Edition No.8Sunday, May 31, 2020

Home school help and support for primary school children

Colourus in!

INTRODUCTION2 BARRETSTOWN 3

Summer is on its way. We can see sunshine peeking out from behind the clouds, bringing with it warm weather, good times and a general lifting of spirits. Those lazy, hazy days will bring great relief after months spent cooped up inside. That’s why in this week’s lesons and activity plans we are exploring summer and the great outdoors.

Walks along canal and river banks, beaches and shorelines, and in parks, fi elds and meadows are great for our mental and physical wellbeing – and so much easier to do when the sun is shining. In the great outdoors, you can have a family picnic, play games such as I-spy, and simply enjoy being together.

Part of protecting our children is making sure they get enough physical activity, which is a lot easier when the weather is balmy. Children may be missing local sports training and their teammates, so summer is a great time to begin reintroducing them to all the outdoors has to o� er, perhaps with a ball at their feet or in their hands.

Not every child is interested in sports, of course, and summer also brings with it the chance to explore nature and all its wonders. We can use the sights and sounds of the summer months to teach our children about the seasons and the various life cycles of animals and plant life.

And with the weather smiling on us, it’s a great time to grab your copy of The Children’s Times and bring your home schooling outdoors for a change of scenery.

Enjoy the longer days and let’s look forward to a long, hopefully warm, glorious summer.

Summer provides an ideal opportunity to light up youngsters’ imaginations through sport, play and outdoor learning

Online summer camp spreads warmth to sick childrenBarretstown is a Co Kildare-based children’s charity that provides life-changing therapeutic programmes for seriously ill children and their families. Founded in 1994 by Hollywood star and philanthropist Paul Newman, Barretstown has served more than 60,000 children and family members. Its support helps children whose lives are on pause due to illness to press play on their childhoods again.

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, Barretstown has had to postpone its planned on-site activities. Almost v1,800 children and families had participated in one of the charity’s programmes this year before it had to postpone its spring and summer camps, and more than 8,300 campers who were due to benefi t are now on waiting lists.

Living with a serious illness isolates children and the current restrictions exacerbate that detachment. Children need our therapeutic programmes now more than ever.

That is why in March, we launched the Barretstown Live programme, an interactive online platform that broadcasts every Saturday from 10am to 4pm to enable sick children at home or in hospital to enjoy a taste of the Barretstown camp experience. Families receive a Barretstown Live kit that contains everything they need to participate in the activities. We plan to continue these programmes throughout the summer months and hope to be able to welcome families through our gates once again in the autumn.

We are also sharing the magic of Barretstown with children across Ireland through Facebook Live broadcasts taking place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 2pm to 4pm.

Barretstown is doing everything it can to support children, and their families, a� ected by serious illness – but we need your help to continue to deliver our life-changing programmes.

You can support us by taking part in one of our virtual challenges or running your own fundraiser. To fi nd out more, visit us at barretstown.org or email us atfundraising@barretstown.org

Despite the restrictions we have had to abide by over the past couple of months, there has been one silver lining…the weather. This year, it seems summer has arrived a little earlier than expected with beautiful days to lift our spirits.

It is proven that sunlight has the power to increase the brain’s release of serotonin, known as the happy hormone, which helps to keep us feeling balanced and focused, so let’s get outside as often as possible and bask in those glorious sunbeams.

Having worked in a school for a number of years, this time of year is by far my favourite. It is a time for taking the classroom and our books outside,

for enjoying summer activities such as rounders and athletics, for school tours and, of course, the all important annual sports day. Although these things may not happen this year in the format we are accustomed to, we can still fi nd ways to make the most of the summer months.

Take a good book and a blanket out to your garden or the local park, recruit family members for a fun game of rounders, set up a prep station for a family barbecue or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, pitch a tent in the back garden and camp under the stars.

Sunshine instils in us the feeling that anything is possible, and in the times we are currently living through, I am grateful for this. It makes me believe that soon, normality will return and we will be able to open up our schools again and resume those lovely activities that we all miss so much.

Valerie O’Loughlin is principal at St Martin de Porres NS, whose teachers have supported us with their time and eff ort in compiling this edition

Take learning outdoors to raise the spirits

Here comes the sun

Sunlight has the power to increase the brain’s release of serotonin, known as the happy hormone

BARRETSTOWN

GETTY

Wheel-world fun: summer brings lots of chances to boost

outdoor learning

CO

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The Children’s Times wishes to thank the brilliantly creative teachers at St Martin de Porres National School in Dublin who

committed huge amounts of time and energy to contributing lessons and activity ideas over the past eight weeks. Deirdre Coffey, Donna McEvoy, Lisa Smith, Orla McGrath, Anne McMorrough and school

principal Valerie O’Loughlin – we sincerely thank you.

Support children and their families by climbing a virtual mountain for

Barretstown - TODAY !

www.barretstown.org

Childhood stops for seriously ill children.At Barretstown we Press Play!

PROUD SPONSORS

CLIMB WITH US

TAKE THE STAIRS

At Barretstown, we like to “press play” on the lives of children and families impacted by serious illness, and what better way to do this than through random acts of kindness and some silly fun. We believe even the smallest act of kindness can make someone’s day better. Try these out with your family and friends and see how many smiles you can create this week.

On this page you’ll � nd the fun camp traditions that we do every week at Barretstown. We hope you enjoy bringing a little Barretstown magic into your home – and have some serious fun.

“YOU ROCK” ROCKS

COTTAGE CHATEvery night at camp, before going to bed, we ask campers a “cottage chat” question. Each camper has the opportunity to answer the question before going to sleep. This week, we’re asking: “What was your favourite part of the day?” Discuss it with your family at bedtime.

GROOVE FOR YOUR FOODWe love to dance at camp. To “groove for your food” at home, put on your favourite song before dinner and dance around your table as a family before you eat. Trust us, it’s fun.

WARM & FUZZY WORDSAt camp, we love that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when someone says something nice to you. Write a note to someone in your family, or to a friend, and say something nice to them. We do this at camp all the time, and people say the nicest things.

SELFIE QUEST1. Take a sel� e eating chocolate, sweets or your

favourite dessert.2. Take a sel� e with a lovely � ower or plant.3. Take a sel� e wearing a funny out� t.4. Take a sel� e with your pet or a favourite toy.

Then send your funny sel� es to someone who might enjoy them, and ask them to do the sel� e challenge themselves.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� A rock� Soapy water� Marker pens or

craft paints

INSTRUCTIONS1. Find a nice small rock or stone in your garden or outside. Clean it with warm,

soapy water and leave to dry.2. Using paint or a marker, write the phrase “You Rock” on it.3. You can also decorate the rock with other positivity messages or imagery.4. The next time you see someone in your family do something nice, give them this

rock and tell them why you think they “rocked”. Pass the rock along every time someone you know rocks at something.

9 + 7

10 + 1010 + 10

10 + 10

6 + 7

6 + 7

6 + 76 + 6

20 − 4

20 − 48 + 7

17 − 5

10 +

5

8 + 7

18 − 3

JUNIOR AND SENIOR INFANTS4 Some educational resources provided by Twinkl IrelandFind more at twinkl.ie 

A note from Ms CoffeySenior infants teacher at St Martin de Porres NS, Dublin 24

The days are getting longer, the sun is shining and summer has well and truly arrived. Even though we can never be

guaranteed a great summer in Ireland, when we do get a good one it makes all the difference. Enjoy these summer-themed exercises: perhaps you can take your copy of The Children’s Times outdoors this week. Remember to make sure everyone is wearing sunscreen!

BUILD A FAIRY A HOUSEUsing an old detergent bottle, let’s make a house for the fairies at the bottom of the garden

BUILD A HOME FOR THE WORMSFollow the instructions to make your own wormery

LETTER TO YOUR TEACHERWe teachers have missed our classes so much. We care about all of our schoolchildren and we have been busy organising work for you all. I have also gone on some lovely walks with my family around the local area. My daughter has learned how to ride a bike and how to vacuum. Have you learned anything new? Have you done anything you have never done before? Have you helped out around the house? Gone on any nice walks? Do let me know in a letter

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� Empty detergent bottle� Marker pens� Pine cones� Arti� cial � owers and greenery� Scissors� Hot glue gun

INSTRUCTIONS1. First, choose an empty detergent bottle and clean it thoroughly.2. Using a marker, draw a door and a window or two on the

detergent bottle.3. Once you have the door and windows drawn, ask an adult to cut

them out using a craft knife.4. Draw a black outline around your doors and windows to

highlight them after you have cut them out. 5. You need one or two pine cones to make the roof. Start by

pulling the pine cones apart.6. Glue the pinecone pieces to the lid of your detergent bottle

using the hot glue gun – be careful not to touch the glue.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� A selection of fresh � owers � Absorbent kitchen paper or a vase� A magnifying glass

INSTRUCTIONS1. Put your � owers on sheets of wet

kitchen paper and place them inside a container in the fridge. This will keep them fresher for longer. If they have long stalks, you can simply put them in a vase of water.

3. Examine your � owers closely with your magnifying glass. Consider their traits: what colour are they? How many petals do they have and what shape? What are their leaves like? Perhaps your � owers have a scent – what is it like? How do the � owers feel when you touch them?

4. Now, choose � ve or six of your favourite � owers. Use the various things you have learned from looking at your favourite � owers to design your own ideal � ower.

5. Think about its colour, shape, size, and what its leaves are like. Use coloured pens or pencils to make it look exactly how you want it to. Finally, give your � ower a name.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� Earth worms � A large jar or clear container

with a lid � Plastic tray � Soil, sand, gravel and stones � Water � Old leaves, plants or � owers � Fruit and vegetable peelings � Black paper � Sticky tape

INSTRUCTIONS1. Begin by washing and drying

your jar or container. Then place it into the plastic tray.

2. First, pour in some gravel or small stones. This will help to

drain any excess water.3. Next, add alternate layers

of sand and soil. Each layer should be about 2cm deep. There should be about 5cm of space at the top of the jar.

4. Continue adding layers of sand and soil until you have nearly � lled the container to the top.

5. Carefully place the worms on the top layer of soil.

6. Gently place a few leaves, plants or � owers, and fruit and vegetable peelings on top.

7. Poke some holes in the lid and screw it on the jar.

8. Stick the black paper all around the outside of the jar

and place it somewhere cool and dark, such as a cupboard.

9. Leave it for a few days and then check what the worms are doing. What is happening to the different layers? What has happened to the leaves and food on top of the soil? Can you see any patterns the worms have made in the soil?

10. To care for your worms, ensure that the contents of the wormery are kept moist – not too wet and not too dry. New food can be added once the � rst lot has been eaten, and some newspaper or cardboard scraps can also be added.

SUMMER THOUGHTSWith summer in mind, � ll in the sentences

GUESS THE WORD

Going further: Draw a picture for each sentence.

In summer I like to hear…

In summer I like to eat...

In summer I like to smell...

In summer I like to feel...

In summer I like to...

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

COLOUR BY NUMBERSSolve the calculations to colour in this summer picture

DESIGN YOUR OWN FLOWERInvent your own unique � ower by exploring existing ones

Parent’s note: If you plan to paint your bottle fi rst, allow plenty of time for it to dry before you begin the project. Going further: See diycrafts.com for more ideas.

Parent’s note: This is a nice keepsake to help remember this challenging time with positivity. Going further: Sent a letter to your school teacher personally, or to a family member who would love to receive one.

Parent’s note: This is a nice keepsake to help remember this challenging time with

Dear teacher,

READ AND COLOURRead the sentence, match it the picture, and colour it in

The bucket is red. The spade is yellow

The sun is yellowThe kite is blue,

yellow, pink and purple

The � ower ispink and orange

The swimsuit isgreen. The swimming shorts are light blue

One pair of sunglasses is red and the

other is brown

ANSWER: 16 15 20 12 13

COLOUR: red yellow green brown blue

S_NS__NE

A note from Ms McEvoy2nd class teacher, St Martin de Porres NS, Dublin 24Here comes the sun. Or, given this is The Children’s Times, perhaps we should say: “Here come the sums”? We have lots of summer-themed exercises to get everyone in the mood for the holidays and – hopefully – for the return to socialising and playing together that lies ahead. With more birds, butterfl ies and insects around, now is also a great time for nature-watching. See if you can identify all the new fl ora and fauna that are thriving at this time of year.

1ST AND 2ND CLASS Some educational resources provided by Twinkl IrelandFind more at twinkl.ie 6

GIY GRASS HEADFather’s Day is on June 21. Why not make Dad a gift this year by growing your own grass head? Its hair will sprout in one week and take three to four weeks to fully grow, so start this week

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� Old tights (one leg cut away)� Compost or earth� Grass seeds� Rubber bands or thread� Googly eyes, felt and so on

(for decorating)� A plant pot (which you can

decorate if you wish)� PVA glue

INSTRUCTIONS1. Put 2-3 generous tablespoons

of grass seed at the bottom of the leg of the tights. Add compost until you have a good-sized ball.

2. Twist the end of the tights and wrap and tie in place.

3. Place in its pot. Add water – make sure it is moist but not too wet.

4. Place in a sunny spot and wait for it to grow.5. When it begins to take shape, pinch a nose

and glue on googly eyes and a felt mouth.

Parent’s note: These are good because they demonstrate a useful example of recycling and they make for quirky gifts. While a full head of hair takes three to four weeks to grow, “greying and balding” will occur after about six weeks so be sure to gift your grass head before then. Going further: Write a comic strip or story about the adventures of the grass head. You could even turn it into a Father’s Day card.

SUMMER SPENDING SPREEThe object here is to spend some of the pocket money you have saved for your summer holidays, but still have money left at the end to put in your piggy bank

WEATHER MATHSFigure out these sun, rain and storm sums

Parent’s note: Money can be a tricky concept for children, but once they recognise the coins and notes they can begin working out costs and change. This little game helps to improve mental addition and subtraction skills that can be applied directly to a real-life setting. Going further: Adapt the game – change the amounts each time you play.

Start

Buy an ice cream for

€1.50

Finish

e

Buy two pens for 55c each

Earn€5 for

babysitting

Shortcut

Buy an appfor €1.95

Miss aturn

Buy a cupcake for

€3.25

Earn €3for washing the dishes

Go back two spaces

Buy a magazine for €2.35

Give €2 to charity

Rollagain

Buy three sweets for 30c each

Lose €1at the

playground

Buy a ball for

€6

Miss aturn

Shortcut

Buy some slime for

€3.70

Find €2 in the park

Rollagain

Buy a cookiefor 40c

Buy a bowfor €4.90

Buy a toyfor €3.85

Go forward two spaces

Earn €8 for doing chores

Give your friend €3

Buy a chocolate bar for €1.25

Buy a toy car for €2.30

Sell two spinning tops for 25c each

Go forward two spaces

Buy a teddy bear for €5.65

Miss aturn

COLOUR BY CALCULATION Use the colour key to illustrate our summer-themed picture

Summertime Colour by CalculationsUse the key to colour the summer-themed picture.

Grey: Red: Orange: Yellow: Green:LightBlue:

DarkBlue:

White:

0 1 − 5 6 − 18 19 − 36 37 − 60 61 − 85 86 − 120 121 − 144

12 × 11

6 × 12

11 × 12

7 × 6

110 ÷ 11

8 × 9

28 ÷ 7

12 × 8

24 ÷ 12

108 ÷ 9

2 × 12

5 × 12 32 ÷ 8

7 × 4

4 × 7

3 × 7

12 × 12

12 × 12

27 ÷ 9

63 ÷ 79 × 7 9 × 9 11 × 12

11 × 11

8 × 7

3 × 9

1 × 0

12 × 0

11 × 12

10 × 9

3 × 9

36 ÷ 9

48 ÷ 12

1 × 5

4 × 97 × 3

11 × 1028 ÷ 7

12 × 9

9 × 11

9 × 5

10 × 7

11 × 12

9 × 12

10 × 12

27 ÷ 9

9 × 3

7 × 5 7 × 3 9 × 4

4 × 9

11 × 3

4 × 7

12 × 3

12 × 10

8 × 12

35 ÷ 7

11 × 1111 × 7

8 × 8 35 ÷ 7

12 × 7

9 × 10

10 × 10

12 × 2

visit twinkl.com

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� One counter per

player (or any small object)

� A dice� Toy money

INSTRUCTIONS1. Each playerstarts with €20.

2. Roll the dice and move your counter the correct number of spaces.

4. Follow the instructions on the space where you land. You will need to either add or subtract money from your total.

5. The game continues until both players have reached the Finish space.

6. The winner is the player with themost money left at the end of the game.

Red1-10

Orange11-20

Yellow21-30

Green31-40

Light blue41-50

Dark blue51-60

White121-144

WRITE A LIMERICKLimericks, like all poetic forms, have a set of rules you need to follow. See if you can write your own

Parent’s note: A limerick is a fi ve-line poem with just one stanza. Limericks have an AABBA rhyme scheme and usually they are funny. Going further: Try writing one without the template.

The rules are simple:

� Limericks are � ve lines long� Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme � Lines 3 and 4 rhyme � They have a distinct rhythm� Limericks are usually funny

There was once a lady named HeatherWho was happy whatever the weatherShe drove to a beachThat was just within reachBut it rained, and she’d forgotten her sweater!

There was once a from

Who

She

That

So

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IMAG

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ICE LOLLY APOSTROPHES Use the apostrophes on the ice lolly sticks to make one whole word in each case. Then write the full word in the space on the ice lolly

Use apostrophes to shorten the sentences

1. My little sister had not ever been to the seaside before. 2. Let us wear our new clothes to the party. 3. You must not cross the road until you see the green man.

1.

2.

3.

Parent’s note: An apostrophe is used in a word where letters are deliberately missing (this is known as a contraction – a word or phrase that has been shortened by dropping one or more letters). The apostrophe indicatesthe position of the missing letter/s. Going further: Apostrophes are also used for possession (eg the girl’s ball).

couldnot + =’

hewould + =’

I am + =’

cannot + =’

youare + =’

shewill + =’

MILK BOTTLE ELMERMake Elmer the elephant using a large milk container and coloured tissue paper squares!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� One (or more)

empty and clean plastic milk containers

� Scissors� Brightly coloured

tissue paper, cut into equally sized squares

� PVA/craft glue and brushes

� White card� Black pen

INSTRUCTIONS1. Stand the milk

container upright and cut into it just below the bottom of the handle. This will form the elephant’s trunk. Then cut away the rest of the bottom half, and cut four “legs” into it, as well as a little tail.

2. Stick on the tissue paper squares, making sure they are all touching each other, with no gaps.

3. Paint over the paper squares with the PVA glue to keep them in place. Allow to dry.

4. Make Elmer’s ears by cutting equal-sized pieces of white card into semi-circles, with a tab at the bottom that can be bent and glued onto the body. Cover it in tissue paper squares before sticking it on.

5. Finally, make Elmer’s eyes by cutting circles of white card and drawing on black pupils.

Parent’s note: Cut the milk bottle yourself, or help your child to do it, as it can be tricky. This could be a nice prop for storytelling or for use in drama/puppetry. If the paper squares are too messy, simply paint the container and stick on ears and eyes. Going further: Write a story about Elmer the elephant.

GET PUBLISHED OR DESIGN OUR COVER!

Next week, The Children’s Times will be a special letters edition, in

which we aim to publish as many of your stories, poems and letters as

we can. Your design could also make the cover. On our blank cover page (see page 12), draw something on

the theme of “thank you”. Email letters and cover drawings to: thechildrenstimes@sundaytimes.ie

=6 = _______ _______ _______+

= _______ _______ _______=11+

= _______ _______ _______=2-

Answers:1) 3; 2) 8; 3) 10

0 7 14 28 35 42 49

14 21 14 42

21 28 28 14 21 28 35

49 35 35 42

6 49 56 49 42 35 42 84 91

63 63 35 56 98

70 63 70 84 91 98 105 112 105

77 77 98 175

98 91 84 77 154 161 168

105 84 147 175

112 119 126 133 140 133 147

3RD AND 4TH CLASS

A note from Ms Smith4th class teacher, St Martin de Porres NS, Dublin 24

Summertime traditionally means the schools closing and the long summer

holidays stretching ahead. This year, things are a bit di� erent, but we can still

look forward to a great few months ahead. Our exercises and lessons this week

have a summer theme as we approach the longer days and think about what

our post-lockdown world will look like. It’s a time to start making plans for what

we’d all like to do as a family once it’s easier to get around.

Some educational resources provided by Twinkl IrelandFind more at twinkl.ie 8

LAETHANTA SAOIREGrian, gaineamh agus surfáil

COUNT IN SEVENS SUMMER MAZEHelp Froggie through the lily pad maze by counting forward in sevens

AT THE BEACH CAFEUse the Beach Cafe menu to work out how much each customer has spent, and then � ll in the receipts

EXTREME WEATHERWrite a narrative or story with “extreme weather” as its theme

ADVENTURE POSTCARDFill in the blanks to plan a holiday adventure postcard

SUMMER ICE SLUSHEnjoy an ice-cold treat in the sun

BUBBLE SNAKE BLOWERCreate your own colourful bubble creature

HOMOPHONES: THEY’RE, THEIR AND THEREHomophones are words that are pronounced in the same way, but have different meanings. Choose the correct words – they’re, their or there – for the blanks in these sentences

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100

Buí: 74, 76, 78, 81, 83, 84, 86-89, 91-100

Gorm geal: 1-4, 6-10, 11, 12, 18-20, 21, 29, 30, 40

Dubh: 5, 13, 14, 16, 17, 22, 28, 31, 39, 41-49, 55, 65, 75, 85

Gorm dorcha: 50-54, 56-64, 66-73, 77, 79, 80, 82, 90

Cola........................€2.49

Diet lemonade.....€2.35

Tea..........................€3.10

Coffee.....................€3.29

Small chips.........€2.60

Large chips.........€3.75

Ice cream.............€2.39

Pizza......................€8.99

2 colas

Large chips

2 ice creams

Total:

2 pizzas

Small chips

Total:

2 teas

Coffee

Total:

Diet lemonade

Cola

2 coffees

4 ice creams

Total:

Pizza

2 large chips

Small chips

3 coffees

Tea

3 ice creams

Total:

The Beach Cafe

The Beach CafeThe Beach Cafe

The Beach Cafe The Beach Cafe

Focus on any type of weather event such as a heatwave, a blizzard, a lightning storm or � ooding.

THINGS TO CONSIDER� Who are your characters?� What type of personality do they

have (funny, smart, kind etc)?� Where is your story set?� Are problems encountered? Can

these be overcome or solved?� How will the story end?

REMEMBER TO:� Plan your story, giving it a

beginning, a middle and an end.� Organise your ideas into

paragraphs.� Choose your words carefully to

entertain the reader (refer to a thesaurus if you need inspiration).

� Write in full sentences.� Double-check your spelling,

grammar and punctuation.

1. Country:

2. Verb:

3. Name of a person:

4. Adjective:

5. Animal:

6. Adjective:

7. Body part:

8. Food:

9. Place:

10. Food:

11. Verb (ending in —ing):

12. Verb:

13. Adjective:

14. Noun:

15. Number:

16. Verb:

17. Verb:

18. Your name:

Read the postcard below and � ll in the blanks using the information you wrote above

WHAT YOU NEED� 1 tbsp granulated sugar� 1 tbsp boiling water� 260g ice cubes� Blender� 4 tbsp of your favourite cordial/squash

INSTRUCTIONS1. In a cup, mug or small jug, mix the

sugar and boiling water together and stir continuously until the sugar has completely dissolved. Set aside until it is lukewarm or cooler.

2. Once the syrup has cooled enough, add the cordial and mix. Put the ice in the blender.

3. Pour the syrup over the ice and blend until you get the correct “slushie” consistency. If you � nd small cubes in the slushie, use a spoon to push them down to the bottom and blend again. Sometimes gently shaking the blender will help, too.

4. Pour into a frozen or chilled glass and enjoy.

WHAT YOU NEED� A clean empty two-litre plastic bottle� A piece of old towel or a � annel� An elastic band� Washing-up liquid� Bowl� Food colouring

INSTRUCTIONS1. Remove the bottle lid and cut off the base. 2. Cover the cut end with a piece of towel or � annel and secure it

in place with the elastic band.3. Squeeze about 1cm depth of washing-up liquid into the bowl

and dilute it with the same amount of water. Add some food colouring to the mixture.

4. Dip the cut end of the bottle into the coloured mixture until the towel or � annel is wet through.

5. Blow through the bottle opening and watch the colourful bubbles snake downwards.

Dear Mum and Dad,

I’m having a lot of fun in (1) . There are so many things

to (2) . Yesterday, (3) and I went to the zoo to

see the rare and (4) Chinese (5) . It was (6) !

It has the most unusual (7) I’ve ever seen. Afterwards

we ate (8) at a nearby (9) . Our meal came with

a bowl of fresh (10) . It was delicious.

Tomorrow we’re going (11) and we will (12)

some gifts to bring home. I know Mum wanted a (13)

dress and Dad wanted me to look for a (14) for the

living room. I’ll be home in (15) days! I (16) you

a lot. I can’t wait to come home and (17) you again.

Love,

(18)

HOLIDAYPOST

“Look at the beautiful rainbow over !” gasped Lydia.

The one with the white fence is house.

Do you think coming to the beach?

Put your swimsuit over to dry.

going for a cycle in the park.

Blue Smarties are the best. my favourites.

Sam and Ciara forgot swimming goggles.

“The freebie is somewhere over in the bushes,” bellowed Bob.

“Is time to stop for ice cream?” Ciaran asked.

Kerry are a great team: going to win the cup this year.

Kitt is cat. He lives over in the blue house.

Going further: Think of other homophones and create your own sentences to practise the correct usage of each.

SUMMER SYNONYM SCRAMBLE A synonym is a word that means the same as another word. Match the pairs of synonyms

5TH AND 6TH CLASS Some educational resources provided by Twinkl IrelandFind more at twinkl.ie 10

A note from Ms McGrath5th class teacher, St Martin de Porres NS, Dublin 24We’ve been lucky to have such a great stretch of weather while we’ve been stuck at home, and soon it will be the end of o� cial term time. As we have seen in the weekly lessons on these pages, the seasons march on regardless of events in the wider world. This week we are delving into the wonderful, sunny, bright world of summer and all the good things that come with it.

GET PUBLISHED OR DESIGN OUR COVER!

Next week, The Children’s Times will be a special letters edition, in

which we aim to publish as many of your stories, poems and letters as

we can. Your design could also make the cover. On our blank cover page (overleaf), draw something on the

theme of “thank you”. Email letters and cover drawings to: thechildrenstimes@sundaytimes.ie

SUMMER PUZZLERSTry these wordy maths puzzles

I collect shells on the beach.I multiply the number of shells I have by 7.I then subtract 7,multiply by 9,and divide by 2.I end up with the number 1,953.How many shells did I collect?

I decorate my sandcastle with � ags.I multiply the number of � ags I use by 26.I then add 132,multiply by 4,and divide by 10.I end up with the number 344.How many � ags did I use to decorate my sandcastle?

I practise cartwheels on the sand.I multiply the number of cartwheels I do by 38.I then subtract 83,multiply by 100,and divide by 4.I end up with the number 19,775.How many cartwheels did I do?

SUMMER SUDOKUSolve this sudoku using the word S U N B A T H E R

Answers: 1) 63 shells 2) 28 � ags 3) 23 cartwheels

R H T B E S N U A

S B N U A R H E T

A U E N H T S R B

T R B A S E U N H

E S U H N B A T R

H N A R T U B S E

B T H E U N R A S

U A S T R H E B N

N E R S B A T H U

SUMMER TEMPERATURE GRAPHSFionn went on his summer holiday to Greece. Sorcha went on her summer holiday to Kilkenny. Here is a line graph showing the highest daily temperature on each day of their summer holidays. Use the graph to answer the questions.

A line graph to show the highest daily temperatures in Greece and Kilkenny

1. On day four of Fionn’s holiday, what was the temperature?

2. What was the temperature on day one of Sorcha’s holiday?

3. On day three, what was the temperature difference between Greece and Kilkenny?

4. On day seven, how much warmer was it in Greece than in Kilkenny?

5. By which day was the temperature on Sorcha’s holiday 21C?

6. On which day did the temperature in Greece start to decrease?

Answers:1) 20C 2) 15C 3) 5 degrees 4) 3C 5) Day 7 6) Day 3

10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

Day

Tem

pera

ture

Fionn Sorcha

Parent’s note: Teanglann.ie is a great online dictionary for fi nding the meanings of these words and for listening to their pronunciations. Going further: An féidir leat an Béarla a scríobh in aice leis na focail? (Can you write the English translation next to the words?)

AN SAMHRADH: CUARDACH FOCALAn féidir leat na focail atá liostaithe thíos a fháil sa cuardach focal?

a g h h i b e á r b a i c i ú c

s p é a c l a í g r é i n e g s

o a g s n á m h s i ú l ó i d a

u m m b d t g a i n e a m h o m

f l i i c h i r r e s h e t u h

l a e t h a n t a s a o i r e r

e h c n i n g e r i c f u l t a

a p n i r n s h p á n a b g d d

u a c h t a r g r é i n e n b h

n u a c h t a r r e o i t e m o

i m e o r l f é i l e a c á i n

l b r i m o o f l p i e e u d s

bláthannaspéaclaí gréineuachtar reoitegrian tráuachtar gréinebeárbaiciúgaineamh laethanta saoire teféileacáin siúlóidag snámhsamhradh

Going further: Write a list of words you use all the time and think of a synonym for each that might make your sentences better. Use an online thesaurus to help you.

sprintedsprintedambledambled

chillychillyelatedelated

screechedscreeched

immenseimmense

tranquiltranquil

scorchingscorching deafeningdeafening

despondentdespondent

searingsearing

ear-piercingear-piercing racedracedgargantuangargantuan

ecstaticecstatic

dejecteddejected

peacefulpeaceful frozenfrozen

strolledstrolledsquealedsquealed

MAKE A RAINBOW How are rainbows formed? This experiment will help you understand the process

WHAT YOU WILL NEED� A glass of water

(three-quarters full)� White paper

INSTRUCTIONS1. Take the glass of water

and paper to a part of the room with sunlight (near a window).

2. Hold the glass of water above the paper and watch as sunlight passes through it. The light refracts (bends) and forms a re� ection of rainbow colours on your sheet of paper.

3. Try holding the glass of water at different heights and angles to see if the effect changes.

OBSERVATIONSWhile you normally see a rainbow as an arc of colour in the sky, they can also form in other situations. You may have seen a rainbow in a water fountain or in the mist of a waterfall – and you can even make your own, as you’ve seen from this experiment.

Rainbows form when sunlight refracts as it passes through raindrops, in the same way as when it passes through your glass of water. The sunlight refracts, separating into the colours red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED (SOLAR OVEN)� A cardboard box with a lid. The lid

should have � aps so that the box can be closed tightly. Pizza boxes work best

� A knife/blade/box cutter � Tin foil� Cling � lm � A craft glue stick� Sticky tape� A long object to prop open the

“re� ector � ap” such as a skewer, a knitting needle, or a ruler.

� A ruler or card with a straight edge

INSTRUCTIONSCAUTION: Have an adult cut the box with the box cutter or blade.

1. Using the ruler or straight edge as a guide, cut a three-sided � ap out of the lid of the box, leaving at least a 3cm border on the three sides.

2. Use the glue stick to spread a layer of glue onto the inside of the � ap. Cover it with tin foil, and make the foil as smooth as possible.

3. Line the inside of the box with tin foil, again gluing it down and making it as smooth as possible.

4. Tape two layers of cling � lm across the opening you have cut in the lid—one layer on the top side and one layer on the bottom side of the lid.

5. Test the stick you will use to prop the lid up. You may have to use tape or � gure out another way to secure it in place.

PREHEAT YOUR OVENPlace the oven in direct sunlight, with the re� ector � ap propped up to re� ect the light coming into the box. Leave it in the sun for at least 30 minutes to preheat.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED (S’MORES)� Chocolate digestive biscuits � Marshmallows

INSTRUCTIONS1. Place a marshmallow on top of a

chocolate digestive biscuit and place in the box.

2. Close the lid tightly, and prop up the � ap to re� ect sunlight into the box.

3. Depending on how sunny a day it is, the marshmallows will take 30-60 minutes to go squishy.

4. Once squishy, open the oven and place another biscuit on top. Press down gently to squash the marshmallow.

5. Close the lid of the solar oven and let the sun cook the s’more for a few minutes more, to melt the chocolate.

SOLAR OVEN S’MORESUse the power of the sun to cook up some treats

Share yourartwork with us on Facebook @thetimesIEand on Twitter@SunTimesIreland using#thechildrenstimes

Thank you!

Edition No.9

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Home school help and support for primary school children

Share yourartwork with us on Facebook @thetimesIEand on Twitter@SunTimesIreland using#thechildrenstimes

Thank you!

Edition No.9

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Home school help and support for primary school children

DESIGN OUR NEXT FRONT PAGEOn the blank cover below, draw something on the theme of “thank you”. Then scan your drawing or take a high-quality photograph of it and email it to: thechildrenstimes@sundaytimes.ie