Learning has Moved to Google Classroom

Work is no longer being posted on the blog section of the website. We are now using Google Classroom. Here you will be able to log in using your unique account and access learning materials. You will be able to return the work to the teacher to correct and to keep a record of your learning. 

If you have not yet been signed up to the 4th Class Google Classroom, please email me at [email protected] and I will get you set up. It is really important that we work together to finish 4th class on a positive note :)

Artist of the Week Competition​

The boys were given 3 days to complete an art activity in which they had to create a masterpiece based on the theme: The Sun. They were shown examples of art activities that they could do and they were also told that they could make their own creations based on that theme. We were amazed by the standard of art presented. It was such a tough decision that we settled on 2 winners of the Artist of the Week and they were Kai Quigley and Jayden Dunne :)
Some more very talented entries:

Author of the Week Competition

The boys were challenged to write a story a day over the space of three days. They were given story starters and writing prompts to choose from or they could have free reign on what they wrote about. The entries were fantastic and it was fun reading all the stories. One particular story that stood out and that was awarded the Author of the Week was 'The Red River Monster Ghost' written by Reuben Manning. Enjoy the read:

Europe Research Project

4th class are learning about Europe. They had to pick a European country of their choice and research it. Here are some samples of the fantastic work that has been sent in. Well done boys :)

Breaking News: The Titanic Sinks

The boys have been learning about the Titanic. They were challenged to write a newspaper article about the sinking of the Titanic using the information that they were given. Here are some samples of their great work.

Egyptian Art

For two weeks the boys have been learning all about Egypt. One of the things we learned about were Pharaohs and how they were treated. The were rich figures of authority and would be given a specific burial....usually involving lots of gold and precious jewels. The boys had a task of designing an Ancient Egyptian Death Mask (the mask that would be placed over the mummy!). Here are some of the fantastic results from our online sessions. Well done boys for being so creative at home!

Research on the Rain-forest Animals

The boys were reading about the Amazon River and the animals and creatures that live in and around it. As part of their activities, they had to research one animal/creature and complete a file on their chosen subject. Some boys showed outstanding research and presentation skills with their work. Here is a great example of this:

School Closure Packs with Twinkl Ireland

Twinkl Ireland have provided free access to their resources in light of Covid-19. This is a fantastic resource available to continue learning at home. They have created School Closure Packs which can be easily accessible once you follow the instructions in the image below. On Thursday the boys were sent home with a sheet of work to be completed (see images below also). The free school closure packs can be used in addition to this work as it will allow learning to continue at home and for routines to be kept. After signing up, you can follow this link to access packs for 4th class: 
https://www.twinkl.ie/search?term=fourth+class+school+closure+pack or simply search 'Fourth Class School Closure Packs' in the search bar on the twinkl website.

For a break from written work, I have uploaded a number of step-by-step drawings onto the art club page. Click on the link to find 33 pictures that you can draw: https://www.maryqueenofangels2.ie/art-club.html
​
Wishing you all well and hoping to see you soon when school reopens, Mr. Shannon :)

Youth Club

Every year, we are lucky to be given a time slot in the Youth CLub. It's a great time to develop friendships and play games together. It is a lot of fun after a long day of work. They boys enjoy playing the playstation and the nintendo, having a game of pool, using the laptops and composing music on the piano.

Friendship

Starting back in school, we think it is very important to talk about friendships and always look out for our classmates. The boys in 4th class came up with so many different words associated with friendships and thought about what it meant to be a 'Good Friend'. They took part in an activity where each boy took in turn to pick another boy in their class and tell them why they are a good friend. Once they had done this, they would pass the ball of wool to that boy and hold onto the other end. We wove a web of friendship to show that we are all connected and united in 4th class. 
We also learned a poem - 'Smiling is Infectious' to highlight the importance of how a smile can start a friendship. We performed this poem as a class in our first assembly of the year.

Walk on Wednesday

This year, we are trying to show that we are an active school. As part of that, we are taking part in WOW - Walk on Wednesday. This is where everyone in the school goes for a walk in the Gaels at 10 o'clock. We get to walk in pairs or small groups and chat to our friends while on this walk and we also get some fresh air. Some of the 4th class boys even jog to wake up and get ready for school work.
We also were making the most of the nice weather and on one of our walks Mr. Shannon brought Roald Dahl's BFG to read to us after we had finished our walk. We sat on the grass and enjoyed the sunshine while listening to the story. It would have been Roald Dahl's 105th birthday on that day also.

Golden Time

On Friday's we can earn Golden Time. If the weather is nice we can get extra PE. The 4th class boys are football fanatics and really impress their teacher with their football skills and good sportsmanship.

St. John's College

4th class have started working with students from St. John's College Transition Years. They visit the class every Wednesday for half an hour to do some English and Maths activities with the class. In English we are working on language games, spot the difference, rhyming activities, word tennis and reading books.

Piet Mondrian

In art, we were looking at the work of famous artist Piet Mondrian. 4th class discussed his work and identified key features of his artwork. The boys got to recreate some pieces of work inspired by Mondrian by using lines and the primary colours of blue, red and yellow. Afterwards, we realised that we have so many artists in residence.

Maths Week 2019

For Maths Week, the boys took part in fun Maths challenges and activities in class during the week. One day, Mrs. Keogh took the class to the hall and had mini maths station games to try out. It was loads of fun and Mrs. Keogh had great help from the 5th class boys.

Halloween in Room 9

In preparation for Halloween, we did some moonlit silhouettes with haunted castles and figures. We used blue and white paint and our colour mixing skills to give the illusion of a moon in the sky. Once the paint dried, we painted a haunted castle and added some Halloween figures - witches, bats, crows and zombies. On the last day before mid-term, we dressed up and had lots of fun as our chosen characters.

Lego Creations

In History, we have been learning about famous artists in the past. These artists were Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. We looked at their work, including paintings, sculptures and inventions and we were inspired. We decided to use Lego to create art inspired by these famous people from the past.

In November, We Remember

As November is the month of remembrance, we took time to remember those in our lives who have gone before us and are no longer with us. We chose to remember them in a sunflower, a symbol of life, and celebrate the life they lived when they were here with us. The boys really enjoyed the activity and recalling memories of their chosen person.

Science Week 2019

For Science Week, the boys in Room 9 have been conducting experiments and recording their findings. We made Lava Lamps at the start of the week which we really enjoyed. We also made paper towel colour mixers using only red, blue and yellow food colouring and this was interesting to watch over two days. The class had lots of fun and look forward to doing many more experiments throughout the year.

A Trip to Glanmór Foods

The boys in 4th class were treated to a trip to Glanmór Foods, where they had the opportunity to see where and how their school lunches are made. They had fun seeing the various stages of production and packaging. They even had the opportunity to roll out the dough and make their own creations. The treat bags at the end were definitely a highlight of the trip. Thanks to Glanmór for having us!

Christmas Art

Getting into the Christmas spirit in Room 9, the boys collaborated on a big, colourful display outside the classroom. Each boy had a page to colour and at the end, we pieced them together to reveal their masterpiece.

Also during December, we invited the parents in to make and decorate Christmas tree decorations with their children. The class made two decorations - a Christmas tree construction and a painted wooden decoration.

Reader in Residence

The boys in 4th class are very lucky to have a ‘Reader in Residence’ who visits them every Wednesday for 45 minutes to read and discuss books. Nicola is from the Dublin City Library and works with schools in Ballyfermot. Each week, Nicola brings a different book and reads a chapter from it to the class. The class get to discuss different genres of books and take part in various activities also. So far we have read 'Nit Boy' by David Walliams and 'Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone' by J.K. Rowling. We made comic strips and bookmarks after reading. The class are excited about reading and we are thankful to Nicola for coming in and also to Ms. O’Sullivan for organising this for us.

PE

We are working hard on our Fundamental Movement Skills in school and making learning fun through games. Each week the boys get the opportunity to go to the complex to practice these skills and engage in activities and games that place emphasis on these skills. The boys especially love games that include; monkey tails, football, basketball and dodgeball.

PALS Reading Programme

The boys have been working very hard developing reading skills in a programme called PALS. Here, they are paired with another boy in the class and are trained to be coaches for their partner during reading. The boys have been very patient and have been working so well in their pairs. The programme has really enhanced their reading skills and the boys are enjoying leading their own learning. 

Pancake Tuesday

For Pancake Tuesday, the boys got the chance to make and decorate their own pancakes. The smell of the pancakes was making us all hungry as the boys eagerly waited for their turn. It was fun experimenting with different toppings. Thanks to Nicola for her help in making them. They were really tasty.

Valentine's Day Art

For Valentine's Day Art, we were inspired by Kadinsky's colourful repeated patterns. We repeated the heart pattern on an A4 page as hearts are symbols of love and we painted them using bright colours.

School Outings with our Reader in Residence

Our Reader in Residence, Nicola Foxe, from Dublin City Library has been working with our class on a weekly basis. She comes to the school and reads chapters from different books to the class, and enjoys finishing on a cliffhanger! For two of the weeks that she has been with us, she took our reading sessions outside of the classroom. One week we ventured to the Ballyfermot Library, where Nicola turned a story into a quest which allowed them to explore different areas of the children's library. The boys were able to become familiar with the library and how it operates. It was a fun outing and the boys have been encouraged to become library members.
Our second outing was to the Cherry Orchard Equine Centre where Nicola read Michael Murpurgo's 'War Horse'. It was such a wonderful idea and the boys really enjoyed it. We listened to the first few chapters of the book and then took a tour of the Equine Centre where we were able to see a horse in the arena, some ponies in the stables and then horses in the paddocks. Nicola has had a huge impact on our class in terms of instilling a love for reading. The boys are very enthusiastic about reading and hopefully they always will be. A huge thanks to Nicola Foxe for all her hard work, enthusiasm and help over the Reader in Residence duration.