10 – 12

Scoilnet/RTE archives

Activity

Scoilnet/RTE archives

What to do with this activity?

Scoilnet and RTÉ television archives have brought together a collection of film and video clips that relate directly to the Irish Primary School History Curriculum. RTÉ is Ireland's national broadcasting company and their television service was launched in 1961, so the film and video clips date back that far. Tell your child that their grandparents lived through that time!

Have a look here to link to the website, which is organised under titles such as Farming, Transport, Clothes, and Northern Ireland.

Show your child how manual telephone exchanges used to work right up to 1986; how big mobile telephones were in 1985; how people lived with violence in Belfast in 1972; and the size of platform shoes in 1975

Let your child discover interesting video items themselves, and check out the work sheets provided by Scoilnet for each clip. 

  • Why am I doing this?

    It’s important to encourage whatever reading your child is doing at this age. Children have their own interests and hobbies so they will be more inclined to read information about these subjects. Having comics, papers or magazines around the house will make it easier for your child to get into reading. Your child might find it appealing to read online and you might like that the book can be read by an automated voice. E books can be looked at when you are on the move, making sure that your child is careful with your computer or phone.

  • How can I do more?

    Your child might like to read a section of the newspaper or a magazine – the sports, fashion or cooking sections - depending on their interests. They might like to read a short piece from a newspaper and underline facts with a pen and opinion with a pencil. You can then talk about the difference between fact and opinion (there are good examples in sports writing). Encourage your child to read instructions for mending bikes, building models and playing new games.

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