Teaching Guides for O'Brien Press Books

O'Brien Press Teaching Guides are valuable classroom assets offering specific Professional Development support to guided reading in the classroom. All O'Brien Press Teaching Guides are available exclusively online, and can be accessed and downloaded FREE of charge. Teaching Guides provide a valuable resource to teachers including: Overviews of the major themes addressed in O'Brien Press novels Section summaries Suggestions for development activities Advice for themed integration across the curriculum, and much more This support will facilitate planning and provide the teacher with the necessary concise overview to allow them to incorporate this element of literacy into a wider cross curriculum theme based approach to curriculum planning and delivery. Also available: teaching guide to Something Beginning with P, our poetry collection for children of all ages. How Do I Access O'Brien Press Teaching Guides? To view and print any of our Teaching Guides, you will need a PDF file reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe. Just select the age level that you are interested in from the list below. Select the book and Teaching Guide you are interested in, download and print!

Blue Flag: For readers aged 10+

Gary Blackwood

The Shakespeare Stealer A young boy is sent to steal Shakespeare's new play, Hamlet, but becomes involved with Shakespeare and his group of players. Will he betray his new friends to avoid the vengeance of his brutal master? Teaching guide for The Shakespeare Stealer from O'Brien Teaching Guides for Second Level Schools. Download

Eoin Colfer

	Benny and Omar Moving to Tunisia is a real eye-opener for a young Wexford hurling fan. Eoin Colfer's hilarious debut novel. Teaching guide to the novel by Irene Barber Download
	Benny and Babe Benny suffers a severe blow to his pride when he meets Babe. He may be a wise guy, but she is at least three steps ahead of him, and they are on her territory. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download

Marita Conlon-McKenna

	Under The Hawthorn Tree The first book in the famine trilogy The Great Irish Famine brilliantly recreated through the story of three young survivors. When tragedy strikes their family Eily, Michael and Peggy are left to fend for themselves … Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: introduction and episode 1 (349 kb) Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 2 (179 kb) Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 3 (215 kb) Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 4 (315 kb) Download
	Wildflower Girl The second book in the famine trilogy At seven, Peggy made a terrifying journey through famine-stricken Ireland. Now thirteen, and determined to make a new life for herself, she sets off alone to America … Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download
	Fields of Home The final book in the famine trilogy For Eily, Michael and Peggy the memory of the famine is still strong. But Mary-Brigid, Eily's first child, has the future to look forward to. What kind of future is it? Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download
	Safe Harbour Sophie and Hugh are left homeless when their house is bombed during the London Blitz. Their mother is seriously injured and their Dad is away fighting, so the children are sent to their grandfather in Ireland. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download
	In Deep Dark Wood A thrilling adventure story from Ireland's best-selling children's author. Four pages of structured teaching guides to the novel Download
	A Girl Called Blue The orphanage is the only home Blue has ever known. She is desperate to find out who she really is. The closed file in stern Sister Regina's office holds the secret of her identity. And that is forbidden territory ... Teaching guide to the novel by Irene Barber Download

Aubrey Flegg

Katie's War Caught in the Irish Civil War, Katie has divided loyalties: her shell-shocked father fought in the First World War and wants peace, but others still want to fight for a united Ireland. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download

Conor Kostick

Epic #WELCOME TO EPIC: PRESS START TO PLAY#. On New Earth, Epic is not just a computer game, it's a matter of life and death. If you lose, you lose everything; if you win, the world is yours for the taking. Teaching guide to the book, written by the author, Conor Kostick Download

Deborah Lisson

Red Hugh In 1857 the old Irish clans struggled desperately to hold on to their lands against Queen Elizabeth, who also had the Spanish Armada to worry about. Could this be Hugh O'Donnell's opportunity to escape from Dublin Castle? Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download

Morgan Llywelyn

	The Young Rebels A stirring story set against the background of the 1916 Rising. John Joe is a pupil in Padraig Pearse's school, and gets caught up in the dramatic events of the Rebellion. Compelling and evocative. Teaching guide to the book by Liz Morris Download
	Pirate Queen A story of immense bravery and daring, as Granuaile takes on the great Norman lords, smuggles weapons and mercenaries for the Ulster Gaelic O'Donnell and O'Neill clans and finally goes to confront Elizabeth Tudor herself. Teaching Guide for Pirate Queen by Peter Heaney Download
	Strongbow The dramatic story of the Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th century. Full of battles and warfare, but a story of love, too, between an unlikely pair - wilful and wild Irish princess Aoife, and Strongbow Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download
	Brian Boru This internationally best-selling author, winner of many awards in adult historical fiction, now turns her hand to historical fiction for children with a personalised account of the life of Brian Boru. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download

Gregory Maguire

	The Good Liar Asked to recount his wartime experiences, the old painter Marcel looks back on a childhood touched by war but almost oblivious to its importance. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download
	Missing Sisters Alice Colossus is a bright but shy twelve-year-old who has spent her life in an orphanage in upstate New York. Then at summer camp the girls keep mistaking her for someone called Miami. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download

Creina Mansfield

Cherokee Gene's grandfather, Cherokee, is a famous jazz musician and Gene travels the world with him. He loves the life and his only ambition is to be a musician too. But his aunt is totally opposed to the idea ... Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download

Oisín McGann

The Gods and their Machines Two worlds. Two different lives. Divided by hate and violence. Thrown together by chance. Teaching guide to the novel by Judy Deacon Download

Jan Michael

Just Joshua A heart-warming story of one boy's search for identity. Comprehensive teaching guide to the book Download

Frank Murphy

Lockie and Dadge Lockie is a bit of a misfit. Orphaned, he is placed in foster home after foster home, but somehow he never settles in. He runs away and meets up with some eccentric characters, like himself, an outsider. For the first time, Lockie belongs to a real family Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download

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Under the Hawthorn Tree - Video A film treatment of Marita Conlon-McKenna's acclaimed novel. Teaching guide to the novel and film: introduction and episode 1 (349 kb) Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 2 (179 kb) Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 3 (215 kb) Download Teaching guide to the novel and film: episode 4 (315 kb) Download

Joe O'Brien

Féile Fever Danny Wilde and his teammates are finding the Under-14s Division tough going. Could Todd, the new Australian kid, help them become winners? Teaching guide and class activities by Peter Heaney Download

Siobhán Parkinson

	Amelia The year is 1914 and Amelia Pim will soon be thirteen. There are rumours of war and rebellion, and Dublin is holding its breath for major, dramatic events. But all that matters to Amelia is what she will wear to her birthday party ... Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download
	No Peace for Amelia It's 1916 but Amelia Pim's thoughts are on Frederick Goodbody and not on the war in Europe. Then Frederick enlists. The pacifist Quaker community is shocked but Amelia is secretly proud of her hero … Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download
	Sisters Cindy, a with-it and cynical young teen, still traumatised by her mother's recent death, is appalled when her father falls in love with one of her teachers, a woman with two teenage daughters of her own ... Teaching guide for Sisters ... No Way! from O'Brien Teaching Guides for Second Level Schools. Download A study unit written by Pam Orford for Ireland in Schools and the Key Stage 3 National Strategy is available on the Staffordshire Learning Net
	Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (maybe) Beverley, Elizabeth, Kevin, Gerard and his cat visit the mysterious Lady Island, expecting some adventure and a little danger. But nothing prepares them for their encounter with the strange inhabitant of the island. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download Text units and two resource units developed by Ireland in Schools and the Key Stage 3 National Strategy are available on the Staffordshire Learning Net
	The Moon King A young boy creates his own world to try to cope with his traumatic past. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 2 Download A workbook for use in year 6 by Susan Lyme-Wright for Ireland in Schools and the Key Stage 3 National Strategy is available on the Staffordshire Learning Net
	Call of the Whales An adventure story set in the endless days of a freezing Arctic landscape, with a haunting presence in the form of the magnificent bowhead whales. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download
	Kate Set in the competitive world of Irish dancing, Siobhán Parkinson's latest book will delight girls from aged 10 upwards. Teaching guide to the novel by Peter Heaney Download

Marilyn Taylor

	17 Martin Street When Hetty’s family move to Martin Street near Portobello bridge in Dublin, they’re not sure of their welcome. And next door, Ben’s family are not sure about their new Jewish neighbours: it’s The Emergency and they are suspicious of strangers. Teaching guide to the novel by Peter Heaney Download
	Faraway Home Two Jewish children are sent from Nazi-occupied Austria to a refugee farm in Northern Ireland. Will they ever see their families again? Based on the true story of Millisle refugee farm in Ards, Co Down. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download

Gerard Whelan

	War Children Six stories, one set in Dublin the others in the countryside, about children who get caught up in the War of Independence and suffer dire consequences. Teaching guide to The Empty Steps, the first story in the book. Download Teaching guide to Mulligan's Drop, the second story in the book. Download Teaching guide to The King of Irishtown, the third story in the book. Download Teaching guide to Dead Man's Music, the fourth story in the book. Download Teaching guide to Services Rendered, the fifth story in the book. Download Teaching guide to The Poor Cow, the final story in the book. Download
	The Guns of Easter It is 1916 and Europe is at war. From the poverty of the Dublin slums twelve-year-old Jimmy Conway is pulled between the British Army and the rebels in the Easter Rising. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download
	A Winter of Spies Sarah becomes involved in spying for Michael Collins during the War of Independence. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 1 Download
	Dream Invader Saskia's cousin Simon is having terrible dreams. Something strange is definitely going on and it seems to be centred on Simon's car-shaped bed that once belonged to another little boy. Teaching guide from O'Brien Teaching Guides Collection 3 Download
	Out of Nowhere A young boy wakes up in a strange location remembering only his name, and with all evidence of the outside world seemingly erased. What has happened? A sci-fi fantasy from this award-winning author. Teaching guide for Out of Nowhere from O'Brien Teaching Guides for Second Level Schools. Download

Enda Wyley

The Silver Notebook Timothy Finn is a boy with two dreams and a mystery to solve. An atmospheric and magical adventure story from poet Enda Wyley. Teaching guide to the novel by Peter Heaney Download