ThinkWithYourInk
5th Class St.Mary’s, Blessington
Monday 15th of April
To conclude our week on Dandelions we had to create an hairstyle using grasses and wild flowers from the school grounds.
Food dudes begin today and Ms. Morris begins the badminton league today where William and Caoilainn will represent the class.
In Art this week we will be printing using potatoes.
In Geography this week, we will be taking an in depth look at Maps, their scales, symbols and grid reference. We will read about maps today and then we will take a more in-depth look at maps of locations around the world.
Homework this Week
News Story of the Day
Fast action needed amid pressure on water supplies
The fact that people in the greater Dublin region were asked to conserve water during January just gone, in the middle of the winter, at the height of the rainy season, highlights the extent to which the situation regarding water supply in the capital is on a knife-edge.
If the situation is that bad in the winter, what is it going to be like during the summer this year?
Are we heading for hosepipe bans, water supply restrictions, nighttime shut offs and conservation appeals?
Uisce Éireann has pointed out that the increase in demand for water in the Greater Dublin Area last year was equivalent to the addition of 120,000 new homes.
When one considers that 85% of Dublin’s water comes from a single source – the River Liffey – water supplies in the east are clearly under enormous pressure.
Uisce Éireann is already taking 40% of the entire flow of water in the Liffey.
It is not sustainable to take any more and yet what they are taking is not enough to satisfy demand.
As we enter the dryer summer period, the pressure on water supplies is likely to increase.
People have been arguing about what to do about this situation for 25 years.
But we are clearly at a point now where decisions need to be taken and action needs to be put in place, fast.
Piping from Shannon
The Water Supply Project – Eastern and Midlands Region is the technical name Uisce Éireann has given its plans to take water from the Shannon and pipe it to the midlands and the east of the country, especially to Dublin.
Their conclusion is that piping water from the lower Shannon is the best, most efficient, most sustainable, and least environmentally damaging solution to the issue.
It is also the solution that will benefit the greatest number of people.
The water will be pumped for the first 40km to Cloughjordan, also in Co Tipperary, and from there flow by gravity another 132km to a termination reservoir at Peamount in Co Dublin.
Not everyone is in favour of the proposal, however.
The River Shannon Protection Alliance (RSPA) is dedicated to ensuring it does not happen.
It argues that it is an unnecessary project and that there are better and far cheaper alternatives.
Donal Whelan is a Director and Treasurer of the RSPA and lives right on the shoreline of Lough Derg at Dromineer in Co Tipperary.
He claims the project started out costing an estimated €700 million, but is now up to about €1.6 billion before it has even started.
“There are alternative sources of water much closer to Dublin in the Kildare area, even underground water,” he said.
“The Slaney River is 20km from the Dublin region. Yet they are proposing to pipe water 172km and through 500 farms. It is crazy idea really.”
Mr Whelan says all they need to do is create another reservoir or two in the Wicklow area.
Mr Whelan is also concerned because Uisce Éireann will also install a second water pipe as a backup in case something goes wrong.
He says this raises a worry that at some future date Uisce Éireann could increase the amount of water it takes from the Parteen basin.
The Shannon River Protection Alliance argues that the solution to Dublin’s water supply issue lies in fixing the water pipes that are leaking in the capital and preventing the loss of millions of litres of clean water every day.
“If people have to pay for it, they won’t waste it.
“I think dropping the water charges was very bad. People don’t appreciate something unless they have to pay for it.”
Friday 12th of April
Almost another week of 5th class complete. As we walked down to the GAA pitch yesterday we didn’t get a chance to do our written homework corrections so both written homework will be corrected and Friday tests will take this morning.
The Green Schools committee had a meeting yesterday, they have a few events coming up that they wanted us to know about. Ms. Nugent’s class are bin monitors next week, there is a marine poster competition next week, we will send the top 3 posters to Ms. Beaubien and she will select a winner in each year group. Earth day events will take place Monday the 22nd, there will a number f outdoor events that day. Litter picking will take place on the 25th of April.
Chicken fence posts are now all painted are ready to go. Concrete is being delivered today and I hope to be outside this afternoon setting the first post in place.
Scenario of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Thursday 11th of April
Homework corrections today and best of luck to those participating in the skills competition. Give your best.
Here is a small selection of some of our dandelion art yesterday and we will be creating a ‘Wild Flower Fro’ in a few weeks when the growth spurt comes.
As part of the creative schools scheme, all teachers in the school will be picking something they like to do and teach (e.g. baking, sewing, knitting, music, construction, art etc). They will be then take another class to show and teach them to create something new. This will happen next week.
Maths test this morning, I will give you an opportunity to ask questions about it before it begins.
Wednesday 10th of April
We have almost completed our dandelion lesson, we have one more segment left to listen to. What did you learn about them yesterday? You will complete a sketchnote on it today and there will be an art activity this week also. Do you have used toilet roll cylinders at home?
New posts have arrived for the chicken fence. They need 2 coats of paint today and weather permitting Tony will have concrete tomorrow and we will stand them in the ground.
Rugby begins for 5th class next Tuesday. It will be after 1st break.
Conundrum of the Day
Are these plates broken or not broken
Puzzle of the Day
Everyone in the world (men, women and children) 7.9 billion people have entered a rock paper scissors tournament. It is a knock out championship. If you win, you go through to the next round, if you lose you are out. If you were to become world champion, can you guess how many times in a row you would need to win?
Tuesday 9th of April
Great start back yesterday. Well done to Brazil on taking the 4 points yesterday. It’s a new day today, everyone is back to zero with a prize for the wining team on Friday at lunchtime.
After the downpour yesterday we will get outside today to find some dandelions. We can then begin the lesson on them. Later this week we will also be doing some dandelion art
We looked at three types of bullying yesterday (physical, verbal and emotional bullying). This is a good intro to our next Stay Safe lesson called Other types of bullying. Hopefully we get to it today.
As some members of the class attending a skills competition o Thursday and with the temperature hitting 18 degrees, it may be a good day to get outside and work on the chicken fence. It has been so wet for the past month it has been difficult to even stand out there.
Scenario of the Day
Video of the Day
Monday 8th of April
Welcome back everyone, I hope you had a good break. You are now in the final third of 5th class.
We will be taking an in-depth look at this plant this week. What do you know about it? We will be picking some of them and bringing them into the classroom also.
There is a new reward scheme starting today. You will be at a table representing 1 of 4 countries. Students will be rewarded by receiving tickets, you receive a ticket by making an effort and doing your best at a task. The country will the highest number of tickets this evening will receive 4 points, 2nd place gets 3 points, 3rd place get 2 points etc. Each country starts with zero tickets every day. The points are counted on Friday and the winning team will be rewarded.
Scenario of the Day
Physical bullying, Verbal bullying and emotional bullying, what type of bullying would these scenarios come under?
Homework this week
Friday 22nd of March
Happy Easter to everyone. Enjoy the break, you deserve it. You will be in the final stages of 5th class when you return. Some things to look forward to in May and June is of course our school tour, a 5th class footgolf tournament (on the school grounds), sports week and several class projects.
Thanks to the 11 hurlers/camogie players and 24 Gaelic footballers who to put themselves forward for the GAA Skills competition. I will announce the 8 winners today.
Thursday 21st of March
It was great to get the 15 trees planted yesterday. 4 people will be asked to place cardboard and mulch around them later today.
We looked at Topic 2, lesson 1 of Staysafe yesterday. It was about Friendship. The lesson was helping us to understand the value of friendship, how to make and keep friends and to understand the importance of treating one another with respect and dignity. We filled out a worksheet about a what a good friend is. Thanks for your honesty in filling it out. There was a bit of variety in your answers but it was nice to see very important ticked for many of the core values of friendship. We looked at three scenarios between friends, can you recall what happened and a possible solution? Here are the other stories we didn’t get to yesterday.
Although bullying has been covered many times in the past, we return to the topic in today’s Staysafe lesson. The lesson is called , ‘What is Bullying’?
Assembly is at 11:30 and best of luck to Leon who will be reading the 5th class news. Hydraulic crane building will continue again today. It is not an easy project but stay resilient and you will complete it. Any remaining members of 5th or 6th class who wish to take part in the skills trial will happen today also.
Wednesday 20th of March
We will begin building hydraulic cranes after first break today and it may be Friday and we will complete as much as we can. We also have trees to plant and we will also fit in Maths, reading & Staysafe this morning this morning too.
Tuesday 19th of March
Just 3 and a half days until Easter holidays. I hope to have the hurling skills trials after 1st break today. Many of you will be assigned a skill to judge and score. You will fill in their points and times on their record sheet. Tomorrow looks wet so we will have the football skills after 1st break on Thursday.
Project day tomorrow where we will make hydraulic machines.
Statistic of the day
E is the most common letter in the English language but what percentage of all english words does it feature in?
Video/Photo of the Day
Friday 15th of March
Well done to everyone in yesterday’s Ceolchoirm Seachtain na Gaeilge. Here is a short video summary of the ceolchoirm. Unfortunately in the video, the music to Lauren’s amazing dance had to be cut out due to copyright but it still doesn’t take anything away from her performance. An mhaith gach duine.
The Wicklow Primary schools hurling and football skills competition is on the week we return from Easter holidays. Next week we must have a trial to select girls and boys that will represent the school.
No Friday tests today but we will correct written homework. There will be no homework next week also.
Knex is in after 1st break were you will be asked to make a golf putter. It must hit a ping pong ball with reasonable accuracy down the centre of the classroom.
Thursday 14th of March
The Seachtain na Gaeilge talent show will be on after 1st break today where we will perform the Haka as Gaelach. Lauren will also perform with members from the other 5th classes. As last years talent show ran over time it was decided to keep the Seachtain na Gaeilge talent show to 2 acts per class this year. There will be a another talent show in June for anyone else who would like to perform.
In Staysafe we looked at the rights of the child yesterday. We ranked them from 1 -13. Our top choices were 1. Children must not be used as cheap workers or as soldiers 2. Children have the right to enough food and clean water 3. Every child has the right to life 4. Children have the right to be kept safe and not to be hurt or neglected 5. Children have the right to be with their family or with those who will care for them best.
BvG Statistic of the Day
How many times do you blink in a year?
Wednesday 13th of March
Thanks to everyone who helped out and volunteered with the hole digging yesterday. The temporary fence for the hens fell on Monday night leaving the hens exposed so we have been asked to get the new fence up as soon as possible. Weather permitting we will complete the hole digging today. Anyone who wishes to help please bring old shoes and clothes to leave at the back of the classroom.
The first of our persuasive writing have been published on the site.
It was fantastic to have musicians in yesterday as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge. Today there will be a Céilí practice in the hall for 5th class at 10am. It is hoped (weather permitting) that the whole school will then perform at 12 in the yard. Tomorrow is the Seachtain na Gaeilge talent show where we will perform the Haka as Gaelach.
In our 3rd Staysafe lesson we will discuss hoe every child has the right to be protected from harm. This right is included in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Remember with every right comes a responsibility?
Children have the right to play so we have a responsibility to include others in our play.
Every child has a right to education so we have a responsibility to make sure others are not distracted from learning.
Children must be allowed to speak their own language and practice their religion and culture so we must respect other religions and cultures.
News Story of the Day
Statistic of the Day
How many minutes does it take the average human to fall asleep?
Tuesday 12th of March
With the beans put aside for the foreseeable future we began a new system of rewarding good effort yesterday. This system pits boys against girls. The girls took the Monday victory, can the boys make a comeback today. A treat on Friday for the winners. Don’t forget you can still spend any beans that are in your account.
We will have lesson 2 of Staysafe this morning. There was a good discussion yesterday about the topic, it was nice to hear what your opinion was when the negative feelings came into their heads. What did you take from yesterdays lesson.
Do Seachtain na Gaeilge déanfaimid an Haka Gaelach. We will be performing it in Thursday with the other 5th classes in front of the whole school.
Haka is a variety of Māori ceremonial dances. It is performed by a group, it has vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment. The Haka has been traditionally performed by both men and women for a variety of social functions within Māori culture. It has been made famous by the New Zealand rugby team, they perform it before every game.
Photo of the Day
BvG Statistic of the Day
What percentage of people are left handed?
Persuasive writing to be completed today and reading groups after 1st break.
Monday 11th of March
Back to normality this week after Scienceblast. I plan to have Staysafe lessons after Maths group return and I hope to complete 3 each week. Reading and Close groups will also resume this week.
There is a new seating arrangement for the next 2 weeks up to the Easter holidays. If it works out, it may stay in place for longer.
Seachtain na Gaeilge atá ann an tseachtain seo. Inniu beidh Tráth na gCeist ar a leathuair tar éis a haon déag.
The 3rd/4th class boys will play their hurling/soccer final this week also and we will be attending that.
Homework this week
Poem of the Day
Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face
by Jack Prelutsky
Be glad your nose is on your face,
not pasted on some other place,
for if it were where it is not,
you might dislike your nose a lot.
Imagine if your precious nose
were sandwiched in between your toes,
that clearly would not be a treat,
for you’d be forced to smell your feet.
Your nose would be a source of dread
were it attached atop your head,
it soon would drive you to despair,
forever tickled by your hair.
Within your ear, your nose would be
an absolute catastrophe,
for when you were obliged to sneeze,
your brain would rattle from the breeze.
Your nose, instead, through thick and thin,
remains between your eyes and chin,
not pasted on some other place—
be glad your nose is on your face!
BvG Statistic of the Day
What percentage of their life do cats spend asleep?
Friday 8th of March
Another busy day ahead, the school has KNEX kits for the next 3 weeks and we will have them in the classroom today after 1st break for 40 minutes. Bodran is at 10:30 also. We must also try to fit some Friday tests and corrections in also.
Thanks to Suzie and Síofra for helping to plant the marigold seeds yesterday and we must sow our potatoes today also. We will also put the final touches to your mothers day bowls also.
We will our 1st StaySafe lesson today. There are 13 lessons in total. Today we are going to think and talk about different feelings and how we respond to them. We will begin by brainstorming a range of words used to describe a variety of feelings. Then we will read a story and we will see how different people can experience a range of different feelings in response to the same situation. You will then fill out a worksheet individually followed by a short discussion on how as we get older we deal with our feelings in different ways.
As the weather seems to be finally picking up we will be getting outside more for quick 15 minute lessons. Today we will play ‘3beats and a clap’ . 4 hoola hopps and 4 players needed.
Thursday 7th of March.
What a fantastic day at Scienceblast in the RDS. All 3 classes were a credit to the school in how they behaved and spoke about their respective projects. Well done.
Wednesday 6th of March
ScienceBlast RDS
Tuesday 5th of March
Just a few reminders about tomorrow’s trip to Science Blast at the RDS. Please wear a full school uniform, bring a good lunch and drink but there will be water stations there to refill. At the moment the departure time is 8am but that will be confirmed for all three 5th classes later today as there may be a small issue with buses arriving on time.
I know we will have a great day.
We will go close to completing our persuasive writing today and we will will do a final run through on the Science Blast presentations.
Monday 4th of March
I hope you all had a nice weekend. I’m still waiting on the final few permission slips so please hand them up now if you have them. In PE today we will play capture the flag.
After 1st break today we will practice our Science Blast presentation and I will let you know the group you will be presenting with on Wednesday at the RDS. It is important that every member of the group can speak clearly about the experiment and our poster display. It may happen that your group will be at the display when the judges arrive. Even if you don’t meet the judges, many students and teachers from other schools will be coming up to ask about the experiment when your group is at the stand. Along with attending some brilliant science shows there it is also a great opportunity for you to go look at other schools experiments and give yourself the challenge of asking other schools 3 questions on their project.
Photo of the Day
Homework this week
Friday 1st of March
It’s great to have finished all the graphs and displays for our Science Blast poster. We will glue down everything this morning and I hope to get someone to do a voiceover of the display so we can post it on our notices on Monday. Just one final part to do, that is to make and code two Microbit reaction games that will be on display on Wednesday at the RDS. We will make 3 games with 3 different types of switches.
Unfortunately we didn’t get written homework corrected yesterday, we will get that corrected along with completing your tests today. Bodhran at 10:30.This afternoon we will get another layer of paper on your balloons.
Reminder: permission slips (Stay safe & Science Blast)
Photo of the Day
Video of the Day
Thursday 29th of February
Short notices today as we will complete the Maths test before Maths group leaves at 9:30.
Ms. Sheward will be in at 10 and Spanish today also.
WE should be very close to finishing our display today and there will be a few finishing touches needed tomorrow. We will begin practicing the presentation then.
We will distribute items in the friendship week basket before lunch today, there is no pressure to put items in it.
Reminder: permission slips
Wednesday 28th of February
Reminder: Science Blast & Stay Safe permission slips.
Opposite is a nice display format and I feel we should use these titles for our display. Most of our work will appear in the results section so we will make that section almost half of our display. There are a couple of averages and medians I want to find out today (let’s compare the boys and girls in each group). Is there any other comparisons we can make?
We must complete the titles and results section at the very least today.