Junior Infants have been busy exploring the wonderful world of water, and their learning linked beautifully with our SESE, SPHE, and Oral Language objectives.
We began by discussing where we find water in our homes, school, and community. Through stories and group chats, the children identified all the ways we use water – from drinking and washing to helping plants grow. This connected well with our SPHE strand "Myself and My Community", helping the children understand how water plays an important role in keeping us and our environment healthy.
As part of our Science curriculum, we explored dissolving by testing different materials in water. The children made predictions, carried out investigations, and observed what happened when substances like salt, sugar, and flour were added to water. This supported their learning in the "Materials" strand, encouraging early scientific thinking and language such as “predict,” “observe,” and “change.”
One of the week’s highlights was our exciting experiment to help Bob the Teddy! He needed waterproof boots for a rainy day, so we investigated which materials would keep his feet dry. The children used problem-solving skills, designed fair tests, and worked together to test fabric, plastic, paper, and foil. This tied in beautifully with STEM learning and promoted the idea of learning through inquiry and exploration.
There were rich oral language opportunities throughout, as children shared ideas, asked questions, and reflected on their discoveries. The learning was highly child-led, with pupils driving the questions and choosing how to test their ideas.
It was a week full of curiosity, creativity, and discovery — a perfect example of how playful exploration builds deep understanding in our youngest learners. Well done, Junior Infants!
Junior Infants had a brilliant time celebrating World Bee Day and learning all about our amazing bee friends. We discovered why bees are so important for nature – especially how they help flowers grow and fruit to form through pollination.
As part of our celebrations, we worked together to create a large, colourful collaborative art piece of a bee that now proudly hangs in our classroom. Everyone had a turn adding their own special touch!
We also went on an exciting bee hunt around the school grounds. The children looked carefully to see if they could spot any real bees in action.
Back in the classroom, we had lots of great discussions about bees, how they live, and how they help the environment. The children shared brilliant ideas and questions!
To finish the day, we created beautiful pointillism-style fruit art using cotton buds and paint, linking our learning to how bees help pollinate fruit plants. The results were bright, colourful, and full of creativity!
It was a joyful day full of learning, laughter, and buzzing excitement!
Junior Infants have been fully immersed in the world of gardening and nature, engaging in activities that support key learning while fostering a love of the environment.
The children planted cress and sunflower seeds, learning about plant life cycles, the parts of the plant and what living things need to grow. This hands-on activity encouraged responsibility and care, linking directly to SESE and promoting lifelong skills such as observation, patience, and nurturing.
Our garden centre role play area provided rich opportunities for developing oral language, early maths skills (sorting, counting, using money), and social development, as children took on roles such as gardener, cashier, and customer.
Creative expression was at the forefront during art sessions, where children made flowers, pots, and bouquets using various materials. These activities supported fine motor development essential for handwriting and self-care tasks.
Using playdough to build garden scenes further strengthened fine motor control, encouraging imagination while preparing young hands for writing and tool use.
We also enjoyed nature walks, where children explored signs of spring, from blooming flowers to buzzing insects. These outings supported gross motor skills, spatial awareness, and enquiry-based learning. A special focus on birds, especially the blue tit, helped children connect with local wildlife and deepened their understanding of the world around them.
Through this theme, our Junior Infants are developing foundational skills across all areas of learning—physical, cognitive, social, and emotional—while building a deep and lasting connection to nature and their environment.
Over the past few weeks, we've had a blast celebrating some fun and exciting events at school, all while making strong connections to our learning. From flipping pancakes on Pancake Tuesday, where students explored math concepts like counting and measuring, to dressing up for World Book Day, encouraging a love of reading and storytelling, and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with activities that explored Irish culture and history – each event has offered valuable educational opportunities. These celebrations have helped bring our lessons to life, sparking creativity and curiosity in our students!
In Junior Infants, we had a fun and exciting Pancake Tuesday! The children loved making and enjoying delicious pancakes. They also learned all about how pancakes are made and why we celebrate this day. To top it off, they enjoyed a cut-and-stick activity, where they practiced their cutting skills and learned more about the ingredients and steps involved in making pancakes. It was a tasty and educational day for all!
On World Book Day, Junior Infants had a wonderful time celebrating the joy of reading! We came to school in our cosy pyjamas and brought our favourite bedtime stories, encouraging language development and fostering a love for storytelling. The excitement continued with shared reading alongside 3rd class, which promoted literacy skills, comprehension, and teamwork. A big thank you to 3rd class for reading with us and making the day even more special! To top it off, we enjoyed a read-aloud story on the interactive board, enhancing our listening skills, vocabulary, and understanding of narrative structure. It was a fun, educational day filled with the magic of books!
Junior Infants had a fantastic time celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, combining fun with lots of learning! We all dressed in green for Lá Glas, which helped us explore the concept of traditions and cultural celebrations. The highlight of the day was leading the school parade, where we practiced teamwork and confidence. In class, we made St. Patrick’s Day art, allowing the children to develop their creativity and fine motor skills. We also learned about the history of St. Patrick’s Day, discussing Irish heritage, the life of St. Patrick, and the symbolism behind the shamrock. It was a wonderful day filled with education, creativity, and celebration!
Junior Infants have had such a fun few weeks filled with excitement and learning! We’ve enjoyed exploring new skills, celebrating different traditions, and getting creative together. It’s been a special time of growth, laughter, and making memories as a class!
Recently, our classroom was transformed into a bustling Post Office, where students were immersed in a world of hands-on learning and real-world connections. This engaging theme not only sparked curiosity but also strengthened literacy, numeracy, and SESE skills.
Through writing letters, creating postcards, and reading address labels, students practiced essential writing skills, phonics, and comprehension. By engaging in role-play activities such as being postal workers or customers, children enhanced their communication and listening skills while learning the importance of following instructions.
Sorting mail by addresses and counting stamps introduced practical applications of number sense, sorting, and patterns. Students practiced addition and subtraction when calculating postage and organizing mail deliveries, making math both fun and meaningful.
As part of the Post Office theme, students also had fun building postal vehicles and creating small villages or towns using small world play. They crafted their own delivery trucks, post offices, and houses, bringing their learning to life through imaginative play. This hands-on activity allowed them to apply their understanding of how mail is delivered in a community while encouraging creativity, fine motor skills, and collaborative play. It was a fun and interactive way for students to visualize the journey of a letter through their own small-scale world!
To top off the experience, each child had the opportunity to post their very own letter at the local post box. This hands-on activity gave them a deeper connection to the process of mailing letters, making their learning come full circle as they sent their messages into the world. It was an exciting and memorable way to wrap up our Post Office theme and further enhance their understanding of how communication works beyond the classroom!
