MsOBrienLovesHomework

Today doesn't look like such a nice day. If you went outside this morning, I wonder would the celandine and daisies have their flowers closed over? I'm getting lovely photos and sketches of the flowers you're discovering in your gardens. View them here Today's flower is  Ivy-leaved Toadflax.  You will find it on old walls, growing through any little cracks.   It is extremely clever. What it does is this : while it is in bloom, it turns its face to the sunlight. As soon as it has finished flowering and it has made its seed, the flower stem turns away from the sun and towards a crack in the wall and pushes the seed into the crack. That's what I call clever! The second photo shows the seed being pushed.  It is not a native species but came to Ireland from the Mediterranean many moons ago and has settled in nicely. 

Check out these beautiful pictures inspired by Vivaldi's music  Listen to the music Antonio Vivaldi wrote about spring almost 300 years ago (1723). It is in three parts: 1st movement 2nd movement 3rd movement The first time you listen, try to imagine how spring looks all over the countryside. Imagine the weather, the flowers, the animals. The second time you listen, read this poem that Vivaldi wrote to accompany the music.  After listening for a third time, write down the answers to the following questions and draw a picture of what you hear in the music: What dynamics do you hear? Is it forte, piano, or a mixture of both? What is the tempo of the music – allegro (fast), andante (slow) or a mixture?  What do you think is the mood of the music? Happy or sad or a mixture of emotions? What instruments can you hear?   

Ok, today's flower is the Primrose - Primula vulgaris or Sabhaircín as Gaeilge It's easily identified by pale yellow flowers with a deeper yellow centre and large crinkled leaves. As always, I love to see your sketches and photos. I will display them here

AND..... ....We have a winner! Well done Grace in 2nd class, who found no less than 51  words! Amazing. UNBELIEVABLE! We have a late entry with 54 words - well done Charlie!

Did you manage to find a dandelion yesterday? Did you manage to persuade your parents to leave it grow to help the bees?  Well here's today's challenge:  Celandine Often called the harbinger of spring, Lesser Celandine / Ficaria verna is one to look out for around  now.  Mainly found carpeting dampish soil, hedgerows and riverbanks, this pretty, low-growing species has flowers with 8-12 shiny yellow petals and dark-green, fleshy, heart-shaped leaves.  The flowers open wide in sunshine, closing over at night-time or on overcast days.  If you find it, take a photo or even better, make a sketch and send it on. Careful to count the petals - there might be a different number on some flowers.  Pictures here

Can't wait to see what you are going to create for your leaf faces. Have a look here  for some inspiration.

How are your seeds coming on? I just got sent a beautiful photo of some peas and it reminded me to ask! Photo here