Making 3-D shapes with concrete materials

My class was learning about 3-D shapes in maths this week. Here's how we used chickpeas and cocktail sticks to create cubes, cuboids, triangular prisms, triangular-based pyramids and square-based pyramids. I have also seen this done with marshmallows (though, I feel this way, the children are less likely to eat the lesson materials!).

Hallowe'en Carols

I heard about these fantastic carols today. They're a bunch of Christmas carols re-worded to fit the Hallowe'en theme. The children in my class (9-11 year olds) really enjoyed these. They found them hilarious. Click here to view the full lot.


This was the favourite:

Deck the halls with poison ivy,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

'Tis the season to be slimy,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

Don we now our strange apparel,

fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Troll the ancient Halloween carol,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the goblins rise before us,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

As we sing the Halloween chorus,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

Follow them as they ascend,

fa la la, la la la, la la la.

Join with all your loony friends,

fa la la la la, la la la la.

The Celts - free station teaching resources

I created station teaching cards (and pupil answer sheets) about The Celts. Click here to download them from Google Drive.

Subject: History
Strand: Early people and ancient societies
Strand unit: Celts
Class: 5th/6th

Buddhism resources

I've been teaching about Buddhism lately. Here are some of the resources/ideas that I have found useful:

• My own introductory PowerPoint --> if you are a member of mash.ie you can download it here
• Worksheets, information and lesson activities on the BBC schools site
• This fantastic site with step-by-step videos on how to make lotus flowers. See the picture of the finished product from my classroom below.
• Buddhist meditation positions - lotus, half-lotus, sitting position, etc.
• Examining features of artwork about Buddha and their meaning--> bumpy head, fat belly, position of hands, long ears

Oíche Shamhna: Crosfhocal agus foclóir

Dia dhaoibh!


Chuir mé crosfhocal agus PowerPoint le foclóir a bhaineann le Oíche Shamhna ar www.mash.ie


Bainigí taitneamh as!

One to follow: Mash.ie

And I'm back, though I doubt I'll be posting as regularly as before. The workload required for doing the diploma in primary education is tough. That, combined with being new to having my own class is all pretty overwhelming.


Anyway, today's post is to highlight the fantastic website that is www.mash.ie 


It's a recently re-vamped, Irish website that's really useful for thematic planning. Once you sign up (for free), you can add and download resources. In the teaching world, sharing resources is hugely important. Teachers can learn from one another and ignite a spark of creativity in each other. Definitely check this out. I will be posting links to some of my resources that are now on this site.


So why not up your teaching karma and upload some of your resources now? ...What goes around comes around!