Ms. Burke’s Third Class

Throughout the year, third class had the opportunity to learn all about the Burren and its unique landscape, biodiversity, and heritage. This learning began with a very informative visit from Karen from the Burrenbeo Trust, who spoke to the children about winterage farming, the fragile ecosystems of the Burren, and the wide variety of species that can be found there. Following this workshop, each child was assigned a species to research and present as part of a classroom project. The children engaged enthusiastically with their research and developed a greater understanding of the importance of protecting our natural environment. This week, we were delighted to bring our classroom learning to life during a field trip to the Burren in County Clare. Our day began at the Michael Cusack Centre, where the children explored the landscape and took part in identifying different species of flora found in the area. It was wonderful to see many children confidently recognising and identifying t...

During April, our class explored the strand of Fabric and Fibre during our Visual Arts lessons. The children were introduced to a batik-style printing technique and had the opportunity to experiment with texture, colour, and pattern while developing their creativity and artistic skills.   To create their designs, the children first used a mixture of toothpaste and white lotion to form raised outlines on fabric. This acted as a resist when applying paint and helped create a striking finished effect. Once the outlines had dried, the children carefully added colour using acrylic fabric paints. As each stage required drying time, the project was completed over a two-week period and encouraged the children to work with patience and attention to detail. The children thoroughly enjoyed the process and were excited to see their designs gradually come to life.

  ♟️ Chess Club The Chess Club was meeting weekly during lunchtime in the lead-up to the Lichess competition, with great enthusiasm from all involved. The children practised their strategies and refined their skills in preparation for the Féile Chess competition, which took place on 5th February. It has been fantastic to observe their concentration, patience, and sportsmanship during matches. Pupils have demonstrated impressive critical thinking skills as they anticipate moves, plan strategies, and reflect on each game played.  🎨 Art Club During Art Club, pupils have explored a variety of artistic mediums, including watercolours, acrylics, and pencil, experimenting with texture, colour blending, and composition. The club worked towards submitting an entry for the prestigious Texaco Children’s Art Competition , which provided a meaningful goal and encouraged pupils to challenge themselves creatively. Working in smaller groups allowed children to share ideas, offer constr...

In class, we marked St. Brigid’s Day by learning how to make traditional St. Brigid’s crosses using rushes. This well-loved Irish tradition honours St. Brigid , one of Ireland’s patron saints, whose feast day is celebrated on February 1st and marks the beginning of spring. At first, the weaving technique proved quite challenging. Coordinating the folding and turning of the rushes required concentration, teamwork, and plenty of careful listening! However, as the lesson progressed, the pupils quickly discovered that patience and practice truly lead to success. With each attempt, their confidence grew — and so did their beautifully crafted crosses.

Our Irish lessons have been filled with drama and creativity. Using green screen technology, the children wrote their own scripts based on themes from their textbooks and performed them as short plays. The green screen allowed us to add imaginative backgrounds, making the experience even more engaging. It has been a fantastic way to develop oral language skills while building confidence and teamwork.

Third Class embarked on an exciting thematic unit exploring volcanoes, mountains, and the history of Pompeii. This integrated approach linked History, Geography, Science, and English. The children learned about the locations of volcanoes around the world and explored why they are found in particular regions. They investigated famous eruptions, including that of Mount Vesuvius, and examined how volcanic eruptions impacted – and in some cases preserved – cities for archaeologists to study centuries later. In English, pupils wrote imaginative narrative pieces titled “The Day the Volcano Woke Up” , bringing their learning to life through descriptive and dramatic writing. To complement their learning in Science and Maths, the children used modelling clay (which they had previously used to create 3D shapes) to construct cone-shaped volcanoes. They then carried out a classic volcanic eruption experiment using vinegar, baking soda, food colouring, and washing-up liquid. There was great excitem...