May was another busy, active and fun-filled month in Junior Infants. The children continued to make great progress across all areas of learning and enjoyed lots of hands-on activities, movement, discussion, outdoor play and play-based learning.
We were delighted to make the most of the lovely May weather and brought lots of our learning outdoors. The children visited the outdoor classroom for story time and really enjoyed listening to stories in the fresh air. We also moved some of our free play outside, where the children explored water play, sand play, chalk drawing and mark-making, building forts to protect themselves from the sun, reading in the beach tent and making words in the ball pit. It was wonderful to see so much creativity, teamwork and language development happening naturally through outdoor play.
In English, we continued to work on our phonics, blending and tricky words through games, bingo, matching activities and word-building tasks. The children are becoming much more confident when reading CVC words and recognising tricky words in different contexts. We also continued to develop our oral language skills through our themes of At the Supermarket and Holidays. The children loved sharing their ideas, using new vocabulary and taking part in show-and-tell style discussions about places they might go, things they might pack and activities they enjoy on holidays.
We also had a very special visit from local author Eileen Loughlin, who came to read her story Annabel’s Adventure at the Beach to the children. The class really enjoyed listening to the story and chatting about Annabel’s seaside adventure. This tied in beautifully with our holiday and beach-themed oral language work.
In Maths, we had great fun exploring money and playing shop. The children took turns being shopkeepers and customers, using mathematical language as they counted, sorted, compared and “paid” for items. We also worked on the concept of halves, using lots of practical activities to help us understand how something can be shared fairly into two equal parts.
In Gaeilge, we continued to build our confidence using simple Irish words and phrases. We explored vocabulary linked with an zú, using songs, flashcards and games to help us practise new language in a fun and meaningful way.
Our SESE work gave us lots of opportunities to talk, question, explore and make connections with the world around us. We continued to learn through discussion, observation, play and practical activities. We went on a walk to the village to explore our local area and notice some of the buildings, places and features around us. The children enjoyed using their observation skills and chatting about what they could see in their own community.
In Art, we were very busy creating colourful pieces using a range of materials and techniques. One of our favourite activities was working with smooth stones, where the children used their creativity to design and decorate their own rock art. These activities helped to develop fine motor skills, imagination and confidence in expressing ideas visually.
We also loved our dance sessions with Leanne. The children threw themselves into the routines with great enthusiasm and enjoyed moving, listening, following instructions and performing together. These sessions were a lovely way to build confidence, coordination and teamwork.
As always, learning through play continued to be a very important part of our day. Whether working at stations, playing language games, exploring Maths activities, engaging in creative tasks or learning outdoors, the children showed great independence, curiosity and cooperation.
Well done to all the Junior Infants on another wonderful month of learning!
