Rathcormac N.S.

The Homework we all loved!!

It's not often children love homework but the pupils in sixth class were really inspired after their visit to Carrowmore and the challenge of an archery contest.They had to construct a bow an arrow !Follow these instructions and you too could make a fantastic bow and arrow.

To make a bow and arrow

Choose a pliable stick (ash or sycamore work well), c.1.5-1.8m long and c.2cm in diameter, and some strong string or twine.
Step 1: Cut a notch at each end of the stick to hold the bow string.
Step 2:Tie the string to one end, bend the stick to get a curve and tie the string to the other end.
You could press this end of the bow against the ground to keep it bent while tying the string.
THE ARROW: Choose a thin straight stick, c. 1m long, and a flattish pointed stone. You will also need some string.
Step 1: cut a small slit (3-4cm deep) at one end of the stick to hold and arrowhead.
Step 2: Insert the stone arrowhead and blind in place with string.

Happy hunting!!

!!! Our Days Hunting !!!
By Hugh Kisby

The best bit of homework I ever had to do was; make a bow and arrow. Ms. O'Boyle brought us to Carrowmore tombs the week before and there was a bow with a quiver full of arrows on the wall. So I went home, told Dad and we started at once.

Day One: We first of all cut a large branch off our willow tree. Using a knife, I then cut off all the branches and leaves. I took off the bark next. Dad then bent the stick gently and we left it in the shed to dry. Just before I went in, I collected a few sticks for arrows.
Day Two: We made the arrows next by using bamboo canes. We decided to put some fletching (feathers) on them, but as we had no feathers, we used an old butter tub. We cut them out, spray-painted them black and attached them to the arrows. We sharpened them using sand paper.
Day Three: We attached a handle to the bow with twine securing it with tape. Then we used more twine for the rope. It was finished!!!

I got up early the next morning to try out my bow. I soon figured out a problem. Because the fletching was made of cardboard rather than feathers it was catching on the bow. I quickly got another cane, sharpened it with sand paper and put some tape on it so I'd know it's mine. I tried it out. It was brilliant. But then disaster struck. My bow broke at the bus stop. At school though, Sean gave me a new one.

When we tried them out Mark and Ross's arrows flew the furthest. Then Owen and I let everyone use our real bows. It was a brilliant experience and I'd love to it again.

Happy Hunting!

On Monday our task for homework was to make a bow and arrow. We were given a sheet of instructions and we had three nights to complete it.
When I got home from school. I had to read the instructions and went in search of materials for the project. Dad and I went in search of a good but thin willow branch. We found one in our back garden. My Dad cut two branches one for the bow and one for the arrow. Out on my road found a suitable stone to use for the arrowhead.
To make the bow according to the instructions, I carved a notch at each end of the stick to hold the string. Then we had to bend the stick in order to tie a bit of twine around each end.
To make the arrowhead we cut the other stick at one end to hold the arrowhead. We inserted it and tied it with
I enjoyed the making of the project and trying out our bows and arrows in school on Thursday. Unfortunately my arrow did not fly because my string was to loose and my arrow was way too thick, other peoples worked really well Rosses and marks flew a very long way (lucky).

By
Niamh Henry !!!

A Hunter's Beginning By Clodagh

Our class had three days to make a bow and arrow from wood and string. Since we had to do this at home, I left it to the last day as usual.
So on Wednesday Shauna, my dad and I down to the sea shore to get some bendy sticks for the bow. When we found some good trees my dad started to chop them down. He cut about 10 really long branches about 2 ½ metres long. Then we started to walk back up to my house.
When we got back, me and Shauna picked the right stick and cut them to the right size. Then we held each side to bend it and my dad tied the string on to it to keep it in shape. After that we got my dad to cut arrows and we sharpened the end of it. I dropped my first arrow down the drain so dad had to make another one.
I was disappointed when my first arrow ended up beside my feet then dad informed me I was holding the bow backwards, so I switched it around and it worked fine.
The next day at school, everyone was decorating their arrows with felt. I put a feather on the end of mine. Then we went outside to test our bows. We lined up in fours and each person had two shots. Owen and Hugh`s arrows went the farthest even though Owen lost his arrow.