The King of the Sea

There are 350 different kinds of sharks all over the world. Sharks were around 400 million years ago. The smallest sharks the size of an adult pinky finger and is called a Tsurangohbittom. Many sharks like the Tiger shark and the Bull shark are named after land animals. The tiger shark has dark black stripes on its back similar to the big cat. But as the sharks grows older the stripes often fade away. The Bull shark gets its name from its flat wide snout which resembles that of a bull. The biggest type of shark is the Whale shark, it can grow up to 18m long. However, the fastest shark is the Sharfin Mako shark. It swims at about 35km/h or 21.75 miles per hour. The longest living shark is the Spiny Dogfish shark which lives for between 70 and 100 years.
Habitat: Sharks are found in most oceans and seas. The more active sharks usually stay near the surface or the middle of the ocean. The smaller ones prefer the ocean floor. Some sharks live near the coast and can even enter rivers and lakes that are linked to the sea.
Diet: A shark’s only proper weapon is its mouth. The two most important parts of a shark’s mouth are the teeth and the jaws. Sharks do not chew their food but usually crush their prey into mouth-sized pieces. Sharks can crush the shells of other marine animals.
Appearance: The Great White shark is actually grey or bluish grey in colour with a white underbelly. Its colouring helps it to get close to its prey without being noticed when seen from below. The white underbelly blends in white the bright reflection on the sky quite often this shark attacks its victims by sneaking up quietly. The shark greyish colour then helps it to blend in with the dark water. I chose his project because i live them and they are interesting.

By Leon Murphy

The Black Hawk

I am sure you have heard of the Black Hawk, an army helicopter used by the U.S military service. The UH-60 Black Hawk entered service in 1979 replacing the Bell UH-1 and it is now the main helicopter for the U.S. Army. They are very expensive they cost $21.3 each.
Wars: It served in wars such as Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Somalia, the Balkans, Afghanistan and other areas in the Middle East.
Uses: The U.S. Border Patrol uses the UH-60 in its operations specifically along the southwest border. The Black Hawk has been used by the Border Patrol to interdict the illegal aliens into the U.S. and incursion of dangerous individuals. Additionally, the Border Patrol regularly uses the UH-60 in search and rescue operations.
Versions: Many armies like China, England, Israel and many more have their own modified versions of the UH-60.
Armour and Weaponry: The UH-60 comes with machine guns, free-fire and heat-seeking missiles and heavy metal armour.Death of Osama bin Laden: The biggest operation the UH-60 was in was the U.S. Special Forces operation to kill Osama bin Laden. A highly modified version of the UH-60M was used. Extra blades were added to the tailfin to make it silent. The same radar that’s on the B-2 Stealth Bomber was used to keep it hidden from Pakistani Air-Force radar. The operation was watched through a camera by Barack Obama and the rest of the U.S Defence Board.
Navy: The U.S. Navy use the Sea Hawk and it is the second largest helicopter in the US after the CH-47 Chinook. It is heavily armoured and is specifically designed for search and rescue missions at sea.

By Cian Joyce

The Wonder of Gouldian Finches

Ever wonder about beautiful birds? Well, you have wondered about a Gouldian finch then! A Gouldian finch looks like a Goldfinch with its colours. Some Gouldian finches have a black head, a green back and a purple breast. Gouldian finches are one of the brightest birds you will ever see.
Habitat: Gouldian finches live in an aviary. Gouldian finches wouldn’t be found in the wild. An aviary is a place where birds live. It is made from wood and wire. I have an aviary on my Balcony. My aviary is 6ft in width and 10ft in height. I have about 45 birds in my aviary. They have to be kept in heat otherwise they will die. They need to have a good spacious aviary.
Diet: Gouldian finches eat millet seed and normal finch seed. It costs 24euro for a four stone bag it lasts 4 weeks. Sometimes they eat lettuce and broccoli. Gouldian finches need to have their food and water changed every day.
Protection: The finches need to be protected from sparrow hawks, magpies, cats and other predators.Gouldian finches have up to six eggs at once and these eggs need to be protected too. The eggs als oneed to be kept warm.
I really ilike Gouldian finches and think they are one of the most colourful birds in the world. I hope to keep Gouldian finces when I am older like my Dad.

By Tyrek Doran

The Silent Assassin of the Sky

Have you ever wondered about the average price of a B-2 Spirit Bomber? Well it’s 2.1 billion dollars!! Wow, slightly more expensive than a family car! Let me tell you a little more!
The B-2 is a triangular shape. The B-2 is originated in the United States of America. The speed of a B-2 is 1,010km/h. That kind of speed would break the sound barrier!! The length of the B-2 is 21 metres and the wingspan of it is 52 metres. It can fly over a base without being detected. This bomber has only been used for tests and war. There was only 21 built and 20 are left in the world.
The first ever flight was on 17th of July 1989. The guns and bombs that are used on a B-2 are hellfire missiles, nukes and a machine gun underneath it. In case of emergency the pilot’s seat can shoot out if it’s about to explode.
The B-2 is only used by the U.S. Air Force. It is made of composite plastic. Built at great cost, The U.S. Air force B-2 Stealth-Bomber is designed to approach targets without being noticed. It is made of composite plastic materials and has a special shape which makes it difficult to detect by radar. I studied this aircraft because it’s something you can fly and I love flying.
I have seen pictures of the B-2 bomber and it is big. A B-2 bomber crashed on my 8th birthday on the 22nd of February 2008. So you better keep your eye on the sky because before you hear it it’s always gone!

By Kian McDonagh

The King of Greenland

Ever wonder if there’s a shark that can eat a polar bear and at the same time get eaten by a parasite? Such a shark exists, it’s called the Greenland shark.
Habitat: The Greenland shark is found in the North Atlantic Ocean and in parts of Greenland and Iceland. This shark prefers cold-water temperatures and will usually only ascend from the depths if the surface drops to around 33 degrees Fahrenheit. During the summer the Greenland shark inhabits depths of 600 to 2400 feet. This is one of the largest living species of shark of dimensions comparable to those of the Great White shark.
Life cycle:The Greenland shark can live up to 200 years old. They can grow up to 23 feet long and when the sharks are babies they are 90cm long. They weigh 1,000kg (2,200lb) and some can possibly weigh up to 1,400kg (3,100lb). Also called the “sleeper shark,” this species is often inactive and indeed appears to be sleeping. The Greenland shark is often found with a “best friend forever,” a parasitic copepod that lives on the shark’s eye and feasts on its corneal tissue.
Appearance:The Greenland shark’s skin is grey and black and it looks like stone. Its flesh is very poisonous. It is often mistaking by divers as the ocean floor
Diet:The Greenland shark eats polar bears, reindeer and seals. When feeding on large carcasses, the shark employs a rolling motion of its jaw. The teeth of the upper jaw are very thin and pointed, lacking serrations. These upper jaw teeth, numbering from 48 to 52 teeth act as anchor while the lower jaw does the cutting. The lower teeth are interlocking and are broad and square, 50 to 52 in count, containing short, smooth cusps that point outward. Teeth in the two halves of the lower jaw are really powerful.
Other Interesting Facts:The Greenland shark is the largest member of the dogfish family. The Greenland shark was first discovered around the coast of Greenland in 1995. The next time you think about swimming in Greenland, think again!

By Jonathan Dowdall

The Beast of the Sky

Guess what one of the most deadly machines in the world is? Give up? Well ever heard of the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Well the B-2 Stealth Bomber is designed to fly over any army base and not come up on the radar. It is also built for speed.Do you know where the B-2 is from? No? Well do you know California, USA, tha's where it's from. Here’s a little fact for you everybody thinks that the Americans made the B-2 but really the British did. Now to its appearanceThe B-2 is a kind of triangular shaped death machine. Do you know what speed the B-2 can go? The speed of the B-2 is subsonic, that’s as fast as the speed of sound. But the only time they would go that fast is if another plane or jet or especially the F-22 Raptor is after them. The weapons on a B-2 are hellfire missiles, heat seeking missiles, nukes and machine gunners.The B-2 is suited up with all that stuff because it goes into war. Do you know what the B-2 is made from? The B-2 is made from composite plastic and other materials. Do you know what plane is similar to the B-2? No? Well the name of it is the Night Hawk. So the next time you look at the sky and think is it a plane, is it superman, it's better than that! It might be a B-2 Stealth Bomber so watch out!

By Lee Byrne

Our Reaction Times!

Although light and heavy things fall to ground at the same speed (we studied Galileo's famous experiment from the Tower of Pisa!), becuase paper is very light, it can be subject to air resistance and air currents. We created reaction timers that we cut out and weighed down with a piece of 'blu-tac'. Check out our video and see how our paper reaction timers fall and who has the fastest reaction times! Can you guess who has the feastest reaction times?

By Pierce O' Leary

National Library Week

Here is a very short video we made of our meeting with Mary Kennedy to promote National Library Week. We met the RTE presenter in the Long Room of Trinity College where we posed, like pro's, to have our photographs taken!

By Cameron and Leon

Mary Kennedy and the Legendary Larriers!

 



RTE Presenter Mary Kennedy with three of the legendary Larriers!







RTE Presenter Mary Kennedy flicks through the Book of Kells with Cameron, Leon and David. Can you spot the Larrier who has read all the Harry Potter books?!
 

Just like many of our legendary Larriers, RTE presenter Mary Kennedy loves the magic of libraries. Yesterday the boys joined Mary in Trinity College to help launch National Library Week.
"Once you go through the doors of a library you are entering an Aladdin's cave of reading, learning and visual stimulation – and it's all free of charge.
I believe the library has an increasingly important part to play in the community, they are places where people can drop by and interact with others" the 'Nationwide' presenter said at the launch of Library Ireland Week.
Launching the week of events in the famous Long Room in Trinity College, Ms Kennedy said libraries were magical places for all age, and with libraries in the classroom, downstairs in the school and nearby, our Larriers couldn't agree more!



An Up and Down Day!

Four months ago I went to a new football team out in Edenmore. I had my first match in the AUL. I was playing left back. We tipped off and AB passed the ball to Dano. But Dano lost the ball. They passed it around while. Suddenly they played a through ball. Some player clipped me. I fell and the ball hit my foot and went into my own goal!! I shouted “just a start I need at a new club''. The game ended 11-0. I couldn't believe but that's what happens when you play a team of seventeen year olds from Italy. My manger didn't know there was an age group before the Italian team came over to Dublin.
Afterwards, I went to my ma's boyfriend's house to get something to eat because I had another match an hour later. So I went back to the AUL. We won 2-1 and it was much better –who likes lose 11-0!!
I went home and that night and I went to see 'War Horse'. It was good film and  I got butter popcorn, sweets and ice-cream. When we went back to my house I went to bed. 'What an up and down day' I said to myself before I crashed out!

By Leon Murphy

My Halloween

On the 25th of October, my friends and I were getting ready for Halloween. We were out all morning collecting tyres and getting wood. When we got all the tyres and wood we took them back to the dock near where we live.
Later it was getting dark so all of us went into our houses. The next morning Dylan knocked for me and shouted ''hurry all of our stuff is getting taken''. When he told me we both ran around and dragged the tyres from everyone who was taking them. Next of all,  to make up for the tyres we had lost, my friends and I went out looking for more tyres and wood. We all went up to the shop and got five trolleys. Follwing that, we went to a garage and the man in the garage gave us forty tyres.
A few days later it was Halloween. That morning my brother and I got up at 7:30am and went around to the dock. We brought our tyres and pallets from  the hiding place  in the dock. We set to work building the bonfire. soon it was Halloween night.  We had stacked a great bonfire. At eight 0`clock the Bonfire got lit. It was one of the best Bonfires I was ever at.

By John Hutch

Zombies on the Yard

One school morning there were four boys walking to school. They didn’t want to be late for school. When they got towards the school Mr. Candon was waiting outside. He said ‘Why are you all so late’. They said ‘we were getting our lunch’.
When Leon and the lads got up to class, they heard James  telling Cameron a scary story, which happened about thirty years ago in this school. It was about a class up up the roof  who were doing work on the flowers and the garden there. Mr. Bailey, who was the teacher, heard a noise from the lift shaft next to the roof so he went to check.  Nothing was there. Yet when he got back his class was gone!!
Back in the class, follwing James' story, Kian heard noise, it was a meteorite on the yard. All of a sudden the classes started to shake. Then zombies came out of the crater that the meteorite created in the yard. Miss O’Carroll went downstairs to onvestiagte but a zombie chased her on the corridor. Everyone decided to take action, we barracaded ourselves in the classroom and three amazing boys came up with a plan to kill the zombies. Remeber an ''ar-oo cha cha'' a day keeps the zombies away . So when a zombie came into the classroom, Ben did the ''ar-oo cha cha'' and it exploded. The news spread fast . Now all the zombies were falling like flies!! So when there was two zombies left Anthony eliminated one and Ade eliminated the other. When they were all gone, we lifted the roof off with cheers - but then we remembered we'd just saved our school!! A good or bad idea?!!

By Ade Benjamin

My 'Class' Trip to France

On the 26th of March 2012 my class and I went to France. The first thing I did was go to school at 7:50 am. I saw all of my friends standing on the steps outside the school. They all gave their mothers a hug and took their suitcases. We waved at them all. I imagined that Lee was going to be very excited. I was excited but not excited as Lee.
A while later we got on a bus to the airport .We had to check in our luggage. The man who was working at the metal detectors explained to all of us “You have to take off every bit of metal on you “. A while later we were in France. The second day we went to a lovely school. We got croissants. They were lovely. Next we went to play football with the French kids. They were very good. Later on we went back to the hostel. We got hot chocolate.
That night Jonathan, Pierce, Lee and I were in our bunk beds. All of a sudden Pierce was watching 'Rocky' on his PSP. Lee wanted it turned off but Pierce turned the volume up. Lee was screaming. Pierce was laughing “ha ha ha’’. This was one of my great memories that I really love from my time in France.

By Scott Rooney

My New Team

When I heard the news from my manager I was sad. He told me that my team was scrapped. I didn’t know what to do. Luckily, there was a tournament and there were scouts and other coaches.
I ended up getting awarded player of the tournament. Before I was about to leave a man approached me and said he was from Home Farm. He asked me for my parents phone number. A week had gone by since my team got scrapped.
Suddenly I got a call, it was from a manager from Malachys called Steo. He asked me if I wanted to come out and try the team. I said ‘ok’. I knew two of my friends, Tyrek and Leon, had already joined the team . So that was a little comforting. As I stepped onto Malachys pitch in Springdale Road I recognised a few people like Steo Furlong, Dano and Jimbo.
After we had a little training session. A manager named Deafy said I will play my first match next week. Soon that day came when I had to prove my spot on the team. I was nervous and excited. But my nerves paid off . I got man of the match and a hat-trick.
By Conor Darcy

The Seed

The jar contained a very large seed. Other than its size there was nothing out of the ordinary about this seed at all. The label of the jar however warned this seed should NEVER, NEVER be planted. I was in my house I went out to the back garden. I had the jar in my hand I decided to plant it. But where was I going to plant this seed? I was standing there for fifteen minutes, and then it came to me. I could plant it in the college where I mostly go. Nobody goes there. I walked down to the college all by myself. There was a patch of grass. Suddenly I put it down and planted it. I did this on my own. I was not going to tell anybody. After I planted it I went home. At that moment I looked up, it started to thunder and lightning. Suddenly I started to sweat and people were taking off their tops and shorts. After that the paint from the cars started to peel, tyres stared to melt. The heat was incredible. It came to me! I knew the weather changed because since I have planted the seed all these strange things started to happen.
At first I thought it was a joke because nothing was happening. Then all of a sudden the weather started to change even more. I really wanted it to stop. I was so scared. I was really scared of people homes and land getting flooded. It was raining now, it continued for a week. People were really afraid of what was going to happen. It was on the news bout farms flooding and people knew their food would start to run out.
The next day I went down where I planted the seed. I knew I had to stop what was happening. So I tried to pull the seed up. Suddenly I started to pull the seed up. But it was too strong to pull. After that I went home to get something strong. Out my back yard I spotted my Dad’s shovel. I got it and walked up to the college, and went over to the seed. I started to dig. Finally I got it out. All of a sudden the weather changed. So I walked home, I was happy and so were all the people. I hope they never know it was me who planted the seed!!

By Cameron O‘Brien.

Zombies on the Yard - Trailer

One Minute to Save a Life

The One Minute to Save a Life campaign was organised by Price Waterhouse Cooper and the boys and girls in 6th class from St. Laurence O'Tooles. We raised money for the Irish Heart Foundation and we are hoping we got enough money to buy defibrillators for our local G.A.A. club. the defibrillators save lives. If someone's heart stops it gives them a boost as strong as a horses kick. It helps people if they have a heart attack. We met up every Wednesday for the last 8 weeks to organise stuff for the 11th of May. We had it over at Spencer Dock. Our class went over at 11.30 and organised the 3 teams and exactly where everybody needed to go. I was in charge of goal 3. Every time people kicked the ball in my direction I caught them and rolled them back so the next perosn could have their go. We made thank you cards. We had sponsor cards and we had to raise more than €20 each on them. It all turned out well, we had a great time. There were people taking lots of photos on the day and some of the boys got their picture in the paper. The best thing about the day was being in charge of the goals and the balls. I really enjoyed that. by Jame Hayes