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Unlocking the curriculum for Years 5 & 6 At Birkdale Primary School, Sefton, David Jessop 'unlocked the curriculum' by using Irish materials for a ten-week unit for Years 5 and 6 to encourage creative learning. The hub | The hub of the unit was a range of Irish texts - myths and legends, historical and contemporary fiction and poetry - in the Literacy Hour | Myths & Legends ‘The Quest for Aideen’, Celtic Magic Tales by Liam Mac Uistin, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-341-0
‘The Giant’s Causeway’, Irish Fairy Tales & Legends by Una Leavy, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-482-4 Finn & The Fawn: Narrative Poem by Neil Williams, IiS | Historical novels Under the Hawthorn Tree by Marita Conlan-McKenna, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-206-6 Resource
| Contemporary novels The Battle Below Giltspur by Cormac MacRaois, Wolfhound Press, 0-86327-356-4
The Moon King by Siobhán Parkinson, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-573-1 Resource Cherokee by Creina Mansfield, O’Brien Press, 0-86278-368-5 | Poetry Wishes & Dreams, based on W B Yeats ‘Had I the ...’ |
The spokes The spokes - the Foundation Subjects - drew upon the texts to inspire, with the assistance of visiting artists, an impressive range of creative work in Art, Dance and Drama. Click here for examples of this work. | Art/D&T Pen & Ink Designs Celtic Knots/Historic awareness - shape & form & use of colour/Step-by-step process Banner Design - ‘Celtic Rotunda’ | 3D Art Finn McCool the Legendary Giant | Dance Celtic tales/Knot design/Folk songs | Drama Based on events from historical novel Under the Hawthorn Tree Created two authentic sets to perform within | Music Original music compositions inspired by Irish myths & legends |
Culmination  | The culmination of the unit was a presentation in which the performers stayed in place as the audience took a journey through Irish history and culture in song, dance and prose. |
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