SeanfhocailIrish proverbs & blessings, sourced

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Game · Puzzle

Saying memory pairs

A turn-over memory game: find each saying and the card with its meaning.

Ní neart go cur le chéileThere is strength in unity.Meaning, pronunciation and source →

What to do

  1. Cut out the twelve cards. Read each saying and its meaning together once before you play.
  2. Shuffle the cards and lay them face down in a grid.
  3. Take turns to turn over two cards. If they are a saying and its meaning, keep them and go again.
  4. If they do not match, turn them back over and the next player has a turn.
  5. When all the cards are matched, each player picks one saying they won and says when they might use it.

You will need

  • The printed card sheet, cut out
  • Scissors

Make it fit

Simpler: Play with three pairs of cards and keep them face up, so it becomes a matching game.

More of a stretch: When you win a pair, you keep it only if you can give an example of the saying in real life.

Sayings used

Printables

The instructions card is for the adult running the activity; the worksheet is for the children. Prints on A4 or US Letter at 100% / actual size; colour is optional.

The cut-out cards

Tús maith leath na hoibre
A hundred thousand welcomes.
There is strength in unity.
Practice makes perfect.
Well begun is half done.
There is no place like home.
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin
Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte
Céad míle fáilte
Den cheird an cleachtadh; namhaid don cheird gan a cleachtadh
Ní neart go cur le chéile
Health is better than wealth.

Cut out the cards. Each saying has one card in Irish and one with its meaning.

seanfhocail.ie · Free for classroom and home use · Meanings, audio and sources for every saying: seanfhocail.ie/classroom/activities/saying-memory-pairs

The instructions card

How to run it · Game · Puzzle

Saying memory pairs

A turn-over memory game: find each saying and the card with its meaning.

15 minutesIn pairs, Small groupAges 7–9, Ages 9–12, Ages 12+

Children pulling together on one rope
  • Ní neart go cur le chéileThere is strength in unity.
  • Tús maith leath na hoibreWell begun is half done.
  • Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féinThere is no place like home.
  • Is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinteHealth is better than wealth.
  • Den cheird an cleachtadh; namhaid don cheird gan a cleachtadhPractice makes perfect.
  • Céad míle fáilteA hundred thousand welcomes.

What to do

  1. Cut out the twelve cards. Read each saying and its meaning together once before you play.
  2. Shuffle the cards and lay them face down in a grid.
  3. Take turns to turn over two cards. If they are a saying and its meaning, keep them and go again.
  4. If they do not match, turn them back over and the next player has a turn.
  5. When all the cards are matched, each player picks one saying they won and says when they might use it.

You will need

  • The printed card sheet, cut out
  • Scissors

Make it fit

Simpler: Play with three pairs of cards and keep them face up, so it becomes a matching game.

Stretch: When you win a pair, you keep it only if you can give an example of the saying in real life.

Goes with the printable cut-out cards.

seanfhocail.ie · Free for classroom and home use · Meanings, audio and sources for every saying: seanfhocail.ie/classroom/activities/saying-memory-pairs

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