Wild Things at School

by

Éanna Ní Lamhna

Illustrations by Christine Warner

Wild Things at School

A book for Primary School Teachers

Wild Things at School

Published by Meath County Council County Hall, Navan, Co. Meath

ŝŶĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶǁŝƚŚ

Laois and Monaghan County Councils

by

Éanna Ní Lamhna

Illustrations by Christine Warner

Wild Things at School

A book for Primary School Teachers

Copyright © Meath County Council 2009 Text © 2009 Éanna Ní Lamhna

/ůůƵƐƚƌĂƟŽŶƐΞϮϬϬϵŚƌŝƐƟŶĞtĂƌŶĞƌ

All rights reserved. This item may be photocopied, for use in the school ŽƌĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂůĞƐƚĂďůŝƐŚŵĞŶƚƚŽǁŚŝĐŚŝƚǁĂƐƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĞĚ͕ďƵƚŵĂLJŶŽƚďĞ

reproduced in any form or by any means — graphic, electronic or mechanical, ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƌĞĐŽƌĚŝŶŐ͕ƚĂƉŝŶŐŽƌŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƌĞƚƌŝĞǀĂůƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ͕ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚƚŚĞƉƌŝŽƌ

ƉĞƌŵŝƐƐŝŽŶŝŶǁƌŝƟŶŐŽĨƚŚĞƉƵďůŝƐŚĞƌƐ͘

ISBN: 978 1 900 923 118

'ƌĂƉŚŝĐĚĞƐŝŐŶďLJŽŶŶŝĞ^ĐĂŶůŽŶĂŶĚ:ĂŵĞƐ&ƌĂŚĞƌ͕ŽŐĮƌĞ͘ǁǁǁ͘ďŽŐĮƌĞ͘ĐŽŵ

Typeset in Calibri, Cambria, Souvenir and Technical.

Printed in Northern Ireland on recycled paper.

dŚŝƐƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶŚĂƐďĞĞŶƐƵƉƉŽƌƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞŽƵŶĐŝů͘

Dedication

/ĚĞĚŝĐĂƚĞƚŚŝƐŬƚŽŵLJĨĂƚŚĞƌͶWĞĂĚĂƌM>ĂŵŚŶĂͶǁŚŽƚĂƵŐŚƚ

ŵĞŝŶ&ŝŌŚ͕^ŝdžƚŚĂŶĚ^ĞǀĞŶƚŚĐůĂƐƐŝŶ^ƚEŝĐŚŽůĂƐ͛WƌŝŵĂƌLJ^ĐŚŽŽůŝŶ

Stabannon in Co. Louth.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Acknowledgements viii

/ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŝdž

Junior Infants 1

Daisy 2

Dandelion 3

Horse Chestnut 4

Hedgehog 5

Robin 6

Ladybird 7

Senior Infants 8

ƵƩĞƌĐƵƉ ϵ

tŚŝƚĞůŽǀĞƌ ϭϬ

Holly 11

Rabbit 12

^ǁĂŶ ϭϯ

Spider 14

First Class 15

Primrose 16

Bluebell 17

Oak 18

Fox 19

Blackbird 20

tŽŽĚůŽƵƐĞ Ϯϭ

Second Class 22

Self-heal 23

ZŝďǁŽƌƚ Ϯϰ

Ash 25

Squirrel 26

Pigeon 27

Bee 28

Third Class 29

Robin-run-the-hedge 30

EĞƩůĞ ϯϭ

,ĂǁƚŚŽƌŶ ϯϮ

Frog 33

^ǁĂůůŽǁ ϯϰ

Snail 35

Fourth Class 36

Lords and Ladies 37

Vetch 38

Elder 39

Badger 40

Heron 41

ƵƩĞƌŇLJ ϰϮ

&ŝŌŚůĂƐƐ ϰϯ

Poppy 44

^ƉĞĞĚǁĞůů ϰϱ

Hazel 46

Bat 47

Kestrel 48

ĂƌƚŚǁŽƌŵ ϰϵ

^ŝdžƚŚůĂƐƐ ϱϬ

Herb Robert 51

ŽǁWĂƌƐůĞLJ ϱϮ

Birch 53

ĞĞƌ;ZĞĚ͕^ŝŬĂĂŶĚ&ĂůůŽǁͿ ϱϰ

ƌŽǁƐ;ZŽŽŬ͕:ĂĐŬĚĂǁ͕DĂŐƉŝĞͿ ϱϱ

tĂƐƉ ϱϲ

/ŶĚĞdž ϱϳ

>ŝƐƚŽĨŚĞůƉĨƵůƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ϱϴ

ŽƵŶƟĞƐ>ĂŽŝƐ͕DĞĂƚŚĂŶĚDŽŶĂŐŚĂŶŚĂǀĞĐŽŵĞƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌƚŽĚĞǀĞůŽƉ

this book for Primary School teachers called Wild Things at School.

“If only the kids learnt even three plants or animals each year . . .”

This statement from the naturalist, author and broadcaster Éanna Ní

>ĂŵŚŶĂǁĂƐƉŝĐŬĞĚƵƉďLJƵƐĂƐƚŚĞďĂƐŝƐĨŽƌƚŚŝƐƉƵďůŝĐĂƟŽŶ͘tĞĂƌĞ

ĚĞůŝŐŚƚĞĚƚŚĂƚĂŶŶĂĂŐƌĞĞĚƚŽǁƌŝƚĞƚŚĞŬ͘tŝƚŚŚĞƌƵƐƵĂůƐƚLJůĞ͕

ŇĂŝƌĂŶĚŬŶĂĐŬŽĨƉŝĐŬŝŶŐŽƵƚƐŶŝƉƉĞƚƐŽĨŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͕ƐŚĞŚĂƐǁƌŝƩĞŶ

fabulous thought-provoking accounts of all the plants, animals and ĐƌĞĞƉLJͲĐƌĂǁůŝĞƐŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚĨŽƌƐƚƵĚLJŝŶƚŚĞŬ͘

dŚĞƐĞĂĐĐŽƵŶƚƐĂƌĞǁĞůůŵĂƚĐŚĞĚďLJďĞĂƵƟĨƵůŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟŽŶƐĨƌŽŵ

ŚƌŝƐƟŶĞtĂƌŶĞƌ͘

ŽŶŶŝĞ^ĐĂŶůŽŶĂŶĚ:ĂŵĞƐ&ƌĂŚĞƌŽĨŽŐĮƌĞŚĂǀĞďƌŽƵŐŚƚŝƚĂůů

ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŝƌĚĞƐŝŐŶ͘

dŚĞŽƵŶƚLJ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞWůĂŶƐĨŽƌĞĂĐŚŽĨŽƵƌĐŽƵŶƟĞƐŚĂǀĞĂĐƟŽŶƐ

ƌĞůĂƟŶŐƚŽĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚĨŽƌďƵŝůĚŝŶŐĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐŽĨŽƵƌŚĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ͕

ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐǁŝůĚůŝĨĞ͘dŚĞ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞŽƵŶĐŝůŚĂƐĐŽͲĨƵŶĚĞĚƚŚŝƐŬǁŝƚŚ

Laois, Meath and Monaghan County Councils.

tĞŚŽƉĞƚŚĂƚƚŚŝƐŬǁŝůůƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĂŶŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚLJĨŽƌĞǀĞƌLJĐŚŝůĚŝŶ

WƌŝŵĂƌLJ^ĐŚŽŽůƚŽƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞŝŶĂŶĂƚƵƌĞƐƚƵĚŝĞƐƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞǁŚŝĐŚ

ŚĞůƉƐƚŚĞŵŝĚĞŶƟĨLJĐŽŵŵŽŶƉůĂŶƚƐ͕ƚƌĞĞƐ͕ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ͕ďŝƌĚƐĂŶĚĐƌĞĞƉLJͲ

ĐƌĂǁůŝĞƐ͘dŚŝƐǁŝůůŵĂŬĞŝƚĞĂƐŝĞƌĨŽƌƚŚĞŵƚŽƚĂŬĞƵƉĞĐŽůŽŐLJŵŽĚƵůĞƐ

in the science programme in Secondary School, and help them to ŬŶŽǁƚŚĞŝƌŽǁŶůŽĐĂůĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͘

Our hope is that Wild Things at School ǁŝůůĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶƚŽ

ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĂƌĞƐƉĞĐƚĂŶĚůŽǀĞŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĞƚŚĂƚǁŝůůƐƚĂLJǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŵĂůů

their lives.

tĞŚŽƉĞƚŚĂƚLJŽƵĮŶĚŝƚƵƐĞĨƵů͘

ĂƚŚĞƌŝŶĞĂƐĞLJ͕,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞKĸĐĞƌ͕>ĂŽŝƐŽƵŶƚLJŽƵŶĐŝů

^ŚŝƌůĞLJůĞƌŬŝŶ͕,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞKĸĐĞƌ͕DŽŶĂŐŚĂŶŽƵŶƚLJŽƵŶĐŝů

>ŽƌĞƚŽ'ƵŝŶĂŶ͕,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞKĸĐĞƌ͕DĞĂƚŚŽƵŶƚLJŽƵŶĐŝů

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Full credit for this book must go to Catherine Casey of Laois County

ŽƵŶĐŝů͕ǁŚŽƉƵƚŝƚƵƉƚŽŵĞƚŽǁƌŝƚĞĂŬǁŚŝĐŚǁŽƵůĚďĞƵƐĞĚƚŽƚĞĂĐŚ

ƚŚĞďĂƐŝĐƉůĂŶƚĂŶĚĂŶŝŵĂůƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƚŽƐĐŚŽŽůĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚŽĨůĂŵĞŶƟŶŐ

ƚŚĞĨĂĐƚƚŚĂƚƚŚĞLJĚŝĚŶŽƚŬŶŽǁŵŽƌĞƚŚĂŶĚĂŝƐŝĞƐĂŶĚĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐŝŶ^ŝdžƚŚ

Class. Thanks, too, to Shirley Clerkin of Monaghan County Council and

>ŽƌĞƚŽ'ƵŝŶĂŶŽĨDĞĂƚŚŽƵŶƚLJŽƵŶĐŝůĨŽƌĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐƟĐĂůůLJƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐƚŚŝƐ

project.

/ŵƵƐƚĂůƐŽƚŚĂŶŬƚŚĞWƌŝŵĂƌLJ^ĐŚŽŽůƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐŽĨ/ƌĞůĂŶĚǁŚŽŚĂǀĞŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ

me into their classrooms over the last 35 years to talk to their pupils under such varied schemes as Heritage in School, the Ringo Project, or judging various school garden projects, or indeed as an inspector for trainee ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐ͘dŚĞŝŶƚĞƌĂĐƟŽŶǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŝƌƉƵƉŝůƐŚĂƐŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚŵĞĚƵƌŝŶŐ

ƚŚĞǁƌŝƟŶŐŽĨƚŚĞŬ͘

/ƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJǁĂŶƚƚŽƚŚĂŶŬŚƌŝƐƟŶĞtĂƌŶĞƌ͕ǁŚŽƐĞĂĐĐƵƌĂƚĞĂŶĚďĞĂƵƟĨƵů

ĐŽůŽƵƌŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚůŝŶĞĚƌĂǁŝŶŐƐŚĂǀĞďƌŽƵŐŚƚůŝĨĞƐŽǀŝǀŝĚůLJƚŽƚŚĞ

ǁŽƌĚƐŽŶĞĂĐŚƉĂŐĞ͘

/ǁĂŶƚƚŽƚŚĂŶŬŽŶŶŝĞ^ĐĂŶůŽŶĂŶĚ:ĂŵĞƐ&ƌĂŚĞƌĂƚŽŐĮƌĞǁŚŽŚĂǀĞ

designed and laid out the pages of the book and made such a harmonious ǁŚŽůĞŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŽũĞĐƚ͘

My thanks also go to the sponsors — Laois, Meath and Monaghan County Councils and to the Heritage Council.

&ŝŶĂůůLJ͕/ǁŽƵůĚůŝŬĞƚŽƚŚĂŶŬŵLJŚƵƐďĂŶĚ͕:ŽŚŶ,ĂƌĚŝŶŐ͕ǁŚŽďŽƌĞƐƚŽŝĐĂůůLJ

ƚŚĞƟŵĞĮůĐŚĞĚĨƌŽŵĚĂLJƐŽīĂŶĚǁĞĞŬĞŶĚƐƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ͕ǁŚŝĐŚ/ŶĞĞĚĞĚƚŽ

ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞƚŚĞǁƌŝƟŶŐĂŶĚƉƌŽŽĨƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ͘,ŝƐƌĞǁĂƌĚǁŝůůďĞŐƌĞĂƚ͊

ͶĂŶŶĂEş>ĂŵŚŶĂ͕:ƵůLJϮϬϬϵ

Introduction

/ĨLJŽƵĂƐŬƉƵƉŝůƐŝŶ:ƵŶŝŽƌ/ŶĨĂŶƚƐǁŚĂƚǁŝůĚŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĞLJŬŶŽǁ͕ƚŚĞLJǁŝůů

ƚĞůůLJŽƵ͞ĚĂŝƐŝĞƐ͕ĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐĂŶĚďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐ͘͟/ĨLJŽƵŐŽŝŶƚŽ^ŝdžƚŚůĂƐƐĂŶĚ

ĂƐŬƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƋƵĞƐƟŽŶLJŽƵǁŝůůŐĞƚƚŚĞƐĂŵĞĂŶƐǁĞƌ͘dŚĞLJŬŶŽǁƚŚƌĞĞ

ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŝŶŝŶĨĂŶƚƐĂŶĚƚŚĞLJŬŶŽǁƚŚĞƐĂŵĞƚŚƌĞĞĞŝŐŚƚLJĞĂƌƐůĂƚĞƌ͘zĞƚ͕ǁŝƚŚ

ŶŽĚŝĸĐƵůƚLJ͕ƚŚĞLJĐŽƵůĚůĞĂƌŶƚǁŽǁŝůĚŇŽǁĞƌƐĞǀĞƌLJLJĞĂƌ͕ĂŶĚĂƚƌĞĞ͕ĂŶĚ

ĂŵĂŵŵĂů͕ĂŶĚĂďŝƌĚĂŶĚŝŶĚĞĞĚĂĐƌĞĞƉLJͲĐƌĂǁůLJ͘^Ž͕ǁŝƚŚƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJůŝƩůĞ

ĞīŽƌƚ͕ĞĂĐŚƉƵƉŝůǁŽƵůĚůĞĂǀĞWƌŝŵĂƌLJ^ĐŚŽŽůŬŶŽǁŝŶŐ͕ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐŝŶŐĂŶĚ

ƌĞĂůŝƐŝŶŐƚŚĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞŽĨϰϴŶĂƟǀĞ/ƌŝƐŚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͘ĐŽͲŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞĚĞīŽƌƚŽŶ

ƚŚĞƉĂƌƚŽĨƚŚĞŝƌƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐǁŽƵůĚĞŶƐƵƌĞƚŚŝƐ͘

ƵƚŚŽǁƚŽĚŽŝƚ͍tŚŝĐŚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƚŽƚĞĂĐŚĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌ͕ǁŚĞƌĞƚŽĮŶĚƚŚĞŵ͕

ĂŶĚǁŚĂƚƉƵƉŝůĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞƐƚŽĐĂƌƌLJŽƵƚ͍,ŽǁĚŽĞƐƚŚĞƐĐŚŽŽůĞŶƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚ

ĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌƚŚĞǁŝůĚůŝĨĞŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞŽĨĞĂĐŚůĂƐƐŝƐďƵŝůƚŽŶĂŶĚŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ͍

,ŽǁĚŽƚŚĞƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐĮŶĚŽƵƚƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐĂůůĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞĐŚŽƐĞŶƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͍

tŚĂƚƉƌĂĐƟĐĂůǁŽƌŬĐĂŶƚŚĞLJĐĂƌƌLJŽƵƚǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĐůĂƐƐƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞ

ƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐŝƐĐĂƌƌŝĞĚŽƵƚƚŽĐŽŶĨŽƌŵǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ>ŝǀŝŶŐdŚŝŶŐƐ^ƚƌĂŶĚŽĨƚŚĞ

^ĐŝĞŶĐĞƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ͍

dŚŝƐŬŝƐƚŚĞĂŶƐǁĞƌƚŽƐƵĐŚƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ͘dŚĞϰϴƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƚŚĂƚĞǀĞƌLJĐŚŝůĚ

ƐŚŽƵůĚŬŶŽǁĂƌĞŽƵƚůŝŶĞĚŝŶƚŚĞĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐƉĂŐĞƐ͘DĂŶLJŽĨƚŚĞŵŽĐĐƵƌŝŶ

ƚŚĞƐĐŚŽŽůŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ;ƐŽƚŚĞƉƵƉŝůƐĐĂŶŚĂǀĞĮƌƐƚŚĂŶĚĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞŽĨƚŚĞŵͿ͖

ŽƚŚĞƌƐĂƌĞĨŽƵŶĚŝŶƚŚĞŚĞĚŐĞƌŽǁƐǁŚŝĐŚŵĂLJďĞƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞƐĐŚŽŽůĮĞůĚ

ŽƌŶĞĂƌďLJ͘EŽŶĞĂƌĞƌĂƌĞŽƌĞŶĚĂŶŐĞƌĞĚ͘dŚĞŽďũĞĐƟǀĞŝƐƚŚĂƚŝĨƉƵƉŝůƐĂŶĚ

ƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐŬŶŽǁĂůůĂďŽƵƚĐŽŵŵŽŶƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕ƚŚĞŶƚŚĞLJǁŝůůďĞŝŶĂƉŽƐŝƟŽŶƚŽ

appreciate the value and importance of species that are less common and ƚŚĂƚƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚŚĂďŝƚĂƚƐŝŶǁŚŝĐŚƚŽůŝǀĞ͘

dŚĞŬŝƐĚŝǀŝĚĞĚŝŶƚŽĞŝŐŚƚƐĞĐƟŽŶƐͶŽŶĞĨŽƌĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌŽĨWƌŝŵĂƌLJ

School from Junior Infants to Sixth Class. The six species to be taught each LJĞĂƌĂƌĞĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞĚ͘dŚĞĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶƐĂƌĞĂůůǁƌŝƩĞŶĨŽƌƚŚĞƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐƚŽ

ĂďƐŽƌďĂŶĚƚŚĞŶƚŽƚĞĂĐŚƚŽƚŚĞĐůĂƐƐĂƚǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚƚŚĞĐůĂƐƐĐĂŶ

ůĞĂƌŶ͘dŚĞ͞dŽĚŽ͟ƐĞĐƟŽŶŝƐŐĞĂƌĞĚŚŽǁĞǀĞƌĂƚƚŚĞƐƚĂŶĚĂƌĚŽĨƚŚĞĐůĂƐƐ

being taught. The ideas are given and again the teacher uses these ideas to ĐĂƌƌLJŽƵƚƚŚĞƉƌĂĐƟĐĂůǁŽƌŬŝŶĂǁĂLJƚŚĂƚƐƵŝƚƐƚŚĞŝƌƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌĐůĂƐƐ͘

tŚĞŶƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐŚĂǀĞWůĂŶŶŝŶŐĂLJƐƚŽǁŽƌŬŽƵƚǁŚĂƚƚŚĞƚĞĂĐŚŝŶŐƐĐŚĞŵĞƐ

ĨŽƌƚŚĞLJĞĂƌǁŝůůďĞ͕ƚŚŝƐŬǁŝůůďĞŝŶǀĂůƵĂďůĞ͘ĂĐŚLJĞĂƌƚŚĞƐŝdžƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ

ůŝƐƚĞĚĨŽƌƚŚĂƚĐůĂƐƐĂƌĞƚĂƵŐŚƚ͘dŚĞƚĞĂĐŚĞƌƐŬŶŽǁǁŚĂƚƚŚĞŝƌĐůĂƐƐŚĂƐ

been taught in earlier years and can revise and build on this.

^Ž/ůŽŽŬĨŽƌǁĂƌĚƚŽƚŚĞĚĂLJŝŶĞŝŐŚƚLJĞĂƌƐƟŵĞǁŚĞŶ/ĂƐŬĂ^ŝdžƚŚůĂƐƐ

ǁŚĂƚŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĞLJŬŶŽǁĂŶĚƚŚĞLJĐĂŶƌĂƩůĞŽīϭϲƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨǁŝůĚŇŽǁĞƌƐ͕

ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞǁŝƚŚĚĞƚĂŝůƐŽĨǁŚĂƚƚŚĞLJůŽŽŬůŝŬĞ͕ǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞLJŐƌŽǁĂŶĚǁŚĂƚ

ĨŽůŬůŽƌĞŝƐĂƩĂĐŚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞŵ͘

Bainigí taithneamh as.

In the end we will conserve only what we love;

we will love only what we understand;

and we will understand only what we are taught.

—

Baba Dioum, 1968

Taken from a speech made in New Delhi by the Senegalese Environmentalist Baba Dioum to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Junior Infants

Junior Infants

Daisy

Dandelion

Horse Chestnut

Hedgehog

Robin

Ladybird

Junior Infants: Daisy

Daisy

To do with Junior Infants

ͻ

Get each pupil to gather one daisy and see ŝĨƚŚĞƉĞƚĂůƐĂƌĞƟŶŐĞĚǁŝƚŚƉŝŶŬ͘

ͻ

Put a circle such as a hoop on the grass and ŐĞƚƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶƚŽĐŽƵŶƚŚŽǁŵĂŶLJĚĂŝƐŝĞƐ

are there.

ͻ

Get them to make daisy chains.

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹBellis perennis /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹNóinín

ĂŝƐŝĞƐĂƌĞƉƌŽďĂďůLJƚŚĞŵŽƐƚĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌǁŝůĚŇŽǁĞƌƐŝŶ

/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͘ǀĞƌLJůĂǁŶŽƌƉůĂLJŝŶŐĮĞůĚŝƐĨƵůůŽĨƚŚĞŵĨƌŽŵ

DĂƌĐŚŽŶǁĂƌĚƐ͘dŚĞŶŐůŝƐŚŶĂŵĞĚĂŝƐLJĐŽŵĞƐĨƌŽŵĂLJ͛Ɛ

LJĞ͘dŚŝƐƌĞŇĞĐƚƐƚŚĞĂƉƉĞĂƌĂŶĐĞŽĨƚŚĞĚĂŝƐLJǁŝƚŚŝƚƐ

LJĞůůŽǁĐĞŶƚƌĞͶƚŚĞĞLJĞ͕ĂŶĚƚŚĞƌŝŶŐŽĨǁŚŝƚĞƉĞƚĂůƐͶƚŚĞ

ĞLJĞůĂƐŚ͘dŚĞĚĂŝƐLJŇŽǁĞƌĐůŽƐĞƐĂƚŶŝŐŚƚĂŶĚŽƉĞŶƐǁŚĞŶ

ĚĂLJůŝŐŚƚĐŽŵĞƐĂƐŝĨŝƚǁĞƌĞǁĂŬŝŶŐĂŶĚƐůĞĞƉŝŶŐͶůŝŬĞƌĞĂů

people do.

/ƚŝƐĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚƚŽďĞĂƐŝŐŶƚŚĂƚƐƉƌŝŶŐŚĂƐĂƌƌŝǀĞĚǁŚĞŶ

ĚĂŝƐŝĞƐĂƉƉĞĂƌŝŶŶƵŵďĞƌƐ͘zŽƵŵƵƐƚďĞĐĂƌĞĨƵůŶŽƚƚŽƐƚĞƉ

ŽŶƚŚĞĮƌƐƚŽŶĞLJŽƵƐĞĞĨŽƌƚŚĞƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶŝƐƚŚĂƚŝĨLJŽƵĚŽ

LJŽƵǁŝůůďĞ͞ƉƵƐŚŝŶŐƵƉĚĂŝƐŝĞƐ͟LJŽƵƌƐĞůĨďĞĨŽƌĞƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨ

the year.

dŚĞĚĂŝƐLJŝƐĂƉĞƌĞŶŶŝĂůŇŽǁĞƌͶŝƚĐŽŵĞƐƵƉĞǀĞƌLJLJĞĂƌ

ǁŝƚŚŽƵƚŚĂǀŝŶŐƚŽƐĞƚƐĞĞĚ͘/ƚŚĂƐĂƌŽƐĞƩĞŽĨůĞĂǀĞƐ

ĂƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞďĂƐĞ͘ĂĐŚůĞĂĨŚĂƐĂŶŽǀĂůƐŚĂƉĞ͘KŶĞŇŽǁĞƌ

ŐƌŽǁƐŽŶĞĂĐŚƐƚĞŵĂŶĚƐŽŵĞƟŵĞƐƚŚĞǁŚŝƚĞƌŝŶŐŽĨ

ƉĞƚĂůƐŚĂƐĂƟŶŐĞŽĨƉŝŶŬŽŶƚŚĞŽƵƚƐŝĚĞ͘ĞĐĂƵƐĞƚŚĞ

ůĞĂǀĞƐĨŽƌŵĂƌŽƐĞƩĞƚŚĞƉůĂŶƚŝƐŶŽƚĚĞƐƚƌŽLJĞĚďLJŵŽǁŝŶŐ

ƚŚĞŐƌĂƐƐĂŶĚŝŶĨĂĐƚŝƚƚŚƌŝǀĞƐŝŶĂƌĞĂƐǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞŐƌĂƐƐŝƐ

ŵŽǁĞĚƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ͘

It is a universal custom for children to make daisy chains by ŵĂŬŝŶŐĂƐůŝƚŝŶƚŚĞƐƚĞŵŽĨŽŶĞĚĂŝƐLJĂŶĚŝŶƐĞƌƟŶŐĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ

ĚĂŝƐLJƐƚĞŵĮƌƐƚŝŶƚŽƚŚĞƐůŝƚ͘dŚŝƐĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐƵŶƟůƚŚĞĐŚĂŝŶ

ŝƐůŽŶŐĞŶŽƵŐŚƚŽďĞǁŽƌŶ͘

Junior Infants: Dandelion

Dandelion

To do with Junior Infants ͻ

'ĞƚĞĂĐŚĐŚŝůĚƚŽĮŶĚĂŶĚŐĂƚŚĞƌŽŶĞ

ĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶĞĂĐŚ͘

ͻ

'ĞƚƚŚĞŵƚŽĐŽůůĞĐƚŽŶĞǁŝƚŚĂǁŚŝƚĞƐĞĞĚ

ŚĞĂĚĂŶĚďůŽǁĂǁĂLJƚŚĞƐĞĞĚƐĐŽƵŶƟŶŐ

ƚŚĞƉƵīƐʹŝ͘Ğ͘ƉůĂLJŝŶŐĐůŽĐŬƐ͘

ͻ

ŽƵŶƚƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐŝŶƐŝĚĞĂ

ŚŽŽƉƉůĂĐĞĚŽŶƚŚĞůĂǁŶ͘ƌĞƚŚĞƌĞŵŽƌĞ

ĚĂŝƐŝĞƐƚŚĂŶĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐ͍

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹdĂƌĂdžĂĐƵŵŽĸĐŝŶĂůĞ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹĂŝƐĞĂƌŶ

ĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐŚĂǀĞŵĂŶLJĐŽŵŵŽŶŶĂŵĞƐͶƉŝƐƐLJďĞĚƐ͕

ǁĞƚƚŚĞďĞĚ͕ĐůŽĐŬƐĂŶĚũŝŵŵLJũŽĞƐ͘/ƚŝƐŽŌĞŶƚŚŽƵŐŚƚďLJ

ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶƚŚĂƚŝĨLJŽƵƉŝĐŬƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĞŶLJŽƵǁŝůůǁĞƚƚŚĞ

ďĞĚůĂƚĞƌŽŶ͘dŚŝƐŝƐŽĨĐŽƵƌƐĞŶŽƚƚƌƵĞ͘tŚĂƚŝƐƚƌƵĞŝƐ

ƚŚĂƚƚŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐŽĨƚŚĞĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶĂĐƚĂƐĂĚŝƵƌĞƟĐŝĨĞĂƚĞŶ͘

dŚĞLJǁĞƌĞƵƐĞĚŝŶĂŶĐŝĞŶƚƟŵĞƐĂƐĂĐƵƌĞĨŽƌĚƌŽƉƐLJͶĂŶ

ĂŝůŵĞŶƚƚŚĂƚĐĂƵƐĞĚĂůŝŵďƚŽƐǁĞůůƵƉ͘ĂƟŶŐĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶ

ůĞĂǀĞƐĐĂƵƐĞĚƚŚĞůŝƋƵŝĚƚŽŵŽǀĞƚŽƚŚĞďůĂĚĚĞƌĂŶĚŶŽ

ĚŽƵďƚĐŽƵůĚĐĂƵƐĞĂďĞĚͲǁĞƫŶŐŝŶĐŝĚĞŶƚŝĨƚŚĞƉĞƌƐŽŶŚĂĚ

ĨĂůůĞŶŝŶƚŽĂĚĞĞƉƐůƵŵďĞƌ͘

dŚĞŶŐůŝƐŚŶĂŵĞĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶĐŽŵĞƐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞ&ƌĞŶĐŚͶ

ĚĞŶƚĚĞůŝŽŶͶĂŶĚƌĞĨĞƌƐƚŽƚŚĞƚŽŽƚŚĞĚůĞĂǀĞƐǁŚŝĐŚŵƵƐƚ

ŚĂǀĞƉƵƚƐŽŵĞŽŶĞŝŶŵŝŶĚŽĨůŝŽŶƐ͛ƚĞĞƚŚ͘dŚĞ/ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞ

ŝƐĐĂŝƐĞĂƌŶ͕ĨƌŽŵͶŐĂƐƐĞĂƌďŚͶƚŚĞďŝƩĞƌƐƚĞŵ͘dŚĞ

ǁŚŝƚĞƐƚĞŵũƵŝĐĞŝƐĂůŬĂůŝŶĞĂŶĚǁĂƐƵƐĞĚŝŶĂŶĐŝĞŶƚƟŵĞƐ

ĂƐĂĐƵƌĞĨŽƌǁĂƌƚƐ͘

dŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐŐƌŽǁŝŶĂƌŽƐĞƩĞĨƌŽŵǁŚŝĐŚĐŽŵĞƚŚĞďƌŝŐŚƚ

LJĞůůŽǁŇŽǁĞƌƐŽŶĂƐŝŶŐůĞƐƚĂůŬ͘dŚĞƐĞƋƵŝĐŬůLJƚƵƌŶŝŶƚŽ

ǁŚŝƚĞƐĞĞĚŚĞĂĚƐŬŶŽǁŶĂƐĐůŽĐŬƐĂŶĚƚŚĞƐĞĞĚƐ͕ĞĂĐŚ

ǁŝƚŚŝƚƐƉĂƌĂĐŚƵƚĞŽĨǁŚŝƚĞŚĂŝƌƐ͕ĂƌĞĞĂƐŝůLJďůŽǁŶĂǁĂLJŝŶ

ƚŚĞǁŝŶĚƚŽƐĞƩůĞĂŶĚŐƌŽǁĂŐĂŝŶƋƵŝĐŬůLJ͘ĨĂǀŽƵƌŝƚĞŐĂŵĞ

ĂŵŽŶŐĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶŝƐƚŽĐŽůůĞĐƚŽŶĞĂŶĚƚŽƚĞůůƚŚĞƟŵĞďLJ

ĐŽƵŶƟŶŐŚŽǁŵĂŶLJƉƵīƐŽĨďƌĞĂƚŚŝƚƚĂŬĞƐƚŽďůŽǁĂǁĂLJ

ĂůůƚŚĞƐĞĞĚƐ͘

ĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐŚĂǀĞůŽŶŐƚĂƉƌŽŽƚƐǁŚŝĐŚǁĞƌĞĚƵŐƵƉĂŶĚ

ĚƌŝĞĚĂŶĚƌŽĂƐƚĞĚŝŶƟŵĞƐŽĨƉŽǀĞƌƚLJƚŽŵĂŬĞĂƚLJƉĞŽĨ

͞ĐŽīĞĞ͟ĚƌŝŶŬ͘/ƚƐŇŽǁĞƌƐĚŽŵĂŬĞĂŐŽŽĚǁŝŶĞŝĨŽŶĞŚĂƐ

ƚŚĞƉĂƟĞŶĐĞƚŽƵƐĞũƵƐƚƚŚĞLJĞůůŽǁƉĞƚĂůƐĂŶĚŝƚƐĐůĞĂŶ͕

ǀĞƌLJLJŽƵŶŐůĞĂǀĞƐĐĂŶďĞĞĂƚĞŶŝŶƐĂůĂĚƐŝŶƐƉƌŝŶŐ͘

ĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐŐƌŽǁŝŶĮĞůĚƐ͕ůĂǁŶƐĂŶĚĂůŽŶŐƌŽĂĚƐŝĚĞƐ͘dŚĞLJ

ĂƌĞŝŶŇŽǁĞƌĂůůƐƵŵŵĞƌůŽŶŐ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞǁĞůůĂďůĞƚŽǁŝƚŚƐƚĂŶĚ

ŵŽǁŝŶŐͶŝŶĚĞĞĚ͕ƚŚĞŵŽƌĞĂůĂǁŶŝƐŵŽǁĞĚƚŚĞŵŽƌĞ

ĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐŐƌŽǁĂƐŽƚŚĞƌĐŽŵƉĞƟŶŐƉůĂŶƚƐĂƌĞƌĞŵŽǀĞĚ͘

Junior Infants: Horse Chestnut

Horse Chestnut

ͻ

džĂŵŝŶĞƚǁŝŐƐŝŶƐƉƌŝŶŐƚŽƐĞĞƐƟĐŬLJďƵĚƐ

ĂŶĚŚŽƌƐĞƐŚŽĞŵĂƌŬƐ͘

ͻ

EŽƚĞǁŚĞŶƚŚĞďƵĚƐŽƉĞŶĂŶĚĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ

ƚŚĞƉƵƉŝůƐƚŽŬĞĞƉĂƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌĂƐ

ƚŚĞLJŵŽǀĞƵƉƚŚƌŽƵŐŚƐĐŚŽŽů͘

ͻ

ŽůůĞĐƚĐŽŶŬĞƌƐŝŶĂƵƚƵŵŶĂŶĚƚŚƌĞĂĚ

ƚŚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌŝŶŐƐƚŽƉůĂLJĂƚ͞ĐŽŶŬĞƌƐ͟Ͷ

ŚŝƫŶŐƚŚĞŵŽŶĞŽīĂŶŽƚŚĞƌŝŶƚƵƌŶƚŽƐĞĞ

ǁŚŽƐĞďƌĞĂŬƐĮƌƐƚͶĂƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůŐĂŵĞ͘

ͻ

ŽůůĞĐƚƐŽŵĞͶŬĞĞƉŝŶĂƉĂƉĞƌďĂŐŽǀĞƌ

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹAesculus hippocastanum /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹCrann Cnó Capaill

,ŽƌƐĞŚĞƐƚŶƵƚƚƌĞĞƐĂƌĞǀĞƌLJĐŽŵŵŽŶŝŶ/ƌĞůĂŶĚĂŶĚĂƌĞ

ĞĂƐŝůLJŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚĂƚĂŶLJƟŵĞŽĨLJĞĂƌ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞŶŽƚŶĂƟǀĞ

ƚŽ/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͕ƚŚĞLJŽƌŝŐŝŶĂƚĞŝŶƚŚĞĂůŬĂŶƌĞŐŝŽŶƐ͕ďƵƚǁĞƌĞ

ŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚŝŶƚŚĞϭϲϬϬƐͶƉƌŽďĂďůLJĂƐŐƌĞĂƚĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ

ƚƌĞĞƐƚŽĞŶŚĂŶĐĞĞƐƚĂƚĞƐĨŽƌŵĞĚĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƉůĂŶƚĂƟŽŶƐ

ŽĨƚŚĂƚĐĞŶƚƵƌLJ͘

WƌŽďĂďůLJĂƐĂƌĞƐƵůƚŽĨŽƌŝŐŝŶĂƟŶŐŝŶƐƵĐŚĂǁĂƌŵƉĂƌƚ

ŽĨƵƌŽƉĞ͕ƚŚĞLJĂƌĞƚŚĞǀĞƌLJĮƌƐƚůĂƌŐĞƚƌĞĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐƚŽŐĞƚ

ƚŚĞŝƌůĞĂǀĞƐŝŶƐƉƌŝŶŐ͘dŚĞůĂƌŐĞďƌŽǁŶƐƟĐŬLJďƵĚƐŽƉĞŶ

ŝŶDĂƌĐŚ͘dŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐĂƌĞĐŽŵƉŽƵŶĚͶǁŚŝĐŚŵĞĂŶƐƚŚĂƚ

ƐĞǀĞŶůĞĂŇĞƚƐƌĂĚŝĂƚĞŽƵƚĨƌŽŵŽŶĞƐƚĂůŬƚŚĂƚũŽŝŶƐƚŽƚŚĞ

ƚǁŝŐ͘LJDĂLJƚŚĞƚƌĞĞŝƐĐŽǀĞƌĞĚŝŶůĂƌŐĞǁŚŝƚĞĐůƵŵƉƐŽĨ

ŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĂƚƌĞŵŝŶĚƉĞŽƉůĞŽĨĐĂŶĚůĞƐĂŶĚĂƌĞďĞůŽǀĞĚŽĨ

ďĞĞƐ͕ǁŚŽŵĂŬĞǀĞƌLJĮŶĞŚŽŶĞLJĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŶĞĐƚĂƌ͘dŚŝƐǁŽƌŬ

ďLJƚŚĞďĞĞƐĂůƐŽƌĞƐƵůƚƐŝŶƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐďĞŝŶŐƉŽůůŝŶĂƚĞĚĂŶĚ

ƚŚĞĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŽĨĨƌƵŝƚƐĂŶĚƐĞĞĚƐ͘

LJŵŝĚͲƐƵŵŵĞƌŝƚŝƐĞĂƐLJƚŽƐĞĞƚŚĞŐƌĞĞŶƉƌŝĐŬůLJĨƌƵŝƚƐ

ǁŚŝĐŚĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƚŚĞƐĞĞĚƐŽƌĐŽŶŬĞƌƐ͘dŚĞƐĞƌŝƉĞŶƋƵŝĐŬůLJ

ĂŶĚďLJůĂƚĞ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌďĞŐŝŶƚŽĨĂůůĂŶĚďƵƌƐƚŽƉĞŶ

ƌĞǀĞĂůŝŶŐƚŚĞďƌŽǁŶƐŚŝŶLJĐŚĞƐƚŶƵƚƐŝŶƐŝĚĞ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞƚŚĞ

ĮƌƐƚƚƌĞĞƐƚŽŐĞƚůĞĂǀĞƐŝŶƐƉƌŝŶŐĂŶĚŝŶĚĞĞĚƚŚĞĮƌƐƚƚŽ

ůŽƐĞƚŚĞŵĂƐǁĞůů͘dŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐůŽŽŬĚĞĐŝĚĞĚůLJǁŝƚŚĞƌĞĚĂŶĚ

LJĞůůŽǁŝŶ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌĂŶĚĂƌĞĞĂƐŝůLJďůŽǁŶĂǁĂLJďLJƚŚĞ

ǁŝŶĚƐŽĨůĂƚĞ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌĂŶĚĞĂƌůLJKĐƚŽďĞƌ͘dŚĞƚƌĞĞƐĂƌĞ

ƚŚĞŶƐĞƚƚŽŽǀĞƌǁŝŶƚĞƌŝŶƚŚŝƐĚŽƌŵĂŶƚƐƚĂƚĞĂŶĚǁĞŚĂǀĞ

ƚŽǁĂŝƚƵŶƟůƐƉƌŝŶŐĨŽƌƚŚĞƐĂƉƚŽƌŝƐĞĂŶĚƚŚĞĐLJĐůĞƚŽ

ďĞŐŝŶĂůůŽǀĞƌĂŐĂŝŶ͘

ƵƚǁŚLJĂƌĞƚŚĞLJĐĂůůĞĚ͞ŚŽƌƐĞ͟ĐŚĞƐƚŶƵƚƐ͍/ƚĐŽƵůĚďĞ

ďĞĐĂƵƐĞƚŚĞǁŽƌĚ͞ŚŽƌƐĞ͟ŝŶďŝŽůŽŐŝĐĂůƚĞƌŵƐŵĞĂŶƐďŝŐ

ĂŶĚĐŽĂƌƐĞĂŶĚƚŚĞŶƵƚƐĂƌĞďŝŐŐĞƌĂŶĚĐŽĂƌƐĞƌƚŚĂŶƚŚŽƐĞ

ŽĨƚŚĞĞĚŝďůĞƐǁĞĞƚĐŚĞƐƚŶƵƚ͘KƌŝƚĐŽƵůĚďĞďĞĐĂƵƐĞƚŚĞ

dƵƌŬƐƵƐĞĚƚŽĨĞĞĚĐŽŶŬĞƌƐƚŽŚŽƌƐĞƐƚŽĐƵƌĞƚŚĞŵŽĨ

ĐŽƵŐŚƐ͘ƵƚŝƚƉƌŽďĂďůLJŝƐďĞĐĂƵƐĞŽĨƚŚĞůŝƩůĞŚŽƌƐĞƐŚŽĞ

ŵĂƌŬƐ;ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞǁŝƚŚŶĂŝůƐͿŽŶĞĂĐŚƚǁŝŐ͕ĂƐŝĨĂůŝƩůĞŚŽƌƐĞ

ŚĂĚǁĂůŬĞĚƚŚĞƌĞůĞĂǀŝŶŐŝƚƐĨŽŽƚƉƌŝŶƚƐďĞŚŝŶĚ͘

/ŶŚĞƌďŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞƚŚĞLJĐŽŶƚĂŝŶĐƵƌĞƐĨŽƌǀĂƌŝĐŽƐĞǀĞŝŶƐ͘

To do with Junior Infants

Junior Infants: Hedgehog

,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐǁĞƌĞŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚƚŽ/ƌĞůĂŶĚďLJƚŚĞĂŶĞƐ

as a source of food. The country suited them and they quickly became established in hedges, gardens ĂŶĚǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚƐ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞĐĂƌŶŝǀŽƌŽƵƐĂŶŝŵĂůƐĂŶĚ

ĨĞĞĚŽŶƐŶĂŝůƐ͕ƐůƵŐƐ͕ďĞĞƚůĞƐ͕ĐĂƚĞƌƉŝůůĂƌƐ͕ĞĂƌǁŝŐƐĂŶĚ

ĞĂƌƚŚǁŽƌŵƐ͘dŚĞLJǀŝƐŝƚŐĂƌĚĞŶƐĂƚŶŝŐŚƚĂŶĚĂƌĞŽŌĞŶ

ƚĞŵƉƚĞĚďLJƚŚĞĐŽŶƚĞŶƚƐŽĨƚŚĞĚŽŐ͛ƐďŽǁůͶŵƵĐŚ

ƚŽƚŚĞĂŶŶŽLJĂŶĐĞŽĨƚŚĞƌĞƐŝĚĞŶƚĚŽŐ͘tŚĞŶƚŚĞLJĨĞĞů

ƵŶĚĞƌƚŚƌĞĂƚƚŚĞLJƌŽůůŝŶƚŽĂƉƌŝĐŬůLJďĂůůǁŚŝĐŚĚĞƚĞƌƐ

ĂůůĞŶĞŵŝĞƐĞdžĐĞƉƚďĂĚŐĞƌƐǁŚŽĂƌĞĂďůĞƚŽĂƩĂĐŬ

and eat them.

Hedgehogs breed in May and the young, three or ĨŽƵƌ͕ĂƌĞďŽƌŶŝŶ:ƵŶĞ͕ǁŚŝĐŚŐŝǀĞƐƚŚĞŵĂŐŽŽĚ

ůŽŶŐƐƵŵŵĞƌƚŽŐƌŽǁĂŶĚƉƵƚŽŶƚŚĂƚǀŝƚĂůƉŽƵŶĚ

ŽĨĨĂƚ͕ǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞLJŶĞĞĚĨŽƌŚŝďĞƌŶĂƟŽŶ͘dŚĞLJŐŽ

ŝŶƚŽŚŝďĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂƚƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨKĐƚŽďĞƌĂŶĚƐƚĂLJ

ĂƐůĞĞƉƵŶƟůƉƌŝů͘dŚĞLJĚŽƚŚŝƐͶŶŽƚďĞĐĂƵƐĞŝƚŝƐ

too cold — but because there is no food for them, as ƐŶĂŝůƐĂŶĚŽƚŚĞƌŵŝŶŝďĞĂƐƚƐĂƌĞŶŽƚĂƌŽƵŶĚŝŶǁŝŶƚĞƌ

and as carnivores hedgehogs must eat meat. Lately ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ŝƚƐĞĞŵƐƚŚĂƚŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĂƌĞƉƌŽĚƵĐŝŶŐ

ĂƐĞĐŽŶĚůŝƩĞƌŝŶ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͘ƉƉĂƌĞŶƚůLJ͕ĐůŝŵĂƚĞ

ĐŚĂŶŐĞŝƐŵĂŬŝŶŐŽƵƌƐƵŵŵĞƌŶŝŐŚƚƐǁĂƌŵĞƌƚŚĂŶ

they used to be and hedgehogs are coming into ƐĞĂƐŽŶĨŽƌĂƐĞĐŽŶĚƟŵĞŝŶŵŝĚƐƵŵŵĞƌ͘dŚĞƐĞ

ƉŽŽƌůŝƩůĞůĂƚĞďĂďŝĞƐĂƌĞŽŶĂŚŝĚŝŶŐƚŽŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ

ĂƐƚŚĞLJĐĂŶ͛ƚƉƵƚŽŶĞŶŽƵŐŚĨĂƚŝŶƟŵĞƚŽƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ

ŚŝďĞƌŶĂƟŽŶ͘

^ƵƌǀŝǀŝŶŐŚŝďĞƌŶĂƟŽŶŝƐŶŽƐŵĂůůĨĞĂƚŝŶŝƚƐĞůĨ͘/Ĩ

ǁĞǁĞƌĞƚŽŐŽƚŽƐůĞĞƉŝŶKĐƚŽďĞƌĂŶĚƐƚĂLJĂƐůĞĞƉ

ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐůLJƵŶƟůƉƌŝů͕ǁĞ͛ĚǁĂŬĞƵƉĚĞĂĚ͊tĞ͛Ě

ŚĂǀĞĚŝĞĚŽĨŚƵŶŐĞƌĂŶĚƚŚŝƌƐƚ͘^ŽŚŽǁĚŽƚŚĞ

ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐŵĂŶĂŐĞ͍dŚĞLJŵƵƐƚŚĂǀĞĂďŽĚLJǁĞŝŐŚƚ

ŽĨŽǀĞƌϰϱϬŐƌĂŵƐďĞĨŽƌĞŐŽŝŶŐŝŶƚŽŚŝďĞƌŶĂƟŽŶŽƌ

ƚŚĞLJǁŽŶ͛ƚŚĂǀĞĞŶŽƵŐŚĨĂƚƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐƚŽƐƵƌǀŝǀĞ͘

dŚĞLJĂůƐŽŵƵƐƚƐůŽǁĚŽǁŶƚŚĞŝƌŵĞƚĂďŽůŝĐƌĂƚĞ͘

Normally in summer months, hedgehogs maintain a temperature of 34°C and a heartbeat of 190 beats per minute. In order for the pound of fat reserves to last ĨŽƌƐŝdžŵŽŶƚŚƐƚŚĞŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐŝŶŚŝďĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĚƌŽƉƐŝƚƐ

heartbeat to 20 a minute and its body temperature ĐĂŶŐŽĂƐůŽǁĂƐϱΣ͘

Hedgehog

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹƌŝŶĂĐĞƵƐĞƵƌŽƉĂĞƵƐ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹŶ'ƌĄŝŶŶĞŽŐ

To do with Junior Infants ͻ

Learn the song “Harry the Hedgehog:”

/͛ŵ,ĂƌƌLJƚŚĞŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐĂƐĞǀĞƌLJďŽĚLJŬŶŽǁƐ

ŶĚ/ĐĂŶĨĞĞůƚŚĞĨƌŽƐƚLJǁŝŶĚŶŝƉŵLJůŝƩůĞŶŽƐĞ

^Ž/ƚŚŝŶŬŝƚǁŽƵůĚďĞďĞƐƚŝĨ/ĨŽƵŶĚĂůŝƩůĞŶĞƐƚ tŚĞƌĞ/ĐŽƵůĚůŝĞĂŶĚƌĞƐƚƵŶƟůƚŚĞƐƉƌŝŶŐƟŵĞ͘

ͻ

Make a model of a hedgehog using ƉůĂƐƟĐŝŶĞĨŽƌƚŚĞďŽĚLJĂŶĚůŽůůŝƉŽƉƐƟĐŬƐ

for the spikes.

Junior Infants: Robin

Robin

To do with Junior infants ͻ

DĂŬĞĂŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐĐĂƌĚǁŝƚŚĂƌŽďŝŶŽŶŝƚ͘

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹƌŝƚŚĂĐƵƐƌƵďĞĐƵůĂ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹAn Spideog

>Ğƚ͛ƐƐƚĂƌƚŽīƚŚĞƐƚŽƌLJŽĨƚŚĞƌŽďŝŶŝŶǁŝŶƚĞƌ͘dŚŝƐ

ŝƐƚŚĞƟŵĞǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƌŽďŝŶǀŝƐŝƚƐƚŚĞďŝƌĚƚĂďůĞ͘^Ž͕

ĚƵƌŝŶŐƚŚĞǁŝŶƚĞƌŵŽŶƚŚƐ͕ŝƚŝƐǀĞƌLJŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚƚŽƉƵƚ

out food such as nuts and seeds, rasher rinds, bits of bread, cakes of fat even, if you are up to it, and ŵŽƐƚĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJǁĂƚĞƌ͘ŽŵĞƐƉƌŝŶŐ͕ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ǁŝƚŚ

its lengthening days, robins leave the bird table and ƐƚĂƌƚƚŽŚŽůĚƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌŝĞƐĂŶĚĂƩƌĂĐƚĂŵĂƚĞ͘dŚĞLJĚŽ

this by singing. Only the males sing and other males ŬŶŽǁƚŽƐƚĂLJĂǁĂLJĂƐƌŽďŝŶƐĂƌĞǀĞƌLJƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌŝĂůĂŶĚ

ĐĂŶŬŝůůŽƚŚĞƌŵĂůĞƐŝĨƚŚĞLJǁĂŶĚĞƌŝŶƚŽƚŚĞŝƌƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌLJ͘

ĨĞŵĂůĞŚŽǁĞǀĞƌŝƐƚŽůĞƌĂƚĞĚĂŶĚĂŌĞƌĂǁŚŝůĞƚŚĞLJ

set up home together. The male collects nest material ĨƌŽŵǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞĐŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƚƐĂŶĞƐƚĂŶĚĨĂƐŚŝŽŶƐ

it to her body shape. Robins can have a clutch of up ƚŽƐŝdžĞŐŐƐǁŚŝĐŚŚĂƚĐŚŽƵƚĂŌĞƌƚǁŽǁĞĞŬƐĂŶĚĂƌĞ

ĨĞĚďLJďŽƚŚƉĂƌĞŶƚƐǁŝƚŚƚŚĞĐƌĞĞƉLJͲĐƌĂǁůLJĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ

ŽĨƚŚĞŐĂƌĚĞŶͶƐƉŝĚĞƌƐ͕ǁŽŽĚůŝĐĞ͕ƐŵĂůůĐĂƚĞƌƉŝůůĂƌƐ

and the like. In a good year the performance can be ƌĞƉĞĂƚĞĚƚǁŝĐĞĂŶĚĞǀĞŶƚŚƌĞĞƟŵĞƐŽǀĞƌ͕ǁŝƚŚƚŚĞ

same missus of course.

ĂďLJƌŽďŝŶƐĂƌĞĂůůďƌŽǁŶͶƚŚĞLJĚŽŶŽƚĚĞǀĞůŽƉ

ƌĞĚĨĞĂƚŚĞƌƐƵŶƟůƚŚĞLJĂƌĞĨƵůůLJŐƌŽǁŶ͘KŶĐĞƚŚĞLJ

ůĞĂǀĞƚŚĞŶĞƐƚŽŶƚŚĞŝƌĮƌƐƚŇŝŐŚƚ͕ƚǁŽǁĞĞŬƐĂŌĞƌ

they hatch out, they never return to it. They are fed ďLJƚŚĞŝƌƉĂƌĞŶƚƐŝŶƚŚĞŐĂƌĚĞŶĨŽƌĂĨĞǁĚĂLJƐƵŶƟů

they learn to fend for themselves. So by the end of the summer, your robins could have had at least ƚĞŶďĂďŝĞƐ͕ǁŚŝĐŚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŽƌŝŐŝŶĂůƉĂƌĞŶƚƐ

ĐŽŵĞƚŽƚǁĞůǀĞͶĂƐŝdžͲĨŽůĚŝŶĐƌĞĂƐĞŝŶƚŚĞƌŽďŝŶ

ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ͘ƵƚƚŚŝŶŐƐĚŽŶ͛ƚŐĞƚƚŽƚŚŝƐƐƚĂŐĞ͘DŽƐƚ

ƌŽďŝŶƐĚŽŶ͛ƚƐƵƌǀŝǀĞďĂďLJŚŽŽĚ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞĂůŵŽƐƚĂůů

caught by predators in the inexperienced early days ŽĨŇLJŝŶŐ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞĨŽŽĚĨŽƌƚŚĞŶĞdžƚůĞǀĞůŝŶƚŚĞĨŽŽĚ

ĐŚĂŝŶ͘/ƚŚĂƐƚŽďĞŽƌƚŚĞLJǁŽƵůĚĂůůĚŝĞŽĨƐƚĂƌǀĂƟŽŶ͘

By autumn the pairs have broken up and robins no ůŽŶŐĞƌŚŽůĚƚĞƌƌŝƚŽƌLJ͘dŚĞLJǁŝůůƐƉĞŶĚƚŚĞǁŝŶƚĞƌŝŶ

ƚŚĞŐĂƌĚĞŶƐƵƌǀŝǀŝŶŐŽŶǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌĨŽŽĚƚŚĞLJĐĂŶĮŶĚ͘

ZŽďŝŶƐĂƌĞŽŵŶŝǀŽƌĞƐ͕ǁŚŝĐŚŵĞĂŶƐƚŚĂƚƚŚĞLJĐĂŶ

digest food of both animal and plant origin. So they ĐĂŶƐƵƌǀŝǀĞƚŚĞǁŝŶƚĞƌŝŶ/ƌĞůĂŶĚĂŶĚĚŽŶŽƚŶĞĞĚƚŽ

ŵŝŐƌĂƚĞƚŽĨƌŝĐĂůŝŬĞƚŚĞƐǁĂůůŽǁǁŚŽĐĂŶŽŶůLJĨĞĞĚ

ŽŶŝŶƐĞĐƚƐ͘ƵƚǁĞĐĂŶŚĞůƉƚŚĞŵďLJƉƵƫŶŐŽƵƚĨŽŽĚ͘

Junior Infants: Ladybird

Ladybird

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹŽĐĐŝŶĞůůĂϳͲƉƵŶĐƚĂƚĂ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹBóinn Dé

Ladybirds are very common and recognisable insects. They belong to the beetle group and have the smooth curved shiny back that is typical of beetles. This curved back is ŵĂĚĞŽĨƚǁŽŚĂƌĚĞŶĞĚǁŝŶŐĐŽǀĞƌƐǁŚŝĐŚŽƉĞŶƚŽƌĞǀĞĂů

ƚǁŽƚƌĂŶƐƉĂƌĞŶƚǁŝŶŐƐǁŝƚŚǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞůĂĚLJďŝƌĚĐĂŶŇLJ͘

dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞĞŝŐŚƚĞĞŶĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨůĂĚLJďŝƌĚŝŶ/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͘

^ŽŵĞŽĨƚŚĞŵĂƌĞƌĞĚǁŝƚŚďůĂĐŬƐƉŽƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐƚŚĞƐĞǀĞŶ

ƐƉŽƚĂŶĚƚŚĞŵƵĐŚƐŵĂůůĞƌƚǁŽƐƉŽƚ͘ƵƚǁĞĂůƐŽŚĂǀĞ

LJĞůůŽǁůĂĚLJďŝƌĚƐǁŝƚŚďůĂĐŬƐƉŽƚƐ͕ƌĞĚůĂĚLJďŝƌĚƐǁŝƚŚ

ĐƌĞĂŵƐƉŽƚƐĂŶĚĞǀĞŶĂƉŝŶŬůĂĚLJďŝƌĚǁŝƚŚďůĂĐŬĂŶĚ

LJĞůůŽǁͲƌŝŶŐĞĚƐƉŽƚƐ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞĂůůďƌŝŐŚƚůLJĐŽůŽƵƌĞĚĂŶĚĂůů

are poisonous — to birds that is. All ladybirds are brightly ĐŽůŽƵƌĞĚƚŽǁĂƌŶďŝƌĚƐŶŽƚƚŽĞĂƚƚŚĞŵ͘dŚĞLJĐŽŶƚĂŝŶ

ĨŽƌŵŝĐĂĐŝĚƐŽƚŚĂƚŝĨĂŶŝŶĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚďŝƌĚǁĞƌĞƚŽĞĂƚŽŶĞ

ŝƚƐƚŽŶŐƵĞǁŽƵůĚďĞďƵƌŶƚĂŶĚŝƚǁŽƵůĚŶĞǀĞƌĞĂƚĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ

ŽŶĞ͘^ŽƚŚĞďƌŝŐŚƚĐŽůŽƵƌĂĐƚƐĂƐĂǁĂƌŶŝŶŐ͘/ŶĨĂĐƚ͕ŝĨLJŽƵ

ĐĂƚĐŚŽŶĞĂŶĚůĞƚŝƚǁĂůŬŽŶLJŽƵƌŚĂŶĚŝƚŵŝŐŚƚƐĞĐƌĞƚĞ

ƐŽŵĞŽĨƚŚŝƐŽƌĂŶŐĞͲĐŽůŽƵƌĞĚůŝƋƵŝĚǁŚŝĐŚͶŝĨLJŽƵǁĞƌĞ

ĂďŝƌĚͶǁŽƵůĚďƵƌŶLJŽƵƌƚŽŶŐƵĞĂŶĚLJŽƵǁŽƵůĚƐƉŝƚŝƚŽƵƚ͘

This is another defence stratagem.

Ladybirds themselves are carnivores and they eat ŐƌĞĞŶŇŝĞƐ͘dŚĞLJǀŝƐŝƚŐĂƌĚĞŶƐǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞƌĞĂƌĞƌŽƐĞƐ͕ŝŶ

ŽƌĚĞƌƚŽĨĞĂƐƚŽŶƚŚĞŐƌĞĞŶŇŝĞƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞƐƵĐŬŝŶŐƚŚĞũƵŝĐĞƐ

ŽƵƚŽĨƚŚĞƚĞŶĚĞƌƌŽƐĞůĞĂǀĞƐ͘/ŶƚŚĞǁŝŶƚĞƌǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƌĞ

ĂƌĞŶŽŐƌĞĞŶŇLJƚŽĞĂƚ͕ůĂĚLJďŝƌĚƐǁŝůůŚŝďĞƌŶĂƚĞ͘zŽƵĐŽƵůĚ

make a “hotel” for them in the school garden by tying ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌĂďƵŶĚůĞŽĨŚŽůůŽǁďĂŵƐƟĐŬƐĂŶĚůĞĂǀŝŶŐ

them on their side on a shelf or something above the ground. The ladybirds could climb in here and have a safe ƉůĂĐĞŽǀĞƌǁŝŶƚĞƌ͘

To do with Junior Infants ͻ

Learn the rhyme:

>ĂĚLJďŝƌĚ͕ůĂĚLJďŝƌĚŇLJĂǁĂLJŚŽŵĞ

zŽƵƌŚŽƵƐĞŝƐŽŶĮƌĞ͕LJŽƵƌĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶĂƌĞŐŽŶĞ

ůůĞdžĐĞƉƚŽŶĞĂŶĚƚŚĂƚ͛ƐůŝƩůĞŶŶĞ

ŶĚƐŚĞĐƌĞƉƚƵŶĚĞƌƚŚĞĨƌLJŝŶŐƉĂŶ͘

ͻ

Bring the children out to look for ladybirds at the end of May, in June and in September. Places such as rose beds, ŚĞĚŐĞƐ͕ůŽǁƐŚƌƵďƐĂƌĞĂůůŐŽŽĚƉůĂĐĞƐ

ƚŽůŽŽŬ͘zŽƵĐŽƵůĚĂůƐŽƐŚĂŬĞƚŚĞďƌĂŶĐŚĞƐ

of a tree into an upturned umbrella and ƐĞĞŝĨĂŶLJĨĂůůĚŽǁŶŝŶƚŽŝƚ͘

Senior Infants

Senior Infants

Buttercup

White Clover

Holly

Rabbit

Swan

Spider

Senior Infants: Buttercup

Buttercup

To do with Senior Infants

ͻ

ƌŝŶŐƚŚĞŵŽƵƚƚŽůŽŽŬĨŽƌďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐ͘'Ğƚ

them to count the petals and see the sepals behind the petals. Get them to check if ƚŚĞŝƌĐŽŵƉĂŶŝŽŶ͞ůŝŬĞƐďƵƩĞƌ͘͟dŚĞŶŐĞƚ

them to repeat this using a dandelion.

tŚĂƚĐĂŶƚŚĞLJĐŽŶĐůƵĚĞĨƌŽŵƚŚŝƐĞdžĞƌĐŝƐĞ͍

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹZĂŶƵŶĐƵůƵƐƌĞƉĞŶƐ

/ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹFearbán and alsoĂŵĂŶ/ŵĞ

ƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐĂƌĞǁŝůĚŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĂƚŐƌŽǁŝŶŐƌĂƐƐLJĮĞůĚƐƚŚĂƚ

ĂƌĞŶŽƚŵŽǁĞĚ͘hŶůŝŬĞĚĂŝƐŝĞƐĂŶĚĚĂŶĚĞůŝŽŶƐǁŚŝĐŚŐƌŽǁ

ĨƌŽŵƌŽƐĞƩĞƐĂŶĚĐĂŶƐƵƌǀŝǀĞŵŽǁŝŶŐ͕ďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐǁŝůů

ŶŽƚŐƌŽǁĂŶĚŇŽǁĞƌŽŶĂĐŽŶƟŶƵĂůůLJŵŽǁĞĚůĂǁŶ͘^Ž

look for them beside the hedge if this is the case in your ƐĐŚŽŽůͶŽƌŝŶĚĞĞĚĂƌƌĂŶŐĞĨŽƌĂƐŵĂůůƵŶŵŽǁŶƉĂƚĐŚƚŽ

ďĞůĞŌĨŽƌƚŚĞďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐ͘

ƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐƐƚĂƌƚƚŽŇŽǁĞƌďLJƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨƉƌŝůĂŶĚĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ

ŝŶŇŽǁĞƌĂůůƐƵŵŵĞƌůŽŶŐƌŝŐŚƚƵƉƚŽ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͘dŚĞ

ŇŽǁĞƌŚĂƐĮǀĞďƌŝŐŚƚLJĞůůŽǁƉĞƚĂůƐ͘dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞĮǀĞƐĞƉĂůƐ

on the outside of the petals and a great number of male ƐƚĂŵĞŶƐŝŶƐŝĚĞƚŚĞƉĞƚĂůƐ͘dŚĞLJĐŽŶƚĂŝŶŶĞĐƚĂƌĚĞĞƉǁŝƚŚŝŶ

ƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŽĂƩƌĂĐƚŝŶƐĞĐƚƐĂŶĚĂƌĞǀŝƐŝƚĞĚƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJďLJ

ďƵƩĞƌŇŝĞƐŝŶƐƵŵŵĞƌŵŽŶƚŚƐ͘

dŚĞLJĂƌĞĐĂůůĞĚďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐŝŶŶŐůŝƐŚďĞĐĂƵƐĞŝƚǁĂƐ

ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚƚŚĂƚĂƉĂƐƚƵƌĞĨƵůůŽĨďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐĞĂƚĞŶďLJĐĂƩůĞ

ǁŽƵůĚŐŝǀĞĂŐŽůĚĞŶĐŽůŽƵƌƚŽƚŚĞŵŝůŬĂŶĚĞǀĞŶŵŽƌĞ

ƐŽƚŽƚŚĞďƵƩĞƌŵĂĚĞĨƌŽŵƚŚĞŵŝůŬ͘dŚŝƐŝƐŶŽƚĂĐƚƵĂůůLJ

ƚƌƵĞͶďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐĂƌĞŐĞŶĞƌĂůůLJĂǀŽŝĚĞĚďLJĐĂƩůĞ͘dŚĞLJ

have an acrid taste and one of the Irish names for ďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƐ͕ĨĞĂƌďĄŶ͕ƌĞŇĞĐƚƐƚŚŝƐ͘

ŚŝůĚƌĞŶƉůĂLJƚŚĞŐĂŵĞŽĨŚŽůĚŝŶŐĂďƵƩĞƌĐƵƉƵŶĚĞƌ

ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌĐŚŝůĚ͛ƐĐŚŝŶƚŽƐĞĞŝĨƚŚĞLJůŝŬĞďƵƩĞƌ͘ƵƩĞƌŵƵƐƚ

have been more popular long ago among children than it ŝƐŶŽǁ͕ĂƐƚŚĞƌĞŝƐŝŶǀĂƌŝĂďůLJĂŐŽůĚĞŶŐůŽǁŽŶƚŚĞĐŚŝůĚ͛Ɛ

ƐŬŝŶǁŚŝĐŚŽĨĐŽƵƌƐĞŵĞĂŶƐ͞ƚŚĞLJůŝŬĞďƵƩĞƌ͕͟ǁŚŝĐŚ

ŵĂLJŶŽƚĂĐƚƵĂůůLJďĞƚŚĞĐĂƐĞ͘^ĐŝĞŶƟĮĐĂůůLJ͕ĂŶLJďƌŝŐŚƚ

LJĞůůŽǁŽďũĞĐƚŚĞůĚƵŶĚĞƌƚŚĞĐŚŝŶŽĨĂŶLJĐŚŝůĚŽĨĂŶLJƐŬŝŶ

ĐŽůŽƵƌͶƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJŽŶĂďƌŝŐŚƚ͕ƐƵŶŶLJĚĂLJͶǁŝůůŐŝǀĞ

ĂŐŽůĚĞŶƌĞŇĞĐƟŽŶ͘

Senior Infants: White Clover

White Clover

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹdƌŝĨŽůŝƵŵƌĞƉĞŶƐ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹ^ĞĂŵĂŝƌďĄŶ

dŚŝƐƉůĂŶƚŐƌŽǁƐĐŽŵŵŽŶůLJŝŶůĂǁŶƐĂŶĚĮĞůĚƐ͘ĂƌůLJŝŶ

the year just its leaves are obvious. These are described as ƚƌĞĨŽŝůůĞĂǀĞƐͶƚŚƌĞĞůĞĂŇĞƚƐĨƌŽŵŽŶĞƐƚĞŵ͘dŚĞƐĞƚƌĞĨŽŝů

ůĞĂǀĞƐĂƌĞĞĂƐLJƚŽĮŶĚĂŶĚƚŽƌĞĐŽŐŶŝƐĞ͘ĂĐŚůĞĂŇĞƚŝƐ

ŚĞĂƌƚƐŚĂƉĞĚǁŝƚŚĂƉĂůĞsͲƐŚĂƉĞĚŵĂƌŬ͘dŚĞ/ƌŝƐŚǁŽƌĚ

ĨŽƌĐůŽǀĞƌŝƐƐĞĂŵĂŝƌ͘/ŶƐƉƌŝŶŐǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƌĞĂƌĞŶŽŇŽǁĞƌƐ

out yet, the leaves are young clover — seamair óg or ƐŚĂŵƌŽĐŬ͘dŚĞƌĞŝƐĂƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶƚŚĂƚ^ƚWĂƚƌŝĐŬƵƐĞĚƚŚĞůĞĂĨ

of the shamrock to illustrate his teachings about the Holy dƌŝŶŝƚLJƚŽƚŚĞ/ƌŝƐŚƉĞŽƉůĞůŽŶŐĂŐŽ͘:ƵƐƚĂƐƚŚĞƌĞǁĞƌĞ

ƚŚƌĞĞůĞĂŇĞƚƐƵŶŝƚĞĚŝŶŽŶĞůĞĂĨŽĨƚŚĞƐŚĂŵƌŽĐŬͶƐŽǁĞƌĞ

ƚŚĞƚŚƌĞĞĚĞŝƟĞƐŽĨƚŚĞŚŽůLJƚƌŝŶŝƚLJƵŶŝƚĞĚĂƐŽŶĞ'ŽĚ͘dŽ

ĐŽŵŵĞŵŽƌĂƚĞƚŚŝƐ͕/ƌŝƐŚƉĞŽƉůĞǁĞĂƌĂďƵŶĐŚŽĨƐŚĂŵƌŽĐŬ

ŝŶƚŚĞŝƌůĂƉĞůƐŽŶDĂƌĐŚϭϳƚŚͶ^ƚWĂƚƌŝĐŬ͛ƐĂLJ͘

dŚĞƉůĂŶƚďĞŐŝŶƐƚŽŇŽǁĞƌŝŶƉƌŝůĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞĂƌĞǁŚŝƚĞ

ĐůŽǀĞƌŇŽǁĞƌƐĂůůƐƵŵŵĞƌůŽŶŐƵŶƟůƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ͘

dŚĞǁŚŝƚĞĐůŽǀĞƌŇŽǁĞƌŚĞĂĚŝƐĂĐƚƵĂůůLJĂĐůƵƐƚĞƌŽĨƐŵĂůů

ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůŇŽǁĞƌŚĞĂĚƐ͘

dŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐĐĂŶďĞǀŝƐŝƚĞĚďLJŚŽŶĞLJďĞĞƐǁŚŽŐĂƚŚĞƌƚŚĞ

ŶĞĐƚĂƌƚŽŵĂŬĞƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJĚĞůŝĐŝŽƵƐĐůŽǀĞƌŚŽŶĞLJ͘ƐƚŚĞ

clover is a member of the pea family, its seeds are carried in pods.

ůŽǀĞƌǁĂƐƉůĂŶƚĞĚďLJĨĂƌŵĞƌƐŝŶƚŚĞŝƌƉĂƐƚƵƌĞƐƚŽŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ

ƚŚĞĨĞƌƟůŝƚLJŽĨƚŚĞƐŽŝů͘WůĂŶƚƐŶĞĞĚŶŝƚƌŽŐĞŶŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽ

ŐƌŽǁĂŶĚƵƐƵĂůůLJ͕ƚŽŐĞƚĂŐŽŽĚĐƌŽƉ͕ƚŚĞĨĂƌŵĞƌŵƵƐƚ

ĂĚĚŶŝƚƌŽŐĞŶĂƐĂĨĞƌƟůŝƐĞƌƚŽƚŚĞƐŽŝů͘ůůŵĞŵďĞƌƐŽĨ

the pea family — including the clovers — are able to take ŝŶƚŚĞŶŝƚƌŽŐĞŶĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĂŝƌĂŶĚƵƐĞŝƚƚŽŐƌŽǁ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞ

ĂďůĞƚŽĮdžŶŝƚƌŽŐĞŶŝŶƚŚŝƐǁĂLJďĞĐĂƵƐĞƚŚĞLJŚĂǀĞƐƉĞĐŝĂů

nodules on their roots. These nodules are formed because ƚŚĞƉůĂŶƚĐĂŶĨŽƌŵĂŶĂƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶǁŝƚŚĂƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌƚLJƉĞ

ŽĨŶŝƚƌŽŐĞŶͲĮdžŝŶŐďĂĐƚĞƌŝĂĂŶĚƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌƚŚĞƉůĂŶƚĂŶĚ

ďĂĐƚĞƌŝĂǁŽƌŬŝŶĂƐLJŵďŝŽƟĐƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƚŽĮdžŶŝƚƌŽŐĞŶ

from the air. Thus, in the days before farmers had large ƋƵĂŶƟƟĞƐŽĨĐĂƩůĞƐůƵƌƌLJƚŽƌĞƐƚŽƌĞ

the nitrogen levels in their soil, ƚŚĞLJǁĞƌĞǀĞƌLJŐůĂĚƚŽƉůĂŶƚ

clover and let it improve the nutrient quality of their soil.

To do with Senior Infants ͻ

ƌŽƵŶĚ^ƚWĂƚƌŝĐŬ͛ƐĂLJ͕ƚŚĞĐůĂƐƐĐĂŶďĞ

brought out to collect shamrock from ƚŚĞƐĐŚŽŽůůĂǁŶŽƌĮĞůĚ͘dŚĞLJĐĂŶďĞƚŽůĚ

ĂďŽƵƚƚŚĞƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶŽĨ^ƚWĂƚƌŝĐŬĂŶĚƚŚĞ

shamrock.

ͻ

In May or June the class can go out to ůŽŽŬĨŽƌĐůŽǀĞƌŝŶŇŽǁĞƌ͘tŚŝƚĞĐůŽǀĞƌ

ŚĂƐŽďǀŝŽƵƐǁŚŝƚĞŇŽǁĞƌŚĞĂĚƐ͘WƵƉŝůƐ

ŵĂLJĂůƐŽĮŶĚƌĞĚĐůŽǀĞƌǁŚŝĐŚŚĂƐƉƵƌƉůĞ

ŇŽǁĞƌƐǁŚŝĐŚĂƌĞůĂƌŐĞƌƚŚĂŶƚŚŽƐĞŽĨ

ƚŚĞǁŚŝƚĞĐůŽǀĞƌ͘dŚĞLJŵĂLJĂůƐŽĮŶĚƐŵĂůů

Senior Infants: Holly

Holly

To do with Senior Infants ͻ

Bring them out to look at a holly

ƚƌĞĞͶƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJŝŶĂƵƚƵŵŶǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƌĞ

may be berries on it. Collect berries to ŐƌŽǁŝŶƚŽŚŽůůLJƚƌĞĞƐ͘ŽůůĞĐƚƚŚĞďĞƌƌŝĞƐ

ǁŚĞŶƚŚĞLJĂƌĞƌĞĚŝŶKĐƚŽďĞƌ͘ZĞŵŽǀĞƚŚĞ

ŇĞƐŚĂŶĚǁĂƐŚƚŚĞƐƚŽŶĞƐ͘DŝdžƚŚĞŵǁŝƚŚ

ϯŽƌϰƟŵĞƐƚŚĞŝƌǀŽůƵŵĞŽĨϱϬͬϱϬƐĂŶĚ

ĂŶĚƉĞĂƚĂŶĚƉƵƚŝŶƚŽĂŇŽǁĞƌƉŽƚǁŝƚŚ

ĚƌĂŝŶĂŐĞŚŽůĞƐ͘dŚĞƐĞĂƌĞůĞŌŽƵƚƐŝĚĞĨŽƌ

ϭϴŵŽŶƚŚƐŽƌƚǁŽǁŝŶƚĞƌƐͶďĞĨŽƌĞƚŚĞLJ

germinate. They can then be planted in ƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞƉŽƚƐƵŶƟůƚŚĞLJĂƌĞďŝŐĞŶŽƵŐŚƚŽ

go into the ground.

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹ/ůĞdžĂƋƵŝĨŽůŝƵŵ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹƵŝůĞĂŶŶ

dŚĞ/ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞŝƐĐŽŵŵŽŶůLJĨŽƵŶĚŝŶ/ƌŝƐŚƉůĂĐĞ

ŶĂŵĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐDŽLJĐƵůůĞŶʹƚŚĞƉůĂŝŶŽĨƚŚĞŚŽůůLJ͕

'ůĞŶĐƵůůĞŶʹƚŚĞŐůĞŶŽĨƚŚĞŚŽůůLJ͕<ŝůĐƵůůĞŶʹƚŚĞ

ĐŚƵƌĐŚŽĨƚŚĞŚŽůůLJ͘

,ŽůůLJŝƐĂŶĂƟǀĞĞǀĞƌŐƌĞĞŶƚƌĞĞ͘/ƚŚĂƐďƌŽĂĚůĞĂǀĞƐƵŶůŝŬĞ

ĐŽŶŝĨĞƌŽƵƐĞǀĞƌŐƌĞĞŶƚƌĞĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐƉŝŶĞƚƌĞĞƐ͘/ƚŐƌŽǁƐ

ŶĂƚƵƌĂůůLJĂƐĂŶƵŶĚĞƌůĂLJĞƌŝŶĂŶŽĂŬǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚ͘/ƚƐĚĂƌŬ

ŐƌĞĞŶůĞĂǀĞƐĐĂŶƚŽůĞƌĂƚĞƚŚĞůŽǁĞƌůŝŐŚƚůĞǀĞůƐŚĞƌĞ͘tŚĞŶ

the oak canopy trees have lost their leaves from the end of October to the end of April, there is plenty of light in the ǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚĨŽƌƚŚĞŚŽůůLJƚŽŐƌŽǁ͘

Holly is unusual among Irish trees in that there are male trees and female trees. The female trees have berries and the male trees produce pollen on special male-only ŇŽǁĞƌƐ͘dŚĞƉŽůůĞŶŝƐďůŽǁŶďLJƚŚĞǁŝŶĚƚŽƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞ

ƚƌĞĞƐǁŚŽƐĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŽŶůLJĐŽŶƚĂŝŶĨĞŵĂůĞƉĂƌƚƐ͘tŚĞŶƚŚĞƐĞ

ĂƌĞĨĞƌƟůŝƐĞĚďLJƚŚĞƉŽůůĞŶ͕ďĞƌƌŝĞƐĂƌĞƚŚĞŶĨŽƌŵĞĚǁŚŝĐŚ

turn red in the autumn. These berries contain a hard stone ǁŚŝĐŚŝƐƚŚĞƐĞĞĚ͘dŚƌƵƐŚĞƐŝŶƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌĂƌĞǀĞƌLJĨŽŶĚŽĨ

ŚŽůůLJďĞƌƌŝĞƐĂŶĚǁŝůůŐƵĂƌĚ͞ƚŚĞŝƌ͟ƚƌĞĞĂŐĂŝŶƐƚĂůůŝŶǀĂĚĞƌƐ͘

dŚĞLJƐǁĂůůŽǁƚŚĞďĞƌƌŝĞƐǁŚŽůĞĂŶĚĞdžĐƌĞƚĞƚŚĞŚĂƌĚ

ƐƚŽŶĞƐŝŶƚŚĞŝƌĚƌŽƉƉŝŶŐƐ͕ĨƌŽŵǁŚŝĐŚŶĞǁŚŽůůLJƚƌĞĞƐŐƌŽǁ͘

,ŽůůLJŚĂƐƉƌŝĐŬůLJůĞĂǀĞƐŽŶŝƚƐůŽǁĞƌďƌĂŶĐŚĞƐŽŶůLJ͘/ĨLJŽƵ

ůŽŽŬŚŝŐŚĞƌƵƉŝŶƚŚĞƚƌĞĞLJŽƵǁŝůůŶŽƟĐĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐ

ŚĂǀĞĨĞǁĞƌĂŶĚƚŚĞŶŶŽƉƌŝĐŬůĞƐŽŶƚŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐ͘dŚĞƉƌŝĐŬůĞƐ

ĂƌĞĂĚĞĨĞŶĐĞĂŐĂŝŶƐƚďĞŝŶŐĞĂƚĞŶďLJďƌŽǁƐŝŶŐĂŶŝŵĂůƐ

ƐƵĐŚĂƐĚĞĞƌĂŶĚǁŚĞŶƚŚĞďƌĂŶĐŚĞƐĂƌĞŚŝŐŚĞŶŽƵŐŚƚŽ

be out of the reach of foraging deer there is no longer any need for prickles.

/ŶĞĂƌůLJ/ƌŝƐŚůĂǁƚŚĞŵŽƐƚǀĂůƵĂďůĞƚƌĞĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐǁĞƌĞĐĂůůĞĚ

͞ƚŚĞŶŽďůĞƐŽĨƚŚĞǁŽŽĚ͟ĂŶĚƚŚĞƌĞǁĞƌĞƐĞǀĞƌĞĮŶĞƐĨŽƌ

ĐƵƫŶŐƚŚĞŵĚŽǁŶŽƌĚĞƐƚƌŽLJŝŶŐƚŚĞŵ͘dŚĞƌĞǁĞƌĞƐĞǀĞŶ

ŶŽďůĞƚƌĞĞƐͶŚŽůůLJǁĂƐŽŶĞŽĨƚŚĞŵďĞĐĂƵƐĞŝƚƐLJŽƵŶŐ

ƐŽŌůĞĂǀĞƐǁĞƌĞƵƐĞĚĂƐĨŽĚĚĞƌĨŽƌĂŶŝŵĂůƐĂŶĚŝƚƐŚĂƌĚ

ƟŵďĞƌǁĂƐƵƐĞĚĨŽƌƐƉĞĂƌƐĂŶĚĐŚĂƌŝŽƚƉŽůĞƐ͘dŚĞǁŽƌĚ

ŚŽůůLJŝŶŶŐůŝƐŚĐŽŵĞƐĨƌŽŵŚŽůLJ͕ĂƐƚŚĞƌĞĚďĞƌƌŝĞƐǁĞƌĞ

ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚƚŽƐLJŵďŽůŝƐĞĚƌŽƉƐŽĨŚƌŝƐƚ͛ƐďůŽŽĚ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚĞ

ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶŽĨďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐŚŽůůLJŝŶƚŽƚŚĞŚŽƵƐĞĂƚŚƌŝƐƚŵĂƐŐŽĞƐ

ďĂĐŬŵƵĐŚĞĂƌůŝĞƌƚŚĂŶŚƌŝƐƟĂŶƟŵĞƐ͘dŚĞLJǁĞƌĞƚŚĞŽŶůLJ

ƚƌĞĞƐŝŶůĞĂĨŝŶǁŝŶƚĞƌŝŶƚŚĞĚĞĐŝĚƵŽƵƐĨŽƌĞƐƚƐŽĨŽůĚŝŶ

Ireland and therefore symbolised life and the sun. So, just ĂŌĞƌŵŝĚǁŝŶƚĞƌŽŶĞĐĞŵďĞƌϮϮŶĚǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƐƵŶďĞŐĂŶƚŽ

ŵŽǀĞďĂĐŬƵƉŝŶƚŚĞƐŬLJŚŽůůLJǁĂƐďƌŽƵŐŚƚŝŶƚŽƚŚĞŚŽƵƐĞ

ƚŽĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞĂŶĚƚŽŬĞĞƉĂǁĂLJĞǀŝůƐƉŝƌŝƚƐ͘

Senior Infants: Rabbit

Rabbit

To do with Senior Infants

ͻ

The story —dŚĞĚǀĞŶƚƵƌĞƐŽĨƌĞƌZĂďďŝƚ

by Julius Lester — could be read to the ƉƵƉŝůƐ͘dŚĞƐĞĂƌĞŵĞƌŝĐĂŶƐƚŽƌŝĞƐŽĨŚŽǁ

ƚŚĞĐůĞǀĞƌƌĂďďŝƚǁĂƐĂďůĞƚŽĂǀŽŝĚĂůů

ĞīŽƌƚƐƚŽĐĂƉƚƵƌĞŚŝŵ͘dŚĞƐƚŽƌLJWatership

ŽǁŶ by Richard Adams is also about rabbits.

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞ͗KƌLJĐƚŽůĂŐƵƐĐƵŶŝĐƵůƵƐ Irish name: Coinín

ZĂďďŝƚƐǁĞƌĞŝŶƚƌŽĚƵĐĞĚƚŽ/ƌĞůĂŶĚďLJƚŚĞEŽƌŵĂŶƐ

ĂƐĂƐŽƵƌĐĞŽĨĨŽŽĚ͘dŚĞEŽƌŵĂŶƐǁĞƌĞŽĨ

Scandinavian origin originally and the name they had ĨŽƌƚŚĞƌĂďďŝƚǁĂƐƚŚĞĂŶŝƐŚǁŽƌĚ<ŽŝŶŝŶ͘^ŽƚŚĞ/ƌŝƐŚ

adopted the name — Coinín and indeed called places ĂŌĞƌŝƚƐƵĐŚĂƐŽŶĞLJ/ƐůĂŶĚŝŶ^ůŝŐŽĂŶĚƚŚĞƵŶŶŝŐĂƌ

ŝŶƵŶŐĂƌǀĂŶŝŶtĂƚĞƌĨŽƌĚ͘

ZĂďďŝƚƐĂƌĞŚĞƌďŝǀŽƌĞƐĂŶĚŝŶƚŚĞǁŝůĚĐĂŶůŝǀĞŽŶ

ŐƌĂƐƐĞƐ͘dŚĞLJŵĂŬĞďƵƌƌŽǁƐƵŶĚĞƌŐƌŽƵŶĚƚŽƐůĞĞƉ

ĂŶĚďƌĞĞĚŝŶĂŶĚƚŚĞLJƐĐĂŵƉĞƌĚŽǁŶƚŚĞƐĞďƵƌƌŽǁƐ

ĂƚƚŚĞůĞĂƐƚƐŝŐŶŽĨĚĂŶŐĞƌ͘dŚĞŝƌƐŚŽƌƚǁŚŝƚĞƚĂŝůŝƐ

called a scut and the sight of this moving at speed ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌǁŝƚŚĂǁĂƌŶŝŶŐƚŚƵŵƉŽĨƚŚĞŝƌŚŝŶĚůĞŐƐ

ǁĂƌŶƐŽƚŚĞƌƌĂďďŝƚƐŝĨĚĂŶŐĞƌŝƐŶĞĂƌ͘

Rabbits live in colonies and there can be many ďƵƌƌŽǁƐƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌŝŶĂŶĂƌĞĂǁŚĞƌĞƚŚĞƐŽŝůŝƐůŽŽƐĞ

enough to excavate, such as in a sandy area or in ĂĚŝƚĐŚĂƚƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨĂĮĞůĚ͘tŚŝůĞƚŚĞLJĐĂŶůŝǀĞ

ƉĞƌĨĞĐƚůLJǁĞůůŽŶŐƌĂƐƐĞƐ͕ƚŚĞLJĂƌĞƉĂƌƟĐƵůĂƌůLJĨŽŶĚ

ŽĨƐŽŌĞƌǀĞŐĞƚĂďůĞůĞĂǀĞƐĂŶĚǁŝůůƌĂŝĚŶĞŝŐďŽƵƌŝŶŐ

ŐĂƌĚĞŶƐŝŶƚŚĞĞĂƌůLJŵŽƌŶŝŶŐĂŶĚĞĂƚƚŚĞŽǁŶĞƌ͛Ɛ

ƉƌŝnjĞƉŽƐƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ͘ŝŐĞƐƟŶŐŐƌĂƐƐŝƐǀĞƌLJĚŝĸĐƵůƚĂŶĚ

ƚŚĞƌĂďďŝƚŚĂƐƚŽƉĂƐƐƚŚĞĨŽŽĚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŝƚƐŝŶƚĞƐƟŶĞƐ

ƚǁŝĐĞ͕ŝŶŽƌĚĞƌƚŽĞdžƚƌĂĐƚĂůůƚŚĞĨŽŽĚǀĂůƵĞ͘^ŽƚŚĞLJ

ĂĐƚƵĂůůLJĞĂƚƚŚĞŝƌŽǁŶĚƌŽƉƉŝŶŐƐĮƌƐƚƟŵĞƌŽƵŶĚĂƚ

ŶŝŐŚƚŝŶƚŚĞďƵƌƌŽǁĂŶĚǁŚĞŶƚŚĞLJĂƌĞĞdžĐƌĞƚĞĚ

ĂƐĞĐŽŶĚƟŵĞŶĞdžƚŵŽƌŶŝŶŐĂďŽǀĞŐƌŽƵŶĚƚŚĞLJĂƌĞ

ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞůLJĚƌLJĂŶĚĚĞǀŽŝĚŽĨĂŶLJŶƵƚƌŝƟŽŶĂůǀĂůƵĞ͘

dŚŝƐƉƌĂĐƟĐĞŝƐĐĂůůĞĚĐŽƉƌŽƉŚĂŐLJ͘

dŚĞĞdžƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͞ďƌĞĞĚŝŶŐůŝŬĞĂƌĂďďŝƚ͟ŝƐǁĞůů

ĨŽƵŶĚĞĚŝŶƐĐŝĞŶƟĮĐĨĂĐƚ͘dŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞĚŽĞƐďĞŐŝŶƚŽ

breed at a year old and there may be up to seven ŬŝƩĞŶƐŝŶĞĂĐŚůŝƩĞƌ͘dŚĞŬŝƩĞŶƐĂƌĞďŽƌŶϯϬĚĂLJƐ

ĂŌĞƌŵĂƟŶŐĂŶĚƚŚĞŵŽƚŚĞƌĐĂŶŵĂƚĞĂŶĚĐŽŶĐĞŝǀĞ

ƚŚĞŶĞdžƚůŝƩĞƌǁŝƚŚŝŶϮϰŚŽƵƌƐĂŌĞƌĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJŽĨƚŚĞ

previous one. As a female rabbit can live as long as ĮǀĞLJĞĂƌƐƐŚĞĐŽƵůĚŐŝǀĞďŝƌƚŚƚŽƵƉƚŽϯϱϬďĂďŝĞƐŝŶ

ŚĞƌůŝĨĞͲƟŵĞĂŶĚďĞĂŐƌĞĂƚͲŐƌĞĂƚŐƌĂŶŶLJŵĂŶLJƟŵĞƐ

over before she dies.

Rabbits are food for many other animals in the food ĐŚĂŝŶŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞĞĂƚĞŶďLJƐƚŽĂƚƐ͕ĨŽdžĞƐ͕

ďĂĚŐĞƌƐĂŶĚŵŝŶŬĂƐǁĞůůĂƐďŝƌĚƐŽĨƉƌĞLJƐƵĐŚĂƐƚŚĞ

ŽŶĞŐĂůŐŽůĚĞŶĞĂŐůĞŽƌƚŚĞďƵnjnjĂƌĚƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞŶŽǁ

becoming common in the eastern half of Ireland.

Senior Infants: Swan

Swan

To do with Senior infants

ͻ

Tell them the story of the “Children of Lir”

ĂŶĚ,ĂŶƐŚƌŝƐƟĂŶŶĚĞƌƐŽŶ͛Ɛ͞dŚĞƵŐůLJ

duckling”.

ͻ

dĂŬĞƚŚĞŵƚŽƚŚĞƉĂƌŬƚŽĨĞĞĚƐǁĂŶƐǁŝƚŚ

bread if there are any in the nearby locality.

ͻ

KŶƚŚĞŝƌƌĞƚƵƌŶŐĞƚƚŚĞŵƚŽĚƌĂǁƉŝĐƚƵƌĞƐ

ŽĨƐǁĂŶƐŝŶƚŚĞŝƌĐŽƉŝĞƐĂŶĚĐŽůŽƵƌŝŶƚŚĞ

beaks.

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹLJŐŶƵƐ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹEala

dŚĞƐǁĂŶŝƐƵŶŵŝƐƚĂŬĂďůĞ͘/ƚŝƐĂůĂƌŐĞǁŚŝƚĞďŝƌĚ

ǁŝƚŚĂůŽŶŐŶĞĐŬĂŶĚĂŶŽƌĂŶŐĞďĞĂŬĂŶĚŝƚůŝǀĞƐŽŶ

ponds, lakes and canals. It is found in ponds in parks, ŝŶĐŝƟĞƐĂŶĚƚŽǁŶƐĂŶĚŽŶƌŝǀĞƌƐĂŶĚůĂŬĞƐŝŶƌƵƌĂů

ĂƌĞĂƐ͘/ƚĂůƐŽĐĂŶůŝǀĞŝŶĞƐƚƵĂƌŝĞƐďLJƚŚĞƐĞĂ͘^ǁĂŶƐ

ĂƌĞƚŚŽƵŐŚƚƚŽŵĂƚĞĨŽƌůŝĨĞĂŶĚĂƉĂŝƌǁŝůůŽĐĐƵƉLJ

a territory on a pond or river and build a nest each ƐƉƌŝŶŐ͘EĞƐƚƐĂƌĞůĂƌŐĞĂīĂŝƌƐŵĂĚĞĨƌŽŵƌĞĞĚƐĂŶĚ

ƐƟĐŬƐ͕ĂŶĚůŝƩĞƌĂŶĚƌƵďďŝƐŚĐĂŶďĞĂĚĚĞĚŝŶƚŽŽ͘

&ŝǀĞƚŽƐĞǀĞŶĞŐŐƐĂƌĞůĂŝĚďĞƚǁĞĞŶDĂƌĐŚĂŶĚDĂLJ

ĂŶĚŝŶĐƵďĂƟŽŶƚĂŬĞƐĂďŽƵƚϯϲĚĂLJƐ͘

The young are called cygnets and they are able to ƐǁŝŵƚŚĞŵŽŵĞŶƚƚŚĞLJŚĂƚĐŚŽƵƚ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞŵŝŶĚĞĚ

ǀĞƌLJǁĞůůďLJďŽƚŚƉĂƌĞŶƚƐǁŚŽǁŝůůĂƩĂĐŬŝŶƚƌƵĚĞƌƐďLJ

ƐŶŽƌƟŶŐĂŶĚŚŝƐƐŝŶŐĂƚƚŚĞŵ͕ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐƵƉƚŚĞŝƌĨĞĂƚŚĞƌƐ

ŝŶĂƚŚƌĞĂƚĞŶŝŶŐŵĂŶŶĞƌĂŶĚŝŶĚĞĞĚĂƩĂĐŬŝŶŐŝĨ

pressed. The young are taught to feed on

ƐƵďŵĞƌŐĞĚǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞLJĐŽůůĞĐƚďLJƵƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ

ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ͕ƐƚƌĞƚĐŚŝŶŐĚŽǁŶǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŝƌůŽŶŐŶĞĐŬƐ

ĂŶĚƉŽŝŶƟŶŐƚŚĞŝƌƚĂŝůƐƵƉŝŶƚŚĞĂŝƌ͘dŚĞLJǁŝůůĂůƐŽ

come to eat bread if they are fed.

zŽƵŶŐƐǁĂŶƐŚĂǀĞďƌŽǁŶLJͲŐƌĞLJĨĞĂƚŚĞƌƐĂŶĚƚŚĞLJ

ĚŽŶ͛ƚŐĞƚƚŚĞƐŶŽǁLJǁŚŝƚĞĨĞĂƚŚĞƌƐƵŶƟůƚŚĞƐƉƌŝŶŐ

ƟŵĞ͘ƚƚŚŝƐƐƚĂŐĞƚŚĞLJůĞĂǀĞƚŚĞŝƌƉĂƌĞŶƚƐĂŶĚ

assemble in large bachelor herds at coastal estuaries ŽƌŽƚŚĞƌŐŽŽĚĨĞĞĚŝŶŐŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘,ĞƌĞƚŚĞLJǁŝůůƐƚĂLJ

ƵŶƟůƚŚĞLJĂƌĞŽůĚĞŶŽƵŐŚƚŽďƌĞĞĚĂƚƚǁŽŽƌƚŚƌĞĞ

years of age.

DŝŐƌĂƚŽƌLJƐǁĂŶƐŚĂǀĞƐƚƌĂŝŐŚƚŶĞĐŬƐĂŶĚLJĞůůŽǁĂŶĚ

ďůĂĐŬďŝůůƐ͘dŚĞƐĞĂƌĞtŚŽŽƉĞƌƐǁĂŶƐǁŚŝĐŚĐŽŵĞ

ŚĞƌĞŝŶǁŝŶƚĞƌĨƌŽŵ/ĐĞůĂŶĚĂŶĚĞǁŝĐŬ͛ƐƐǁĂŶƐǁŚŽ

ĐŽŵĞĨƌŽŵZƵƐƐŝĂĂŶĚ^ŝďĞƌŝĂ͘dŚĞƐĞƉĂƐƐƚŚĞǁŝŶƚĞƌ

in Ireland and return to their northerly breeding ƋƵĂƌƚĞƌƐǁŚĞŶƚŚĞƐŶŽǁĂŶĚŝĐĞƚŚĞƌĞŚĂƐŵĞůƚĞĚŝŶ

mid-April.

Children of Lir

Senior Infants: Spider

Spider

To do with Senior Infants

ͻ

dĞĂĐŚƚŚĞŵ͞/ŶĐLJǁŝŶĐLJƐƉŝĚĞƌ͟ĂŶĚ͞>ŝƩůĞ

DŝƐƐDŽīĂƚ͘͟ZĞĂĚƚŚĞŵŚĂƌůŽƩĞ͛ƐtĞď ďLJtŚŝƚĞ͘

ͻ

Go outdoors on a damp, misty morning in

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹƌĂŶĞƵƐĚŝĂĚĞŵĂƚƵƐ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹĂŵŚĄŶĂůůĂ

Spiders are not insects but belong to a ŐƌŽƵƉĐĂůůĞĚĂƌĂĐŚŶŝĚƐ͘ůůƐƉŝĚĞƌƐŚĂǀĞƚǁŽ

parts — a head and a body. All spiders have ĞŝŐŚƚůĞŐƐͶĂůůŽĨǁŚŝĐŚĂƌĞĂƩĂĐŚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞ

ŚĞĂĚ͘ůůƐƉŝĚĞƌƐŚĂǀĞƚǁŽƉĂůLJƉƐĂƚƚŚĞƚŽƉ

ŽĨƚŚĞŚĞĂĚ;ǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞLJƵƐĞĨŽƌƐŵĞůůͿ͘DĂůĞ

spiders have longer palyps than females. All ŚĂǀĞĞŝŐŚƚĞLJĞƐĂŶĚƚǁŽĨĂŶŐƐͶǁŚŝĐŚĂƌĞ

ƐŚĂƌƉŚŽůůŽǁƚĞĞƚŚƚŚƌŽƵŐŚǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞLJŝŶũĞĐƚ

venom into their prey to kill them. All spiders have fangs and venom but in Ireland our spiders are too small to be able to penetrate ŽƵƌƐŬŝŶǁŝƚŚƚŚĞŝƌĨĂŶŐƐ͘/Ŷ^ŽƵƚŚŵĞƌŝĐĂ

the biggest spiders — tarantulas — are found and their fangs can kill birds and mammals such as mice. They can give humans nasty bites too.

/Ŷ/ƌĞůĂŶĚǁĞŚĂǀĞŚƵŶƟŶŐƐƉŝĚĞƌƐĂŶĚǁĞďͲƐƉŝŶŶŝŶŐ

ƐƉŝĚĞƌƐ͘dŚĞŚƵŶƟŶŐƐƉŝĚĞƌƐĐŽŵĞŽƵƚĂƚŶŝŐŚƚĂŶĚ

ƌƵŶĂŌĞƌƚŚĞŝƌƉƌĞLJ͘dŚĞLJĐĂŶĐŽŵĞŝŶƚŽŽƵƌŚŽƵƐĞƐŝĨ

ǁĞůĞĂǀĞǁŝŶĚŽǁƐŽƉĞŶĂŶĚĐĂŶĨĂůůŝŶƚŽƚŚĞďĂƚŚŝĨŝƚ

ŝƐƚŚĞďĂƚŚƌŽŽŵǁŝŶĚŽǁƚŚĞLJĐůŝŵďŝŶ͘dŚĞLJĂƌĞƐŽďŝŐ

and the bath is so shiny that they cannot climb out ĂŐĂŝŶͶǁŚŝĐŚŝƐǁŚLJŝƚŝƐĂůǁĂLJƐĂŚƵŐĞƐƉŝĚĞƌƚŚĂƚŝƐ

in the bath — the small ones can climb up and escape.

tĞďͲƐƉŝŶŶŝŶŐƐƉŝĚĞƌƐŵĂŬĞǁĞďƐĨƌŽŵƐŝůŬƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ

ďLJƐƉŝŶŶĞƌĞƚƐĂƚƚŚĞĞŶĚŽĨƚŚĞŝƌďŽĚŝĞƐ͘dŚĞƐĞƐƟĐŬLJ

ƚƌĂƉƐĂƌĞƉŽƐŝƟŽŶĞĚƚŽĐĂƚĐŚƵŶǁĂƌLJŇLJŝŶŐŝŶƐĞĐƚƐ

ǁŚŝĐŚďůƵŶĚĞƌŝŶƚŽƚŚĞŵĂŶĚďĞĐŽŵĞĞŶŵĞƐŚĞĚŝŶ

ƚŚĞƐƟĐŬLJƚŚƌĞĂĚƐ͘dŚĞƐƉŝĚĞƌ͕ǁŚŽŝƐǁĂŝƟŶŐĂƚƚŚĞ

ĐĞŶƚƌĞŽĨƚŚĞǁĞď͕ƌƵƐŚĞƐŝŶĂŶĚŬŝůůƐƚŚĞƉƌĞLJǁŝƚŚĂ

ďŝƚĞŽĨŝƚƐĨĂŶŐƐ͘dŚĞƐƉŝĚĞƌĚŽĞƐŶ͛ƚŐĞƚƚƌĂƉƉĞĚŝŶƚŚĞ

ƐƟĐŬLJǁĞďďĞĐĂƵƐĞŝƚŚĂƐŽŝůLJĨĞĞƚƚŚĂƚĚŽŶŽƚƐƟĐŬƚŽ

ƚŚĞǁĞď͘,ĂǀŝŶŐŬŝůůĞĚƚŚĞƚƌĂƉƉĞĚŝŶƐĞĐƚ͕ƚŚĞƐƉŝĚĞƌ

ƚŚĞŶƐƵĐŬƐŽƵƚĂůůƚŚĞƐŽŌŝŶƐŝĚĞƐĂƐĨŽŽĚ͕ůĞĂǀŝŶŐ

ŚĂƌĚďŝƚƐƐƵĐŚĂƐǁŝŶŐƐĂŶĚůĞŐƐďĞŚŝŶĚ͘

ŶLJƐƵƌƉůƵƐŇŝĞƐĂƌĞŬŝůůĞĚĂŶĚǁƌĂƉƉĞĚƵƉŝŶƐŝůŬĂŶĚ

stored to be eaten later — or indeed to be presented ƚŽƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞƐƉŝĚĞƌǁŚĞŶƚŚĞŵĂůĞŐŽĞƐůŽŽŬŝŶŐ

for a mate. Spiders are not only carnivores, they are ĐĂŶŶŝďĂůƐĂŶĚƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞǁŝůůĞĂƚƚŚĞŵĂůĞŝĨŐŝǀĞŶŚĂůĨ

ĂĐŚĂŶĐĞ͘^ŽƚŚĞŵĂůĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞǁŝƚŚĂǁĞůůͲ ǁƌĂƉƉĞĚŇLJĂŶĚŵĂƚĞƐǁŝƚŚŚĞƌǁŚŝůĞƐŚĞŝƐĚŝƐƚƌĂĐƚĞĚ

ƵŶǁƌĂƉƉŝŶŐŝƚĂŶĚĞĂƟŶŐŝƚ͘/ŶŽƚŚĞƌĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐƚŚĞ

ŵĂůĞƐĂƌĞŶŽƚƐŽůƵĐŬLJͶŚŽǁĚŽLJŽƵƚŚŝŶŬƚŚĞůĂĐŬ

tŝĚŽǁŽĨEŽƌƚŚŵĞƌŝĐĂŐŽƚŝƚƐŶĂŵĞ͍

ŐŐƐĂƌĞƚŚĞŶůĂŝĚŝŶĂǁĞďŽĨƐŝůŬĂŶĚƚŚĞLJŽƵŶŐĂƌĞ

ůĞŌƚŽƚŚĞŝƌŽǁŶĚĞǀŝĐĞƐ͘tŚĞŶƚŚĞLJŚĂƚĐŚĂŶĚďĞŐŝŶ

ƚŽŵŽǀĞƚŽǁĂƌĚƐĞĂĐŚŽƚŚĞƌŝŶĂŶĞīŽƌƚƚŽĞĂƚĞĂĐŚ

ŽƚŚĞƌƚŚĞŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚďƌĞĂŬƐƚŚĞǁĞďŶĞƐƚĂŶĚƚŚĞ

ƐƉŝĚĞƌůŝŶŐƐĂƌĞƐĐĂƩĞƌĞĚŝŶƚŚĞǁŝŶĚ͘

Bath spider

First Class

First Class

Primrose

Bluebell

Oak

Fox

Blackbird

Woodlouse

First Class: Primrose

Primrose

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹWƌŝŵƵůĂǀƵůŐĂƌŝƐ /ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞʹAn Sabhaircín

Primroses are a real harbinger of ƐƉƌŝŶŐ͘dŚĞLJŐƌŽǁŝŶŚĞĚŐĞƐ͕ĚŝƚĐŚĞƐ͕

on banks and along the edges of ǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚƐ͘dŚĞŝƌƉĂůĞLJĞůůŽǁ

ŇŽǁĞƌƐĂƌĞǀĞƌLJĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌĂŶĚƚŚĞLJ

have a very cool fragrant perfume.

They appear in south-facing banks ƚŽďĞŐŝŶǁŝƚŚ;ĂƐĞĂƌůLJĂƐDĂƌĐŚͿ͘dŚĞ

ůĞĂǀĞƐĞŵĞƌŐĞĮƌƐƚͶĂƌŽƐĞƩĞŽĨŐƌĞĞŶ

ĐƌŝŶŬůLJůĞĂǀĞƐǁŚŝĐŚƚĂƉĞƌƚŽǁĂƌĚƐƚŚĞ

ďĂƐĞĂŶĚĂƌĞǁŚŝƟƐŚŽŶƚŚĞŝƌƵŶĚĞƌƐŝĚĞƐ͘

dŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĞŶďĞŐŝŶƚŽĂƉƉĞĂƌ͕ĞĂĐŚŽŶ

ŝƚƐŽǁŶƐĞƉĂƌĂƚĞƐƚĂůŬ͘dŚĞƌĞĂƌĞĮǀĞƉĂůĞ

petals, each one heart-shaped.

dŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƚŚĞŵĂůĞƉĂƌƚƐͶĮǀĞ

ƐƚĂŵĞŶƐǁŚŝĐŚĂƌĞƐŵĂůůƐƚĂůŬƐƚŽƉƉĞĚǁŝƚŚ

anthers containing pollen — and the female ƉĂƌƚǁŚŝĐŚŝƐƚŚĞŽǀĂƌLJƚŽƉƉĞĚďLJĂƐŝŶŐůĞƐƚĂůŬ

ĐĂůůĞĚĂƐƚLJůĞ͘WŽůůĞŶĨƌŽŵĂŶŽƚŚĞƌŇŽǁĞƌŵƵƐƚ

ƌĞĂĐŚƚŚŝƐƐƚLJůĞƚŽĨĞƌƟůŝƐĞƚŚĞŽǀĂƌLJĂŶĚƚŚŝƐƉŽůůĞŶ

is carried by insects. To avoid the possibility of self- ĨĞƌƟůŝƐĂƟŽŶ͕ƚŚĞƐƚĂŵĞŶƐĂŶĚƚŚĞƐƚLJůĞĂƌĞŽĨĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ

ůĞŶŐƚŚƐ͘dŚŝƐŝƐŽĨĐŽƵƌƐĞƚŚĞĐĂƐĞǁŝƚŚŵŽƐƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ

ŽĨŇŽǁĞƌƐĂŶĚŝŶĚĞĞĚƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞƐƚLJůĞŝƐŐĞŶĞƌĂůůLJ

longer than the stamens.

,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ŝĨLJŽƵĞdžĂŵŝŶĞƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŽĨƉƌŝŵƌŽƐĞƐ

LJŽƵǁŝůůĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐƵŶƵƐƵĂů͘/ŶĂďŽƵƚŚĂůĨ

ŽĨƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĞĨĞŵĂůĞƐƚLJůĞŝƐůŽŶŐĞƌƚŚĂŶƚŚĞ

ƐƚĂŵĞŶƐĂƐŝƐŶŽƌŵĂůĨŽƌŇŽǁĞƌƐĂŶĚLJŽƵĐĂŶƐĞĞŝƚ

ǁŚĞŶLJŽƵůŽŽŬĂƚƚŚĞĐŝƌĐƵůĂƌĂƌĞĂĂƚƚŚĞĐĞŶƚƌĞŽĨ

ƚŚĞƉĞƚĂůƐ͘dŚŝƐŝƐĐĂůůĞĚĂ͞ƉŝŶ͟ŇŽǁĞƌ͘/ŶƚŚĞŽƚŚĞƌ

ŚĂůĨ͕ŚŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ƚŚĞƐƚĂŵĞŶƐĂƌĞůŽŶŐĞƌƚŚĂŶƚŚĞƐƚLJůĞ

ĂŶĚǁŚĞŶLJŽƵůŽŽŬŝŶLJŽƵǁŝůůƐĞĞƚŚĞƚŽƉƐŽĨƚŚĞĮǀĞ

stamens rather than the single style. This is called a

͞ƚŚƌƵŵ͟ŇŽǁĞƌ͘

WƌŝŵƌŽƐĞƐǁĞƌĞǀĞƌLJŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚůŽŶŐĂŐŽƚŽƉĞŽƉůĞ

ǁŚŽŬĞƉƚĐŽǁƐ͘ƵƩĞƌŵĂŬŝŶŐĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĐƌĞĂŵŽĨƚŚĞ

ŵŝůŬďĞŐĂŶŝŶDĂLJĂŶĚŽŶDĂLJĞǀĞƚŚĞLJǁŽƵůĚƌƵď

ƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞƉƌŝŵƌŽƐĞƐŽŶƚŚĞƵĚĚĞƌƐŽĨƚŚĞ

ĐĂƩůĞƚŽŵĂŬĞƐƵƌĞƚŚĂƚƚŚĞLJŚĂĚĞŶŽƵŐŚŵŝůŬĨŽƌƚŚĞ

ďƵƩĞƌŵĂŬŝŶŐ͘/ŶŽƚŚĞƌĂƌĞĂƐƉƌŝŵƌŽƐĞƐǁĞƌĞƚŚƌŽǁŶ

ŽŶƚŚĞƌŽŽĨŽĨƚŚĞŚŽƵƐĞďĞĨŽƌĞĚĂǁŶŽŶDĂLJĂLJƚŽ

ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚƚŚĞďƵƩĞƌĨƌŽŵƚŚĞĨĂŝƌŝĞƐ͘

To do with First Class

ͻ

Go out looking for primroses early in the LJĞĂƌĂŶĚŶŽƚĞƚŚĞĚĂƚĞǁŚĞŶƚŚĞĮƌƐƚ

ƉƌŝŵƌŽƐĞŝƐƐĞĞŶ͘tŝƚŚĐůŝŵĂƚĞĐŚĂŶŐĞ͕

ƉƌŝŵƌŽƐĞƐĂƌĞŇŽǁĞƌŝŶŐĞĂƌůŝĞƌĞĂĐŚLJĞĂƌ

ƐŽŬĞĞƉŝŶŐĂƌĞĐŽƌĚŽĨƚŚĞĮƌƐƚƉƌŝŵƌŽƐĞŝƐĂ

ǁĂLJŽĨŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐƚŚŝƐĨŽƌLJŽƵƌĂƌĞĂ͘

ͻ

Pupils could count the number of petals ĂŶĚĚƌĂǁƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌĂŶĚůĞĂǀĞƐŝŶƚŚĞŝƌ

ǁŽƌŬŬƐŽŶƌĞƚƵƌŶĨƌŽŵƚŚĞƚƌŝƉ͘dŚĞLJ

First Class: Bluebell

Bluebell

To do with First Class

ͻ

Plant bluebells in a shady part of the school grounds. Buy the bulbs in a garden centre in autumn and plant them in October.

>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞʹHyacinthoides non-scripta

/ƌŝƐŚŶĂŵĞƐʹƷŵƵĐ͕ŽŝŶŶůĞĐŽƌƌĂandůŽŝŐşŶŐŽƌŵ

ůƵĞďĞůůƐĂƌĞǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĂƚĂƉƉĞĂƌŝŶůĂƚĞƐƉƌŝŶŐ

ĂŶĚĞĂƌůLJƐƵŵŵĞƌ͘ǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚũƵƐƚĐŽŵŝŶŐŝŶƚŽůĞĂĨǁŝƚŚ

ĂĐĂƌƉĞƚŽĨĚĂƌŬďůƵĞďůƵĞďĞůůƐŝƐŽŶĞŽĨƚŚĞŵŽƐƚďĞĂƵƟĨƵů

ƐŝŐŚƚƐŽĨŶĂƚƵƌĞ͘dŚĞLJŐƌŽǁĨƌŽŵďƵůďƐƚŚĂƚŽǀĞƌǁŝŶƚĞƌ

ĨƌŽŵLJĞĂƌƚŽLJĞĂƌŝŶƚŚĞŐƌŽƵŶĚ͘dŚĞůŽŶŐ͕ŶĂƌƌŽǁůĞĂǀĞƐ

ĂƉƉĞĂƌĮƌƐƚŝŶƉƌŝůĂŶĚďLJDĂLJƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŚĂǀĞŽƉĞŶĞĚ͘

ĂĐŚƐƚĂůŬĐĂƌƌŝĞƐĂŽŶĞͲƐŝĚĞĚůŝŶĞŽĨŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĂƚĚƌŽŽƉĂƚ

ƚŚĞƟƉ͘dŚĞĨƌƵŝƚŽĨƚŚĞƉůĂŶƚŝƐĂĐĂƉƐƵůĞǁŚŝĐŚƐƉůŝƚƐŝŶƚŽ

ƚŚƌĞĞƌĞǀĞĂůŝŶŐƚŚĞůŝƩůĞƐĞĞĚƐŝŶƐŝĚĞ͘dŚĞƐĞĂƌĞůĞŌŽŶƚŚĞ

ƐƚĂůŬůŽŶŐĂŌĞƌƚŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐŚĂǀĞŐŽŶĞͶƌŝŐŚƚƵƉƚŽ:ƵůLJ͘

dŚĞƐƚĂůŬĐĂƌƌŝĞƐƐĞǀĞŶŽƌĞŝŐŚƚŇŽǁĞƌƐƚŚĂƚŽƉĞŶĨƌŽŵ

ƚŚĞďŽƩŽŵƵƉ͘ĂĐŚŇŽǁĞƌŚĂƐƐŝdžƉĞƚĂůƐƚŚĂƚĂƌĞĨƵƐĞĚ

ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌĂƚƚŚĞďŽƩŽŵĨŽƌŵŝŶŐĂĐƌŽǁŶĂƐŝƚǁĞƌĞ͘dŚĞƌĞ

are six stamens surrounding the pear-shaped ovary topped ďLJĂƐƚLJůĞ͘dŚĞŇŽǁĞƌƐĂƌĞƉŽůůŝŶĂƚĞĚďLJŝŶƐĞĐƚƐĂŶĚƚŚĞ

ŽǀĂƌLJƐǁĞůůƐƚŽďĞĐŽŵĞĂƚŚƌĞĞͲƐŝĚĞĚĐĂƉƐƵůĞĐŽŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ

ƚŚĞƐĞĞĚƐ͘LJůĂƚĞ:ƵůLJƚŚĞǁŚŽůĞƉůĂŶƚŚĂƐĚŝĞĚďĂĐŬĂŶĚŝƐ

ŶŽƚƐĞĞŶĂŐĂŝŶƵŶƟůƚŚĞĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐƐƉƌŝŶŐ͘

WůĂŶƚƐƚŚĂƚŐƌŽǁŽŶƚŚĞŇŽŽƌŽĨǁŽŽĚůĂŶĚƐŐĞƚƚŚĞŝƌ

ŇŽǁĞƌƐĞĂƌůLJŝŶƚŚĞLJĞĂƌďĞĨŽƌĞƚŚĞůĞĂǀĞƐŽƉĞŶĨƵůůLJŽŶ

the trees and the canopy closes. They do this to avail of the light that is available in April before the leaves fully ŽƉĞŶŽŶƚƌĞĞƐƐƵĐŚĂƐƚŚĞŽĂŬ͕ďŝƌĐŚĂŶĚĮŶĂůůLJƚŚĞĂƐŚ

by the end of April and the middle of May. This is called ĂĚĂƉƚĂƟŽŶĂŶĚŝƚŝƐŚŽǁƚŚĞƐĞƉůĂŶƚƐĐĂŶůŝǀĞŝŶĂŚĂďŝƚĂƚ

that is too shady at ground level later on in the year for anything but ivy and ferns.

Bluebells have a gummy sap in the bulbs underground ǁŚŝĐŚǁĂƐƵƐĞĚŝŶƚŚĞŽůĚĚĂLJƐĂƐĂƐƵďƐƟƚƵƚĞĨŽƌƐƚĂƌĐŚŽƌ

ĂƐĂŐůƵĞĨŽƌŬďŝŶĚŝŶŐ͘/ƚƐ>ĂƟŶŶĂŵĞŝƐŚLJĂĐŝŶƚŚĂŶĚ

ŝƚŝƐƌĞůĂƚĞĚƚŽƚŚĞŚLJĂĐŝŶƚŚŇŽǁĞƌĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚďLJĂŶĐŝĞŶƚ

'ƌĞĞŬƐƚŽďĞĂŇŽǁĞƌŽĨŐƌŝĞĨĂŶĚŵŽƵƌŶŝŶŐ͘dŚĞĐůĂƐƐŝĐĂů

ŵLJƚŚŝƐƚŚĂƚ,LJĂĐŝŶƚŚƵƐǁĂƐĂLJŽƵƚŚƚŚĂƚǁĂƐůŽǀĞĚďŽƚŚ

ďLJƚŚĞƐƵŶŐŽĚƉŽůůŽĂŶĚƚŚĞŐŽĚŽĨƚŚĞǁĞƐƚǁŝŶĚ

ĞƉŚLJƌƵƐ͘,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕,LJĂĐŝŶƚŚƵƐƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚƉŽůůŽĂŶĚŽŶĞ

ĚĂLJǁŚĞŶŚĞǁĂƐƉůĂLJŝŶŐĂŐĂŵĞĐĂůůĞĚƋƵŽŝƚƐǁŝƚŚƉŽůůŽ͕

ƚŚĞũĞĂůŽƵƐĞƉŚLJƌƵƐďůĞǁŽŶĞŽĨƚŚĞƋƵŽŝƚƐŽīŝƚƐĐŽƵƌƐĞ

and it struck Hyacinthus and killed him. Apollo caused a ƉƵƌƉůĞŇŽǁĞƌƚŽƌŝƐĞƵƉĨƌŽŵ,LJĂĐŝŶƚŚƵƐ͛ďůŽŽĚǁŚŝĐŚŝƐ

ŬŶŽǁŶƚŽƚŚŝƐĚĂLJĂƐĂŚLJĂĐŝŶƚŚ͘

Bulb