Extra Help In The Garden The Irish Scarecrow
History and Fun Facts
- Scarecrows have been used since the times of the Egyptians to keep birds away from crops. In medieval England children did the job by standing in fields with stones in bags. In India and some Arab countries men still use this method to scare birds away.
- In Ireland scarecrows were used to buy and sell poitín and dressed as gardaí to keep burglars away from homes. They were not widely used in areas of Ireland with good land such as Meath, Kildare and the Golden Vale.
- In Ulster, scarecrows owned by nationalists were dressed in green with black berets and faced towards the Free State, while those owned by Orangemen stood in the centre of their land facing towards Belfast.
- In Donegal they were known as Dandies because they were so well dressed with overcoats, britches and complete with a shirt and tie!
- The scarecrow is immortalised in film in The Wizard of Oz. In it he dreams of one day having a brain but as the film develops it is evident that he is already the wisest character in Oz.
How to Make a Scarecrow
Equipment
1 length of 5cmX2cm (2”X1”) wood 2 metres long, 1 length 5cmX2cm (2”X1”) wood 1 metre long, screws, screwdriver, old clothes, hat, gloves, boots, string, pillowcase or plant pot, straw.
Method
- Screw or nail the 1metre piece horizontally to the 2 metre piece about 30 to 40 cm down from the top.
- Put the jumper on the scarecrow and stuff with straw. Tie the arm ends and waist with string.
- Put on the trousers with one leg going down the wood, stuff with straw and tie the leg ends and waist with straw.
- Stuff the pillow case with straw and place over the top. Tie again with string to make the shape of the head. Add in sunglasses or other facial features as required.
- Put a hat, mop head or other item on the head. Boots can also be added on the feet.
- Stick up in the garden or raised bed to keep birds away from crops in the garden.
Online Links
a short video to show your class on how to make a scarecrow Google countrywide + Cormac Mac Connell + scarecrow for a podcast of the history of the Irish scarecrow
Curriculum Links
Science: Strand; Living things, Environmental awareness and care. Strand Unit; Plant life, Science and the environment, Local natural environment Visual Arts:Strand; ConstructionStrand Unit; Making constructions, Looking and responding
Paul O’Donnell “From Dung to Dinner” SESE Month by Month Inside and Outside the Classroom