Outdoor Classroom | For Ireland

Leaving Certificate Biology

The FSC has been the UK’s leading provider of biology fieldwork for over 60 years. Through our Leaving Certificate programmes your students can:

• Collect ecological data through sampling.
• Develop analytical skills through graphical and statistical techniques.
• Encounter real plants and animals in a variety of habitats.
• Make links with other areas of biology.
• Boost their understanding of ecology and its everyday application.

To provide schools and young people with the highest quality learning experience we believe that it is important to offer flexibility and choice. Our full-time teaching staff at Derrygonnelly and Dale Fort pride themselves on delivering courses which are tailored to your needs.
In your stay with us we can also cover a variety of topics within the Leaving Certificate syllabus - Ordinary and Higher - including:

Leaving Certificate Syllabus Fieldwork Days

Leaving certificate students benefit hugely from a range of field study days offered at FSC centres.  As part of the study of an ecosystem one or more of the following habitats can be investigated; woodland, rocky shore, grassland, freshwater or sand dunes. These can include (according to length of visit) ecological definitions, nutrient recycling, energy flow and food chains/webs, pyramids of number, competition, predation, population dynamics, and pollution/human impact on habitats and ecosystems.  The ecological concepts are central to the fieldwork, which boosts understanding and enjoyment. All the leaving certificate ecological experiments required can be included in a field visit to one or more habitat over the course of a day visit or during a longer course.  Each fieldwork day includes an introductory session, as well as the opportunity to analyse and present the data collected using relevant graphical techniques followed by a conclusion and summary of the day. For more information see example below.

A Study of an Ecosystem:  Experiments

• Identification and use of various apparatus required for collection methods in an ecological study. Habitat studies can involve the use of various apparatus and techniques according to the habitat studied.  Students are fully involved in the identification, use and evaluation of apparatus suitable to the study.
• Use of simple keys to identify any 5 flora and fauna and their adaptations to the ecosystem. Dichotomous keys with illustrations and descriptions are used by the students to identify flora and fauna.  Tutors are on hand to help although the emphasis is on student enquiry.
• A quantitative study of plants and animals, in a sample area, in a selected ecosystem. 
• Investigation of three or more abiotic factors possibly including light intensity, soil pH, wind speed, temperature, humidity, velocity and dissolved oxygen.   The number and type of abiotic measurements will depend on the habitat studied; three or more will be measured in any ecosystem study. 

Does length of stay matter?

The longer you stay with us, the more your students will achieve, the more profound the experience will be and the greater the impact on your students. 

It’s not all about coursework!

We are realistic. We know that assessment and coursework are important these days but we haven’t forgotten that it is the other bits of the FSC fieldwork experience that will probably leave the greatest impression on your students:

• Being in a beautiful place
• Making new friends
• Learning to work together
• Learning new life skills
• Building independence
• Having fun

Ecological Investigation: A study of an Ecosystem

Example study: Rocky Shore Ecology at FSC Derrygonnelly

FSC Derrygonnelly specialises in tutoring the study of an ecosystem.  The fieldwork and supporting resources have been developed specifically for students studying leaving certificate. A day visit to FSC Derrygonnelly includes a study of an ecosystem and all five mandatory experiments. 

During this day students will follow a route to enquiry to investigate biotic and abiotic factors on a rocky shore. Students will be introduced to a range of quantitative observational techniques which will develop the skills of data collection, identification of organisms and data analysis and presentation.

Aims and Objectives

• To observe, identify and measure a range of abiotic and biotic characteristics at Creevy Pier, Co. Donegal.
• To infer through observation and measurement the zonation of the rocky shore.

Site and Description of Location

This programme of study takes place at Creevy Pier, Co. Donegal.  The rocky shore is on the west coast of Ireland and is semi-exposed.  Clear zonation characteristics can be measured and observed from the lichen dominated upper shore to the mussel and kelp beds on the lower shore.   Rock pools are diverse and easily accessible for sampling. Journey time is approximately 35 minutes from the centre.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• ALL students will be able to: recall and use several techniques used to measure the rocky shore habitat; recognise and identify several different types of flora and fauna and recall their adaptations to the habitat; identify rocky shore zonation.
• MOST students will be able to: recall and use a range of techniques used to measure the rocky shore habitat; recognise and identify a range of different types of flora and fauna and identify adaptations to the rocky shore zones; identify and understand some of the reasons for rocky shore zonation.
• SOME students will be able to: recall, use and evaluate a range of techniques to measure the rocky shore habitat; recognise and identify a range of different types of flora and fauna and identify there adaptations to the rocky shore zones; Recognise and understand the processes that lead to rocky shore zonation.

Key Terminology

• Words related to the rocky shore environment: Abiotic, biotic, niche, habitat, littoral, zonation, ecosystem, flora, fauna, quantitative, adaptation, tides.
• Words related to the fieldwork: belt transect, frame quadrat,  quantitative, qualitative, % cover and frequency, wind speed, temperature, slope angle

Summary of Fieldwork

Equipment and booking sheets will be supplied to measure abiotic and biotic factors from low water to splash zone. There will be sufficient stations sampled to enable the data to be presented using kite diagrams and to construct pyramids of number and food chains/webs.   Methodology and techniques will be studied in relation to the investigation.  Conclusions and evaluations will be drawn and the day summarised.

Health and Safety

The site is risk assessed and students are instructed to remain a safe distance from the sea and cliff. Students will also be instructed not to run and to cross the rocky shore with care. Wellington boots and waterproofs are available for those who require them.