Geography class - World War 1, Germany

Germany

Today we looked at Germany in Geography class. e began the lesson by looking at a PREZI. 

Please click HERE to see it!

War Chant - The Haka!

Music 

Today in music class we looked at a war dance called the Haka. The New Zealand rugby team perform this to intimidate their opposition.

About the Haka:

History of the All Black haka

No other international sporting team possesses a pre-match ritual as powerful as the famed All Black haka.

From the more traditional Ka mate, Ka mate - first performed before an international rugby fixture by the New Zealand Native Team in 1888 - to the recently composedKapa o Pango, the haka plays an integral role in physically and mentally preparing All Black teams for battle.

Māori haka
The haka is an ancient posture dance of the New Zealand Māori that was traditionally used to prepare a war party for battle. It was performed either on the battle field prior to engagement with the enemy, or as the war party was leaving their own village en route to a battle.

The ferocious nature of the haka created a united frenzy among the war party preparing them mentally and physically for the reality of war and impending conflict.

We looked at the lyrics of the Haka and discussed them. Then we looked at another version as Gaeilge!

An Haka Gaelach  (by: Laura Kennedy, Graduate B, 2007)

Buail do chos, buail do chos,

Gluine, gluine.

Buail do chos, buail do chos,

Gluine, gluine.

Bualadh bos, bualadh bos,

Uilinne, uilinne.

Bualadh bos, bualadh bos,

Uilinne, uilinne

Caisigí, caisigí,

Níos airde, airde.

Caisigí, caisigí,

Ísligí, ísligí.

Trasna, trasna,

Clúdaigh, clúdaigh,

Trasna, trasna,

Aaaagghhhh…

Buail do chos, buail do chos,

Stamp one leg then the other.

Uilinne, uilinne

Arms bent up bang each elbow with palm of hand.

Buail do chos, buail do chos,

Stamp one leg then the other.

Uilinne, uilinne

Arms bent up bang each elbow with palm of hand.

Bualadh bos, bualadh bos

Clap hands X2

Glúine. Glúine

Slap knees /thighs x 2

Bualadh bos, bualadh bos

Clap hands X2

Glúine. Glúine

Slap knees /thighs x 2

Caisigí, caisigí,

Turn 360 degrees. with a stamp of each leg

Níos airde, airde.

Raise arms high (use strong warrior type action)

Caisigí, caisigí,

Turn 360 again

Ísligí, ísligí.

Crouch down (defensive warrior position)

Trasna, trasna,

Scissors crossing of arms, palms down, as in New Zealand haka

Clúdaigh, clúdaigh,

Cover face (spread fingers so eyes look out)

Trasna, trasna,

Repeat scissors criss-cross of arms

Aaaagghhhh…

Hands on each side of face like shouting out. … !! (as All Blacks shout in Haka)

Prezi on World War One

Please click here to see our PREZI on World War One!

Today we learned all about World War 1. Mr. Murphy introduced it by showing a Prezi. 

We also looked at bits of old footage of the Great War. Please see the clip above. It is all about the trenches. 

Drama Class - World War 1

Drama based on World War 1

Today in school we did Drama. Mr. Murphy brought in a soldier's bag from the trenches. In the bag there was a number of interesting items a soldier kept during World War 1.

We sat in a circle and took turns taking out each thing. We discussed each item and talked about why a soldier would keep such things. 

We had fun taking out the different bits and pieces.

In the bag there was a candle, whistle, diary, pictures of family, a necklace, a medal, matches, old thick socks, a bottle, and a hat.

The Soldier's bag

Look at what was in the bag!

The medal was very important. It a medal of honour. The Victoria Cross medal!

This is a very special medal. Find out why by clicking here!

After we took out the contents of the bag we split up into groups and had to make a role play using one of the objects from the bag. 

Sense Poetry - World War 1

Today we learned what sense poems are. Mr. Murphy showed us some examples on the board.

Our Poetry Wall

Here is an example!

Line 1 : Tell the color of the subject _____________________________
Line 2 : Tell what it looks like _____________________________
Line 3 : Tell what it tastes like ______________________________
Line 4 : Tell what it smells like ______________________________
Line 5 : Tell what it looks like ______________________________
Line 6 : Tell how it makes you feel _____________________________

We wrote a sense poem together on the board to practice.

Then we wrote our own poems based on how World War 1. We had to write about what a soldier would see, hear, taste, smell and feel while living in the trenches. It was a great way to sense how a soldier would live during the war.

Our Sense Poems

Letters from The Somme

Today we pretended to be soldiers and wrote letters home from the battle of the Somme, World War 1. We had to write about how a soldier would feel during World War 1 living in the trenches.

We began by crumpling the paper and then tea staining it the day before writing the letter. REMINDER: HOW TO MAKE OLD PAPER)

Before we we began writing we  brainstormed on the board. We shared ideas about how a soldier would feel and what he would want to tell his family about the war. We discussed the conditions in the awful conditions in the trenches.

Then we practiced writing the letter in our jotters. Mr. Murphy corrected them and we transcribed them onto our tea stained paper.

We displayed them on the wall! Please look at our beautiful but very sad letters above.