Junior Infants
Play based learning takes place across the curriculum in the Junior Infant classroom. We play games in Maths, English and Irish every day. We really enjoy our child-led play each day where we explore different topics each month. Learning in our Junior Infant classroom is a wonderful mix of play, exploration and skill-building. It’s not about sitting at desks all day — it’s active, hands-on, and highly social. Children learn best when they are curious, engaged, and having fun.
Numeracy
Maths is all about discovery in Junior Infants! Children are introduced to each new maths concept through play-based activities. They learn about numbers, patterns, shapes, and measurement in a fun and meaningful way. For example, we might count how many blocks are in a tower or compare the sizes of different objects. We loved sorting bears by colour earlier this year by fishing them out of a bowl of water with spoons!
Literacy
We build early literacy skills through storytelling, songs and rhymes, building a strong foundation of phonological awareness. As we start to learn our sounds we begin to read and write simple words from the beginning. The children love playing literacy games and working in small groups. A highlight for the children is getting outside to write with chalk.
We love having guest speakers. This year we were very lucky to have a nurse and a mum with her new baby boy visit us while exploring the theme of ‘The Hospital’.
Child-led Play Sessions
Our child-led play sessions are the highlight of the children’s day. Activities are hands-on and open-ended, which encourages curiosity and exploration. As well as exploring the curriculum the children learn to share, take turns, work with others, manage their emotions and develop empathy.
