January normally feels like the longest month ever. That’s because it is! It is a full 5 weeks and this year, 2021, in particular I am sure that you are keen to shake off January and get going on a fresh new month of teaching and learning. Whether online or in-person, here are my top teaching ideas for the month of February!
- The first day of February means Lá Fhéile Bríde to most Irish people and whether or not you teach in a christian school or not, the story and myth of Saint Brigid is one that is prime for lots of learning activities! Imbolg or Saint Brigid’s day marks the first day of spring. It lands half way between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is believed that Imbolg was a pagan festival and that Saint Brigid became the christian symbol of the feast day. On St Brigid’s Day, in Ireland, Brigid’s crosses were made and a doll-like figure of Brigid (a Brídeóg) would be brought from house-to-house by girls, sometimes accompanied by ‘strawboys‘. People would make a bed for Brigid and leave her food and drink, and items of clothing would be left outside for her to bless. Brigid was also invoked to protect homes and livestock. Special feasts were had, holy wells were visited, and it was a time for divination. A teaching idea could range from historical research into her background and the many stories created about her. Go the Ask about Ireland at http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/looking-at-places/kildare/saint-brigid/life-of-st.-brigid/ for heaps of information and a good starting point for any Imbolg fan!
- February has to be associated with LOVE! 14th of February will be Valentine’s Day for most children and teachers. If we do end up teaching remotely as Micheal Martin recently hinted at, the SSS Teaching website has some excellent ideas for remote teaching about LOVE from February scavenger hunts you could run on your live classes to a Would you rather Valentine’s activity?
- The third theme we might look at as teachers, whether online or in-person, is Chinese New Year which is on 12th February this year and it is the year of the Ox. the teacher website red ted art has lots of crafty ideas for celebrating the year of the OX and if we do happen to be back in the school building, you can switch these easily to do as a clas project. There are some easy and wonderful ideas on https://www.redtedart.com/chinese-new-year-crafts-kids/ that you might assign to your class. The Dublin Lunar New Year Festival website runs from 14-21st February. There are loads of good films for your class to watch, perhaps at a live Zoom and then discuss after. There are also some cute Chinese recipe cooking ideas, if you live near Dublin you can buy the cooking kits in the Asian markets and cook along online!
I hope these have whetted your teaching appetite! You might also check nearer to home, Irish-made resources on mash.ie! There are cloze procedures, vocab packs and lesson packs all on the theme of Saint Brigid here https://mash.ie/?s=brigid&post_type=product
We have Valentine’s day theme in the Write the Room/SCavenger hunts from our lovely teacher seller, Busy Books and Binders here at https://mash.ie/product/valentines-day-activities-valentines-day-scavenger-hunt-writing-activity-worksheets/
From our very popular and lovely teacher-seller, Muinteoir Ni Mhuircheartaigh a fabulous Chinese New Year teaching pack and powerpoints as Gaeilge. You cannot go wrong! Check it out at https://mash.ie/product/chinese-new-year-bundle/
Let us know in the comments if you have seen any brilliant Irish-made resources on Saint Brigid’s, Valentine’s or Chinese New Year. Happy February!