Activity Guide by Kathleen Pelley 1
One of the many things I love about good stories is that they can provide a space in our hectic busy lives to simply PAUSE and PONDER some truth, some beauty, or some new way of looking at the world. Each month I will invite you to join me as I PAUSE and PONDER upon the story I have just read. PAUSE and PONDER Why I love this story? Saint Patrick and the Peddler Written by Margaret Hodges Illustrated by Paul Brett Johnson Here is a lovely lilting Irish tale of a poor Irish peddler who follows the instructions that Saint Patrick gives him in a dream, and so finds great good fortune. St. Patrick is one of my favorite saints for he and I have a few things in common - alas sainthood is not one of them! We were both born in Scotland, we both experienced homesickness when we had to leave our native land, and we both share a love of life and learning and literacy.. and of course. story telling. This book truly captures the essence of the Irish spirit and reminds us what the Irish people celebrate on the feast of Saint Patrick the gifts of knowledge, literacy, a loving heart, and of course.stories! Souvenirs from the story a hearty cheer for beloved Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, which, thanks to him, is now known as the Land of Saints and Scholars. Emotional/Universal Truth What is an emotional truth? Any editor will tell you that a common weakness of many picture book manuscripts is that they are too trite. In other words, they will not withstand multiple readings, because they are too one dimensional and lack a universal, emotional truth. It is NOT a lesson, a moral, or a message! Rather it is a simple truth, woven seamlessly throughout the story - some truth about love, hope, pain, joy, or home that a child can understand and connect with. I like to think of it as that whiff of wonder, that bolt of beauty that lingers with you, long after the last page is turned or the final word uttered. Why should this universal truth matter so much to the read- aloud quality of a picture book? 2
The storytellers go back and back, to a clearing in the forest where a great fire burns, and the old shamans dance and sing, for our heritage of stories began in fire, magic, the spirit world. And that is where it is held, today. Doris Lessing Truth connects us to one another, to our ancestors, and to the world around us. Good books and stories are all about connections. When we read a story aloud to a child a story that truly touches us at the very core of our being with its beauty and its truth, then, we will naturally breathe our own life and love into those words as we read them aloud. (Notice how life and spirit, breath and voice are all connected). In turn, those words will seep into the little listener s heart, making her or him feel brave or bold, calm or kind, happy or hopeful. Adult books maintain lives; children s books change lives. Yolen The truth of this story: Learning how to read and write is a great gift one that is meant to be cherished and shared with others. What souvenir and what truth I wonder, will you and your children take from this story? The following discussion questions and activities are designed for use either with a parent and a child, or with a teacher and her class or a small group. Most of the discussion questions are suited for children ages 7 and up but could be adapted for use with younger children too. - Kathleen Pelley Children s Author, Storyteller, and Speaker www.kathleenpelley.com 3
Suggestions for Pre- reading Background Knowledge and Vocabulary It may be helpful if you share some information about Ireland before your children hear the story. Show a map of Ireland and explain how Northern Ireland is a different country and part of the United Kingdom, along with Scotland, Wales, and England. Explain that the staple food crop for the country was potatoes and that in 1740 and in 1845 there was a blight on the potato crop and so a terrible famine followed. (this story takes place during that last famine of 1845). 4
Vocabulary from the Story Porridge a dish made with oats that the Irish eat with salt (not sugar as here in U.S.A.). Peddler a traveling vendor of goods sometimes called a tinker or gypsy. 1. Where did the peddler live? Discussion Questions 2. Who else had once lived here? 3. How did the peddler welcome visitors into his cabin? 4. How are the peddler and Saint Patrick alike? 5. In what language are the words around the porridge pot? 6. What happened after the potato crop failed? 7. How did the peddler help the people? 8. What did the peddler dream about three times in a row? 9. Why did the peddler not want to go to Dublin? 5
Discussion Questions (cont.) 10. What happened when he went there? 11. Would you have followed Saint Patrick s instructions? Discuss 12. What did the words around the porridge pot mean? 13. How did the peddler use his new found treasure? 14. What would you have done with such a treasure? Discuss. 15. The people of Ireland are known for their warm hospitality like the peddler in this story. How do you welcome people into your home/school/classroom. How do you like to be welcomed when you go to a new place? Discuss. 16. Danny could not read or write until the priest taught him. Imagine what it would be like if you did not know how to read or write. Discuss. 6
Word Scramble Activity The Irish language aeiglc Emblem of Ireland kcormahs Type of Irish fairy/old man Lprchneeau Patrick is one tinas Irish word for Ireland riee Pot of gold is here worinab Irish muscial instrument prah 7
IRISH BLESSINGS The Irish people are renonwned for their hospitality making visitors feel welcome, and one of the ways they do that is to give a blessing. The word blessing really just means to wish someone well. Share some of these Irish blessings with your students. Encourage them to pick one to memorize and share with a group or a class. 8
IRISH BLESSINGS (cont.) Kathleen Pelley Storytelling Activity Guide 9
IRISH BLESSINGS (cont.) Kathleen Pelley Storytelling Activity Guide THE BOOK OF KELLS ART/CALIGRAPHY ACTIVITY The Book of Kells is an illuminated Gospel Manuscript written in Latin. It was created in a monastery in Ireland around 800AD and was on display in the Abbey of Kells in Ireland. Its home is now Trinity College, Dublin. 10
ART/CALIGRAPHY ACTIVITY (cont.) Show children some samples of Celtic lettering that orginated from Book of Kells. Have them experiment decorating a letter. Some of them might write out their favorite Irish Blessing using calligraphy, or even just creating one decorative letter. Encourage them to surround it with an edging of shamrocks or Celtic braids and display around the class/room. 11
ART/CALIGRAPHY ACTIVITY (cont.) Using outline of shamrock below, or have children draw their own shamrock, have them write a different blessing, or parts of same blessing, inside each leaf and display around the room. 12
Social Studies Unit on Ireland Divide your class into groups and have them do a research study unit on Ireland. They might study such categories as: Irish Food include information on Potato Famine, find recipes and bring a dish into class to share. Irish Music musical instruments, harp and penny whistle, and Irish dancing. During the Dark Ages at the fall of the Roman Empire, the Irish monks and scribes maintained a record of western civilization by copying manuscripts from Greek and Latin, while the rest of Europe lost all such literature: they spread light into the darkness. To this day, Ireland is known as the Land of Saints and Scholars. Read The Man who Loved Books a picture book by Jean Fritz. 13
Social Studies Unit on Ireland (cont.) Research on - Irish Saints in addition to St. Patrick eg Brigid, Columba, Kevin and Oliver. To Research Saint Patrick, be sure to have students listen to the notes on Saint Patrick at the end of this month s read aloud. Famous Irish writers/scholars eg. James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, George Bernard Shaw Students then come together to share their findings with the whole class. Saint Patrick s Day Quiz You might like to end your unit of study on Ireland with a special Saint Patrick s Day quiz. After students have completed their research and made notes, divide them into two teams and give them this quiz. 1. What is the national emblem of Ireland? 2. Why? 3. Describe the flag of Ireland. 4. Name a famous Irish dish. 5. Name an Irish saint (not Saint Patrick) 6. Where was Saint Patrick born. 7. Name a famous Irish writer. 8. Name a famous Irish musical instrument. 14
Social Studies Unit on Ireland (cont.) 9. What is the Book of Kells? 10. Where is it kept? 11. What is the Celtic cross? 12. What is the Irish language? 13. Recite an Irish blessing. 14. Why is Ireland known as the Land of Saints and Scholars? 15. Give two other names for Ireland? 15
Discussion Questions 1. Ballymena 2. Saint Patrick Kathleen Pelley Storytelling Activity Guide Answer Key 3. He told them to come in and warm themselves and have a spoonful of porridge. 4. Neither of them could read or write, then they learned to read and write, they were both kind, they shared their learning and stories with others. 5. Latin 6. People were hungry and too poor to buy from the peddler. 7. He gave them things without charging them. 8. That Saint Patrick was telling him to come to Dublin. 9. It was too far away and he had never been before. 10. He met a butcher and discovered that there was something of value beneath the porridge pot. 11. No right answer. 12. Here I stand, old and good, with something better under me. 13. He got a dog, a horse, and a beautiful wife. He gave to the poor and told stories about Saint Patrick. 14. No right answer. 15. No right answer. 16
16. No right answer. Word Scramble Activity 1. Gaelic 2. Shamrock 3. Leprechaun 4. Saint 5. Eire 6. Rainbow 7. Harp Saint Patrick s Day Quiz 1 Shamrock Kathleen Pelley Storytelling Activity Guide Answer Key (cont.) 2 Because that is what St. Patrick used to teach the people about God. 3 4 Irish stew, trifle, corned beef and cabbage (or various other answers) 5 Scotland 6 James Joyce, Frank McCourt, Oscar Wilde (or various other answers) 7 Harp or fiddle or penny whistle 8 An illuminated Gospel manuscript 17
9 Trinity College, Dublin Kathleen Pelley Storytelling Activity Guide Answer Key (cont.) 10 A cross with a circle around it that St Patrick introduced after he brought christianity to Ireland, because the Irish people honored the circle. 11 Gaelic 12 Any of blessing that student can recite 13 During the dark ages, Irish monks and scribes kept learning and literacy alive by copying manuscripts, while rest of Europe languished. 14 The Emerald Isle or Eire 18