Our school was very lucky to be visited by author, Gordon Green. He talked to us about his two books 'The Drip' and 'Buzz Off'. He was very interesting to listen to as he told us all about what life as a writer is like and what making a book involves. We were particularly interested in his book 'The Drip' as it tells the story of the water cycle in an ever so entertaining way. As we are currently working towards our third Green Flag on the theme of water this story will sure help us to remember all the stages in The Water Cycle. Why not listen to the story below.
'The Drip' by Gordon Green
A Visit by Gordon Green
This year for World Book day we had a very special visitor to our school, the author, Gordon Green. Gordon came to talk to us about writing books and also about one of his books called, 'The Drip' which was very useful to us as we are preparing for our third Green Flag for water.
On a chilly day at the end of February, after our morning break, third to sixth class went down to our school hall. We had to bring a rubber and a pencil because part of the presentation involved showing us how to draw a fly. Gordon our visiting author has written two books. They are called 'The Drip' and 'Buzz Off'. In the story 'The Drip' a tap says to a drip of water, "Close your eyes and just drop". Drippy goes off down the plug hole, then the drain and on many adventures.The story of Drippy, the drip is really the story of the water cycle.
Gordon taught us some interesting facts about water. We learned that a leaf of lettuce is 96% water and that two thirds of our body is made up of water. Through the story , 'The Drip' we learned about the water cycle. There are four stages in the water cycle: evaporation, condensation, precipitation and collection. Evaporation is when the sun shines down on the lakes, rivers, streams, seas and oceans. It changes some of the water to water vapour and this rises up into the sky. As it rises it cools turning back into water droplets. This is condensation. The water droplets form a cloud. When the cloud gets too heavy it bursts and rain, hail, sleet or snow falls down to earth. That is call precipitation. The last stage of the water cycle is called collection. Collection is when rain, hail, sleet or snow falls back down onto the Earth. It can fall back into lakes, rivers, seas etc and of course on land where it is soaked up and becomes ground water.
After Gordon showed us the film about his book the drip he read us another story about a fly. This book was called 'Buzz Off'. It was about a fly who was very tired. He tried to find a place to sleep. The fly asked a pig, a cow, a horse and a goat if he could rest on them but they all shouted, "No! Buzz OFF!" Some said, "Yes", but they were just trying to eat the fly like the spider but the fly was smart and didn't lie down in their places. Luckily the fly found a cow that had a place, its poo! The fly lay down in it and made new friends and best of all he was comfortable.
Following this Gordon spoke to us about how to write a book. First you have to think of an idea for a story. After that you have to write a draft of your story and what happens in it. Next you have to get an illustrator to draw some pictures for your story. Finally you send it all to a publisher, they print the books and help put the books in the shops.
At the end of his presentation Gordon told us he was going to teach us how to draw a fly like the fly in 'Buzz Off'. We all shouted, 'YES!' and found a space in the hall to draw. Gordon got us to start with the eyes then the hair and the antenna. After this we drew the neck, body, arms and legs. Finally Gordon told us to draw the very important wings on our fly.
We loved watching the video of the drip story and the story 'Buzz Off' was really funny. We especially loved drawing our own fly, in fact we loved the whole activity. Thank you Gordon for coming to visit us.
Contributed by Amy, Lorcán and Niall I, Rang 3 agus 4
World Book Day 2013
This year we celebrated World Book Day in an unusual way as we were the authors in residence!
Junior and Senior Infants recently completed their 'Write-A-Book' pieces which they wrote for the 'Write-A-Book' Competition run by Monaghan Education Centre. To celebrate World Book Day and to mark the end of the Infants' Buddy Reading Programme, which they completed in Term II with third and fourth class, they shared their books, written and illustrated by themselves with their buddies!
First they read their books to their buddy and then some pupils even read their book aloud to the entire audience gathered in the hall. We were so impressed with their writing and reading skills. Maith sibh go léir a pháistí.
Write A Book 2013
On Wednesday, May 29th this year's Merit Winners in the Write-A-Book Project attended a special prize giving ceremony for the presentation of medals and certificates. Scoil Mhuire had three merit winners, Kasey Gormley from Junior Infants, Conan Rooney from Senior Infants and Lorcán Duffy from second class. Well done Kasey, Conan and Lorcán. All the Infants and Rang 1 & 2 had a special afternoon in school where we were presented with our Write-A-Book certificates.