Linking with the Curriculum
With relation to the Science Primary School Curriculum (1999), the materials used to build the workhouse can be explored with relation to their properties and how they have survived over time. A scientific investigation of Dunshaughlin Workhouse could be brought into the classroom based upon these ideas. As part of their field trip to visit the famine graveyard, the children could investigate the ruins of the workhouse and make inferences regarding why some of them are now derelict. These investigations could also be linked in with other buildings in the area from different time periods and the children could investigate the differences in materials, how well they have survived, and what could be done differently if they were being built today.
The children could look at these two buildings in Dunshaughlin:
With relation to the Science Primary School Curriculum (1999), the materials used to build the workhouse can be explored with relation to their properties and how they have survived over time. A scientific investigation of Dunshaughlin Workhouse could be brought into the classroom based upon these ideas. As part of their field trip to visit the famine graveyard, the children could investigate the ruins of the workhouse and make inferences regarding why some of them are now derelict. These investigations could also be linked in with other buildings in the area from different time periods and the children could investigate the differences in materials, how well they have survived, and what could be done differently if they were being built today.
The children could look at these two buildings in Dunshaughlin:
![Picture](/uploads/4/5/7/7/45772233/2458528_orig.jpeg)
My Own Investigation!
During my visit to the workhouse I completed my own scientific investigation by observing the areas of the workhouse which have fallen into disrepair. From my observations, the walls of the workhouse have remained largely intact, although I couldn't investigate the complaints made in Pennethorne's 1844 report without endangering my own safety. The windows, roof supports, and roofing have all experienced serious damage. This largely appears to be due to exposure to the elements, but further, more sophisticated investigation could provide evidence of other forms of damage also.