Learning Through Play -The Bakery and The Garden Centre
This month we have been busy learning about The Bakery and The Garden Centre. At the Bakery we wrote shopping lists and sold buns and cakes. In the Garden centre, we created flowers and watering cans in Junk Art.
Pancakes for Breakfast!!!!!!
Thank you to all the wonderful cooks that came into the school very early on Shrove Tuesday to cook up the YUMMY pancakes for all the pupils.
Rice Krispie Buns
Before midterm holidays , First and Second class and Junior and Senior Infants made rice Krispie buns together. We talked about the ingredients we were going to use and the method of how to make the,. Pupils got to decorate their buns with sprinkles and taste them. They were YUMMY!!
January
Pottery Class
This term we have started our pottery classes with Finn. We are enjoying every minute of it. We made some amazing clay pieces from clay head to photo frames and frogs. We learned that we need to use a special technique known as the 'Key' to help make the clay stick together. Check out our photos to see just how amazing our clay classes were. A big thank you o Finn from all in the Junior Room.
December
Junior and Senior Infants were very busy in December, we put up our Christmas tree and did some lovely Christmas art work. We really enjoyed performing Nativity Plays for our families and friends. At the end of term we had a surprise visit from Santa who brought us some yummy treats.
Friendship Week
November
This month Junior and Senior Infants having being learning all about The Estate Agents. In the role-play area we have enjoyed selling all types of houses with some of them even having a cinema and swimming pool.
October
This month, Junior and Senior Infants have been very busy learning about the season of autumn. We went on an autumn nature walk and learned some interesting facts about the hedgehog.
In maths, Junior infants are doing wonderful work with sets. Senior Infants made amazing number towers and fantastic patterns.
We are really enjoying aistear this month. There were a lot of witches and wizards making potions out of the spookiest things in our potion lab. We also make haunted houses in the construction area. Everyone did excellent writing and drawing in the writing station.
A New School Year
September 2018-2019
Our new Junior Infants have settled very well into their new school. Senior Infants have been so very kind in helping and welcoming them into the classroom.
We have had an exciting start to our new school year with a lovely visit of new baby chicks to the Junior Rooms. A parent and Grandparent of one of our pupils brought the 2-week-old chicks in to visit and the excitement was wonderful.
We are also busy learning new skills in Tag Rugby with Paudi Mahon from Portarlington Rugby Club. It goes without saying that Tag Rugby and Paudi are a big hit with the Infant Room.
May/June
The Pet Shop and Our Space Craft
We had lots of fun playing in the Pet Shop, where we had to take care of all the animals. We also travelled to Space in our space rocket.
We had lots of fun playing in the Pet Shop, where we had to take care of all the animals. We also travelled to Space in our space rocket.
Easter Egg Hunt
Glorious Sunshine
We made the most of the lovely weather by having our lunches together outside.
March/April
We have been very busy in the Junior Room for the past few weeks. We are really enjoying The Restaurant play theme this month. We have created some yummy dishes. Do check out our amazing art work in the photos below.
February
January
Junior and Senior Infants learned all about the Polar Regions. In the small world area, we were exploring the Antarctic region and learned all about penguins. We listened to the story Living in a Snow globe, we then made our own snowglobes and described what it might be like to live in one.
December
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas Panto Rudolph Saves Christmas
Junior Infants to Second Class were very lucky this year. We went to the Dunamaise Theatre to see Rudolph Saves Christmas. It was brilliant and was enjoyed by all. We also stopped at the park on the way home.
Junior and Senior Infants held a beautiful assembly for the whole school on Friday the 15th. Senior Infants told the Christmas Story while Junior Infants acted as the different people and animals in the story. Both classes did an excellent job and all the school were so proud of them.
A parent gave our class a lovely present of a reindeer and sleigh that we got to decorate, huge thank you as we loved painting it.
PS. We also had a special visitor duing the last few weeks of term!!!
Our theme for Aistear this month, was the Post Office and Santa’s Workshop. We learnt what happens to a letter when it is put in the post box. In the Junk Art area we had excellent creations of post bags, post boxes and gift boxes We wrote postcards and Christmas cards in the writing area. In the small world area, we came up with different solutions of how Santa was going to deliver all the presents with poor Rudolph being sick. In the Role play area we delivered cards and parcels coming up to the busy postal period. In the playdough area we had to finish the snowman. We had lots of fun.
November
Visual Arts
For art, we learnt about the Artist Ton Schulten. We could see the city/building scene and identified all the bright colours he used. We then created our own piece inspired by Ton Schulten using bright colours and A3 paper.
We also learnt how to weave, we practised this by using coloured card to create different houses.
Aistear The Building Site
During the month of November, Junior and Senior Infants were learning all about the Building Site. We have different stations/areas where we can play and learn together. From role play areas where children constructed different buildings to designing their own homes/houses using tanagrams.
The School Book Fair
Each class got to visit the school book fair. Junior and Senior Infants really enjoyed looking at all the interesting books.
We created colourful bunting for the book fair and entered each piece into a competition, it was very difficult for the parents association to choose a winner.
October
Library Trip
On Thursday the 26th October, we went on a lovely and very exciting trip to the Library. We met the author Emer Conlon and learnt all about Vroom Town, where all types of trucks with all types of personalities live, work and have exciting adventures. Emer read us the story of Terrible Terry and we met some of the other characters along the way.
It was Brilliant!
It was Brilliant!
Maths Week
Third and Forth Class taught us different math games for maths week. We really enjoyed having them in our class and we learnt so much from them. Thank you Third and Forth.
Food Dudes
We have been extra healthy this month with our Food Dudes. Each day we get to taste and eat a different type of fruit and a vegetable, we get super stickers and amazing prizes. The Junior Room love watching and hearing of the adventures of the Food Dudes especially when they are busy fighting against General Junk!
Cheerios Morning
On Thursday the 19th of October, the boys and girls in Sandy Lane had a scrumptious Cheerios breakfast. Junior and Senior Infants really enjoyed having their YUMMY breakfast together. Well done everyone for taking part and raising money for such a worthy cause.
Autumn
As we are learning all about autumn in the Infant Room, we were very excited to collect autumn items for Our Autumn Nature Table. We also made beautiful Autumn Trees in Art.
Our Lovely Letters
This month Junior and Senior Infants have been working very hard with Jolly Phonics. We get to do loads of fun activities at the different stations. Have a look at us making our letters using play dough and writing letters in the sand.
September
Math
We are really enjoying the fun active math tasks we do in class. The Junior Infants have been busy sorting different objects and are now able to put the objects into sets. Senior Infants have been revising numbers 1-5, the pupils made super towers for each number.
Check Out Our Art Work
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The Junior room have been very busy creating lovely pieces of art work for our classroom. During our first week back we all decorated our own personal balloon which we put together to represent the start of our adventures for the coming year. Each pupil also designed their own minion which was a huge hit with the boys and girls. We practised our cutting and sticking skills. Both look fantastic! Well done Junior Room.
Our New Junior Infants
A warm Sandy Lane welcome to all our new Junior Infant pupils. The new boys and girls are settling into school life extremely well. They have enjoyed the first few weeks of BIG school and have made lots of new friends. We look forward to watching them grow and develop throughout their years here at Sandy Lane.
School Tour
Junior Infants to Second class went on their school tour to Lisduff Farm. We had a great day! The children were so excited to travel on a big bus. There was an indoor play area for us to run around in. We had a chance to slide down a slide on the bouncing castle. The children got to feed donkeys, sheep, goats and a reindeer. We had chicken nuggets, sausages and chips for our lunch. The children went on the tour of the farm on a train and then had a chance to play in the playground. It was a very hot day but we all had our suncream on. Overall, everyone enjoyed the day and some of us even fell asleep on the bus journey home!
Library
This term Junior and Senior Infants are going to the library every second Tuesday. We all have library cards and can borrow books with them. We also bring back the book that we have read. Ms Foster reads us a story when we are in the library.
Athletics
We have started Athletics in Sandylane. A teacher comes into school to teach us. We have been running through ladders, jumping over hurdles and having running races. We are getting very fast!
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Junior and Senior Infants have been reading the story 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt'. The children had to sequence the story. Junior Infants sequenced some pictures, cut them out and stuck them on a page and Senior Infants created a bear hunt story map. We have displayed these outside our classroom. We are going to go on a Bear Hunt in school!
Aistear April/ May
We have been learning all about the farm in Aistear. We have set up a farm in the classroom. We have sheds for the animals, tractors and different machinery to play with. The children can draw and colour farms at the writing table. The children are having great fun playing with the puppets. We have been building stages out of blocks and putting on puppet shows for Ms Foster.
Easter
The children have been learning about spring and Easter time. We made some chicks out of paper plates and paint. On the last day of term, the children took part in an Easter egg hunt. We had great fun looking for cards with eggs on them. They were hidden all around the playground. When we came back inside, we got some chocolate eggs to eat. They were delicious!
Art
Junior and Senior Infants painted a house that Santa gave to our class. We wanted to make it really colourful so we used lots of different colours. Everyone had a chance to paint part of the house. We are using our house to play in Aistear.
Aistear - March
This month in Aistear, we have been learning all about school. We have set up a school in our classroom. There is a teacher and some students. The children love writing on the blackboard. The children also have a chance to play with the playdough, blocks, writing table and dress up.
Spring
We have been learning all about spring in Junior and Senior Infants. We made a spring scene. There are lambs, daffodils, tulips, sheep and some birds' nests.
Pottery
Fin the Potter came into our school to teach all of the children how to do pottery. The children learned some new skills such as how to 'key' the clay so their pieces would stick together and also not to hold the clay for too long or it would dry out. They were able to experiment with the clay and they made some excellent pieces. We made a giant flower pot for our classroom. The children made some houses, faces and also had a chance to make something of their own on the last day.
Aistear - February
This month is Aistear, we are learning all about travel and transport. We have set up a Travel Agents in our classroom. The children can make passports and decide where they would like to go on holidays. We are playing with our car mat and cars in the small world area. We also have a chance to play 'dress up'. This is a lot of fun!
Science
We did a science experiment to see what happens to bread when we heat it. First, we put the bread in the toaster. When it came out, we found that it was warm and crispy. We put some butter on it and then we ate it . It tasted delicious!
Penguins
We have been learning all about Emperor Penguins. Emperor Penguins are really good at swimming and love to eat fish. The daddy penguin minds the egg on his feet. He cannot let the egg touch the ice or it could freeze. Each penguin has a special call that it uses to find it's chick.
Dog's Trust
Paul, from Dog's Trust came into our classroom to talk to the children about dogs. He brought his dog Magic with him. We learned that we should never feed dogs human food and that we should always ask an owner before petting their dog. |
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Aistear - January
This month in Aistear, we have been learning about animals. We have set up a Veterinary Surgery in our classroom. The vet makes sure that all of the animals get better. The children have been playing with the sand and playdough. They have been drawing pictures and writing about animals at the writing table.
Aistear
This month in Aistear we have been learning about houses and homes. We have a home corner set up in our classroom. The children are having great fun playing in the kitchen and making some delicious meals. We also have a dolls house to help us learn about all of the rooms in our houses. Take a look at some of our pictures.
Art
Junior and Senior Infants have been learning about colour. We used primary colours and mixed them together to make secondary colours. We painted some beautiful rainbows. We also read the story of 'The Three Little Pigs'. We decided to make their houses in Art. We used straw for the straw house, lollipop sticks and match sticks for the stick house. We used foam and sand paper to make the brick house. We hope that you like them!
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Maths Week
Miss Foster's class and Miss McCracken's class worked together for maths week. The older children showed the infants how to play maths games and they all played together. It was great fun!!
Drumming Day
We had a Drumming Day in Sandylane. Every class had a chance to play drums. It was great fun!
Aistear
We have started Aistear again in Junior and Senior Infants. Aistear is the irish word for 'Journey'. The children are enjoying learning through exploration and play. Our role play area is the Doctor's Surgery. We are playing with sand and playdough to help improve our fine motor skills. The children are making lots of things using the blocks and lego. We also have a writing table where the children have a chance to practice their writing and drawing skills using markers, crayons and colouring pencils.
Autumn Art
Junior and Senior Infants have been learning about autumn. We made some autumn trees using the autumn colours. We made the tree trunk with a hand print and we painted the leaves with our fingers.
Maths
Junior Infants have been busy sorting items into sets. We organised the sets by colour and by objects.
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New Junior Infants
We would like to welcome our new Junior Infants to Sandylane N.S!!
Aistear
This month we are doing Aistear outside. Our theme is the sea side. The children are having great fun making sand castles and playing with the water. Take a look at some of our pictures!
Visit to the Playground
Junior and Senior Infants went to the playground last Friday while all of the other children in the school went swimming. We had great fun climbing the climbing frame and sliding down the big slide. Take a look at some of our photos!
Maths
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Senior Infants are very busy measuring the length of lots of things in our classroom. We have been using cubes, lollipop sticks and blocks to measure items such as pencil cases, shoes, doors and even the sink! The children first give an estimate and then they measure the item to get the result.
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Proclamation Day
We had a very exciting day in school raising the Irish Flag for Proclamation Day. Junior and Senior Infants learned The Irish National Anthem Amhrán na bhFiann. We made hats with shamrocks on them and all wore something green on the day. Everyone really enjoyed the day!
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Easter
Junior and Senior Infants enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt on the last day of term. The children ran around the yard looking for eggs. We all had some delicious chocolate eggs and coins when we came inside.
Aistear
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We are having great fun in Aistear. This month we are playing dress up and we painted a lovely house that Santa gave us. We love to play with the house in the home corner. We are making lots of interesting things with the blocks and playdough.
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Construction
Fifth and Sixth Class came down to our classroom to help us make things from recyclable materials. The children had great fun using their imagination to create some beautiful things. The children in Mrs Burns class were really helpful, they cut out boxes and helped us to stick things together.
Baking
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We had great fun baking rice krispie buns in Junior and Senior Infants. We had to melt the chocolate, add the rice krispies and mix them together. Everyone had a turn mixing the ingredients. We let them cool in the fridge and then ate them. They tasted delicious!!
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Art
2D Shape Robots
As part of Maths Week, Miss McCracken's class have been helping Miss Foster's Class. The senior children helped the infants in making 2D shape robots. It gave all children a chance to use their mathematical language in an enjoyable way. Look at the fun we were having below!
Maths Games
Miss Foster's Class and Miss McCracken's class worked together for maths week. The older children showed the infants how to play maths games and they all played together. It was great fun!!
Aistear
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We have started Aistear in our classroom. Aistear is the irish word for 'Journey'. The children are enjoying learning through exploration and play. They learn how to interact with others and their environment. Aistear is integrated with all subject areas especially focusing on Oral Language, Drama and SESE.
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Maths in Junior and Senior Infants
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Junior Infants
We would like to welcome our brand new Junior Infants to Sandy Lane. The children have really settled in and enjoy making new friends and playing with all of the toys in our classroom.
Summer at Sandy Lane
Write a Book
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Senior Infants have been writing their own books. They wrote the stories all by themselves and drew some lovely illustrations. Here is a picture of the finished product. |
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Construction
The boys and girls from 4th, 5th and 6th class came down to our classroom to help us make some constructions. We used our imaginations and came up with some very creative ideas.
Play Time
We love to play in Junior and Senior Infants. We have different play areas and groups. We use the Play Rota to tell us where we are playing everyday. It's great fun!
