoor Learning sessions for Teachers
Build your confidence in taking your classroom outside to learn in nature. Our hands-on CPD sessions for Primary School equip teachers with practical tips and plans, as well as games, and activities to bring back to your students. Email [email protected] for more information or to book a session for. your staff.
3. Teacher Resources
Our Action on Global Citizenship Teacher Toolkit is jam-packed with student-centred activities and resources on themes of poverty, development, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ecological footprints.
The toolkit also includes templates for carrying out action plans in schools. Our teacher resources are fully aligned with curricular learning outcomes for junior cycle CSPE, geography, science and English, and senior cycle Politics and Society. The toolkits are available in English and Irish, and best of all, they are free!
Íoslódáil ’Action on Global Citizenship’ go Gaeilge
D’aistríomar ár n-acmhainn móréilimh ‘Action on Global Citizenship’ go Gaeilge!
Déanfaidh sé seo Gaelscoils agus ranganna Gaeilge a fhostú leis an bhfoireann uirlisí agus bunóidh sé naisc churaclaim bhreise. Cuirfidh aistriúchán ár bhfoireann uirlisí ar ár gcumas ár dtraenáil a leathnú chuig níos mó múinteoirí agus príomhoidí atá ag iarraidh oibriú i dtreo cur chuige scoile uile i leith Oideachas Saoránachta Domhanda.
Online Courses for Primary Schools
GAP offers a number of easily accessible online courses. Click here to browse our range of online courses.
Teacher Factsheets
Click here to download some of our Teacher Fact Sheets.
Online tips
Our website contains numerous tips and tricks for teachers, including outdoor winter games and outdoor classrooms.
4. GLAS Community Garden
At the heart of Ballymun, GLAS community garden is a Discover Primary Science and Maths (DPSM) Centre as well as a social inclusion hub.
School groups can visit the garden to learn about biodiversity, organic gardening, water and energy in a hands-on participatory way. Click here to find out more.
5. Global Citizenship programmes
Just Action
Time for good climate action in schools. GAP Ireland have been working with schools for nearly thirty years, and in that time, we’ve learned a few things. We know that…
Action on Global Citizenship
At GAP, we want to empower primary and secondary school students to take climate action as active global citizens. Though teacher training, resource development and in-school workshops, our Action on Global…
6. Nature Explorer Schools
The Nature Explorer Schools programme is a fun and active outdoor learning programme that supports children to develop a deeper connection to the natural world. The programme runs weekly for 8 weeks in school gardens, city parks and local green spaces. Our model of play-based, exploratory learning is active and child-centred. Children explore nature in their locality, learn about the importance of protecting and supporting biodiversity, and take part in games and creative activities to help them learn about and connect with nature outdoors. Topics include plant and animal ID, learning about life cycles, nature art, and planting activities. Activities and approach are inspired by the Forest School ethos and the support the delivery of the school curriculum in many areas such as English, Gaeilge, Geography, Science, Maths, SPHE, Music, Art, PE and Drama.
The programme facilitates fun and meaningful engagement with nature and each other with the aim of developing children’s understanding of interdependence, interconnection and how important biodiversity is for all of us, in the belief that young people will go on to become active global citizens and long-term advocates for the rights of nature.
Our schools programme is funded through the generous support of Dublin City Council’s Ballymun Social Regeneration Fund, Worldwise Global Schools, the Department of Education, Erasmus+ as well as our Premium Education Sponsors: HSBC and McCann Fitzgerald.
The Nature Explorer Schools programme is supported by the Department of Education (ESD 2030) and Dublin City Council under the Dublin City Biodiversity Action Plan (2021-2025).
I’ve learnt that no one is too small to make a difference - Greta Thunberg