Subject: English
Strand: Writing
Strand Units:
Creating and fostering the impulse to write
Developing competence, Confidence and the ability to write independently
Developing Emotional and Imaginative Life through Writing
The Primary Planet April Quiz
40 Questions based on the 40 pages in this month’s paper - 1 Question per page
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2.
3.
4.
5.
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7.
8.
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15.
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33.
34.
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36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
What do the letters CSO stand for?
On what date in April is Morse Code Day?
What did Shirley Mongans do in March?
What do the letters BMI stand for?
In which county is Taughmaconnell NS?
How many readers did The Independent have at its peak?
D’ól Brainy an deoch seo.
Who is Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann?
How many seats did Sinn Féin win in the 1918 general election?
Does Joanne Frances have a mobile phone?
Who flew from England to Germany on a false passport?
What is the name of Robinson Crusoe’s dog?
When will Robinson Crusoe be in cinemas?
Who will be 26 years old on April 15?
What age is Reese Witherspoon?
When did the pupils of St. Riaghan’s hold their skipathon?
Who is the Principal of Kilmovee NS?
Hyundai cars come from which country?
In which county is Clonmacnois NS?
On what date is Census 2016?
What does the Latin word censere mean?
What is this month’s countdown number?
How many chocolate eggs did Dad hide?
How many poultry producers are there in Ireland?
Who directed the movie Jaws, released in 1975?
Where is the Mauna Loa Observatory?
The top charting app this month?
In what year was the Flight of the Earls?
Which are healthier-chips or jacket potatoes?
In which county is Mount Bruis NS?
What is the theme for next month’s Poetry Corner?
Who is the author of Eragon?
What is the answer to CLUE 11 DOWN?
What is Eloni Vunakece’s day job ?
Who beat Ireland in their first game at the T20 Cricket World Cup?
Where did the Ladies Gaelic football All-Stars play recently?
Who takes school tour bookings at Croke Park?
What is Cork City’s home ground called?
Who is nicknamed The Kilted Kiwi?
What colour jacket is presented to the US Masters winner?
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Subject: Gaeilge
Strand: Leitheoireacht
FICHE CEIST
Tá siad simplí agus tá fiche freagra le fáil. Féach tríd an nuachtán!
Aibreán 2016
1. Lch 2: Beidh International Jazz Day ar an lá seo.
________________
2. Lch 5: Cén aois í Mia Buckley?
________________
3. Lch 6: Tá an cathair seo beo beathach le francaigh.
________________
4. Lch 6: Rugadh Evgeny Lebedev sa tír seo?
5. Lch 7: Ainmnigh an Numskull a shábháil Brainy.
_________________
_________________
Sampla- Lch 5: Rugadh Brian Friel sa bhliain seo. 1929
6. Lch 8: Cén post atá ag Seán Ó Fearghaíl sa Dáil?
_________________
7. Lch 9: An chéad Príomh Aire na hÉireann.
_________________
8. Lch 10: Cé mhéad lá abhí Scott Kelly ar an stáisiún spáis?
________________
9. Lch 11: Chuaigh sé go Dortmond ar phas bréige le déanaí.
_________________
10. Lch 12: Cén saghas éan é Mak?
_________________
11. Lch 14: Tagann an banna ceoil Lukas Graham ón tír seo.
_________________
12. Lch 15: Cén t-ainm atá ar iníon Beyonce?
_________________
13. Lch 19: Cén chontae ina bhfuil Conahy NS?
_________________
14. Lch20: Cad é dáta daonáireamh 2016?
_________________
15. Lch 28: Rugadh Rory Gallagher sa bhaile seo.
_________________
16. Lch 32: Cén saghas créatúr é Bilbo Baggins?
_________________
17. Lch 35: Cad is ainm do dearthair Neil Parry?
__________________
18. Lch 35. Imríonn William Porterfield an spórt seo.
__________________
19. Lch39: Cén leasainm atá ag John hardie?
20. Lch 38: Imríonn Shay Given leo faoi láthair.
_________________
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Subject: English
Strand: Writing
Strand Units:
Creating and fostering the impulse to write
Developing competence, Confidence and the ability to write independently
Developing Emotional and Imaginative Life through Writing
Peculiar Stories fromEngland
djV
Word Bank
notice
wheels
vehicles
backwards
putty
replaced
grass
gnawed
metal
amputated
school
hang
shut
hibernating
job
(This article first appeared in The Primary Planet in November 2011)
Fill in the blanks with words from the word bank. REMEMBER-each sentence should make sense!
An English tortoise is getting used to living life in the fast-lane after vets _______________ (1)his legs with wheels.
Twenty-three-year-old Septimus had the model plane _____________ (2) fitted after his two front legs had to
be______________. (3) Owner Darren Strand allowed vets to attach the wheels with _______________ (4) after
learning that Septimus would have to be put down otherwise.
“He got the ____________ (5) of moving in it very quickly, although to begin with, he was very weak,” said Darren.
“Now he can turn himself around and go_____________, (6) something he couldn't do before!”
Septimus lost his legs while ________________ (7) at the bottom of Darren's garden last winter. When he
reappeared in the spring, his legs were in a very bad way. Vets say they were probably _________________ (8)on by
rats!
“He was very lucky to be alive,” added Darren's daughter Tabbie, 13. “If you put him on freshly cut __________ (9) or
a path he is really fast!”
Meanwhile, Council workers in Liverpool failed to ___________ (10) that a school that they were painting a
“SCHOOL-KEEP CLEAR” sign outside wasn't actually there.
Gateacre Comprehensive School was ____________ (11) two years ago before the building was completely
demolished. The site where it stood is now waste land surrounded by a ______________ (12) fence. But that didn't
stop the council workers from doing the ______ (13) anyway.
“You would have thought they'd have noticed there wasn't a _______________ (14) there anymore,” said a council
insider afterwards.
The warning is painted on roads outside schools to stop _______________ (15) blocking pupil and teachers'
entrance. The error will cost Liverpool Council around £100 to correct. In a statement, they said they were now
checking all other school road markings in the city. That might be a good idea.
1
Subject: English
Strand: Strand: Competence and confidence in using language
Strand Units: Reading: developing interests, attitudes, information retrieval skills
and the ability to think
Vocabulary Constabulary
April 2016
Are you a good detective? The Vocabulary Constabulary needs your help. This is all you have to do.
You can often detect the meaning of a word by reading it in context, that is, by reading the other words around it
in a piece of text. Find the page and the article in TPP and then detect the word that solves the clue to its
meaning. The number of letters and the starting letter of the solution are in brackets after each clue.
LOCATION
CLUE
SOLUTION
1.
P3 Spot Seamie
2.
P4 Microchip Your Dog…
3.
P5 Rebel Wars…
4.
P9 The Casualties
5.
P10 Ice Age Lions
hair on upper lips (10,m)
______________
6.
P14 Lucas Graham
reverberating, resounding, echoing (10,r)
_______________
7.
P17 10/10 for Adele
8.
P20 It’s the Law
9.
P24 Farmyard
10. P25 The Great White Shark
thwarted, frustrated, outwitted (f,6)
_____________
something that discourages someone from doing wrong (d, 9)
_____________
enthusiastic round of applause, (9,c)
_____________
building or statue that commemorates something (8,m)
small pieces of coloured paper thrown at weddings (8,c)
required, obligatory, necessary (8,s)
basic facilities needed to function properly (14,i)
jagged, notched, saw-like (8,s)
_____________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
11. P26 Brilliant Bones
thin flexible tissue, skin, sheath, (8,m)
________________
12. P28 Donegal
easily recognizable, unique (11,d)
________________
13. P29 A Problem Shared
insipid, tasteless, flavourless (5,b)
________________
14. P32 The Hobbit
urbane, cultured, refined (13,s)
________________
15. P35 The Neil Parry Story
slender outer bone of the lower leg (6,f)
________________
Subject: English
Strand: Strand: Competence and confidence in using language
Strand Units: Reading: developing interests, attitudes,
information retrieval skills and the ability to think
Fun Puzzles
1. Doublets
Doublets are word puzzles invented by Lewis Carroll. Transform one word into another by changing a single letter in each step,
so that each link in the chain is a valid word.
For example, to change MORE into LESS with 3 links: MORE, lore, lose, loss, LESS (There will often be several ways to solve the
doublet but remember, each link must be a valid word!)
Now try these
Change WIND into MOLE with 3 links
Change HERO into SAND with 3 links
Change BANG into FOLD with 3 links
2. General Knowledge Quiz
Solve the general knowledge quiz and the first letters of the answers will reveal something connected to Census 2016.
Use your research skills to help you find the answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
The sixth planet from the Sun.
The Rock of Cashel is in this county.
The Orchard County.
The Norse god of thunder, lightning, oak trees and strength.
Jawaharlal Nehru was this country’s first Prime Minister.
John Philip Holland developed this for the US Navy.
This famous poet wrote “The Lady of Shalott”.
The government of this country is called the Knesset.
Zagreb is the capital of this country.
Mozart was born in this Austrian city.
___________________________ (6)
___________________________ (9)
___________________________ (6)
___________________________ (4)
___________________________ ( 5)
___________________________ (9)
___________________________ (8)
___________________________ (6)
___________________________ (7)
___________________________ (8)
3. Timothy Tourist
Timothy Tourist intends to visit ten places in Donegal. Unscramble the letters so Timothy can begin his travels.
Use your research skills to help you find the answers.
1
YETNETLERNK
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
YONLASHNANB
HEGVANLEG
FIRDOLF
TROY
GIRLERA
EWISHINNO
KELSUBCAT
BARNACUN
YELFLABYOB
Subject: English
Strand: Writing
Strand Units:
Creating and fostering the impulse to write
Developing competence, Confidence and the ability to write independently
Developing Emotional and Imaginative Life through Writing
Name:____________________
Find and record additional interesting facts that you read in this month’s paper.
Illustrate each fact or import a suitable image. The first one is done for you!
Did you know about the British Empire?
At the time of the Easter Rising in 1916, the British Empire stretched to almost every corner of
the world. The British Government ruled over territories on every continent, including huge
countries such as Canada, India and Australia. They were afraid that if a small country like
Ireland won independence other bigger countries might decide to fight for freedom too. They didn’t want to see
the Empire break up and decided to show what they would do to rebels by executing the Irish leaders. It was a
big mistake, and Ireland’s days as part of the British Empire were coming to an end.
Did you know…?
Did you know…?
1
Subject: English
Strand: Writing
Strand Units:
Creating and fostering the impulse to write
Developing competence, Confidence and the ability to write independently
Developing Emotional and Imaginative Life through Writing
Did you know…
Did you know…
Did you know…
Did you know…
2
Subject: English/Science
Strand: Strand: Developing cognitive abilities through language
Strand unit: Writing: Clarifying thought through writing
Planet Wildlife Comprehension
April issue number 51-Page 25
Write full sentences for your answers. Read the key words so that you can give key words in your answers.
1.
Describe why the great white shark is the ultimate predator.
2.
Why is it difficult to hide from a great white shark?
3.
What does the great white shark’s diet consist of?
4.
What film painted this shark species in a bad light?
5.
Describe the appearance of the gulper eel.
6.
What fishing methods does it usually use?
7.
How does it resemble a pelican?
8.
How is International Mother Earth Day marked by the U.N.?
9.
What activities might people undertake on Earth Day?
10.
What could you and your class do to celebrate the day?
1
WORDSEARCH- World Earth Day Special
See if you can find all 27 words. Two of them are not listed! Sneaky, eh? 
HELP
GREEN
SMOG
EARTH
PLANET
PROJECTS
FACTORIES
FUMES
NATURE
FUTURE
TEACH
ENERGY
WARMING
SAVE
REDUCE
LEARN
LITTER
GLOBAL
APRIL
REUSE
PROTECT
SOLVE
AIR
POLLUTION
RECYCLE
Subject: English
Strand: Writing
Strand Units:
Creating and fostering the impulse to write
Developing competence, Confidence and the ability to write independently
Developing Emotional and Imaginative Life through Writing
Drama Cards
This month we are asking you to take the place of the census enumerators. Here you will have to call door-to-door, asking people to return the forms they
were asked to fill out a number of weeks ago. Simple? Well, it would be if you hadn’t been chosen to visit the one housing estate where all the strangest
people seem to live in.
Let the class split up into six groups (households) and work on a short drama coming up with the craziest, wackiest, strangest and most bizarre excuses
for not filling in the form. Enumerators- remember- it is the law that these forms are filled in- fines of up to €44,000 exist for people who refuse to cooperate. It is up to you to use your skills of communication and persuasion to get the unlikely households to see sense.
(Oh ya, you get fired with no pay if you come back with more than two forms not filled in!
NOW, ACTION!
Household 1
Household 2
Household 3
(Jot down key words and ideas)
(Jot down key words and ideas)
(Jot down key words and ideas)
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Household 4
Household 5
Household 6
(Jot down key words and ideas)
(Jot down key words and ideas)
(Jot down key words and ideas)
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1
Answers
The Politically Correct Quiz
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Fianna Fáil
Sinn Féin
Labour Party
Green Party
Fine Gael
Independents
Gerry Adams
Eamon Ryan
Renua
Sean Ó Feargháil
Lyrics Board
1. “It was a big big world, but we thought we were bigger
Pushing each other to the limits, We were learning quicker” – 7 Years Lukas Graham
2. “Yeah Imma dance my heart out ‘til the dawn
But I won’t be done when the morning comes” – Lush Life Zara Larsson
3. “Everybody loves the things you do
From the way you talk to the way you move” – When we were young Adele
It’s mental!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11
12.34Kg
Cuboid
81
14 r 2
55,055.5
720
E, F, H, L, T
11.36
46
Countdown
1. 785: (7 x (5-3))= 14 x 50= 700 + 75 + 9 + 1= 785
Planet Sudoku
Maths Story
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
07:21 or 7.21 a.m.
08:03 or 8.03 a.m.
3
08:55 or 8.55 a.m.
08:59 or 8.59 a.m.
11 years old
The girls are twins
7
2 hours 34 minutes
12.5%
Crossword
Fiche Ceist
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Aibreán 30
12
Peshawar
An Rúis
Radar
Ceann Comhairle
Cathal Brugha
340
Josh Reed
pearóid
An Danmhairg (Denmark)
Blue Ivy
Cill Chainnigh
Aibreán 24
Ballyshannon
Hobbit
Josh
cruicéad (cricket)
The Kilted Kiwi
Stoke City
40 Quiz
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
Central Statistics Office
April 27
She found Seamie Seamróg
Body Mass Index
Roscommon
420,000
seacláid the
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
73
Yes
Josh Reed
Aynsley
May 6
Emma Watson
40
October 22
Mrs. Deery
Korea
Offaly
April 24
Estimate
785
24
550
Stephen Spielberg
Hawaii
Basketball Stars
1607
Jacket potatoes
Tipperary
The Family
Christopher Paolini
Brugha
garbage collector
Oman
San Diego
Gemma
Turner’s Cross
John Hardie
green
Fun Puzzles
Doublets
Wind, mind, mild, mile, mole
Hero, herd, hard, hand, sand
Bang, band, bond, bold, fold
General Knowledge Quiz
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Saturn
Tipperary
Armagh
Thor
India
Submarine
Tennyson
Israel
Croatia
Salzburg
The first letters of the answers make the word STATISTICS
Timothy Tourist in Donegal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Letterkenny
Ballyshannon
Glenveagh
Lifford
Tory
Errigal
Inishowen
Bluestack
Buncrana
Ballybofey
Vocabulary Constabulary
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
foiled
deterrent
ovation
monument
moustaches
resonating
confetti
compulsory
infrastructure
serrated
membrane
distinctive
bland
14. sophisticated
15. fibula
Teacher’s Handout – April Issue #51- Monthly Planner
Page
Content:
4,
National and
5, 6, International
7,
10, News
11
Politics
3640 Sport
Subject:
 English
 SPHE
 History
Crossword
Planet Politics
WWW News
40 Question Quiz
(resource pack)
Strand:
 Developing cognitive
abilities
through language
 Emotional and
imaginative
development
through language
 Competence and
Confidence in using
Language
 Myself and the wider
World
 Story
 Politics, conflict & society
Strand Unit:
 Reading: developing
interests,
attitudes, information
retrieval skills and the
ability to think
 Reading: responding to
text
 Developing Citizenship
 Stories from the lives of
people in the past
Objective/s: The child should be enabled to  Read and interpret different types of functional text
 Distinguish between fact and opinion, bias and objectivity in text
 Read about National Issues that dominated news headlines: Tayto
Pipped at the Post, Obesity Becoming A Big Problem, Microchip Your
Dog- It’s the Law! Doodle for Google, Rebel Wars- Return of the Rebel
 Read about international Issues that have dominated news headlines
this month- The Independent Ink is Dry, City Overrun With Rats
 Read specific articles that encourage conversing freely and
confidently on current affairs topics- SESE- Have Your Say- Do you
think we can really bring about a positive change to the
environment, or will we still be talking about the same issues in
50 years time?
 Politics- Politically Correct Quiz, Taoiseach Needed
 Complete a crossword based on information text in the paper
 Complete a series of puzzles, word searches, riddles, puzzles
 Read a selection of strange stories from around the world (WWW
News) and vote for the monthly intruder story- back Down to
Earth, Ice Age Lions, Like It’s 1939! Can I see Your Passport Miss?
Ride Rage, Kitty Hugs!
Road to the Rising Part XI- The Easter Rising Legacy
Children were enabled to read about the first Irish Government, and
the initial attempts to break away from British Rule, post 1916 Rising,
as well as the rise of Sinn Féin
8
Planet History – This
month in History (Apr)
Road to the Rising- Part
XI
 History
 English


15
Pláinéad na Gaeilge –
The Numbskulls
 Gaeilge
 Léitheoireacht
 Labhairt

Ag cothú fonn
léitheoireachta
 Ag cothú spéise/ag úsáid
teanga
 Scéal (cartún) a léigh as Gaeilge le h-ainm The Numbskulls
 Foclóir nua/deacair- an focal agus a miniú, as béarla: go leor ar a
intinn=a lot on his mind; Lá brothallach samhraidh=a arm summer's
day; préachta=freezing; hipiteirme=hypothermia; cóisir a
reáchtáil=throw a party
16
17
Planet Schools - School
News
 English
 Developing cognitive
abilities
through language

 Relate personal experience to the ideas and emotions
conveyed in the text (April Diary of a First Year by Roisín McNamee)
Learn how different schools across the country get involved in different
activities and for different reasons- Proclamation Day, Healthy Eating,
Concert Review
Story

Eras of Change & Conflict
Stories from the lives
of people in the past
Reading: developing
interests,
information retrieval
skills and the ability to
think
20,21
Census 2016 Special
 Geography
 Science
 SPHE



Natural Environment
Environmental awareness
and care
Developing Citizenship



2223
Maths - Maths story,
Puzzles, Sudoku
24
Planet Farming
 Maths
 Geography
 Science
 SPHE




Number
Shape and Space
Problem Solving
Measure








Human Environments
Natural Environments
Living things
Myself



25,
26
29
30
STEM
Planet Wildlife
Planet Science
Planet Tech
Planet Wellbeing- A
Problem Shared
 Science
 Geography
 SPHE
Places – County Focus #8  Geography
Donegal






Living Things
Natural Environments
Forces
Materials
Myself
Myself and Others







Planet Earth in
Space
Science and the
environment
Myself and the
Wider World




Operations
Percentages
Time
Money

Solve and complete practical one-step and two-step problems and
tasks involving multiplication, division, addition and subtraction –
countdown, crack the code (multiplication) Sudoku, puzzles


Problem solve using real life situations- The Egg Hunt
Learn about Poultry Framing in Ireland and look at the
three types of poultry farming that exists- Intensive, Free
Range, Organic
Read safety tips on Farming: Safety of the Farmyard (with machinery)
Read a Young Farmer’s Journal by Joseph Cosgrove (Part XIII- Sheep
mart)
Look at the recent rise in CO2 emissions and look at the causes and
possible outcomes
Body Shop- Learn about Bones
Planet Experiment- Balloon Blow Up
Planet Wildlife- Learn about the great white shark, the Gulper Eel and
World Earth Day
Gadgets- Gadget to Help the Blind, Mobile Quasar, Hendo Hoverboard
Game Review- Undertale
Read facts about the upcoming census 2016 (Aoril 24)
Look at the history of the census in Irleand
Understand why we need a census, What learning a census can lead to.
Compare and contrast the figures of the last census 2011 to now and
encourage the children to predict the outcome of this, with reasons for
their answers
 Look at the journey of a census form
People living and
working in the
local area
The local, natural
environment
Plants and animals

Animal Life
Human Life
The local, natural
environment
Light






My Friends and
Others
Making decisions



 Natural Environments
 People living in a
contrasting part of
Ireland
30,31 Poetry Corner
 English
 Developing Cognitive
abilities through language


Reading/Writing
Write for a purpose
16
 SPHE
 Myself and the Wider World

Developing
Citizenship
Question of the Month
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


Look at the Problem of the Month- Overweight!
Discuss how best to overcome this problem- looking at the do’s and
don’ts
Go online to share your thoughts on the problem
The Tax on Sugary Drinks
 Learn about Donegal
 Read the history and origins of the county- looking at facts and figures
based on geographical, historical and cultural information, tourist
attractions, sport etc.
 Theme: Spring/1916 Rising
 Poetry Theme for May- Family
Question of the Month:
Do you think we can really bring about a positive change to the
environment, or will we still be talking about the same issues in 50 years
time?