Mobile School Rock Pool
25th August 2006

Exploris Re - Launches Winter Roadshow for Schools

'SCHOOL ROCKS'

Exploris - the Northern Ireland aquarium have launched their winter road show for schools to run between October and March each year. Exploris will bring the mobile rock pool' to schools during winter months where pupils can enjoy an interactive display of underwater creatures without leaving the classroom. The discovery pool demonstrations which were piloted in 2006, have already made a splash with various schools throughout the province as Fiona Mcdonald the headmistress of Drumnano Nursery school reflects;

“I couldn't recommend it highly enough, we have told many other schools about it. We had thought about a visit to Exploris, but when we heard about their Winter Roadshow, we jumped at the chance of bringing them to our school. The interactive element with the sea creatures facilitated the learning of such young children, and we will definitely be booking it again next year”.

Alongside the rock pool demonstrations, Exploris Education Officer Andy O'Neill will tailor a programme to each schools needs providing community relationship themed talks pitched at Key stage 1+2 children on issues such as conservation, citizenship, animal habitats or sea creatures for the whole school, class or year group.

The roadshow has been developed to increase the education programmes accessibility for more marginalised schools throughout the province as Andy discusses:

“The accessibility issue due to education funding cutbacks has affected many schools throughout the province. As such educational visits are quite often the first to go. Insurance increases, transport costs and legislation have made it very hard for groups, and the attention span of very young kids on long journeys makes such trips very stressful for teachers. We have therefore attempted to address this need, and to date it has been extremely successful. We had close to 40 bookings in our pilot year, and have already been inundated with bookings for 2007/8 term.”

If you are interested in bringing the Exploris Mobile Rock pool to your school this winter please use our new on-line booking request form at: www.exploris.org.uk

-ENDS-

For further information please contact
Andy O'Neill – 028 4272 8062
Picture is Children from Drumnanoe primary school enjoying the winter roadshow.

For further information please contact

Rory Martin – Events and Marketing Officer – 028 4272 8062

Picture is Children from Drumnanoe primary school enjoying the winter roadshow.

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