School life
In a Ireland classroom
Local school customs vary. The best way to learn about a class's day is to ask them directly.
All country briefings
Europe · Country briefing
Ireland
A child-friendly mission briefing for 20 November - capital, climate, school day, languages, fun facts, native animals, and five questions to ask the class on the other side of the world.
- CapitalDublin
- Population~5.5 million
- Time zoneEurope/Dublin (UTC +0)
- Currencyeuro (EUR)
Ireland, with Dublin marked
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Climate in November: Cold autumn moving towards winter; short daylight in the north.
The capital
Dublin
Photo · Wikimedia Commons
Fun facts
What makes Ireland a bit special.
Forty shades of green
Why Ireland is called the Emerald Isle
Open lesson
The Cliffs of Moher
Sea cliffs taller than 60 double-decker buses, on Ireland's wild Atlantic edge
Open lesson
Newgrange
A 5,000-year-old passage tomb - older than the Egyptian pyramids
Open lesson
Gaeilge - the Irish language
An ancient language spelt very differently from the way it sounds
Open lesson
Leprechauns and Irish folklore
Fairy folk in green coats, pots of gold and the stories Ireland tells
Open lesson
The Giant's Causeway
40,000 hexagonal stone columns that look made by hand
Open lesson
Tap any card to open a class-ready mini-lesson - for the teacher to walk through, or an older child to read aloud.
Native animals
Wildlife your partner class might know best.
- 🐇
The Irish hare
A speedy, long-legged native that has lived in Ireland for 30,000 years
Open lesson
- 🦌
The red deer
Ireland's biggest wild animal, with antlers that grow a metre wide
Open lesson
- 🦦
The Eurasian otter
Ireland is one of the best places in Europe to spot a wild otter
Open lesson
- 🦉
The barn owl
A pale, ghost-like bird that hunts in total silence
Open lesson
- 🦈
The basking shark
The world's second-biggest fish - and it's incredibly gentle
Open lesson
Tap any animal to open a class-ready lesson about it.
Greetings to learn
Say hello like a local
- Hello!English
Five questions to ask
Conversation starters
- 01What does your school day look like?
- 02What do you eat at lunch?
- 03What games do you play at break?
- 04What's the weather like today?
- 05What do you wish more children around the world knew about your country?
What not to assume
Friendly cautions
- ℹIreland has many regions and communities - there is no single experience.
- ℹClimate, food, and traditions can vary widely from one part of the country to another.
Culture
Food, music, sport, festivals.
Food
Music
Sport
Festivals
Tap any chip to open a class-ready lesson - what it is, why it matters, fun facts.
Reflection prompts
- “What's something you'd love to share about your school day?”
- “What's the most surprising thing you'd love to ask the other class?”
Could your class meet Ireland?
Choose Irelandwhen you register - we’ll show you the time-zone feasibility.