Heritage Specialist – Educator – Trainer - Tour Director - Archaeologist
For Junior & Senior Infants – Crate Classes
Pillars of the Earth - Rocks & Minerals
The solid crust of the earth is composed of a myriad of rocks and minerals,
the layers of which can be read like a book by the trained geologist. Ireland has an interesting and varied geology and Vincent will use a selection of samples from his own extensive collection to explain in simple terms how different types of rock have formed and the rich array of minerals of which they are composed. He will also give advice and tips to the students on collecting their own rocks and mineral specimens.
Ancient Earth - Fossils
Fossils – the remains of prehistoric plants and animals preserved in rock – have fascinated people for centuries. Vincent will explain how fossils were formed, the main types that can be found, the geological periods to which they belong and many of the creatures that lived in the far distant past. A fine selection of specimens, including dinosaur bone, ammonites, trilobites, belemnites, brachiopods, and teeth from mosasaurs and sharks will be made available for the students to examine. In addition, Vincent will give useful advice and tips on how the students can make their own collection of fossils.
Restless Earth - Volcanoes
As recent events around the globe have shown, there are many ‘hot-spots’ where volcanic activity is all too apparent. Vincent has visited many volcanically active places over the years including the Cape Verde island of Fogo lying off the West Coast of Africa, Iceland and the Lipari Islands, Italy.
The structure and workings of a typical volcano will be explained using a selection of geological specimens collected during his far-flung travels. The students will learn about volcanic eruptions, volcanic bombs, the different types of lava, obsidian, the Earth’s tectonic plates, and hot mud and water pools. In addition, the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD and the consequent annihilation of the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum will be described. Students will have the opportunity to handle and examine a collection of volcanic rock samples.
Archaeology – A Load of Old Rubbish
An impressive array of biological samples was retrieved during archaeological excavation of Medieval period deposits in Dublin City. Extremely well preserved, mammal, bird and fish bone, shellfish and remains of plants were found in profusion. As a professional archaeologist for many years, Vincent specialised in the detailed examination of ancient animal bones and he will describe the different techniques archaeologists use to study them, similar in many ways to crime scene forensics, to gather information about the past. He will explain how this ‘old rubbish’ provides us with a fascinating insight into everyday life in Dublin over a thousand years ago. Archaeological samples and specimens, including animal bones, will be made available for hands-on examination by the students.
After the Ice - Stone Age Ireland
A variety of now extinct mammals once inhabited Ireland during warmer phases of the Ice Age. These included Woolly Mammoth, Reindeer, Irish Giant Deer, Cave Hyaena, Brown Bear, Wolf, Lemming and Arctic Fox. Vincent will detail these remarkable animals and the Ireland they inhabited tens of thousands of years ago. He will showcase a selection of their ancient bones from his own private collection. Following the end of the Ice Age around 12,000 years ago, our first prehistoric ancestors arrived on the island of Ireland. Vincent will explain about our Stone Age forebears, the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who initially came here around 8,000 BC and the Neolithic early farmers who were the first to introduce domestic plants and animals to Ireland 6,000 years ago..
The Seashore & Sea
This ‘Crate Class’ examines the rich array of marine life found along our coastline and in the sea using a selection of specimens collected by Vincent over a lifetime. Remarkable facts and snippets of information are provided on a wide range of the amazing creatures whose home is the shore and sea. Sea urchins, whales, shellfish, sharks, seabirds, dolphins, crabs, sea anemones, barnacles, cuttlefish, jellyfish, and lots more are detailed. Each tide brings in a new ‘cargo’ of interesting items to the shore where they are left stranded awaiting discovery by the seashore detective. Vincent gives advice on how students can create and display their own collection of the wonderful items they find.
Field and Forest
A variety of now extinct mammals once inhabited Ireland during warmer phases of the Ice Age. These included Woolly Mammoth, Reindeer, Irish Giant Deer, Cave Hyaena, Brown Bear, Wolf, Lemming and Arctic Fox. Vincent will detail these remarkable animals and the Ireland they inhabited tens of thousands of years ago. He will showcase a selection of their ancient bones from his own private collection. Following the end of the Ice Age around 12,000 years ago, our first prehistoric ancestors arrived on the island of Ireland. Vincent will explain about our Stone Age forebears, the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who initially came here around 8,000 BC and the Neolithic early farmers who were the first to introduce domestic plants and animals to Ireland 6,000 years ago.
A Teaching Resource
My series of short videos provides captivating facts and snippets of information
on a wide range of the amazing creatures whose home is the seashore. Sea urchins, whales, shellfish, sharks, seabirds, dolphins, crabs, sea anemones, barnacles, cuttlefish, jellyfish, and lots more are detailed.
I hope you find them useful as an alternative activity in lieu of field trips that may have had to be cancelled due to current restrictions and that your young students enjoy these ‘virtual’ tours to the shore.
To view the videos simply click on the links provided below.
I would welcome comments which can be sent to me at info@vincentbutlerheritage.ie
Happy exploring, discovering, and collecting!!
Vincent details some of the amazing inhabitants of rock pools, including limpets, winkles, dog whelks, mussels, hermit crabs and sea anemones.
Sandy shores are often littered with the shells and other remains of sea creatures. Vincent showcases a variety of marine life including whelks, scallops, cowries, barnacles, boring sponges, keel worms, rock-boring
shellfish, and cuttlefish.
A variety of crabs, starfish and sea urchins are the main stars in this video. Encased in hard outer shells or exoskeletons, their extraordinary lives are explored and detailed.
We go very large in this video with a look at whales, dolphins and the elusive and mysterious basking shark. Vincent illustrates his narrative with captivating specimens from his own collection.
Vincent provides an array of amazing facts about some of our seabirds including the puffin, fulmar, gannet, and cormorant and the lives they lead along the coast.
The ancient stories of the shoreline are written in its geology. Vincent explains about a variety of the different interesting rocks and minerals that can be found along the shore.
If its fossils that catch your interest, go no further! Using a selection of fine specimens from his own private collection, Vincent takes us on a deep-time journey to explore prehistoric sea creatures.
Each tide brings a new cargo of interesting objects to the shore. Vincent explains about some rare items that can be found and their amazing stories, including coconuts and sea-beans transported thousands of kilometres to our shores in the water of the Gulf Stream.
An avid beachcomber, Vincent gives insights and advice on collecting and displaying the interesting and varied items that can be found along the shore, a go-to for any young budding naturalist or geologist!!
Charting Vincent’s world-wide travels working aboard the expedition
cruise ship, National Geographic Explorer, copies of his book –
‘Sixty Photographs for Simon’ can be purchased online using the link
below. ALL proceeds from the sale of the book go directly to the Simon
Community to help them in their work with our homeless.
https://irishacademicpress.ie/product/sixty-photographs-for-simon/
Vincent: 087-2330966.
info@vincentbutlerheritage.ie
Great Connell, Newbridge,
Co. Kildare
W12 K680
Ireland
© Vincent Butler Heritage