Hello again to all the clever pupils of St. Gabriel’s N.S. I hope you are all staying happy and healthy and being kind to everyone around you. I know that the class teachers have really enjoyed seeing your work and hearing from some of you this week. Remember that the activities we put on the website are optional – you won’t get in trouble with your teacher for not doing everything – and if you are busy with other activities such as playing, baking, drawing, building etc, then that’s a good thing as well!
https://padlet.com/faheymairead/5srjmewuml22
May Day The first of May is called May Day. It has long been celebrated in Ireland as the start of Summer. In ancient times people would light fires at sunset on the 30th of April to celebrate the coming season. Another tradition is for children to pick May flowers (usually primroses and gorse) and some people leave them on the door step of their house. Today we might do this because it has become a tradition and it looks pretty but in olden times people believed that it would keep away ‘evil spirits’. Some people go outside on the 1st of May and wash their face in the morning dew (the liquid on the grass early in the morning). The tradition goes that the dew on the first of May has magical properties and will give good health (and skin!) to the person who washes their face in it. I had never heard of this tradition until a teacher in the school told me that she does it! And yes, she does have very good skin and is always in good health so maybe it works. If someone in your family comes from a different part of the world, ask them if their country has any traditions for the first of May.
Writing Can you do some writing based on this picture?
Using your imagination, answer the question and tell us How did this banana grow so huge? If you are in Junior or Senior Infants you can just talk about how it grew to someone in your family. If you are in an older class then write a few lines to tell us what you think!
Reading I hope you have been trying to get some reading done every day. It is very difficult at the moment when all the libraries are closed but there are words all around us and sometimes we are reading without even realising it! From the writing on packets of food, to the work your teachers are giving you, reading recipes and even reading your own free writing, there are lots of opportunities to read. I know that some children from our school have been downloading books online from Dublin City Libraries https://www.librariesireland.ie/elibrary. If you are reading a new PM book from school (or any book!) remember to: – look at the book cover and title first. What might this book be about? Make some predictions even at this stage. – next look through the pictures in the book to get an idea about what the story might be about. Remember the pictures are all clues to help you. You might want to change your predictions now! – now go back to the start and try reading the words. The pictures and words work as clues together. – try and use your lovely reading voice!
Poetry This year the last day of April is Poetry Day Ireland 2020. Here is a poem about May for you to enjoy. Could you write your own poem about May or Summer? 
