Bluestar 2014
Final Report 2014
Our report on what we did and how we did it
1. Historical
Children in the senior room studied the images of World War II eg soldiers marching, concentration camps, Hitler, posters displayed during the war. We discussed why World War II may have happened, (Why did it start? When did it start? How did it end? Who was Hitler? What countries were involved in the war? )
The children discussed the images and generated questions which really got them interested in the topic.
Children were introduced to the book “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”. We discused the book during many sessions and children were then introduced to the term “holocaust”
Children produced PowerPoint presentations on Hitler, The concentration camps, the Nazis, the countries involved in WWII and the Outcomes of WWII
Children in third class carried out projects on famous Europeans including Anne Frank, Shakespeare, Christopher Columbus, Hitler and Florence Nightingale.
2. Geographical
Children in 3rd – 5th each chose a European country to complete a study on. They researched various elements such as populations, culture, location, famous landmarks etc.
Children completed mini projects using technology on their chosen countries.
They used atlases to locate European countries and then filled them in on a blank map with all that they could recall from previous lessons.
3. Cultural & Creative
Children were taught greetings in different languages and also learned how to say “the Boy inn the Striped Pyjamas” in Italian, French and German.
They constructed European city scenes at night.
Children heard folk tales from other European countries being read aloud and they discuss them and illustrated their favourite ones
Children studied various European artists.
Children completed a drama on the holocaust theme and surrounding the noel “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Hot seating was used to interview prisoners from POW camps and to interview Hitler
4. Institutional
Painting EU country flags (younger classes)
Studied the work of Irish MEPS and when the member countries of the EU joined.
Mock elections for Europe – “What I would do for Europe”
With candidates, candidate teams, ballot boxes, canvassing and voting
We constructed a 3D model of the decision making in the EU from boxes and collage with three pillars, one each for the commission, the council of Europe and the parliament.
5. Europe Day Celebrations
Our Europe Day celebration is planned for mid June
We will make a presentation on our mock elections. We will dress in colours of different EU countries
We will email our friends in the European School in Brussels (expats)
We will officially “launch” our new 2014 Bluestar section of our web site.
6. Press Coverage
Our Europe Day celebrations will be covered in local media as well as our school newsletter and web site
7. Additional Comments & Feedback (Staff and Pupils)
The email contact with a child in Brussels was very interesting and a good use of ICT skills as well.
The mock election was a new thing for us this year and particularly appropriate with EU parliament elections going on at the moment.
There was great excitement with four candidates, their election teams and supporters canvassing, deciding on policies, creating posters, making speeches, voting and counting – the whole process.
Action Plan 2014
Historical
Children in 3rd – 5th classes will study World War II and in particular, the Holocaust. Children will read the novels, Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Children will complete mini-projects on famous Europeans such as Anne Frank, Leonardo da Vinci, Columbus, Florence Nightingale , Hans Christian Anderson, Beethoven, Shakespeare and Hitler.
2. Geographical
Children will complete studies on different EU countries this year. They will learn geographical facts ie capital cities, populations, rivers, mountains, neighbours, countries and famous monuments.
3. Cultural & Creative
Children will learn about famous europeans in the areas of sport, music, fashion and art. They will study European artists and their work.
Children will learn basic language (greetings etc) in a number of different European languages eg French, German, Swedish etc.
Children will join up with a European school in Brussels and have the opportunity to email / write to a child in a European school in Brussels.
Children will learn and illustrate some folk tales from other European countries
4. Institutional
_Children will continue to learn about the institutions of the EU and will interview our local MEPs regarding their role and responsibilities and what they enjoy about their work.
5. Europe Day Celebrations
The school will arrange a Europe Day celebration on the theme of food from EU countries and will invite the whole school community to take part particularly families originally from other EU states
Our report on what we did and how we did it
1. Historical
Children in the senior room studied the images of World War II eg soldiers marching, concentration camps, Hitler, posters displayed during the war. We discussed why World War II may have happened, (Why did it start? When did it start? How did it end? Who was Hitler? What countries were involved in the war? )
The children discussed the images and generated questions which really got them interested in the topic.
Children were introduced to the book “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas”. We discused the book during many sessions and children were then introduced to the term “holocaust”
Children produced PowerPoint presentations on Hitler, The concentration camps, the Nazis, the countries involved in WWII and the Outcomes of WWII
Children in third class carried out projects on famous Europeans including Anne Frank, Shakespeare, Christopher Columbus, Hitler and Florence Nightingale.
2. Geographical
Children in 3rd – 5th each chose a European country to complete a study on. They researched various elements such as populations, culture, location, famous landmarks etc.
Children completed mini projects using technology on their chosen countries.
They used atlases to locate European countries and then filled them in on a blank map with all that they could recall from previous lessons.
3. Cultural & Creative
Children were taught greetings in different languages and also learned how to say “the Boy inn the Striped Pyjamas” in Italian, French and German.
They constructed European city scenes at night.
Children heard folk tales from other European countries being read aloud and they discuss them and illustrated their favourite ones
Children studied various European artists.
Children completed a drama on the holocaust theme and surrounding the noel “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Hot seating was used to interview prisoners from POW camps and to interview Hitler
4. Institutional
Painting EU country flags (younger classes)
Studied the work of Irish MEPS and when the member countries of the EU joined.
Mock elections for Europe – “What I would do for Europe”
With candidates, candidate teams, ballot boxes, canvassing and voting
We constructed a 3D model of the decision making in the EU from boxes and collage with three pillars, one each for the commission, the council of Europe and the parliament.
5. Europe Day Celebrations
Our Europe Day celebration is planned for mid June
We will make a presentation on our mock elections. We will dress in colours of different EU countries
We will email our friends in the European School in Brussels (expats)
We will officially “launch” our new 2014 Bluestar section of our web site.
6. Press Coverage
Our Europe Day celebrations will be covered in local media as well as our school newsletter and web site
7. Additional Comments & Feedback (Staff and Pupils)
The email contact with a child in Brussels was very interesting and a good use of ICT skills as well.
The mock election was a new thing for us this year and particularly appropriate with EU parliament elections going on at the moment.
There was great excitement with four candidates, their election teams and supporters canvassing, deciding on policies, creating posters, making speeches, voting and counting – the whole process.
Action Plan 2014
Historical
Children in 3rd – 5th classes will study World War II and in particular, the Holocaust. Children will read the novels, Diary of Anne Frank and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Children will complete mini-projects on famous Europeans such as Anne Frank, Leonardo da Vinci, Columbus, Florence Nightingale , Hans Christian Anderson, Beethoven, Shakespeare and Hitler.
2. Geographical
Children will complete studies on different EU countries this year. They will learn geographical facts ie capital cities, populations, rivers, mountains, neighbours, countries and famous monuments.
3. Cultural & Creative
Children will learn about famous europeans in the areas of sport, music, fashion and art. They will study European artists and their work.
Children will learn basic language (greetings etc) in a number of different European languages eg French, German, Swedish etc.
Children will join up with a European school in Brussels and have the opportunity to email / write to a child in a European school in Brussels.
Children will learn and illustrate some folk tales from other European countries
4. Institutional
_Children will continue to learn about the institutions of the EU and will interview our local MEPs regarding their role and responsibilities and what they enjoy about their work.
5. Europe Day Celebrations
The school will arrange a Europe Day celebration on the theme of food from EU countries and will invite the whole school community to take part particularly families originally from other EU states