This term Year 7 have been reading Under The Hawthorn Tree and learning about the Irish Famine. We explored what life was like for children living during this period and the impact the famine had on their lives. We examined different classes of people, for example landlords, strong farmers and small farmers and compared various aspects of their lives. This led us to sketching scenes and making models of poor farmers’ cottages. Through our novel we were introduced to workhouses and so we researched what conditions were like for those who had to enter the workhouse. We composed our own diary entries, writing as a child who experienced this life. We learnt how Ballymena had its own workhouse on the Cushendall Road. We also drew sketches of the workhouse interiors based on what we had learnt in class.
