Winning Essays

Topic: Reading Helps Us to Learn

By Annemarie Maag-Tanchak

           You learn almost anything through reading.  Reading can help you learn about the world.  I have read some books about Ireland and I have learned many things.  Ireland’s nickname is the “Emerald Isle.”  Photographs of Ireland show green fields and green hills.  Ireland has rainy weather that makes green plants grow.

          Children in Ireland must go to school from the ages of 6 to 15.  In the schools of Ireland children learn English, as well as Gaelic.  They also get holidays off such as Christmas, and Easter and of course St. Patrick’s Day.  The Catholic Churches run most of the Elementary Schools.

          Ireland grows and eats lots of potatoes.  The Irish also like to eat fruits and vegetables.  Their breakfasts sometimes include eggs, sausage and tomatoes.  Many people in Ireland make and eat Irish Soda Bread by mixing baking soda, flour and buttermilk.  Irish stew is also famous.

          Ireland has very few mammals.  Ireland also has many water animals such as salmon, trout, char, pollan, cod, haddock, herring and lobster.  Ireland also has no snakes.  The lizard is their only reptile.  About 380 different species of birds live in Ireland.  I will name a few for you:  ducks, geese, swans, waders, and merlin.   They fly over the coastal areas.

          I learned a lot about Ireland writing this story. It was fun learning about Ireland.  I would like to go there sometime.  The two books that I read about Ireland were “A Family In Ireland” and “Countries of the World: Ireland,” so, if you ever want to learn about Ireland, go to your local library and check them out!

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