One Potato,
Two Potato
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
One Potato, Two Potato
Spring 2002
Age 5 - 7 years
Key Stage 1
Series Producer:
Bernagh Brims
Spring/Summer/
Autumn 2002
Tuesday 1105 - 1120
Spring Term:
8 January - 19 March
BBC Radio Ulster
Medium Wave 1341 kHz
North West 792 kHz
Enniskillen 673 kHz
Teacher's Notes
The series provides a training ground for the development of listening skills in P1 - P3 pupils. Using
a mixture of story, song, rhyme, discussion, poetry and music, all locally based, the programmes are
designed to encourage careful and constructive listening, to stimulate the imagination of young children and to extend their awareness of their own environment and heritage.
The themes chosen for the term are linked to allow a natural progression of ideas to flow from week
to week. The topics for this term include PSE issues, music, materials, problem solving and puzzles.
Presenters Michael McDowell & Libby Smyth
Programmes
1. I Didn’t Know You Could Do That
2. Sound Pictures
3. Names
4. From Tree to Paper
5. From Cow to Butter
6. From Sheep to Jumper
7. From Oil to Plastic
8. Problem Solving
9. Mr Fox’s Bag
10. Miss April Spring
8 January 2002
15 January 2002
22 January 2002
29 January 2002
5 February 2002
12 February 2002
26 February 2002
5 March 2002
12 March 2002
19 March 2002
*Please note no broadcast on 19 February
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Northern Ireland Curriculum
The series may be used to support the three main areas of study in English, Mathematics and
Science at Key Stage 1.
The series will also assist with music, history, geography and cross-curricular themes. These will
include cultural heritage, education for mutual understanding and health education.
Tape Recording
Where possible, it would be an advantage to tape-record programmes. By using the pause button,
sections of the broadcast can be discussed leading to greater understanding or appreciation. Many
of the songs are very attractive and the children may well want to learn them or hear them again.
After the programme
Each programme will offer material for discussion. Some suggestions for further follow-up activities
are given in the Teacher’s Notes or are made during the broadcasts.
Teachers might like to consider covering some or all of the following aspects after the programmes:
• Discuss and/or recall of broadcast.
• Re-tell the story.
• Art or craft work.
• Topic or project work.
• Singing songs/repeating rhymes.
• Number work.
• Drama/acting the story/role play.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
I Didn't Know You Could do That
8 January
One Potato,
Two Potato
by Chris Ward
What are your children good at? A programme about skills and achievements - often we don’t notice
how many different things people can do, or if they have a special talent. Sometimes we don’t even
realise we have developed a new skill ourselves.
Poem
My Poem
I typed my poem on the computer
I saw it on the screen
I printed it in colours
The brightest you’ve ever seen
I read it to my teacher
I read it to my brother
My Granny really loved it
So then, I wrote another
I typed my poem on the computer
I saw it on the screen
I printed it in colours
The brightest you’ve ever seen
I read it to my sister
I read it to my mother
My grandpa really loved it
So, I think I’ll write another.
Chris Ward
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
I Didn't Know You Could do That
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Song
Look What I Can Do
Chris Ward
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
I Didn't Know You Could do That
Chorus
Look at the things that I can do
Doo be dee do, doo be dee do
If it matters to me, does it matter to you
Look at the things that I can do.
Verse 2
I can make my bed, I can sing a song
Cook beans on toast and it won’t take long
Read you a story that’s really scary
Look up a word in the dictionary
Chorus
Look at the things that I can do
Doo be dee do, doo be dee do
If it matters to me, does it matter to you
Look at the things that I can do.
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Story
“What’s wrong with you Jumping James, you look sad.”
“Oh Bill,” sighed James, “everybody calls me Jumping James, but I can’t jump at all. Not one jump.
All I can do is shuffle about in my slippers. And I’m supposed to start going to
Sperrinhill Circus School with you next week.”
“Can’t jump?” said Bouncing Bill, “I never noticed that. We had better ask Dad what he thinks.”
words for discussion:- to ‘notice’ things; shuffle; a problem; acrobat; handstand.
After the programme
- Ask everyone in the class to talk/write about one thing they are good at. Are there any
surprises.
- Getting better at things. Talk about some skills/activities which the class feel they have
become better at since September.
- Talk about some entirely new skills they have learned.
- Noticing other people’s achievements. Is anyone in the class good at something which
no-one knew about?
- Talk/write about three new things that they would (realistically) like to achieve this year.
- Write out three or four things they think their best friend is good at /or they like about their friend.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
I Didn't Know You Could do That
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
- In today’s programme, what skill had Michael acquired that Libby didn’t know about?
(he was writing stories and poems)
- How about Libby? (she had swam 500 metres).
- Draw the four characters in the story - Leaping Lily, Hopping Harry, Jumping James and
Bouncing Bill.
- In PE, allocate one of the characters to every child and do some leaping, hopping, jumping
and bouncing activities.
- Divide them into fours, each taking one character and ask them to pretend to be the Famous
Jumping Bean Family and demonstrate a display of their skills.
Story Comprehension
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Why was Jumping James unhappy? (he couldn’t jump).
What was Jumping James’ brother called? (Bouncing Bill).
And his mother and father? (Leaping Lily and Hopping Harry).
Where were the boys going to school? (Sperrinhill Circus School).
Describe what Jumping James wore on his feet (blue check slippers with spongy soles).
When did he wear them? (all the time - even in bed, and the bath).
What happened when he took them off?
Northern Ireland Curriculum
English
Talking and Listening:
Pupils should have opportunities to: express thoughts,
feelings and opinions in response to personal
experiences, literature, media and curricular topics.
Reading:
Pupils should have opportunities to: listen to and
understand a range of texts which are read aloud,
including those presented on tape, radio or television.
Writing:
Pupils should have opportunities to write for a variety
of purposes, to express their thoughts, feelings and
imaginings; to describe; to report; to record findings.
Gymnastics:
Pupils should have opportunities to: explore a range of
movement skills; develop body awareness through
movement variations; from simple sequences by linking
movements.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
I Didn't Know You Could do That
Cross Curricular Links
English
PSE
discussion
comprehension
written work
self esteem
acquiring skills
improvements
Programme 1
I Didn't KnowYou
Could Do That
PE
Art
draw characters
from the story
leaping, bouncing,
jumping and hopping
and devising a display
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Sound Pictures
15 January
Spring 2002
One Potato,
Two Potato
by Barbara Gray
Today, Libby and Michael pretend to go ‘out of the studio’ and make sound effects to allow the
children to guess what they can see. The programme encourages listening skills and leads to creating sounds and listen to music.
Song
Remember the Code!
words and music Barbara Gray
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Sound Pictures
Sound Picture Activities
door shut
‘click’ (vocal)
footsteps
slap the table with hands, or fingertips (lighter)
(various speeds and lighter and heavier)
pedestrian crossing
‘beep, beep’ (vocal)
birds
chirping
bees
buzzing
clipping a hedge
hand claps
(Each child choose one of the three, and make sounds together, to sound like a garden)
a slide
count 1 - 8 rising notes
and
sli-i-i-de down (vocal)
see-saw
vocal noise up/
vocal noise down
(Now get into pairs, and one voice goes up as the other voice goes down!)
ambulance }
dog bark
}
motorbike }
-
vocal sounds
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Sound Pictures
words for discussion:- the ‘flat’ of your hand; pedestrian crossing; zebra crossing; the Green
Cross Code; to clip a hedge; aquarium.
After the programme
- Play the slide and see-saw games as above.
- Individually or in a group, write a list of some of the sounds you hear on the journey to
school. Try to make a sound picture, using vocal or body sounds, or percussion
instruments. Play the final work to others - can they guess what the sounds portray?
- Try making some weather sounds as suggested in the programme, or the sound of a large
animal, like an elephant.
- Choose a favourite poem or story, and make some sounds to illustrate it.
- Brush up on road safety.
- Listen to some music which portrays something. Actually listening to music is a
rare experience for children. It is often constantly heard as a background in the home,
in shops or on TV etc., but not concentrated on. The skill needs to be learnt gradually.
Ask the children to sit quietly with their eyes closed for a very short time. Then ask
them to make a picture of something familiar in their minds - a favourite place,
animal, person etc. Finally choose a piece of music - a good range of music both
contemporary and classical are often heard on TV advertisements. Some old
favourites include:Peter and the Wolf
The Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saens)(the Aquarium and the Elephant heard on the pro
gramme)
The Planets (Holst)
- Listen to the One Potato, Two Potato signature tune - it contains items found in a classroom
e.g. rulers twanging and a bouncing ball!
Northern Ireland Curriculum
English
Talking and Listening:
Pupils should have opportunities to: take part in
drama activities, including role-play.
Reading:
Pupils should have opportunities to: explore
simple texts with the teacher, using drama, art
and discussion to focus on distinctive features.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Sound Pictures
Music
Composing:
Pupils should have opportunities to: play with
sounds; explore and investigate ways of making
sound effects; select sounds in response to a
stimulus.
Listening and Responding:
Pupils should have opportunities to: respond
imaginatively to a variety of short pieces of
music.
Science
Physical Processes
Sound:
Pupils should be given opportunities to: listen to and identify
sounds in the immediate environment; explore ways of making
sounds using familiar objects.
Cross-Curricular Links
Music
English
drama
composition
sounds
Programme 2
Sound Pictures
Science
construct musical instruments
sound experiments
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Names
22 January
Spring 2002
One Potato,
Two Potato
by Maureen Donnelly
All about people’s Christian names, and where they might have come from e.g. the Bible, foreign
countries, Ireland, plants, flowers, precious stones.
Nursery Rhymes
Polly Put the Kettle On
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
Little Jack Horner
Songs
Cousin Peter
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Names
He knocked three times upon the door,
He knocked three times upon the door,
He knocked three times upon the door,
To show that he was there.
He wiped his feet upon the mat….
He hung his hat upon the hook….
He danced about in stocking-feet….
He tossed us up into the air….
He played he was a great big bear….
He made a bow and said goodbye,
He made a bow and said goodbye,
He made a bow and said goodbye,.
To show that he was gone.
(mime the actions suggested by the words)
Michael Finnigin
Trad.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Names
verse 2.
There was an old man called Michael Finnigin
He kicked up and awful dinigin,
Because they said he must not singigin,
Poor old Michael Finnigin. Beginigin!
verse 3.
The was an old man called Micahel Finnigin
He went fishing with a pinigin,
Caught a fish but dropped it inigin,
Poor old Michael Finnigin. Beginigin!
verse 4.
There was an old man called Michael Finnigin
Climbed a tree and barked his shinigin,
Took off several yards of skinigin,
Poor old Michael Finnigin. Beginigin!
Story
How the ‘Hound of Ulster’, Cuchulainn got his name.
words for discussion:- a christening; niece; a daisy chain; nickname; a watchdog; blacksmith.
- Ask the children to find out why they were given their name (were they called
after someone? Is it a family name - or did their parents just like it?)
- Choose some names and find out what they mean.
- List all the names in the class and put them in categories i.e. after plants, from the Bible,
Irish names, place names, family names etc.
- Are there any unusual names in the class? Where did they come from?
- List nursery rhymes, poems or song titles which include a name - there are many.
- Talk about shortened names e.g. Michael - Mike or Mickey; Elizabeth - Beth, Betty,
Liz, Libby.
- Talk about nicknames, and the difference between kind ones and cruel (often to
do with appearance).
- Have the class any pet names or nicknames, which their parents call them?
- Read Peter Pan and Wendy. Did the class understand the origin of the name
‘Wendy’ - a little girl who called herself James Barrie’s “little fwendy”.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Names
Northern Ireland Curriculum
English
Talking and Listening:
Pupils should engage in talking and listening for
a variety of purposes including: taking part in
conversations and discussions; asking and
answering questions and drawing conclusions;
giving information or explanations to others.
History
Emu/Cultural Heritage:
Pupils should be given opportunities to explore:
their personal and family history; some of the
historical influence upon their identity (e.g. Irish
folklore) people from the past e.g. folklore
characters such as Cuchulainn.
Cross-Curricular Links
Programme 3
Names
History
families
folklore
English
discussion
lists
origin of names
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
From Tree to Paper
29 January
One Potato,
Two Potato
by Ann Burnett
The first in a unit of programmes on ‘changes’ and materials, exploring the connection between
wood and paper.
Poem
Made from Paper
Paper cups and napkins
Paper plates and straws,
Comics, books and magazines
Boxes, cards, jigsaws.
Tissues for my runny nose,
Towels to wipe up spills.
Toilet rolls and tablecloths,
Envelopes and bills.
They’re all made out of paper,
Using up our trees,
Be careful not to waste it,.
Think green, recycle please.
Books to learn to read from,
Jotters for my sums,
Birthday cards and letters,
Packs for chewing gum.
Wraps for sweets and chocolate,
Cornflake packets too,
Labels on sauce and baked beans,
And bottles of shampoo.
They’re all made out of paper,
Using up our trees,
Be careful not to waste it,
Think green, recycle please.
Ann Burnett
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
One Potato, Two Potato
From Tree To Paper
We Are the Woodmen
verse 2.
Spring 2002
The tree falls down with a great big crash
Now we all will take an axe,
And chop and chop with all our might,
To get some wood for the fire to light;
We are woodmen sawing trees,
Sawing, sawing, sawing trees
(Mine the actions suggested by the words)
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
From Tree To Paper
Story
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
The Very Important Piece of Paper
Process from Tree to Paper
-
Sitka Spruce commonly used (from 30 - 40 metres tall).
Tree crop thinned out and those smaller saplings used for paper.
Bark and branches stripped.
Ground up into small wood pulp.
Pulp washed and dyed.
Squeezed into a long mat between huge rollers.
Dried on more rollers.
The ‘finish’ put on (makes it shiny).
Ironed on more rollers (makes it smooth).
words for discussion:- a crop; Sitka Spruce; bark, trunk, logs, papermill; grinding machine;
rollers; printer; invisible.
After the programme
-
List/discuss things made of wood.
List/discuss things made of paper.
Name the parts of a tree i.e. roots, trunk, branches, leaves, twigs, bark etc.
A project on re-cycling.
‘Adopt’ a tree if there is one nearby and study it at intervals throughout the year.
Take some bark rubbings from a variety of trees and compare their different textures.
(Good contrasts are sweet chestnut, silver birch, beech and oak).
- Bark dyeing: Never peel and collect bark, it can kill the whole tree - but gather some
from fallen logs. Tie in a muslin bag and boil in water to which a little soda has been
added. Simmer a little wool in the liquid until the colour takes. Rinse in running water.
Try comparing different types of bark. (Other natural materials like lichen, onion skins
and berries will give brighter colours).
- To measure the height of a tree: a rough estimate can be achieved by two people. Person
A stands at the base if a tree. Person B moves away and holds a pencil at arms length.
When the pencil ‘lines up’ with the height of A, B stops and estimates how many times
(i.e. pencil lengths) A’s height would match the height of the tree. A’s height is then
multiplied by this number to obtain the approximate height of the tree.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
From Tree To Paper
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
How To Make a Paper Boat
1. Take a rectangular piece of paper (not square - it doesn’t work).
2. Fold it in half down the long side..
3. Make a centre crease and fold edges
down from centre
and you should end up with:
4. Fold up each of bottom edges - one to one
side and one to the other.
Pull here
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
From Tree To Paper
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Fold
along
here
5. Pull out from bottom centre (to make a hat
if you want) and turn and fold flat the other ways
(tucking in loose edges).
6. Fold up bottom half to meet top half.
Do the same on the other side.
Pull out here
Pull here
7. Pull out from bottom centre on both sides and turn
and fold the other way.
8. Pull out corners to make boat.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Tree To Paper
Northern Ireland Curriculum
Science
Materials Properties:
Pupils should be given opportunities to: sort a
range of everyday objects into groups according
to the materials from which they are made;
explore the properties of materials including
shape, colour, texture and behaviour; find out
about some everyday uses of materials e.g.
furniture can be made from wood.
Geography
The Natural Environment:
Pupils should have opportunities to learn about
materials in the natural environment such as
wood, and talk about their use.
Cross-Curricular Links
History
print through the ages
Art
make paper objects
Programme 4
Tree to Paper
Science
growth of natural things
processes
re-cycling
Geography
renewable resources
the natural environment
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato,
Two Potato
From Cow to Butter
5 February
by Albert Crawford
A programme about milk and milk products.
Poems
Milk
Milk is for the baby
Milk is for the queen
Milk is for the old man
And all those in between
They drink it in the morning
And before they go to bed
And make it into butter
And spread it on their bread.
We make it into chocolate
And we make it into cheese
We put it in our coffees
And we put it in our teas
We pour it on our porridge
And we bake it into cakes
We pour it on our puddings
And we pour it on our flakes.
Albert Crawford
Butter
I’m Bobby Butter and I’m no goat
I sit in the fridge in my silver coat
I’m very important so it is said
They spread me on biscuits and lovely wheaten bread.
I’m Bobby Butter and I can make
All kinds of pastry and a nice sponge cake
I’m found in puddings and toffees too
No end to the things that I can do.
I’m Bobby Butter I’m made from milk
I’m creamy as chocolate and soft as silk
Try me on pancakes in tiny yellow buds
But try me in the summer on your nice new spuds.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Cow to Butter
Oh I’m Bobby Butter and I don’t care
If mummy was a cow from Dungannon fair
I make so many goodies and I’m in so many things
You might even say I dine with queens and kings.
Albert Crawford
Miss Muffett
Little Miss Muffett
Sat on her tuffett
Eating her curds and whey
There came a big spider
Sat down beside her
Frightened Miss Muffett away.
Little Miss Muffett
Ran from her tuffett
Till spider blew off on the breeze
Went back to her place
A smile on her face
Her curds had turned into cheese.
Albert Crawford
I Scream
Mary bought a 10p cone
Then she bought a slider
And before her Mum could wink
She had them both inside her.
Mary bought another cone
Full as any cup
And before her Mum could blink
She had it gobbled up.
Mary bought a ninety nine
No more my dear, cried Mummy
But Mary gulped the whole lot down
Now she’s a right sore tummy.
I scream you scream
We all scream for ice cream
I scream you scream
We all scream for ice cream.
Albert Crawford
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
From Cow to Butter
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Story
A conversation between I’m Tommy the tractor, he said
I’m big and I growl and I’m red
I haul and I pull
I’m as strong as a bull
And what’s more, I never need fed.
I’m Molly the cow from Moy
I live in the meadow so green
I turn grass into milk with great joy
I’m a proper milk making machine
Now some of my milk goes to cheese
And some goes to make chocolate bars
And some goes to make
That rich spongy cake
And some to make toffee or Mars.
Some facts:
-
Over 4000 people in Northern Ireland are employed in processing milk and dairy products.
Cows milked twice per day.
Cows feed while being milked.
Each cow takes five minutes to milk with machinery.
Tankers hold 10,000 litres of milk.
Pasteurisation: Heating to 72 degrees Celsius and immediately cool to 2 degrees Celsius.
Bottles filled at 200 per minute.
Rennet from a calves stomach, breaks milk into curds and whey.
Curds make cheese and whey feeds animals.
Cheese takes eight weeks to mature.
Butter is made at the rate of 2 tons per hour in great stainless churns.
Buttermilk is drained off and sold for baking.
Some local places which specialise in milk products:Dried milk powder is made at Nestle in Omagh.
Cheese is made in Augher, Cookstown and Ballymoney.
Drinking milk is bottled and cartoned in Lurgan.
Butter is made in Cookstown and Armagh.
Find out what might be made in your area.
words for discussion: a crate (of milk); teat or udder; a cluster (milking); pasteurise; churn.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Cow to Butter
After the programme
-
List, discuss some of the foods we use milk e.g. cream, butter, cheese, yoghurt, ice-cream,
chocolate.
- Collect wrappers and make a wall display.
- Make a collage from magazine pictures of dairy products.
- Discuss churning.
- Make your own butter by collecting cream from the top of some bottles of whole milk
(about 1/4 pint is plenty). Cream won’t work. Put a screw top bottle and leaveun-refrigerated for 2 3 days. Shake the bottle when the milk has soured and the butter
will form on top. Add a bit of salt if desired. There should be enough butter for the class
to have on a biscuit.
- Discuss pasteurisation (see ‘facts’). The important factor is to heat and then cool the milk
very quickly.
- Discuss flavours of milk, yoghurt, ice-cream - make charts of favourites.
- Find out where the milk delivered to your home or school comes from.
Northern Ireland Curriculum
Science
Materials:
Living Things
Ourselves:
Animals and Plants:
mals.
Children should have opportunities to: find out about the effect of
heating and cooling some everyday substances.
Children should be introduced to ideas about how to
keep healthy through exercise, diet and personal
hygiene.
Pupils should have opportunities to: find out about some ani-
Geography
Jobs and Transport:
foods
deliv-
Pupils should have opportunities to: learn about some of the
and services people need e.g. milk, and the work involved in
ering it.
C.C.T.
Health Education:
Pupils should have opportunities to talk about: their
health and diet.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Cow to Butter
Cross-Curricular Links
Cultural Heritage
Art
colour and collage
Programme 5
manufacture of milk
products in the past
From Cow to
Butter
Health Education
Geography
teeth, bones, rickets
food processes
nature of food
pasteurisation
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
From Sheep to Jumper
12 February
Spring 2002
One Potato,
Two Potato
by Pam Ramage
Today’s programme includes sheep, shearing and the production of wool.
If possible, please bring in a garment before the broadcast bearing the wool mark symbol
and a ball of wool.
Poem
Six Little Mice
Six little mice sat down to spin’;
Pussy passed by and she peeped in,
“What are you doing, my fine little men?”
“Weaving coats for gentlemen.”
“Shall I come and cut off your threads?”
“No, no Mistress Pussy,
You’ll bite off our heads.”
“Oh no, I’ll not; I’ll help you to spin.”
“That may be so, but you don’t come in.”
Story
King Ferdinands Fancy Socks
Song
Click Go the Shears
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Sheep to Jumper
verse 2.
Out on the floor in his cane bottom chair,
There sits the boss with his eyes everywhere,
Notes well each fleece as it comes to the screen,
Paying strict attention that it’s taken clean.
chorus:
Click goes the shears, boys…..
Process from sheep to jumper
-
Sheep are sheared.
Fleeces transported to factory.
Washed.
Dyed.
Brushed and combed (carding).
Spun into yarn.
Yarn knitted into garments or woven into cloth.
NB There are 200 million sheep in Australia and 19.5 million people.
words for discussion:- shear, yarn, thread, weave, knit.
After the programme
- Discuss the process as above.
- Try the ‘wool’ test with a piece of wool e.g. llamas, goats (Cashmere), Angora goats
(mohair), camel.
- If appropriate, discuss wary and weft in weaving.
Northern Ireland Curriculum
Science
Carrying out and Making:
Pupils should be given opportunities to: make
observations, noting similarities and differences.
Living Things:
Pupils should be given opportunities to: sort a
range of everyday objects into groups according
to the materials from which they are made; explore
the properties of materials including shape, colour,
texture and behaviour; find out some everyday uses
of materials.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Sheep to Jumper
Geography
Jobs and Transport:
Pupils should have opportunities to learn about: some of
the goods and services people need e.g. choose an
essential product and find out about the work involved
in making and delivering it.
Science
hot and cold
compare fabrics by testing
insulation
Art
dyeing and colour
Programme 6
From Sheep
to Jumper
Geography
sources of wool
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
From Oil to Plastic
26 February
From Oil to Plastic
One Potato,
Two Potato
by Pam Ramage
Today’s programme describes in simple terms how plastic is made and Libby and Michael talk
about some of the many products made from it which we use every day.
It would be useful to provide a selection of plastic articles before the programme - or identify the
many to be found in the classroom.
Poem
Plastic
Beads, bangles, plastic pails,
Basins, bowls, boat and sails;
Dolls, Lego, balls and bats;
Shoes, wellies, raincoats, hats.
Some bright and colourful,
Hard, soft, or see-through,
A whole world of plastic,
For me and for you.
Cups, saucers, plates and mugs,
Knives, forks, spoons and jugs;
Bags, boxes, cartons too,
All sorts of bottles, even glue.
Some bright and colourful,
Hard, soft or see-through,
A whole world of plastic,
For me and for you.
Pam Ramage
Song
Raindrops
(to the tune of Sing a Song of Sixpence)
Can you hear the raindrops?
(Pretend to listen)
Falling from the sky?
Pattering on the tree-tops.
(Indicate rain with fingers)
As the storm goes by.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Oil to Plastic
Filling up the gutters
(Raise hands)
Tapping window-panes,
(Pretend to tap)
Drumming on the pavements
(Drum feet on floor)
And trickling down the drains.
(Run fingers along desk)
Can you hear the raindrops
(Pretend to listen)
Falling down on you,
(Point to person next to you)
Splashing on our faces,
(Tap face)
Soaking us all through,
(Shiver)
Watering the flowers,
Filling up the streams,
(Lift up hands)
Till once again we feel the warmth
Of welcome bright sunbeams,
(Hold out arms, looking upwards).
Pam Ramage
Story
“Hello, what’s your name?” asked a wee man.
“I’m Andy…are you…a leprechaun?”
“That I am. Sean’s the name.”
“Are you sheltering from the rain too?” asked Andy.
“Nope…I’m listening to the music.”
“I can’t hear any music.”
“That’s because you’re not listening properly. There’s music all around you…in the hills, woods and
streams. But do you know the best music of all? Rain music!”
words for discussion:- ‘caught on’ in the rain; rain ‘soaks in’; ‘bounces off’; oil refinery; tanker;
factory; pipe line; material.
After the programme
- Identify everyday objects made of plastic and find some in the classroom e.g. buttons, lunch
boxes, pens, rulers, bags, light switches, beads, belts, watchstraps, hair bobbles, clasps and
combs, toys, flower pots, computer.
- Talk about other forms of plastic ‘in disguise’ - i.e. polystyrene (food packaging), nylon
(toys, clothes, socks etc.)
- Make a time line of the process of oil - plastic. This is a simplified version:-
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Oil to Plastic
Making of a raincoat
Ship
Oil
heated (becomes hard)
Oil Refinery
chopped into tiny pieces
dyed
Pipe line
1) melted
Plastic factory
2) rolled into flat
3) cut and sewn
- Discuss waterproofing. Experiment with other materials and compare how absorbent or
otherwise they are. What other things have to be waterproofed apart from clothing?
e.g. bandages, tents, babies buggy covers.
- Learn the Raindrop song and the actions to go with it.
- Experiment with descriptive words for the rain and make up some more
e.g. plipperty - plapperty plip
pita-pata, pita-pata
split-splat, splitterty-splat
- Make you own ‘rain’ music with percussion instruments.
Northern Ireland Curriculum
Science
Materials
Properties:
Pupils should be given opportunities to: sort a range of
everyday objects into groups, according to the materials from
which they are made; find out some everyday uses
of material; investigate similarities and differences in
materials and objects and sort them according to their
properties e.g. sort plastics into those which are
transparent and those which are opaque or sort fabrics
into those which absorb water and those which are
waterproof.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
From Oil to Plastic
Geography
Jobs and Transport:
Pupils should have opportunities to learn about: some of
the jobs people do; some of the goods and services
people need e.g. choose an essential product and find out
about the work involved in making it and delivering it;
draw a simple picture diagram of the journey of the
chosen product. Learn about some of the means of
transport used for the movement of goods.
Music
Composing:
Pupils should have opportunities to explore and
investigate ways of making sounds; create simple sound
effects; select sounds in response to a stimulus; select
and use sounds to express mood and atmosphere.
Cross-Curricular Links
Science
Music
'rain' music with
percussion instruments
process oil - plastic
Programme 7
From Oil
to Plastic
English
Maths
sorting & listing
(objects made of plastic)
discussion
descriptive words
for rain
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
Problem Solving
5 March
One Potato,
Two Potato
story Felicity Hayes-McCoy
script Bernagh Brims
Some simple suggestions for identifying and solving problems - and a story about a very cowardly
dragon.
Song
I’ve Got a Little Problem
(to the tune I Had a Little Nut Tree)
I’ve got a little problem
I don’t know what to do.
What would you do in my place?
Please give me a clue!
I’ve asked my friends
I’ve checked it up,
In books, website, by phone
And now I know I’ll simply have to
Solve it on my own!
Words - Bernagh Brims
Story
The old man didn’t see a big, yellow dragon scratching and pattering through the forest, carrying a
pink, porcelain jug in his big, yellow paws./ Now, this dragon looked as scary as any other dragon.
But he wasn’t. He was a cowardly dragon, and much too scared to do proper dragon-things like
breathing fire, or fighting knights or eating princesses.
Rules for Problem Solving
1.
2.
3.
4.
Keep calm!
Work out what the problem is - and what doesn’t matter.
Work out what needs to be fixed - and do you need help?
Action.
words for discussion:- vegetarian;; library books ‘due back’; loud speakers; porcelain; gravy;
strong-minded (the dragon’s wife!); chimney corner.
After the programme
- Could any of the class describe a problem they have had, and how they solved it? (Offer
suggestions - a problem need not be a ‘crisis’, but may be something as simple as opening
a biscuit tin, or finding an article that is lost).
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Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Problem Solving
- Suggest a more major problem, and brain-storm ideas of how to solve it, following the
‘rules’.
- Have any of the children been ‘lost’? What happened?
- Ask the children to write a list of instructions for e.g.
• turning on the computer
• putting a video on
• brushing your teeth
- Pretend there is a new member of class who ‘has a problem’ finding the dining hall.
Describe/write/or draw directions from your classroom.
Story Comprehension
•
•
•
•
•
Where did the old man live? (in a dark damp cave on a cold hard hillside)
What did his wife bake him to eat on his journey? (a honey-cake)
What did he kill? (a hundred flies with one blow).
Describe the dragon’s palace. (walls of gold and silver, with a roof of pearls and rubies).
How did the old man trick the cowardly dragon into thinking he was very strong? (he pretended
to dig up the well, and said he would tie up the forest with a rope and drag it back for firewood).
• What did the old man hide in his bed? (a log, wrapped in pyjamas).
• What did the dragon give him to get rid of him? (a bag of gold and jewels).
Northern Ireland Curriculum
English
Talking and Listening:
Pupils should have opportunities to: become
involved in talk in every curricular area; read
aloud from a variety of sources including their
own work.
Reading:
Pupils should have opportunities to: listen to
and understand a range of texts which are read aloud,
including those presented on tape and radio.
Writing:
Pupils should have opportunities to: write for a
variety of purposes including: to inform and explain,describe;
report.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato,
Two Potato
Mr. Fox's Bag
12 March
story Sheila Quigley
script Bernagh Brims
Following the last programme on solving problems, this week’s broadcast looks at riddles, puzzles
and playing with words.
Song
Riddle Song
Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree,
What can the answer to my riddle be.
Oh I’m black and yellow and buzzing all day
Behiving myself in a well behived way.
Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree
You’ve heard my riddle
I am a (Bee)
Oh Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree,
What can the answer to my riddle be.
Oh I turn in doors and I turn in locks
I start up cars and I wind up clocks.
Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree
You’ve heard my riddle
I am a (Key)
Oh Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree,
What can the answer to my riddle be.
I’m make with hot water and milk don’t you see
Some stir in sugar to sweeten me,
Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree,
Now you’ve heard my riddle
And I’m (A wee cup of tea)
Oh Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree,
What can the answer to my riddle be.
I’m very wet and I’m very blue
With lots of fish in me and white horses too.
Oh Riddle Me, Riddle Me, Riddle Me Ree,
Now you’ve heard my riddle
I am? (I’m the sea)
Martin Waddell
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Mr. Fox's Bag
Story
The Fox knocked at the door and out came Nosy Rosie. “I wonder if you’d keep my bag ‘till I come
back from Dingdangdoodelums?” he asked politely.
“I will surely,” said Nosy Rosie. “Mind you don’t open my bag now,”! warned the fox and off he went
on his travels……
words for discussion:- riddle; riddler; a toad; a tape measure.
- Make up some simple riddles - use descriptive words and with the convention ‘what am I?’
- Talk about the names of the characters in Sheila Quigley’s story. What sort of people
might they be? Nosy Rosy, Silly Milly, Lazy Daisy and Bessie Bunn (a ‘wonderful cook’).
- Talk about the difference between a riddle, and a joke (a riddle is a puzzle to be solved,
and often involves a play on words).
Story Comprehension
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Where was the fox going? (to Dingdangoodelums).
What did the fox catch in his bag? (a bee).
Whose house did he call on first? (Nosy Rosie’s).
What ate the bee? (Nosy Rosie’s little red rooster).
Whose house did the fox go to next? (Silly Milly’s).
What happened to the red rooster? (the pig chased it into the forest).
Where was the fox’s next call? (Lazy Daisy’s house).
Who opened the bag in her house? (her son, James).
What did the fox put in the bag in Lazy Daisy’s house? (James).
What were Bessie Bunn’s four wee girls called? (Jessie, Hessie, Sissy and Tessie).
What were they all eating? (pancakes).
NB The story would be very appropriate for some classroom drama activities.
Northern Ireland Curriculum
English
Talking and Listening:
Pupils should have opportunities to: take part in drama activities,
in-cluding role-play; develop an ability to: present ideas and in
formation; discuss features of language e.g. rhyming words.
Reading:
Pupils should have opportunities to: re-tell; re-read or
act out familiar poems, stories or parts of stories, and
develop the ability to - talk with the teacher about the
ways in which language is written down, identifying
phrases, words, patterns or letters and other features of
written language.
Writing:
Pupils should have opportunities to develop the ability
to: express thoughts, feelings and imaginings.
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
Miss April Spring
15 March
Spring 2002
One Potato,
Two Potato
By Albert Crawford
More puzzles to solve in today’s programme, when a whole collection of well-known characters
from books, nursery rhymes, and folk lore, join Miss April Spring on her way to the Easter Parade.
Guess who these people are so they can join the Easter Parade!
Here I’m sitting on the wall
I’m round and fat and not too tall
And everyone thinks I had a fall
But you can see that that’s not true
For here I’m sitting grinning at you.
I don’t need King’s horses and men
To put me back together again
I won’t fall down with a Bumpty Bumpty
Although my name is…(Humpty Dumpty)
I skip and run on the hill all day
My tail is white and my coat is grey
With a little black nose and ears so long
I hop as I sing My Easter song
My Mum’s called Doey, My Dad’s Jack
He’s away getting carrots. He’ll soon be back
I just love it when its warm and sunny
And everyone calls me their Easter….(Bunny)
I’m hot and I’m cross
And I’m quite at a loss
To know why I never have fun
I’m shiny and brown
Oh please take me to town
For I’m only a poor Hot Cross….(Bun)
Some characters in the Easter Parade
Little Boy Blue was blowing his horn.
And Rudolph was ringing his bell
Then came the Maiden all forlorn
With a trumpet she played not too well
Little Tom Thumb was banging the drum
Dick Whittington played the bassoon
Snow White played the harp.
Sometimes flat sometimes sharp
And the Dish made a noise with a Spoon
Then there was Dougal, who played a bright bugle
While Old King Cole fiddled the fiddle
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Spring 2002
One Potato, Two Potato
Miss April Spring
Young Puss in one Boot was playing the flute
And the Doggy sang hey diddle diddle
From the back of a float there came a strange note
Miss Muffet was scraping the cello
On the top of a car, Pluto played a guitar
And sang “I’m a Wonderful Fellow”.
words for discussion:- season; hot-cross bun.
After the programme
- The programme could form the basis of any project on Easter and its customs i.e. religion
and church-based activities
Easter eggs
Easter bunnies
Easter parades
hot-cross buns
- Look at all the characters in the Easter Parade listed above - and do they know which rhyme
or story they come from? Recite the rest of the rhyme if possible.
Story Comprehension
• Who joined Miss April Spring on her way to the parade? (Humpty Dumpty,, an Easter Bunny
and a Hot-Cross Bun).
• Who had put a spell on the Hot-Cross Bun? (A Wicked Witch).
• Was he a bad bun? (No, he was sad).
• What had the witch done to him? (Made him swell up so he blocked the road).
• What happened to the Wicked Witch when she heard the Easter Parade coming? (she became
stuck to the road).
• Who turned her into a good witch? (Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother).
• Where was the parade going to? (Fairytale Town).
Northern Ireland Curriculum
English
Talking and Listening:
Pupils should have opportunities to: describe and talk
about real and imaginary experiences and about people,
places, things and events.
Reading:
Pupils should have opportunities to: explore familiar
stories and other simple texts with the teacher, using
drama, art and discussion to focus on distinctive features.
History
Events and Celebrations:
Pupils should have opportunities to: explore the
significance of: seasonal events e.g. Easter.
Spring 2002
B B C Northern Ireland Education Online
One Potato, Two Potato
Coming Up Next Term
Topics for next term:
Summer 2002
(Science, Geography, PSE)
16 April - 21 May
1. Bernard the Bee
2. The Bat Who Didn’t Go to Bed
3. Decisions / Safety
4. Sleep
5. Life on a River
6. Mountains
Acknowledegments for Spring 2002
Penguin Publications for the song We Are the Woodmen from This Little Puffin compiled
by Elizabeth Masterson
Amery Publication for the song Click Go the Shears from Usborne Children’s Song
Book