Teach the Eco-Schools Themes

The Weatherbies are the official Early Years partners for Eco Schools NI, part of the global Eco Schools network delivering the Eco Schools programme by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), one of the world’s largest environmental education organisations.

Multi-Media Learning Resources

Our book series and companion materials are aligned to the global Eco-Schools themes, giving teachers and homeschoolers a wealth of free English- and Irish-language classroom and nursery resources for engaging Early Years and Foundation Stage children in these key topics.

The Weatherbies characters model pro-social behaviours, good communication and thoughtful actions to take care of their town and the wider environment.

Our resources include:

  • Fun Topic videos introducing key concepts, with a quick quiz to help retention (with or without companion songs)
  • Songs to engage young learners and encourage movement
  • Downloadable resources from our learning resource partner, Twinkl
  • Author book readings of a selection of our story books

Most of our resources are completely free, including book reading videos of three of our storybook range. Our full range of books as available to buy in our online shop, on Amazon and from select stockists – ask your local bookshop for The Weatherbies books! We are also delighted to be stocked in the National Library of Ireland. For school book procurement, get in touch.

Global Themes

There are 12 global Eco-Schools themes, designed to help give the Eco-Schools programme structure. Here are the theme descriptions from the global Eco-Schools website, where you can find out more about the programme.

The Eco-Schools Biodiversity u0026 Nature icon (a white butterfly on a green background with green flowers arrayed above it)

Biodiversity and Nature 

This theme examines the flora and fauna present in the school environment and suggests ways to increase the levels of biodiversity around the school and raises the pupils’ awareness of biodiversity and nature. Click to explore our Biodiversity and Nature teaching resources

The Eco-Schools Climate Change icon (a white tree on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Climate Change

This theme examines the impacts we have on the Climate through our lifestyles and how our actions can influence the situation in a positive way. Click to explore our Climate Change teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Energy icon (a white sun symbol on a green background with green flowers arrayed above it)

Energy

This theme suggests ways in which all members of the school can work together to increase awareness of energy issues and to improve energy efficiency within the school. Click to explore our Energy teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Food icon (a white knife, fork and plate, covered with a map of the earth, on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Food

This theme encourages young people, their parents, and the whole community to take responsible food-related choices and actions that protect the environment, promote human rights, and improve the wellbeing of society – every day. Click to explore our Food teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Climate Change icon (a white tree on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Global Citizenship

This theme examines what our rights and responsibilities are on a National, European and Global scale and encourages staff, students and parents to look at the impacts our consumption habits have on other parts of the world. Click to explore our Global Citizenship teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Health u0026 Wellbeing icon (a white apple on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Health and Wellbeing

This theme encourages schools to promote the health and wellbeing of young people and the wider community and to make environmental connections to health and safety. Click to explore our Health and Wellbeing teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Litter icon (a white image of a person dropping litter into a bin, on a green background with green flowers arrayed above it)

Litter

This theme examines the impact of litter on the environment and explores practical means for reducing and minimising the amount of litter produced by the school. Click to explore our Litter teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Marine and Coast icon (a white boat on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Marine and Coast

This theme teaches children about local and/or global coastal and marine habitats, how people are affecting these habitats and what we can do to protect them. Click to explore our Marine and Coast teaching resources.

School Grounds

This theme encourages schools to introduce children to the natural environment and to biodiversity in a practical way by offering a safe and potentially exciting facility for outdoor education that can complement classroom-based activities. Click to explore our School Grounds teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Transport icon (a white bicycle on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Transport

This theme suggests ways for pupils, staff and local government to work together to raise awareness of transport issues and come up with practical solutions that will make a real difference to pupils’ everyday lives. Click to explore our Transport teaching resources.

Waste

This theme examines the impact of waste on the environment and explores actions to minimise the amount of waste that we produce and dispose of on a daily basis. Click to explore our Waste teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Water icon (a Water water droplet on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Water

This theme provides an introduction to the importance of water both locally and globally and raises awareness of how simple actions can substantially cut down water use. Click to explore our Water teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Biodiversity and Nature icon (a white butterfly on a green background with green flowers arrayed above it)

Biodiversity & Nature

This theme examines the flora and fauna present in the school environment and suggests ways to increase the levels of biodiversity around the school and raises the pupils’ awareness of biodiversity and nature. Click to explore our Biodiversity and Nature teaching resources

The Eco-Schools Climate Change icon (a white tree on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Climate Change

This theme examines the impacts we have on the Climate through our lifestyles and how our actions can influence the situation in a positive way. Click to explore our Climate Change teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Energy icon (a white sun symbol on a green background with green flowers arrayed above it)

Energy

This theme suggests ways in which all members of the school can work together to increase awareness of energy issues and to improve energy efficiency within the school. Click to explore our Energy teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Food icon (a white knife, fork and plate, covered with a map of the earth, on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Food

This theme encourages young people, their parents, and the whole community to take responsible food-related choices and actions that protect the environment, promote human rights, and improve the wellbeing of society – every day. Click to explore our Food teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Climate Change icon (a white tree on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Global Citizenship

This theme examines what our rights and responsibilities are on a National, European and Global scale and encourages staff, students and parents to look at the impacts our consumption habits have on other parts of the world. Click to explore our Global Citizenship teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Health u0026 Wellbeing icon (a white apple on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Health and Wellbeing

This theme encourages schools to promote the health and wellbeing of young people and the wider community and to make environmental connections to health and safety. Click to explore our Health and Wellbeing teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Litter icon (a white image of a person dropping litter into a bin, on a green background with green flowers arrayed above it)

Litter

This theme examines the impact of litter on the environment and explores practical means for reducing and minimising the amount of litter produced by the school. Click to explore our Litter teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Marine and Coast icon (a white boat on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Marine and Coast

This theme teaches children about local and/or global coastal and marine habitats, how people are affecting these habitats and what we can do to protect them. Click to explore our Marine and Coast teaching resources.

School Grounds

This theme encourages schools to introduce children to the natural environment and to biodiversity in a practical way by offering a safe and potentially exciting facility for outdoor education that can complement classroom-based activities. Click to explore our School Grounds teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Transport icon (a white bicycle on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Transport

This theme suggests ways for pupils, staff and local government to work together to raise awareness of transport issues and come up with practical solutions that will make a real difference to pupils’ everyday lives. Click to explore our Transport teaching resources.

Waste

This theme examines the impact of waste on the environment and explores actions to minimise the amount of waste that we produce and dispose of on a daily basis. Click to explore our Waste teaching resources.

The Eco-Schools Water icon (a Water water droplet on a green background with green leaves arrayed above it)

Water

This theme provides an introduction to the importance of water both locally and globally and raises awareness of how simple actions can substantially cut down water use. Click to explore our Water teaching resources.

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