An Chéad Nollaig

 

Bhí sneachta ar an talamh,

Ottawa Ontario Canada March 2011 — Winter Scenes 134 Douglas Sprott via Compfight

bhí réalta mór sa spéir. 

Andromeda Galaxy M31 - 400 second exposure steviep187 via Compfight

Bhí aingil Dé ag canadh

Choir of Angels Christmas Ornaments Crochet Pattern
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: LornaWatt via Compfight

go raibh Íosa sa mháinséar. 

Holy Family Mini-Nativity oct09
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Alkelda via Compfight

Bhí na haoirí ar na sléibhte

nuair a chuala siad an scéal.

 

Tháinig na trí ríthe

le hór, túis agus miorr.

School Auction Nativity Set Dec09
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Alkelda via Compfight

Fadó, fadó i mBeithil,

i stábla dorcha lom, 

rugadh an leanbh Íosa.

An Nollaig a bhí ann. 

 

Muire agus Íosaf,

asal agus bó. 

Ríthe agus aoirí ann

chun ómós a thabhairt dó.

Maths, Art & Writing Activities based on ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year To You
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Mohammadali F. via Compfight

Vimeo video of song HERE

On the first day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the third day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the fourth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the fifth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the sixth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the seventh day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the eighth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the ninth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the tenth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Ten lords a-leaping, 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the eleventh day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Eleven pipers piping, 
Ten lords a-leaping, 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree. 

On the twelfth day of Christmas, 
my true love sent to me 
Twelve drummers drumming, 
Eleven pipers piping, 
Ten lords a-leaping, 
Nine ladies dancing, 
Eight maids a-milking, 
Seven swans a-swimming, 
Six geese a-laying, 
Five golden rings, 
Four calling birds, 
Three French hens, 
Two turtle doves, 
And a partridge in a pear tree!

 

Maths activities

 

How many gifts did my true love receive over the twelve days of Christmas?

Click on THIS LINK for the last verse of the song in order to calculate the number of gifts!

Solution: 1 + 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 + 28 + 36 + 45 + 55 + 66 + 78 = 364 presents

 

Further maths activities based on this traditional carol, HERE. 

for example Pascal’s Triangle,

How many legs in this song?

How much would these gifts have cost?

You might find this worksheet helpful in working this out.

 

 Art:

Ask the children to draw the gifts.

If you double click on JC’s picture below

you can see ‘Twelve Lords A Leaping’.

Twelve Lords A Leaping

 

Language:

1. Tell this story from the partridge’s point of view 😉

2. Ask children to write thank you letters for each or any

of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

 

Infant Classes:

Some simpler ideas for infant classeHERE.

Poetry: ‘A Christmas Kenning’ by Alex aged 11

Christmas Lighted Wreath
Photo Credit: Janet Beasley via Compfight

A kenning is type of poem.

It is a description that is economic in its use of words.

Two nouns metaphors are used to describe a person, place or thing.

You can read more about kennings here

on the Young Writers.co.uk website.

This is Alex’s kenning:

 

Present deliverer,

Cookie muncher,

Reindeer rider,

Chimney climber,

Joy maker,

Carrot feeder,

Roof lander,

Suit wearer,

Sack bearer,

Milk slurper,

Stocking filler,

Once a yearer,

Happy morning bringer…

 

Guess who?

Why … it’s Santa!

‘Christmas Customs in Ireland Long Ago – A Grandmother’s Memories of Christmas Long Ago – Part Two

Candles
Photo Credit: seyed mostafa zamani via Compfight

Christmas Customs in Ireland long ago

‘Christmas in Ireland was very much a family festival

when sons and daughters who were working away from home

returned home for Christmas.

 

Many families looked forward to a letter or parcel

from family members who had gone to America.

This was sure to contain not only good wishes

but also a present of money.

 

Shopkeepers gave a Christmas box to thank families

for shopping with them. This was often a box of biscuits or a bottle of port.

 

A candle was lit and placed in the window on Christmas Eve.

The eldest member of the family helped the youngest to do this.

This was done to show that Joseph and Mary,

who found no room at the inn in Bethlehem,

were welcome in the house.

 

It was believed that at midnight on Christmas Eve,

cows and donkeys knelt to honour the Baby Jesus

and that at that moment, they could talk.

The animals were given an extra feed on Christmas Eve.

 

Christmas Day was spent at home.

It was very much a family festival

and people didn’t visit unless specially invited to do so.

 

On Stephen’s Day the branch of a tree was decorated

and the ‘wren boys’ went from house to house

singing in the neighbourhood in return for treats.

 

These are my memories of Christmas

in Ireland in the 1940s and 50s.

In ways it seems so long ago

but in other ways it only seems like yesterday..’

‘An Orange in My Stocking’ – A Grandmother’s Memories of Christmas Long Ago – Part One

clementines
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An Orange in Your Stocking

It was just after the Second World War

in the early forties when Robyn’s granny

was about seven or eight. She said:

“Fruit that grew in hot countries

like bananas and oranges was scarce.

These could only be got if a cargo ship

made it through from Lisbon in Portugal.

These ships had to come through the Bay of Biscay

and many vessels were lost making the trip.

So it was a big treat when someone got…

an orange in their stocking.

Imagine!

This is not to say Christmas was not the most magical of times.

For weeks even months preparations were being made.

The Mammies were arranging with the butcher,

the baker and other shop keepers to keep stuff for them.

There were no supermarkets then

and very little money so people would go to these shops,

pick out what they wanted and pay a little for them every week,

so when Christmas week arrived everything was paid for.

The children had jobs to do too.

They would go to the woods

and gather holly and ivy to decorate the house.

We also collected for the neighbours

who had nobody to do it for them.

If they gave you a penny, it would be riches indeed,

but if they didn’t, it didn’t matter

as we had such fun gathering it.

To us they were wonderful times

and even if everything changes,

the message of Christmas remains the same.

Christ was born to us in a stable

bringing joy to the world and goodwill to man’.

Christmas Memories from Parents and Grandparents

End of season - dark crystals
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Alexey Kljatov via Compfight

Christmas past and present.

Some students interviewed parents and grandparents

about Christmas when they were young. They remembered. 

 

‘Trying to be good.

Asking for a surprise.

Letters to Santa being sent up the chimney (not advised nowadays)

or by post to the North Pole.

Shouting up the chimney to Santa.

Counting the days on the Advent calendar’.

 

They also remembered 

Making a wish when stirring the Christmas cake mixture.

Putting a few pennies in the plum pudding mix.

The moving crib.

Making paper chains.

Midnight mass.

It was great going out so late!

Going to Mass in new clothes.

Leaving Santa something to eat and drink.

Spiced beef.

 

Being excited and finding it hard to get to sleep.

Trying to stay awake to see Santa!

The wind whistling in the chimney made me afraid

in case I would be awake and Santa wouldn’t leave presents.

The excitement of waking up early to see what Santa had brought.

Big thick colouring books and markers

and spending the day happily colouring in.

 

A family time.

Seeing all the family together in one place.

A special dinner with turkey, roast potatoes, brussels sprouts and gravy.

Christmas pudding for dessert.

Selection boxes. We didn’t get sweets every day back then.

We had no TV!

 

They said:

Christmas simpler then. It’s very commercialised now.

I wish I was a little girl again!

It’s better now because I have children!”

 

Thank you to the parents and grandparents

who shared their memories with us.

Simple Advent or Christmas Prayer Service – Infants to Second

Good morning & welcome to the hall today

for our Christmas Prayer Service.

 Nativity with Star Background Sept10
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Alkelda via Compfight

Advent is the special time in the Church’s year

when we get ready to celebrate

the birthday of a very special baby.

What was his name? (Jesus).

 

Does any one here know when is Jesus’s birthday?

Yes that’s right we celebrate Jesus’s birthday

on Christmas Day.

How many more sleeps is that? (  )

 

Sign of the Cross

 

Candle Prayer;

‘Chase away the darkness.

Fill the world with light,

be a little candle flame

and shine out bright’.

 

We can be like ‘candles’ who share

the light and warmth of God’s love

with everyone we meet.

 

Why do we light a candle?

To remind us that God our Father in Heaven is always with us.

 

On the night Jesus was born,

there was a light in the sky over the place where He was.

Does anyone know what was that light in the sky?

It was the Christmas star shining out bright.

 

So now we are going pretend that we are going on a journey

like Mary and Joseph and the donkey

nd the Shepherds and the Kings

And to find our way we have to follow God’s shining star.

 

But first let us get ready for our journey

by making the best possible start when we say

Good Morning to God; this is the best way to start each day;

 

Father in Heaven, you love me

You are with me night and day

I want to love you always

In all I do and say

I’ll try to please you Father

Please bless me during the day

Amen.

 

Yes, Christmas is Jesus’s birthday.

 

Hands up who is doing a Christmas play ?

What job do you have in the Christmas play?

Hands up who is an angel?

Who is a shepherd?

Who is a wise man or a wise king?

Is any one a Whoops a Daisy angel?

 I’m sure that after all your hard work your play will go well.

 

Who knows who told Mary that she was going to have a baby?

It was an angel who came to visit Mary

to tell her the Good News,

that she was going have a baby,

that was going to be the Mother of God. 

So stand up and spread your wings you are an angel

and we will sing ‘Mary Will You Take This Baby Boy’

 

Where did Mary live?

Mary lived in a place called Nazareth.

Who was Mary’s husband?

Mary was married to a carpenter called Joseph.

 

Mary and Joseph had to go on a journey.

Where were they going?

They were going to a place called Bethlehem.

 

Why were they going to Bethlehem?

They were going to be counted!

The reason they had to go to Bethlehem 

is that that was where Joseph’s family were from.

 

As well as getting ready for a new baby

Mary and Joseph had gone on a journey

from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

This journey is a long long journey

and there were no cars…

or buses…

or trains…

So how did Mary get there? Mary travelled on a donkey

And how did Joseph get there? He walked

The roads were rough and rocky.

The journey would have taken about a week,

so it would be like if you started walking today – Sunday

and you kept walking ….

on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

…til next Sunday.

 

And what happened when they did get to Bethlehem?

Well Bethlehem was full of people.

Mary and Joseph went looking but there was no place to stay.

Mary and Joseph went knocking on all the doors

 

Poor Mary and Joseph had no place to stay

So now it is time for us to say sorry for times

when we closed the doors to our minds and our hearts.

And if we are truly sorry in our hearts,

then God our Father in Heaven will always forgive us.

 

So let’s say our Sorry Prayer

O my God I thank you for loving me.

I am sorry for all my sins,

for not loving others and not loving you.

Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen

 

Is any one the innkeeper in their Christmas play?

What does the kind innkeeper say?

Yes, luckily one kind innkeeper said,

‘Would you like to stay in my stable?’

 

So let us open our doors and our hearts and our minds

like the kind innkeeper who let Mary and Joseph stay in his stable did.

That night Baby Jesus was born,

and Mary loved her baby so much

just like your parents love you

Silent Night

 

Shepherds were minding their sheep.

Who came to tell them that Baby Jesus was born?

Yes angels came to tell them that Baby Jesus was born.

 

And how did the Three Wise men find Jesus?

The Three Kings or the Three Wise Men in the East saw the star,

they followed the star and found the Baby Jesus.

‘We Three Kings’

 

The Three Wise Men brought presents.

What presents did the Three Wise Men bring?

gold,

frankincense

and myrrh,

I’m sure Mary and Joseph would have said thank you.

 

And now it is time for us to say Thank You to God

God our Father I come to say, thank you for your love today.

Thank you for my family and all the friends you give to me.

Guard me in the dark of night and in the morning, please send your light.

Amen.

‘Away in a Manger’

Thank you, dear Jesus, thank you

for coming down from Heaven to save us.

Thank you for Christmas time.

Help us to get ready for Your coming this year.

Amen

So as we get ready for Christmas.

Let’s remember that it is a special baby’s birthday

and celebrate as we go

 Jingle Bells.

 

‘Prayer of a Donkey’ by Carmen Bernos De Gasztol

THE PRAYER OF A DONKEY

by Carmen Bernos De Gasztol

fauxhawk
Photo Credit: sookie via Compfight

O God, who made me to trudge along the road always,

to carry heavy loads always

and to be beaten always !

Give me great courage and gentleness.

 

One day let somebody understand me …

that I may no longer want to weep

because I can never say what I mean

and they make fun of me.

 

Thistle
Creative Commons License Photo Credit: Colin via Compfight

 

Let me find a juice thistle …

and make them give me time to pick it.

And Lord, one day, let me find again

my little brother at the Christmas crib.

 

Amen

 

This poem is a useful model for writing others.

See ‘Prayer of a Teacher’ by Stephanie W.

You could try writing ‘Prayer of a Student’ 🙂 

 

 

 

 

Advent – Talking about ‘the real meaning of Christmas’ – ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’

It is the beginning of Advent

and the children in 2nd Class, Room 6

have been talking about

‘the real meaning of Christmas’

We have changed our ‘sacred space’ in the classroom

to reflect the change in season.

(Thanks again to Rebecca’s Mum and Dad for the resources
they sent us at the beginning of the year).

Junior Art Gallery Competition

Children from 2nd Class Room 6 entered this competition:

Junior Art Gallery’s ‘Favourite Christmas Food’ Art Competition

from Junior Art Gallery

We received a very nice email

and some entries were on Twitter.
Favourite Christmas Food – Some entries

Click on this link …

to see the thirteen entries from 2nd class Room 6

in Junior Art Gallery’s

‘Favourite Food Competition’

on display in ‘The Happy Pear’.

Patrons are invited to vote for their favourite.

I love them all 😉

 

UPDATE: Happy News for Fiona and Mark

who received their prizes today in school.

Thank you to Junior Art Gallery for this opportunity and your kindness.

Fiona’s and Mark’s pictures are on this link: Junior Art Gallery