Green School Song

The children in 2nd Class, Room 6 wrote a song

about the disadvantages of travelling by car.

 

We like sun, we like buns, we have lots and lots of fun.

We have spades we have shades and rollerblades

but that’s not all…

 

We have friends, we have trends

We have phones with ice cream cones

We have pools cos we’re cool

But that’s not all…

 

We like sun, we like buns, we have lots and lots of fun.

We have spades we have shades and rollerblades

but that’s not all…

 

We run around scream out loud saying we are happy hounds

We have fun, lots of fun, but that’s not all…

 

Zooming zooming, zooming, zooming in the car x3

Ha, ha, ha, ha you can’t catch us

 

Zooming, zooming, zooming, zooming

Faster than a lightening bolt

Ha, ha, ha, ha you can’t catch us.

 

Oh no oh no we’re stuck in a traffic jam x3

Waiting waiting, waiting, in the car x3

Oh no, oh no we’re stuck in a traffic jam x2.

 

Yippee, yippee the traffic is moving

But oh no oh no

We’ve run out of fuel…

 

 


Visitors to the classroom

I have been struck this year by the number of visitors we have had to our classroom. We love having visitors and making new friends. So far this year we have had Chris, Aisling and Madison visiting us on work experience. A number of Mums and a Grandmother came in to help us with our knitting. The Community Guard has been in to see us twice. Paul comes in to us regularly to talk to us about the ‘Do It In Memory of Me’ mass. We had two visiting teachers Ms.McN and Ms. H and a visitor from the Department of Education. I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our visitors, who made our school year so much more interesting and enjoyable.

Beginning on the 3rd May we are having a visitor from Junior Achievement. She will be coming in to teach us about the world of business over five weekly, forty five minute lessons. This is a regular event in the school and I know the children will enjoy it.

Later in the month, Simon is visiting to present a Passover Meal. This is an annual event for 2nd class, which has proved hugely enjoyable in the past. I know you will hear all about it from the children at the time. I thought you would be interested in a little more information about what happens on that day.

The presentation takes about two hours. The desks are moved so that it feels like we are all sitting round a big table. There is a lot of singing and high spirits. The enjoyment of the celebration brings the children closer together.

Traditionally this special meal is a happy family occasion which is held in Jewish homes on Passover. Through this ceremony, the history of the Jewish people is told. Jesus was celebrating Passover at The Last Supper.

Simon will bring flat bread or matzah crackers, parsley or watercress, horse radish, haroset (applesauce mixed with nuts), eggs and juice.

The story of Passover is told in words and by the food on the table.
*Bitter herbs symbolize how bitter and hard these people found their lives as slaves in Egypt.
*Charoset, a paste made of apple and nuts represents the mud bricks which the slaves were forced to make.
*A hardboiled egg reminds the Jews of a New Life of Freedom.

On the table there is also flatbread, salt water and wine. The Bible tells us that when the Jews escaped from Egypt, they did not have time to bake proper bread and could only make the bread that did not have time to rise.

Salt water is a symbol of the tears which the slaves shed.

The meal ends with a search for a piece of flatbread which, earlier on, has been hidden.

The children do not eat much as the food is mostly mentioned is in small quantities and some of it is bitter or salty. But the meal is punctuated with several lively ‘toasts’ in fruit cordial.

Partaking is the Passover meal helps the children making communion to understand the links between the Passover Meal, The Last Supper and what happens at Mass, when at the Offertory, The Last Supper is revisited.

Hope you find this informative,
Teacher.

The Stories of Jill Tomlinson: Similarities and Differences.

Books by Jill Tomlinson

The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark

The Cat Who Wanted To Go Home

The Aardvark Who Wasn’t Sure

The Otter Who Wanted To Know

Penguin’s Progress

How are these books the same?

They all have a main character, who is a young animal.

They are all asking questions

of their grown ups

and their friends

and they are all learning.

They all have adventures.

They have a beginning

a middle,

and an end

and they all have a happy ending. 

How are they different?

They are different because the main character is a different bird or mammal.

Some are nocturnal and some are diurnal.

Some of the questions they ask are the same,

but some are different.

They come from different habitats all over the world.

They have to watch out for different predators.

Their diet is different.

 

Celebrating Success in the Texaco Art Competition

Congratulations to Sinead, Stacey, Alexandra, Patrick and Maks who won Certificates of Commendation in the Texaco Art Competition. Sinead drew Rapunzel. Stacey did a self portrait. Alexandra did a picture of Cinderella in the sweetshop. Maks drew a picture of himself on Mars and Patrick did a picture of a forest. Riona won a Merit Award for this picture of herself and her twin.


Riona drew a picture of herself and her twin, Naoise.

There were 26,000 entries. One hundred and sixty one students received prizes and merit awards. The next hundred pictures in each of the seven categories received a certificate. That means that these pictures were in the top nine hundred approximately of 26, 000. That is impressive. Well done.
***CLICK ON THIS LINK TO SEE THE WEBSITE FOR THE TEXACO CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION ***

Green Schools: Transport: Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

Disadvantages

Walking It stops pollution.You get fresh air.It helps to keep us fit.It doesn’t use petrol or diesel.Good for the environment.See nature all around you.It feels good.You don’t get stuck in traffic. Your feet get tired and start to hurt.Dependant on the weather.Your bag can hurt your back.You can get thirsty and go into shops and buy stuff.It’s slow.It wears down your shoes.It uses energy that we made need.It’s not comfortable.It can be boring.
Cycling You get to places faster than walking.You get exercise and keeps you fit.It feels good.It’s fun.Doesn’t use petrol or gas.You can go fast or slow.Anyone can have a bike.You have a nice breeze on your face.You feel free.You get fresh air. You could fall off and you could be injured.You could break your bike.It can be dangerous.Bikes need maintenance.Weather dependant.You need to learn to ride a bike.You could get a puncture.Takes a lot of pedaling.Your legs get sore.
Car You can get to places very fast.It is fun.It has heating.You can sit down.Your feet don’t hurt.Electric cars are better for the environment.Useful when it’s raining.Good for long journeys.Fit lots of people in cars.Its comfortable.

If you’re late, you can recover.

Don’t get tired.

You waste petrol.You don’t get any exercise.It can be dangerous.Bad for the environment.You could get car sick.It is boring.You don’t have fun.You could get caught in traffic.You go so fast you can’t stop and look at anything.Cost a lot of money.

Sometimes you have to squeeze in.

You could be on a road with no toilets nearby.

You have to wear a seatbelt.

You have to follow the roads.

It can get too warm.

 

A Better Name for Anti Bullying Week

 As a Whole School we wanted a more positive name for Anti Bullying Week.

We have an Anti Bullying Week each term.

We brainstormed in class and this is what we came up with. 

  • Make New Friends Week
  • Be Kind Week
  • Friendship Week
  • Be Careful Week
  • Speak Up Week
  • People are Precious Week
  • Helping Others Week
  • Be Nice Week
  • Be a Good Friend Week
  • Thoughtful Week
  • Caring Week
  • Be Happy Week
  • Care for others Week
  • Fun Week
The winner was:
Be Kind and Be A Good Friend Week

Green Schools: Advantages of Cycling and Walking.

Advantages of Cycling

You get to places faster than walking.

You get exercise & it keeps you fit.

It feels good & it’s fun. Doesn’t use petrol or gas. You can go fast or slow.

Anyone can have a bike. You have a nice breeze on your face.

You feel free and you get fresh air.

It stops pollution and is good for the environment.

 

Advantages of Walking

You get fresh air.

It helps to keep us fit.

It doesn’t use petrol or diesel.

Good for the environment.

You can see nature all around you.

It feels good.

You don’t get stuck in traffic.


Disadvantages of the car

You waste petrol.

You don’t get any exercise.

It can be dangerous.

Bad for the environment.

You could get car sick.

You could get caught in traffic.

You go so fast you can’t stop and look at anything.

Costs a lot of money.

Sometimes you have to squeeze in.

You have to wear a seatbelt.

You have to follow the roads.

It can get too warm.

Real Maths: A Survey about Bicycle Helmets

Bicycle Safety.

Remember always wear your bicycle helmet!

Second Class, Room Six conducted a survey about wearing bicycle helmets.

We asked each class from First to Sixth:

1. How many children have bicycles?

2. How many have helmets?

3. How many wear their helmets on their bicycle?

 

The findings were interesting.

We found that children in First Class were the most safety conscious.

 

Wearing a bicycle helmet can save your good looks.

A bicycle helmet can SAVE YOU FROM SERIOUS HEAD INJURY

A bicycle helmet can SAVE YOUR LIFE

 

These were the findings

Though 97 per cent of people had bicycle helmets

Only 61 per cent wore a helmet.

39 per cent didn’t.

 

Doctors and nurses who work in Accident and Emergency

would say that they wish people had to wear helmets by law

as they see serious head injuries from people who didn’t wear bicycle helmets.

 

When Garda Linda came to visit our class she said it was important too.

 

Being Green – I can make a difference!

What gives the planet earth
its energy?

The Sun.
Plants get their energy
from the sun.


Hollie drew this!

Animals eat these plants.

I eat plant and animal food,

Like chips and chicken nuggets!

Food gives me energy to run around and play.

 

Some energy is renewable

The energy of the sun and the wind is renewable.

I didn’t know what this word meant when I heard it first.

Now I know that renewable energy

can be used again and again

and again and again

and again

and again …

 

Some energy is non-renewable

The energy from fossil fuels is non-renewable.

Coal and oil and turf burn up and cannot be used again.

 

The Wind is a renewable energy

Wind power can generate electricity.

Wind can dry clothes.

I can help Mum or Dad put the clothes on the line.

I can make a difference!

 

A windmill takes the energy from the wind.

A wind turbine will take the energy from the wind

and turns it into electricity.

Sailing boats get their energy from the wind too.

Renewable energy like the sun and the wind will last

much much much much much much much

longer than non renewable energy such as coal and oil and turf.

 

What uses electricity in my house?

The radio clock alarm that wakes me up.

The electric lights.

The immersion that heats the water for a shower or bath.

The kettle that heats the water for tea or coffee.

The microwave.

The cooker.

The fridge.

The heater.

The television.

The radio.

The CD player.

The washing machine.

The spin dryer.

 

Where would I find a lagging jacket?

On the immersion tank that heats hot water.

I can remind the grown ups in my house

to get a lagging jacket.

I can make a difference!

 

Where would I find insulation

in a house?

In the attic, under the roof.

I can make a difference!

I can remind the grown ups in my house

to insulate the attic.

You can buy sheeps wool to insulate the attic.

 

Where would I find double glazing in my house?

In the windows and doors.

When the heating is on in the house,

heat can escape through ordinary windows and doors

and through a roof with no insulation.

 

I can make a difference!

I can shut doors and draw the curtains early to keep the heat in.

 

I can check if any furniture is blocking the heaters.

Taking a shower uses less energy than taking a bath.

 

I can take a shower instead of a bath.

I can make a difference.

 

If you are using the washing machine,

it should be full of clothes.

You shouldn’t put on the washing machine

to wash one pair of socks.

I don’t do the washing yet

but I can remind the grown ups in my house

and I can make a difference!

 

Wordle: Untitled

If you are making a cup of tea

you should boil about a cup

of water instead of

a full kettle of water.

Boiling a full kettle of water wastes energy and money.

I don’t make tea yet but I can remind the grown ups

in my house

and I can make a difference!

 

Wasting water is wasting energy

I can make a difference!

I won’t let the tap run when I am washing my teeth.

 

I can remind any little people in my house about this too.

I can make a difference!

 

If I am a little cold in my house,

I am better to put on extra clothes

Saving energy saves money.

Saving energy in my house

will mean our

electricity bill will be lower.

 

I can make a difference!

 

We can use the money for more interesting things!

That will make a difference!

 

Walking to school,  if I can

is better than travelling by car.

I can make a difference!

 

Walking to school or

cycling my bicycle

Taking the bus

is better than travelling by car.

 

I can make a difference!

 

What could I recycle that I usually throw away?

A plastic bottle –

I could use one for my drink for lunch again and again.

I could turn the plastic bottle into a musical instrument.

If I add rice or pasta to the bottle, I could turn it into a percussion shaker.

 

I can make a difference!

 

What can I put in

the compost bin?

Fruit peels,

vegetable peels,

pencil paring.

Any thing that will rot.

 

I can make a difference!

 

Reusing plastic bags

saves energy.

 

I can make a difference!

 

I can remind Mum to bring shopping bags

to the supermarket.

 

Let’s make the difference.


Jack drew this 🙂

‘Tá an bháisteach ag titim…’

Tá an bháisteach ag titim,

Ag titim go trom.

Tá an bháisteach ag titim,

Anuas ar mo cheann.

Red Umbrella
Photo Credit: Jonathan Kos-Read via Compfight

“Bhac, bhac”, arsa an lacha,

“tá an lá fliuch”.

“Bhac, bhac”, arsa an lacha,

“tar amach, tar amach”.

Rainy Day
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Natalie Curtiss via Compfight

“Mí – a –ú” arsa an cat,

“tá an lá fliuch”.

“Mí – a –ú” arsa an cat,

“fan istigh, fan istigh”.

Little Low-Light Monsters (D800 @ ISO 25,600)
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Sean Molin via Compfight