The GAA has launched a number of resources for Primary School Teachers and Coaches. PE Céim ar Aghaidh is a Teaching Resource book designed to assist Primary School Teachers to deliver the Physical Educational curriculum through Gaelic games activities. It is the most recent addition to the GAA Céim ar Aghaidh/Step Ahead Resource Pack, which is a cross-curricular education resource, supporting delivery of the wider Curriculum based on the theme of the GAA.
A new innovative web based Coaching Resource called the GAA Activity Planner was also launched. The planner contains 100’s of drills, games and activities for Hurling, Gaelic Football, Handball and Rounders which Coaches can build into Coaching Sessions, save, share and print out. A version of the planner based on the PE Céim ar Aghaidh allows Teachers to build PE Lesson Plans based on the class they are teaching. The resources are part of a suite of online material published on the GAA Learning & Development Portal. (www.learning.gaa.ie).
GAA President, Liam O’Neill, noted that
“as a primary school teacher and someone with a profound interest in both Gaelic games and education, I welcome the publication of these fantastic teaching resources. I am glad to say that the GAA has been to the fore in the development of such resources and this latest project sees that trend continue.”
Pat Culhane – GAA National Child Games Development Coordinator – added that
“in terms of the PE Curriculum, this is the first resource of its kind that promotes all codes within the Gaelic games family. The innovative mix of hard copy and online resources will enhance teachers’ delivery of the PE and other curriculum subjects.”
The PE Curriculum notes that Gaelic Games should be given particular consideration as part of the games programme and our schools and the education sector as a whole are a major contributor when it comes to influencing and fostering an interest and love in our national games and contributing towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
Complimentary copies of the PE Céim ar Aghaidh Teaching Resource will be delivered to all Primary School in the coming weeks, while the full complement of current resources is available through www.learning.gaa.ie/primary-school
