Hope everyone is doing okay at home and not going too stir crazy yet! We are missing your little guys so much, hopefully we will get to see each other again soon 💛
The most important thing at the moment is that everyone is safe and healthy.
After reading through feedback from the surveys and reviewing the work, we have changed the layout slightly. We will outline the work that we want each child to achieve every day. Every day there will be a maths, literacy and Gaeilge activity along with one other subject. At the end of the blog we will put other ideas and activities you can do with your child if you have the time.
If any parent is having difficulty achieving the work at home please let Sarah or Christine know so that we can try to provide support in whatever way possible.
Gaeilge/ Irish
We understand that some parents are struggling with the Gaeilge activities at home. Don't worry if you can't help you child with this. Even if your child is just playing with the apps themselves this is fine. They are still hearing the language and having some exposure to it which is enough for the time being.
Monday
Literacy - 'wh' Sound:
1. Watch Geraldine Giraffe find things around her house that have the 'wh' sound.
2. Find things around your own house with the 'wh' sound. Some examples could be a whisk, a white plate, a wheel.
3. Complete the following page from the work booklet. Colour the pictures with the 'wh' sound.
Numeracy:
1. Play the following counting game: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/underwater-counting.
The children will count the sea creatures and choose the correct number.
Start by choosing 'counting up to 5'. If your child is capable you can then choose 'counting up to 10'
2. Complete the following page from the work booklet. Count the number of objects and write the number in the box.
Gaeilge:
Enter the app 'Cúla4'. Choose 'Spraoi'. From there choose the section 'An Cathair' This means the City.
Click each of the pictures to hear the Irish word. Repeat the word after the app speaks it. Translate the word into English. Your child should be able to complete this with little support.
Watch the video below to see how to use the app.
1. Listen to the story "Who's awake in Springtime". Discuss the animals they see in the Spring.
2. Colour one of the Spring pages from the work booklet.
Tuesday:
Literacy - 'wh' sound.
1. Listen to the 'wh' words in this video.
2. Complete the following 2 worksheets from the work booklet.
Numeracy
1. Watch the counting video below. Practice Counting forwards and backwards to 5 and then to 10.
2. Complete the following page in the work booklet.
Gaeilge
Complete the same activities as Monday on Cúla4. Revise the vocabulary and practice repeating the words.
Learn Together - Mindfulness and Yoga
Complete one of the mindfulness exercises found in the following folder:
Complete this fun Yoga exercise about Springtime and Bees!
Wednesday:
Literacy
1. Revise the Jolly Phonics Sounds using the song:
2. Play the following Roll and Read Games to revise the sounds:
Numeracy:
1. Play the following game: https://www.topmarks.co.uk/learning-to-count/ladybird-spots
2. Complete the following page in the work booklet:
Gaeilge:
Listen to one of the popular stories found here:
They have been translated into Irish and are read aloud to the children. Start by choosing one of the stories that your child recognises. We have read "Owl Babies" or "Ulchabhán Óga" so the children should all recognise this story.
Learn Together/ Story time:
Listen to this lovely story from storylineonline called "The Empty Pot".
This website has lots of other lovely stories covering many of our Learn Together themes if you would like to listen to a few more with your child.
Thursday:
Literacy:
1. Revise tricky words and play tricky word games in the homework folder. Snakes and ladder etc.
2. Look Cover Write: Show you child the word let them say the word, next let them read and write the word and finally cover the word and have them write it by themselves.
3. Tricky Word Song:
Maths:
1. Caterpillar Ordering:
2. Number Song:
3. Complete the following page in the work booklet:
Gaeilge:
Listen to one of the popular stories found here:
They have been translated into Irish and are read aloud to the children. Start by choosing one of the stories that your child recognises. We have read "Owl Babies" or "Ulchabhán Óga" so the children should all recognise this story.
Friday:
Literacy:
1. Jolly Phonics App:Practice and revise any sounds you believe your child has not got a grasp of yet. Most children will know all the single sounds but may find the newer constant diagraphs eg. ch, sh, th and wh more challenging.
2. Tricky Words: Repeat tricky words games. The idea is that eventually your child will be able to identify a tricky word straight away. They will no longer be attempting to blend these words.
3. Oral Language: Draw a picture and have the child say a simple sentence of what they can see in spring. They can use some their spring words and copy them down or you can write and child writes the words they can read eg. chick
MATHS:
Practice counting forwards and backwards on a number line to ten. Using a small item/ toy have you child jump up and down the number line counting how many jumps to the number you might say or roll on a dice.
Colour by numbers spring page:
Watch Spring Video:
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Some other activities and ideas to keep busy over the following week!
P.E and Music
Fun Songs and Dances: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLearningStation
GoNoodle - if you want to sign up for GoNoodle visit the website and you can create a free account. There are lots of different active videos for the children on GoNoodle.
Learn Together
In the folder below there are some resources to use for Learn Together. There are powerpoints and activities based on Easter and there are some lovely mindfulness exercises for the children to listen to.
Fine Motor Skills
Developing fine motor skills is a very important part of your child's learning in Junior Infants. A lot of fine motor skills activities are games and exercises that your child already does every day. Here are some activities to develop fine motor skills that can easily be done at home:
- cutting
- colouring
- writing - free writing or drawing
- tracing
- play dough
- pegs
- threading
- lego or construction
- artwork
- baking - rolling, squeezing, mixing the dough!
Recommended apps:
- Epic Books - this has a large library of kids books
- Jolly Phonics Apps
- Phonics Match
- Teach your Monster to Read
- Eggy Words
- Pocket Phonics
- MooseMath
- Splash Maths
- Duck Duck Moose
- Cúla4