A sackful of packs

Fair Share: The Combat Poverty Agency has produced a new edition of this pack which was first produced in 1991. An especialy developed discussion pack for second-level schools and youth groups, it aims to create awareness among young people about poverty. It contains updated facts and information to reflect changes that have taken place in Irish society over the past seven years.

It comprises a handbook and worksheets, 40 black-and-white photographs with a list of photo activities, plus four colour posters. It contains a series of exercises, games and role plays on chapters ranging from racism to rural poverty, to stimulate and provoke debate. It costs £6 and is available from the Combat Poverty Agency in Dublin.

The Euro Box: The Irish banks and building societies have sent a free carboard box to all primary and second-level schools with a selection of resource pages, teachers' notes, colour flashcards, a wall chart, the Euro converter (with a little rotating wheel) and the Euro Morph, which is all about the EU, the countries, the currency and more besides. It's for use by teachers and students alike.

SVP: A pack produced by the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) last year is "already running low," according to Anne Murphy, the society's adult development officer. "We're ready to reprint if needs be."

The pack was sent to schools with Transition Year classes but now teachers can contact SVP and pay £5 for a copy. It can be used by schools who run peer ministry programmes and pastoral care modules. It's a six-week programme and is for use over three class periods a week. The pack, says its covering letter, has been designed to create a more just and participative society for all.

"With an inter-disciplinary focus and from the Christian perspective of SVP", the pack seeks to facilitate student membership of the SVP as one way to participate in the Christian response to poverty. It's available from SVP's head office in Dublin at a cost £5, including postage.

To Feel At Home: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has developed this pack for European teenagers aged 14 to 18 years. "Students of English, geography, humanities, sociology, religious education, modern studies and personal and social education will find the video of particular use," the pack claims.

It consists of a 45-minute video which follows seven young refugees as they start new lives in three European countries. A 54-page teachers' guide accompanies the video and offers teachers suggested classroom activities and practical exercises as well as background information. The pack is available free from UNHCR offices, Dublin.

Fridge Focus: This new pack about refrigeration and food safety was launched in Dublin last month by five organisations as part of a pan-European campaign on food safety. The Consumers' Association of Ireland, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the Food and Drink Federation (IBEC), Bord Bia and the European Union are behind this pack for second-level students.

It has been distributed to schools, but is also available on the FSAI website: http://www.fsai.ie

The pack contains a fridge thermometer; leaflets on preparing, storing and eating foods from the FSAI, a guide to buying food and eating out and a few information sheets with questions and facts.

Trocaire has produced material for use in both primary and second-level schools, as well as teacher resource material. The Rights Stuff! is an education resource for teachers introducing chidrens' rights. It contains lots of games' and activities' ideas. The material also includes teaching suggestions and lesson plans. The aim is to teach students about human rights and responsibilities. This costs £6. In general, Trocaire's material is free, but there can be a charge for some items.

Shaping Space: This architecture education programme is produced by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland with the Blackrock Education Centre. Launched in February 1998, it's designed so that teachers or schools can adopt an a la carte approach. The programme provides a variety of teaching resources such as lesson plans, worksheets, homework assignments, suggestions for cross-curricular exercises and projects, advice on teaching, learning strategies and a sample assessment sheet.

A Bug's Life: One of a series of guides produced by the education department of Film Institute of Ireland, this is based on Disney's animated film and is produced in association with Buena Vista International. The guide was launched in conjunction with a series of free screenings for students and a number of workshops for teachers in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Mullingar. The aim is to explore the relevance of film from an educational point of view.