Friday 29 May 2020

Beth's Super Work!

A selection of some of Beth's brilliant work this week...


                                                                       Maths Time


                                                                 Corona Superhero Art


                                                                       Am Don Léamh


                                                                  Béal Beo Activities
                                                                     
                                                              Goodnight Mister Tom
                                                           
                                                                          Spellwell

A walk in the woods...




Monday 25 May 2020

Messages to 6th class...

Click on the link 6th class to see some writers, actors, sports people & scientists leaving you some lovely messages...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaO7mwdL0Ow

Sunday 24 May 2020

Goodnight Mister Tom - Chapter 6 & questions on the chapter

Remember to email your answers to tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com

Chapter 6 - Zach


"Hello!" he said brightly, grasping Willie's hand. There was a loud squelching of mud as he
shook it.
"Sorry!" gasped Willie in embarrassment.
The strange boy grinned and wiped his hand on the seat of his shorts. "You're William Beech,
aren't you?" Willie nodded. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Zacharias Wrench."
"Oh," said Willie.
"Yes, I know. It's a mouthful, isn't it? My parents have a cruel sense of humor. I'm called
Zach for short."
The strange boy's eyes seemed to penetrate so deeply into Willie's that he felt sure he could
read his thoughts. He averted his gaze and began hurriedly to cover the Anderson again.
"I say, can I help? I'd like to."
Willie was quite taken aback at being asked.
"I'm rather good at it, actually," Zach continued proudly. "I've given a hand at the creation of
several. I wouldn't mess it up."
"Yeh," replied Willie quietly, "if you want."
"Thanks. I say," Zach said as he dumped a handful of earth on the side of the shelter, "I'll
show you around. Do you like exploring?"
Willie shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno."
"Is it your first visit to the country?" But before Willie could reply the boy was already
chattering on. "It's not mine exactly. I've had odd holidays with friends and my parents, but
this is the first time I've actually sort of lived in the country. I've read books that are set in the
country and, of course, poems, and I've lived in towns near the country and gone into the
country on Sundays or when there was no school." He stopped and there was a moment of
silence as they continued working. "You've not been here long, have you?" he asked after a
while. Willie shook his head. "Else I'm sure I would have seen you around. You're different."
Willie raised his head nervously. "Am I?"
"Yes, I sensed that as soon as I saw you. There's someone who's a bit of a loner, I thought, an
independent sort of a soul like myself, perhaps." Willie glanced quickly at him. He felt quite
tongue-tied. "You're living with Mr. Oakley, aren't you?" He nodded. "He's a bit of a recluse,
I believe."
"Wot?" said Willie.
"A recluse. You know, keeps himself to himself."
"Oh."
"I say," said Zach suddenly, "we'll be at school together, won't we?"
Willie shrugged his shoulders again, "I dunno." He felt somewhat bewildered. He couldn't
understand this exuberant friendliness in a boy he'd only had a glimpse of once. It was all too
fast for him to take in.
"I expect you think I'm a bit forward," remarked Zach.
"Wot?"
"Forward. You know. But you see my parents work in the theater, and I'm so used to moving
from town to town that I can't afford to waste time. As soon as I see someone I like, I talk to
them."
Willie almost dropped the clod of earth he was holding. No one had ever said that they liked
him. He'd always accepted that no one did. Even his mum said she only liked him when he
was quiet and still. For her to like him he had to make himself invisible. He hurriedly put the
earth onto the shelter.
"I say," said Zach after a while, "I can't reach the top. Is there a ladder indoors?" Willie
nodded. "Where is it?"
"In the hall. It's Mister Tom's."
"He won't mind, will he?"
"I dunno," whispered Willie, a little panic-stricken.
"I'll take the blame if there's any trouble," said Zach. "I say, maybe we can finish it and put
the ladder back before he returns. It'll be a surprise then, won't it?" Willie nodded dumbly.
"Lead the way, then," cried Zach. "On, on, on," and with that they made their way towards the
back door.
Meanwhile, after walking in almost total darkness with no lights to guide him save the fastdarkening
sky, Tom reached the village hall. It came as quite a shock to enter the brightly lit
building. He shaded his eyes and blinked for a few seconds until he had adjusted to the
change. There were far more people than he had anticipated, and the buzz of excited chatter
was quite deafening. He tried to slip in unnoticed but it was too late. He had already been
spotted by Mrs. Miller.
"Well, Mr. Oakley," she burbled. "This is a surprise!"
He turned to frown her into silence.
She was decked out in her Sunday best. A pink pillbox hat was perched precariously on her
head, and pinned to its side was a large artificial purple flower. It hung half suspended over
her mottled pudgy cheeks. The hat could have been a continuation of her face, Tom thought,
the colors were so similar.
He cleared his throat. "Vicar called the meeting, so here I am."
"Yes, of course," said Mrs. Miller.
He glanced quickly round the hall. Some of the older boys were already in uniform, their
buff-colored boxes slung over their shoulders. Mr. Peters, Charlie Ruddles and Mr. Bush were
seated in front with Mr. Thatcher and Mr. Butcher. He slipped quietly to the back of the hall,
catching sight of Nancy and Dr. Little, and acknowledged their presence with a slight gesture
of his hand. He attempted to stand inconspicuously in a corner but it was useless, for most of
the villagers nudged one another and turned to stare in his direction. Tom, as Zach said, kept
himself to himself. He didn't hold with meetings or village functions. Since Rachel's death he
hadn't joined in any of the social activities in Little Weirwold. In his grief he had cut himself
off from people, and when he had recovered he had lost the habit of socializing.
"Evenin', Mr. Oakley," said Mrs. Fletcher, who was busy knitting in the back row. "Left the
boy, has you?"
"With Sam," he added, by way of defense. He had been surprised at Sam's willingness to stay,
and had even felt a flicker of jealousy when the dog had flopped contentedly down in the
grass beside the boy's feet.
Although most wireless owners had opened their doors so that people could listen to the
King's message, Mr. Peters talked about it for those who had missed it. He mentioned the
regulations regarding the blackout and the carrying of gas masks, and Mr. Thatcher, the tall,
ginger-haired father of the twin girls and their dark-haired sister, spoke about the procedure of
action during an air raid.
Gum boots and oilskins were given out and ordered for volunteers.
It was decided that the first aid post would be at Dr. and Nancy Little's cottage and that the
village hall was to be the rest center.
Mrs. Miller threw her puffy arm into the air and volunteered to run a canteen for any troops
that might pass through. This suggestion was greeted with howls of laughter at the idea of
anyone bothering to take a route that included Little Weirwold. However, Lillian Peters,
seeing how hurt Mrs. Miller was, said that she thought that it was a good idea and suggested
that a weekly gathering of the evacuated mothers and their infants would also be an excellent
idea. Mrs. Miller sat down beaming, because she believed she had thought of it herself.
Mr. Bush announced that Mrs. Black had agreed to help at the school, as there would be an
extra seventy children attending. Mrs. Black was a quiet-spoken old lady who had been
retired for seven years.
"Coin' to have her hands full with some of that town lot," Tom remarked to himself.
Several people volunteered for being special constables, but Tom remained silent. His life had
been well ordered and reasonably happy, he thought, because he had minded his own
business. The last thing he wanted was to turn himself into a do-gooder, but he realized very
quickly that most of the volunteers were genuinely and sincerely opening their hearts and
homes.
Mr. Thatcher stood up to talk about fire-watching duties.
"No one is allowed to do more than forty-eight hours a month," he said. "Just a couple hours a
day."
Tom raised his arm.
Mr. Peters looked towards the back of the hall in surprise. "Yes, Tom?" he asked. "Did you
wish to say something?"
"I'm volunteering, like," he said.
"I beg your pardon," said Mr. Thatcher in amazement.
"I'll do the two hours a day. Early in the mornin' like, or teatime. Can't leave the boy alone at
night."
"No, no, of course not." Tom's name was hurriedly put down.
There was a murmur of surprise and enthusiasm in the hall. A tall, angular figure stood up. It
was Emilia Thorne.
"Put mine there too," she said. "And while I'm about it, anyone who would like to join our
Amateur Dramatics Group is very welcome. Meetings now on Thursdays, which means you
can still attend practices at the first aid post on Wednesdays."
Soon a dozen or so hands were raised, and after their names had been written down and
details of what their duties would involve, the meeting was brought to a close.
It was dark when Tom stepped out of the hall. He strode away towards the arched lane while
the sound of chatter and laughter behind him gradually faded. He recollected, in his mild
stupor, that Mrs. Fletcher and Emilia Thorne had spoken to him and that the doctor had asked
after William and had said something about their boy being over at his place.
It was pitch black under the overhanging branches, and it wasn't until he reached the gate of
Dobbs's field that he was able, at last, to distinguish the shapes of the trees, and Dobbs and the
wall by the churchyard. He swung open the gate and shut it firmly behind him. "Bet Rachel's
'avin' a good laugh," he muttered wryly to himself, for not only had he volunteered for firewatching
duties, but he had also volunteered the services of Dobbs and the cart, since there
was news of petrol rationing. He strolled over to the nag and slapped her gently.
"I'll has to get you a gas mask and all, eh, ole girl. Seems we're both up to our necks in it
now."
The stars were scattered in fragments across the sky. Tom stared up at them. It didn't seem
possible that there was a war. The night was so still and peaceful. He suddenly remembered
Willie.
"Hope he's had the sense to go inside," he mumbled, and he headed in the direction of home.
He opened the little back gate and peered around in the dark for the shelter. He would have
bumped into it if he hadn't heard voices.
"William! William! Where is you?"
" 'Ere, Mister Tom," said a voice by his side. Tom squinted down at him. "Ent you got sense
enough to go indoors? Yous'll catch cold in that wet jersey."
A loud scrabbling came from inside the Anderson and Sam leaped out of the entrance and
tugged excitedly at his trousers. Tom picked him up, secretly delighted that he hadn't been
deserted in affection. Sam licked his face, panting and barking.
"It was my idea," said a cultured voice. "To keep at it."
"Who's that?" asked Tom sharply.
"Me, Mr. Oakley," and he felt a hand touch his shirtsleeve.
Tom screwed up his eyes to look at Zach. He could make out what looked like a girl in the
darkness.
"I just thought it was a shame to go inside on such a night as this," he continued, "so I
persuaded Will to partake of my company for a while."
"Who's Will?" asked Tom bluntly.
"My name for William. He told me he was called Willie, but I thought that was a jolly awful
thing to do to anyone. Willie just cries out for ridicule, don't you think? I mean," he went on,
"it's almost as bad as Zacharias Wrench."
"What?" said Tom.
"Zacharias Wrench. That's me. Zach for short."
"Oh."
Willie stared at their silent silhouettes in the darkness for what seemed an eternity. He could
hear only the sound of Sam's tongue lathering Tom's face and a gentle breeze gliding through
the trees.
"Best come in," said Tom at last.
They clattered into the hallway. Tom put the blacks up in the front room, crashed around in
the darkness and lit the gas and oil lamps. After he had made a pot of tea, they sat near the
stove and surveyed each other.
Willie's face, hair and clothes were covered with earth. His filthy hands showed up starkly
against the white mug he was holding. Zach, Tom discovered, was a voluble, curly-haired boy
a few months older than Willie, only taller and in bad need, so he thought, of a haircut. A red
jersey was draped around his bare shoulders, and a pair of frayed, rather colorful men's braces
held up some well-darned green shorts. Apart from his sandals, his legs were bare.
"You finished the shelter then?" said Tom.
Willie nodded and glanced in Zach's direction. "He helped."
"By the feel of it, you done a good job. How'd you reach the top?"
There was a pause.
"Wiv the ladder," said Willie huskily.
"Yes," interspersed Zach, "that was my idea."
"Oh, was it now?"
"Yes."
"You put it back then?"
"Oh yes. It might be a bit earth stained, though."
Tom poked some tobacco into his pipe and relit it. "Where you stayin' then? You ent from
round here."
"With Dr. and Mrs. Little. I've been here for about a week now."
"Oh," said Tom. "I haven't seen you around."
"I haven't seen you around either," said Zach.
Willie choked on a mouthful of tea and Zach slapped his back. He flinched. His skin was still
bruised and sore.
"I say," blurted out Zach with concern, "you're not one of those delicate mortals, are you?"
"No, he ent," said Torn sharply. "Leastways, not for long."
Zach glanced at the clock on the bookcase and stood up. "I say," he exclaimed, "it's nine
o'clock. Thanks awfully for the tea, Mr. Oakley. May I come round tomorrow and see Will?"
"Up to William, ask him."
Willie was so exhausted from the day's labors that he didn't know whether he had dreamed the
last remark or not.
"Can I?" said Zach earnestly. "I've a marvelous idea for a game."
"Yeh."
"Wizard! Callooh! Callay!"
With a great effort he attempted to pull his jersey on over his head. He tugged and pulled at it
until it eventually moved over his nose and ears, causing his hair to spring up in all directions
like soft wire.
"Phew!" he gasped. "I did it. Mother says I mustn't grow any more till she's collected enough
wool to knit me a bigger one." He tugged the sleeves of the jersey down but they slid
stubbornly back to between his wrists and elbows.
"Good night, Sam," he said, giving him a pat.
"William," said Tom, "see yer friend out."
Willie got sleepily to his feet and followed Zach into the hall, closing the door behind him.
"Ow!" cried Zach as his knee hit the stepladder. Willie opened the front door. The sky was
still starry and a cool breeze shook the grass between the gravestones. He shivered.
"Your jersey's awfully damp," said Zach, feeling it. "Don't go catching pneumonia." He
glanced cautiously round the graveyard. "Just looking for spies," he explained. "Look, about
my idea. You know Captain McBlaid?"
"D'you mean Charlie Ruddles?"
"No," said Zach excitedly, "Captain McBlaid of the Air Police."
"Is he the prime minister or somethin'?"
"No!" He took another look around. "I'll tell you more about it tomorrow. Roger, wilco and
out."
Willie watched him walk down the path and towards the church, then pull himself up over the
wall and disappear. Who was Roger Wilco and what did he mean by out? he thought. He
stepped back into the hall and felt his way back to the living room.
In front of the stove stood the large copper tub. Tom was pouring hot water into it while Sam
was hiding under the table and eyeing it suspiciously.
"Don't worry, Sam. It ent fer you."
He looked down at Willie. "You'll be stiff tomorrer. Best have a good soak."
Willie stared in horror at the bubbling water and backed towards the table. He watched Tom
lift two more saucepans from the stove and empty them together with a handful of salt into
the tub.
"Come on then," he said.
"Is it fer me clothes, Mister Tom?"
"It's fer you,"
Willie swallowed. "Please, mister. I can't swim. I'll drown."
"Ent you never . . ." But he stopped himself. It was a stupid question. "You don't put yer head
under. You sit in it, washes yerself and has a little lean back."
It took some time before Willie allowed himself to relax in the water. Tom handed him a large
square bar of soap and showed him how to use it. He then proceeded to wash Willie's hair
several times with such vigor that Willie thought his head would fall off. A drop of soap
trickled into his eyes and he rubbed it, only to find that he had created more pain.
After this ordeal Tom left him to have a soak, and slowly Willie began to unwind. He held on
to the sides of the tub and let his legs float gently to the surface. The gas lamp flickered and
spluttered above him, sending moving shadows across the walls.
He gave a start, for he had been so relaxed that he had nearly fallen asleep. Tom handed him a
towel, and after he had dried himself and had his hair rubbed and combed and had put his
pyjamas on, he sat down on the pouffe by the armchair while Tom sat ready to tell him a
story. Sam spread himself out on the rug between them.
"I'm goin' to look at the story first and then tells it in me own way, like I done with Noah.
That suit you?"
Willie nodded and hugged his knees.
"This is the story of how God created the world."
And he began to talk about the light and the darkness, the coming of the sky and the sea, the
fish and the animals and of Adam and Eve.
After this he made them both some cocoa and began the first of the Just So stories.
"I haven't read these for years," he said, leaning over to Willie. "Come and look at these
pictures."
Willie rested against the arm of the armchair and listened to "How the Whale got his Throat."
This was a slow process, for Tom had to keep stopping to explain what the words meant, and
several times had to look them up in a dictionary.
Willie lay in bed that night, tired and aching, but the aches were very pleasant ones and as he
slept he dreamed that Adam and Eve were being chased by a large whale and that he stood in
the garden of Eden wondering if God was nubbly and ate infinite sauce and sagacity.


Chapter Six-Zach 

1) What was Zach’s full name?  
2) What did Zach say he would do for Willie?
3)  What does a ‘recluse’ mean? 
4) Who spotted Mr. Tom as he tried to slip in unnoticed?  
5) Who was sitting in front of Mr. Thatcher?
6) What was given to the volunteers?
7) What did Mrs. Miller volunteer to do?
8) Where was the first aid post going to be?
9) What did Tom volunteer to do?
10) What did Willie dream about that night?

Senior Room Work - May 25th - 29th

Remember to please email me your photos/work/queries to tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com

Many thanks to everyone who sent in their fantastic baking photos & recipes this week. They all looked delicious!

I got another brilliant book review this week from David that's on my teacher's page - remember to please send me your reviews or photos of the books you're reading at home.

Please take a photo(s) of your work & send it to me & I'll put it up on our page.


Art - See the main page for this week's creative challenge 'My Hero' - the creative writing story this week is linked to our weekly challenge

R.E - This week's religion lesson is here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NlQrSJOQcE_yjrJbwiJNJoeddoaadnlU/view?usp=sharing
_________________________________________________________________________________

ENGLISH 


5th & 6th class only –  Read ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ – chapter 6 is on my teacher’s page & complete the 10 comprehension questions on the chapter. 

Please email me your answers at tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com 


4th, 5th & 6th 

Please continue to read for pleasure daily. Please send me photos of what books you're reading at home...& your book reviews.

Last week, I told you about the excellent app, RBdigital, that you can download & read magazines on for free. 

This week, I wanted to remind you that if you have a public library card (ring Trim library if you don't have your card (046 9436063) you can download the Borrowbox app & read books or listen to audiobooks for free.

  • Spellwell - Unit 31 activities & spelling test on Friday (you could put the words into sentences to show their meaning)
  • www.readtheory.org/auth/login - Your usernames & passwords are in the page 'Readtheory' in my classroom section. Try & do one activity per day.
  • Creative Writing: 
  • My Hero! - linked with this week's creative challenge (see main page), write about your hero...it could be your mum, dad, granny, grandad or someone famous you look up to & admire. It might be your sporting hero or a famous singer...
  • Or... you could write a creative story based on the Superhero art challenge this week!
_________________________________________________________________________________

Maths

  • Maths Time  - Complete Week 31 activities plus 'challenges' on Friday
  • Revision of tables daily - this week revise/reinforce 4, 8 & 12 times/division tables – revise them on Splashmaths  
  • 'Splash Maths' see log on details on previous post (your 4 assignments for this week are in your own sections)
  • Let me know what you think of 'The Maths Factor' - it would be a great activity to keep up over the summer holidays as well.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Gaeilge

‘Cúla 4 ar scoil’ – Tá sé ar siúl ag a deich a chlog gach maidin ar TG4

This week, their theme of the week is 'Sa Bhaile'












4th class: (2 activities)

1. Complete written work on p. 165 (revising orm, ort, air, uirthi, orainn, oraibh, orthu)
5th class: (3 activities)

1.Am don Léamh - read page 62 & complete activities on page 63 

2 & 3 Written work on P. 176 & listening activity on p. 177 

https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book263&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page151


6th class: (3 activities)

 
1.Am don léamh  - 5th & 6th only - reading page 62 & complete activities on page 63

2 & 3  P. 184 (match the hobbies with the pictures) P. 185 (listening activity - like we do in class, listen to it in full the 1st time & then on the 2nd & 3rd time of listening fill in the missing words)

https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book266&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page185



_________________________________________________________________________________ 


Project Work/SESE – begin/finish a new project of your choice (Please see 'Project Work & Art 
Activities' on main blog for inspiration) - Please email your project photos to tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com 
_________________________________________________________________________________

Touch -Typing Club - continue typing club daily – 5/10 mins per day (It's a really useful skill to learn & I'd love to see a few more of you on it this week!)

_________________________________________________________________________________

Nessy - Please continue Nessy if you attend Ms. Kilrane.

Friday 22 May 2020

On my last Harry Potter book...


Work from home this week

Some of Beth's excellent work from home this week...





Goodnight Mister Tom - Chapter 5 answers






My yummy pavlova recipe



Ingredients

3 egg whites 
175g sugar 
2 teaspoons of corn flour
½ teaspoon of vinegar 

Method

  • Heat oven to 140C
  • Mix egg whites until stiff 
  • Add sugar to eggs with 1 teaspoon at a time 
  • On last teaspoon of sugar add in the corn flour and vinegar 
  • Put on a baking sheet lined with baking paper
  • Bake in oven for 1 hour (60 mins)
  • When cool add toppings to pavlova 
  • Then eat (your heart out)





My scrumptious cheesecake recipe

Click on the link to see my delicious cheesecake recipe...

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DqE_aEo2Cse_BCV8Cv6tjnHXwg9buHty/view?usp=sharing

Emily's delicious crepes recipe

Click on the link to read my delicious recipe...


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t3ouv85K40G6-Yjp_DONfZAYcA2qWMGc/view?usp=sharing

Monday 18 May 2020

David's book review of 'Slime' by David Walliams

Introduction

  1. Title:  Slime 
  2. Author:  David Walliams 
  3. Illustrator:  Tony Ross
  4. Genre:  Fiction
Characters 
Ned
A kid that has legs that don’t work so he uses a wheelchair to zoom about 
Jemima 
Ned’s older sister that plays horrid tricks on Ned for fun 
Ned’s parents 
One goes out fishing all day the other prepares the fish to sell they are hardly ever at home and they stank of fish 
Sir Walter Wrath 
The headmaster of ned’s old school and loves expelling children for stupid rules like no laughing or no chocolate in the school 
Mr Lust 
He wants the job for headmaster at Ned’s old school (and in my opinion he should get the job he would definitely be better then Sir Walter Wrath)
Edmund and Edmond Envy 
Run the only toyshop on the island the terrible twins send a child out of the shop bursting into tears 
Madame Solenzio Sloth 
The only piano teacher on the island the lady is paid good money to give piano lessons to children but the lady just sleeps on the sofa and snores thunderously 
Capitan Pride is the islands only park keeper. No one is allowed go into the park especially not children who will trample on his grass 
Glen and Glenda Glutton own the only ice cream van on the island because they rammed all their rivals off the road and any child that orders an ice cream they steal their pocket money and then drive off 
Aunt Greta Greed
Is Ned’s Mega rich aunty that owns the island and never lets anyone come into her  castle and has more than 100 cats to keep her company 
And last but not least slime yes slime is a living thing created by Ned but how can this be slime is not living you must get the book 
This story is set on the isle of Mulch. 
Slime is a creature created by Ned. Slime is a creature that turns into anything and everything. This is useful for Ned as he gets revenge on the worst grownups. he got his revenge on his old headmaster for expelling him, the Envy twins for kicking him out of their shop, after that madam sloth for a bad piano lesson, captain pride for not letting anyone in the park, the Gluttons for stealing his money and finally Greta Greed
Things I liked about this book were: It was funny, the story was interesting and the drawings were good.
Things I did not like about this book were. (nothing)
Would I recommend this book?
Absolutely, this book is amazing.
     End← (this is the end) 

Sunday 17 May 2020

Senior Room Work - May 18th - 22nd

Remember to please email me your photos/work/queries to tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com & I will get back to you a.s.a.p


Many thanks to everyone who continues to send me photos of your work. I love reading your stories & seeing all the great work you're doing at home. It was great to read your stories & see your art work on last week's creative challenge.

                              The Baking Creative Challenge is on the main page!
_________________________________________________________________________________

ENGLISH 


5th & 6th class only –  Read ‘Goodnight Mister Tom’ – chapter 5 is on my teacher’s page & complete the 10 comprehension questions on the chapter. 

Please email me your answers at tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com


4th, 5th & 6th 

Please continue to read for pleasure daily. Please send me photos of what books you're reading at home...& your book reviews.

I got a brilliant one already that I've uploaded to my page.

This may interest your parents as well...if you download the RBdigital app to your tablet/phone you can read 100s of magazines for free by logging in with your public library card. 

There are lots of magazines available to read for free...National Geographic kids, BBC History Magazines, Top Gear Magazine & lots of art & craft magazines.


  • Spellwell - Unit 30 activities & spelling test on Friday (you could put the words into sentences to show their meaning)
  • www.readtheory.org/auth/login - Your usernames & passwords are in the page 'Readtheory' in my classroom section. Try & do one activity per day.
  • Procedural Writing:  Linked with our baking creative challenge this week, write your recipe & method of what you baked for the challenge...if you're not taking part in the challenge, why not make up your own recipe & method...! 
  • I've included a procedural writing checklist below:
Did you...include an interesting title? ..list all of the ingredients and materials needed? ...write your instructions in an order that makes sense?...write in the present tense?...describe what the finished product looks like?

_________________________________________________________________________________

Maths

  • Maths Time  - Complete Week 30 activities plus 'challenges' on Friday
  • Revision of tables daily - this week revise/reinforce 11 & 12 times/division tables – revise them on Splashmaths  
  • 'Splash Maths' see log on details on previous post (your 4 assignments for this week are in your own sections)
  • I hope those of you who downloaded 'The Maths Factor with Carol Vorderman' are enjoying doing the activities - 5/10 minutes everyday would really keep you on top of your maths skills!
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Gaeilge

‘Cúla 4 ar scoil’ – Tá sé ar siúl ag a deich a chlog gach maidin ar TG4

Last week, their theme of the week was also 'Caitheamh Aimsire'!

4th/5th & 6th
  • Fuaimeanna & focail - week 30 activities & spelling test on Friday
4th class: (2 activities)

1.Complete the Listening activity on p.160 https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book264&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page161

2. Listen & read the story on p. 162 & answer the questions on p. 163 https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book264&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page163


5th class: (3 activities)


1.Am don Léamh - read page 60 & complete activities on page 61

2. Complete the listening exercise on p. 144 ( click on the speaker button to read the story)  https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book263&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page145

3. Read & answer the questions on p. 148
https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book263&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page149

6th class: (3 activities)

 
1.Am don léamh  - 5th & 6th only - reading page 60 & complete activities on page 61

2. https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book266&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page177  (written activity on p.176 - revising the verb 'Déan' - to do/make

3.https://www.edcolearning.ie/Book/Page?bookId=book266&chapterId=chapter10&pageId=page177  (listening activity on p. 177 & 178 - click on the speaker symbol to listen to the story & líon na bearnaí)


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Project Work/SESE – begin/finish a new project of your choice (Please see 'Project Work & Art Activities' on main blog for inspiration) - Please email your project photos to tlarke@stpatricksnstrim.com 
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Touch -Typing Club - continue typing club daily – 5/10 mins per day (It's a really useful skill to learn)

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Nessy - Please continue Nessy if you attend Ms. Kilrane. 

Goodnight Mister Tom - Chapter 5 & 10 comprehension questions

Chamberlain Announces

"Mornin'," said Tom, appearing at the trapdoor.
Willie opened his eyes and looked around. The sun was gliding in long flickering beams
across the wooden floor.
"Mornin'," he answered.
"So you slept in the bed last night. Good."
Willie gave a tight smile, which faded rapidly when he realized that the trousers of his new
striped suit were soaking.
Tom strode across the room. "Come and take a good sniff of this day," he said, pushing open
the window. Willie blushed and clung to the top of the blankets. "Never mind about them
sheets and jarmers. I got a tub of hot water waitin' for them downstairs." Willie climbed out of
bed and joined him at the window.
"Reckon that storm's washed a few cobwebs away."
They rested their elbows on the sill and leaned out. It was a tight squeeze.
Beyond the little road at the end of the graveyard stretched green and yellow fields, and on the
horizon stood a clump of woods. Tom pointed to some trees to the right of it.
"The big Grange is over there. Nope, can't see it. When the leaves fall from the trees you'll jes'
be able to make it out. And over there," he said, pointing to the left of the fields to where a
small road wound its way up a hill, "is where one of yer teachers lives. Mrs. Hartridge's her
name."
"Mister Tom, how many teachers is there?" asked Willie.
"Two. Mrs. Hartridge teaches the young uns and Mr. Bush the old uns."
"How old's old?"
"Eleven, twelve up to fourteen. Sometimes a clever one goes to the academic high school in
the town. See them woods?" he said. "There's a small river flows through there to where the
Grange is. 'Tis popular with the children round here."
They stared silently out at the gentle panorama until Sammy began running up and down the
pathway and yelping up at them.
"Wants attention, he does," murmured Tom, drawing himself away from the window. "We's
got another busy day, William. Got to start diggin' a trench fer the Anderson shelter this
afternoon. That'll put muscles on you."
They stripped the bed between them and carried the sheets downstairs. Tom gently washed
Willie's body again and smoothed witch hazel onto the sore spots.
An assortment of clothes was lying on the table. Mrs. Fletcher had brought them round the
previous night. David, her youngest, had grown out of them, and although he was younger
than Willie he was a head taller. Tom handed him a white shirt from the pile and tied one of
his own ties, a brown tweedy affair, around his neck. Willie's gray trousers seemed more
crumpled than ever, but with the braces attached to them they at least felt comfortable. He
tucked the long tie into them. Tom handed him a new pair of gray woolen socks, and Willie
pulled the garters over them.
"I put some oil on them boots last night," he said as Willie stood, his feet encased in them.
"Yous'll have to do them yerself tonight."
Tom had to be in the church early, to see Mr. Peters, the vicar. He went on ahead while Willie
staggered on after him. It was difficult for him to move in his new boots. They cut into his
ankles and he couldn't bend his feet to walk in them, but apart from the slight discomfort, he
felt very protected and supported in them. They clattered on the flagstoned pathway, and it
pleased him to hear himself so clearly. His bony legs, which usually felt as if they would
collapse beneath him, felt firmer, stronger.
He found the back door of the church already open and Mister Tom talking to a tall, lanky
man with piebald black and gray hair.
"Ah, William," he exclaimed, turning towards him. "Mr. Oakley tells me that you're going to
give us a hand. Those are the hymn books," he continued, indicating a pile of red books on a
table by the main door. "Put four on each bench, and if there are any over, spread them across
the rows of chairs at the front and at the back. Do you think you can do that?" Willie nodded.
"Good." He turned back to Tom. "Now, where's the best place acoustically for this wireless of
mine?"
Willie walked over to the table and picked up some books, feeling totally bewildered. Mum
had said red was an evil color, but the vicar had told him to put them out so it couldn't be a
sin. He had also said that he was good. Mum had told him that whenever he was good she
liked him but that when he was bad, she didn't. Neither did God or anyone else for that matter.
It was very lonely being bad. He touched the worn, shiny wood at the back of one of the
pews. It smelled comfortable. He glanced at the main door. Like the back door it was flung
open, revealing a tiny arched porch outside. Sunlight streamed into the church and through
the stained-glass windows, and a smell of grass and flowers permeated the air. A bird
chirruped intermittently outside. P'raps heaven is like this, thought Willie.
He laid the books out neatly on the benches, his new boots echoing and reverberating noisily
around him, but the vicar made no comment and went on talking quite loudly, for someone
who was in a church.
He was arranging the books in the back row so that they were exactly parallel to each other,
when two boys entered. They were both three or four years older than him. They sat on the
second row of choir benches to the left of the altar.
Suddenly it occurred to Willie that the church would soon be filled with people. He hated
crowds and dreaded the Sunday service and its aftermath, which was usually a good
whipping. He felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Mister Tom.
"Stay with me, boy," he said in a low voice, and Willie gratefully followed him into one of
the pews.
Within minutes, the tiny church was flooded with men, women and children. Four more boys
sat by the altar. On the right of the altar were three men. Willie recognized Mr. Miller from
the corner shop and the young man behind the mesh in the post office.
In the pew opposite Willie were two ginger-haired girls—obviously twins—trying to smother
their giggles. Their long carrot-colored hair had been fought into plaits while the remainder
stuck out in frizzy, uncontrollable waves. They wore pale lemon-and-green summer dresses
with short puffed sleeves and a cross-stitching of embroidery round their chests. Their faces
and arms were covered with the biggest freckles Willie had ever seen. Like him, they carried
their gas masks over their shoulders. A lady at their side glared down at them.
She must be their mother, Willie thought. Sitting next to her was a tall man with bright red
hair, and beyond him a young dark-haired girl.
Mr. Peters and his wife stood by the main entrance greeting the congregation as they entered.
Their three teenage daughters, their cook and the assortment of evacuees they were housing
filled two of the pews in front.
A hacking cough from the porch heralded the arrival of Nancy Little and the Doctor. Willie
gave a short gasp. She was wearing trousers to church! He watched the vicar's face, waiting
for the thunderous "thou shall be cast into the eternal fires" glare, but he only smiled and
shook her hand. He was surprised to see Miss Thorne behind them.
"Mister Tom," he whispered urgently, tugging at his sleeve. "Does that book lady live here?"
Tom nodded.
A short, dumpy woman in her forties accompanied her. "That's her sister, Miss May," Tom
said in a low voice. "They lives in one of them cottages with the straw rooves. Thatched, that
is. They got a wireless."
Willie turned to find the Fletchers with two of their sons moving into their pew. Mrs. Fletcher
leaned towards them.
"Mr. Oakley," she whispered, "I begun the balaclava."
Tom frowned her into silence. It was Willie's birthday on Thursday, and he wanted it to be a
surprise.
The wireless stood on a small table below the pulpit. The vicar fiddled with one of the knobs
and the church was deafened with "How to Make the Most of Tinned Foods," before it was
hurriedly turned off. The twins had caught the eye of one of the boys sitting in the front row
of the choir. He was a stocky boy of about eleven with thick, straight, brown hair. With heads
bent and shaking shoulders, the three of them buried their laughter in their hands.
Mrs. Hartridge and her uniformed husband entered. Willie gazed at her, quite spellbound. She
was beautiful, he thought, so plump and fair, standing in the sunlight, her eyes creased with
laughter.
"Them be the Barnes family," whispered Tom as a group of men and women came on in
behind them. "They own Hillbrook Farm. Biggest round here fer miles."
Mr. Fred Barnes was a brick-faced, middle-aged man whose starched white collar seemed to
be causing him an obstruction in breathing. Three healthy-looking youths and two redcheeked
young women were with him. His wife, a short, stocky woman, was accompanying
two evacuees, a boy and a girl.
"Trust ole Barnes to pick a strong-lookin' pair," muttered Tom to himself.
Lucy and her parents sat in front of Tom and Willie. She turned and smiled at them, but
Willie was staring at the colors in the stained-glass windows and didn't notice her.
When everyone was reasonably settled, Mr. Peters stood in front of the congregation and
clasped his hands.
"Good morning," he began. "Now I know we have several denominations gathered here
today, especially amongst our new visitors, who I hope will be happy and safe inside our
homes. If any one of you is troubled or needs help, please don't hesitate to contact me or my
wife. And now if you would all open your hymn books at number eighty-five, we shall sing
'Lead thou me on.' "
Mr. Bush, the young headmaster of the village school, was seated behind the pulpit at the
organ. He gave an introductory chord. Willie didn't know the tune, and as he couldn't read he
couldn't even follow the words. He glanced aside at the ginger-haired twins. They were
sharing a hymn book and singing. He envied them.
"La it," he heard Tom whisper. "Go on, la it."
Willie did so and soon picked up the melody until he almost began to enjoy it. The hymn was
followed by a passage from the New Testament, another hymn from the choir and some
simple prayers. The vicar looked at his watch and walked towards the wireless. All eyes were
riveted on him, and anyone who had seating space sat down quietly.
The wireless crackled for a few moments until, after much jiggling with the knobs, the voice
of Mr. Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, became clear.
"I am speaking to you," he said, "from the Cabinet room at Ten Downing Street. This
morning the British Ambassador in Berlin handed the German Government a final note
stating that unless we heard from them by eleven o'clock that they were prepared at once to
withdraw their troops from Poland, a state of war would exist between us.
"I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received and that consequently this
country is at war with Germany."
A few people gave a cry. The rest remained frozen into silence, while others took out their
handkerchiefs. A loud whisper was heard from the brown-haired choirboy: "Does that mean
no school?"
He was silenced very quickly by a frown from Mr. Bush, and Mr. Chamberlain's message was
allowed to continue undisturbed.
"I know that you will all play your part with calmness and courage," he said. "Report for duty
in accordance with the instructions you have received. ... It is of vital importance that you
should carry on with your jobs. Now may God bless you all. May he defend the right. It is the
evil things that we shall be fighting against— brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and
persecution—and against them I am certain that the right will prevail."
Mr. Peters turned the wireless off. After what seemed an interminable silence he spoke. "Let
us pray."
Everyone sank to their knees. Willie peered over his clasped hands in the direction of the
choir. The brown-haired boy had caught the eyes of the twins again and was desperately
attempting to relay some kind of message to them.
After prayers, various announcements were made from the pulpit. Volunteers and those
already involved with the A.R.P. or Civil Defense work were asked to meet at the village hall.
Women and children were to report at the school in the morning to make arrangements for the
care and education of the evacuees.
After the service, when everyone had filed outside, Willie looked around for the strange
curly-haired boy he had seen at the post office. The brown-haired choirboy was already in
deep discussion with the twins. He was joined by several other children, but there was no sign
of the post office boy anywhere. He felt a hand tugging at his shirt sleeve. It was Lucy. She
gazed shyly at him, her large red cheeks and wide bulging lips spreading out beneath two
round blue eyes. " 'Ulloo," she said.
Willie shuffled in his boots and dug a toe into the grass. "Hello," he said in return.
An awkward silence came between them, and he was more than grateful when Mister Tom
called out to him.
"Go and put the kettle on," he yelled. "I got to see the vicar."
Willie turned quickly and stumbled hurriedly down the path, leaving Lucy to stare silently
after him until he had disappeared into the cottage.
The lid of the kettle rattled continuously, causing the living room to be enveloped in clouds of
dense steam. Willie had tried vainly to lift the kettle from off the stove and, having succeeded
only in burning his hand, he waited anxiously for Mister Tom's return. Tom didn't bat an
eyelid at the warm fog. He strode into the room and, picking up the kettle with an old cloth,
proceeded to make a pot of tea. It wasn't till he had put three mugs on the table that Willie
realized that there was a third person in the room. A short, stocky, middle-aged man with
thinning brown hair, a ruddy face and a twinkle in his eyes was standing at the doorway
eyeing him. He blushed.
"Come on in, Mr. Fletcher," said Tom brusquely. He and Mr. Fletcher sat at the table and
Willie took one of the mugs and perched himself on the stool in front of the stove. He felt
very self-conscious and stayed gazing at the fire while the two men talked about widths of
trenches. He pricked up his ears at one point, for he knew that they were talking about him.
"Oh yes, he'll manage all right," he heard Tom say. "Have to muck in like the rest of us." He
glanced in his direction. "William," he said, "yous'll have to get yer hands dirty today. You
don't mind a bit of muck and earth, I don't s'pose?"
"No, Mister Tom," said Willie.
This was a different world altogether. For a start, his mother had always taught him that it was
a sin to work or play on the Sabbath. Sundays were for sitting silently with a Bible in front of
you. And for another thing, if he got any dirt on his clothes he'd get a beating. His classmates
had called him a sissie because he had never dared to dirty himself by climbing a wall or
joining in any of their rough-and-tumble games. And, in addition to having to keep his clothes
clean, his body was often too bruised and painful for him to play, apart from the fact that he
didn't know how to.
"Mister Tom?" he asked after Mr. Fletcher had left. "Wot about me clothes gettin' dirty?"
"You can take yer shirt off. 'Tis a good hot day."
Willie shuffled nervously on the stool.
"What's up now?" Tom said curtly. "Them bruises is it?"
Willie nodded.
"Wear yer gray jersey then. Mind," he added, "you'll be drippin'. And put yer old socks on."
After a meal of meat-and-potato stew, of which Willie only managed a few mouthfuls, Mr.
Fletcher returned accompanied by his two teenage sons. They were carrying spades and
measuring sticks.
Tom pointed sadly to a patch of grass in the back garden. "Best start there," he said, " 'Tis a
reasonable distance from the latrine."
They cut and stripped the turf away in small neat squares, and then after measuring the
ground they slowly and laboriously began to dig. Willie was given a small spade, and after an
hour of removing a tiny section of earth he began to forget that he was surrounded by
strangers and gradually became absorbed in his digging. Mister Tom had told him not to be
afraid of the earth, but it was still wet from the previous night's rain and occasionally he let
out an involuntary squeal when his spade contacted a worm. This made the others laugh and
yell "Townee," but they went on digging and Willie realized that there was no malice in their
laughter.
In the middle of digging they all sat down for a mug of tea. Willie helped hand the mugs
around. The two youths, he had learned, were called Michael and Edward. Michael was the
elder. He was dark haired, with a few strands of hair on his upper lip. Edward, the younger,
was stockier. He had brown wavy hair and a hoarse voice that was in the process of breaking.
Willie sat at the edge of the shallow trench and clung tightly to his mug. The insides of his
hands smarted under the heat of it. Suddenly he gave a start. Footsteps and the sound of a
boy's voice were approaching the hedge. Maybe it was the post office boy. He turned sharply
to look. Two boys leaned over the small gate. They were Michael and Edward's younger
brothers. One of them was the brown-haired choirboy, and his younger brother was a smaller,
dark-haired version of him. Tom gave his usual frown at the appearance of uninvited
intrusion.
"May I has yer worms, Mr. Oakley?" inquired the choirboy.
Tom grunted and the smallest fled immediately."Daresay you can, George. Come on in."
"Thanks, Mr. Oakley," he said enthusiastically, and he swung the gate open.
In his hands was a large tin. He walked over to the trench and began scrutinizing the piles of
earth. Willie watched him in horror as he picked up the wriggling worms and put them inside
the tin. Within minutes he was helping with the digging. He turned shortly to discover Willie
staring at him. "You's one of them townees, ent you?" he said. Willie nodded. "Ent you hot in
that jersey?"
George had stripped off his shirt as soon as he had joined in. Willie shook his head, but the
telltale beads of sweat that ran down his flushed face belied the gesture. His jersey clung to
his chest in large damp patches.
"You looks hot, why don't you peel off?"
Willie grew more reticent and mumbled out something that George couldn't hear.
"What?" he said. "What did you say?"
"Boy's got a temperature," interrupted Tom curtly. "Best to sweat it off."
Willie didn't look at George anymore after that, but continued digging with extra fervor. Later
in the afternoon, Mrs. Fletcher appeared with lemonade and cakes for everyone, and George
left, soon after, with a full tin of worms.
Sammy watched them digging from a corner of the garden. He was miserable at being left
out. He had tried to help earlier but was only yelled at angrily for filling the hole with earth.
When the trench was completed, Willie sat on the grass to watch the others fix the Anderson
shelter inside it. Sammy lay by his feet. The six steel sheets were inserted into the two widest
sides of the trench and bolted together at the top, forming a curved tunnel. Michael and
Edward placed one of the flat pieces of steel at one end and Tom and Mr. Fletcher fixed it into
place. This was the back of the shelter. It had an emergency exit, which they all had a try at
unbolting.
Willie was so absorbed that he didn't notice his knees were being licked, and unconsciously
he rested his hand on the back of Sammy's neck.
Tom and Mr. Fletcher fixed the next flat piece onto the front of the shelter. Cut inside it was a
hole, which was at ground level. This acted as a doorway.
"William," said Tom turning, and being surprised to see him sitting with Sammy in a fairly
relaxed manner, "like to have a try out of this doorway?"
Willie rose and wandered over towards the entrance. He put his head cautiously through the
hole and stepped gingerly inside. It was dark and smelled of damp earth. Tom joined him. The
shelter curved well above his head so that they could both stand quite comfortably inside.
Tom crawled back out into the sun and pulled Willie out after him. He thanked Mr. Fletcher
and his sons for their help and shook their hands.
"Pleasure," said Mr. Fletcher. "We must all help one another now."
"William," said Tom after the Fletchers had left, "I'm afraid we ent quite finished yet. We jes'
got to cover this with earth. Got any strength left?"
Willie felt exhausted, but he was determined to keep going. He nodded.
Between them they started to cover the shelter until it was time for Tom to leave for a meeting
in the village hall.
"Don't keep on fer long," he said as he swung the back gate behind him, but Willie continued
to pile the earth on, leveling it down with his hands. It was exciting to see the glinting steel
slowly disappear under its damp camouflage. He was so absorbed in his task that he didn't
notice dusk approaching. His hands and fingernails were filthy, his face and legs were
covered with muck, his clothes were sodden and he was glorying in the wetness of it all. He
was in the middle of smoothing one piece of earth when a shadow fell across his hands. He
looked up quickly and there, half silhouetted in the twilight, stood the wiry, curly-haired boy
he had seen at the post office.


Chapter Five-“Chamberlain announces” 


1) What did Mr. Tom point out to Willie?  
2) Why did they have to wash the bedclothes?
3) What had Mrs. Fletcher brought over the previous night?  
4) How did Willie help in the church?  
5) Why do you think it was that Willie hated crowds?
6) Why was there a wireless in the church?  
7) What announcement was made over the wireless?
8) What job did Mr. Fletcher ask Willie to do?
9) How did Mr. Tom avoid embarrassment for Willie?
10) What was an Anderson?