For Literacy we recommend that the children spend a some time on each of these activities every day
Scroll down for writing activities for Senior Infants
For Literacy we recommend that the children spend a some time on each of these activities every day
- Read at least once a day
- Practise the tricky words from the blue and yellow list
- One short writing activity
Scroll down for writing activities for Senior Infants
Reading
One of the most important activities your child can do during this time is to make sure to read at least once a day.
The children can read online or any books that they have at home.
A great range of books are available online at Oxford Owl.
Using the "My Class Login" option (at the top of the page)
User name: msbyrne Username: mslivingston
Password: Byrne2020 Password: Livingston2020
Please note: There are different reading levels on Oxford Owl. They can be sorted by level numbers or colour (band). When your child is reading comfortably at one level and can read the pages in the book with ease, they should move on to another level.
The children can read online or any books that they have at home.
A great range of books are available online at Oxford Owl.
Using the "My Class Login" option (at the top of the page)
User name: msbyrne Username: mslivingston
Password: Byrne2020 Password: Livingston2020
Please note: There are different reading levels on Oxford Owl. They can be sorted by level numbers or colour (band). When your child is reading comfortably at one level and can read the pages in the book with ease, they should move on to another level.
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Selecting to chose levels or colours is a personal choice for your child. For example Oxford Level 1 will be the same readers as Book Band: Lilac. Your child may prefer to change colours instead of level numbers.
Encourage the children to keep a log of all the books they have read (something like the reading log below would be ideal). They can even rate the book on how much they liked it.
To further develop your child's comprehension skills, ask simple questions after reading to check they understand what they have read.
Reading log:
Encourage the children to keep a log of all the books they have read (something like the reading log below would be ideal). They can even rate the book on how much they liked it.
To further develop your child's comprehension skills, ask simple questions after reading to check they understand what they have read.
Reading log:
| my_reading_log.pdf |
Listening to stories is also an important part of Senior Infants day
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Story online: https://www.storylineonline.net/ Story Nory: https://www.storynory.com/ |
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Tricky Words
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Alphabet Scavenger Hunt
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What do you see around your house?
Could you match something to a letter of the whole alphabet?
Try and complete the full alphabet on a letter scavenger hunt.
Could you match something to a letter of the whole alphabet?
Try and complete the full alphabet on a letter scavenger hunt.
Oral Language and Writing
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A short piece of writing is more productive for Senior Infants than expecting them to write a story or pages of writing at this stage of their learning.
We have created a "Summer Booklet" that you have all received when the school books were returned. We will be linking the Literacy writing activities to this booklet. The booklet is dated and instructions will be uploaded here for the week. |
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Week Starting Monday 22nd June 2020
Monday
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Read and Find
The children can read the words and find the correct pictures. When the children find the matching picture they can colour it in and tick the words they have found. For an additional challenge, the children could attempt to write the words of other pictures that they can see. |
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Tuesday
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Sunny Stuff The summer and winter items have got all mixed up. What would you wear in the summer when it is hot? What would you drink or eat in the winter when it is cold? The children will sort all of the pictures in to the summer column or into the winter column. |
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Wednesday
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Rhyming Pictures
The children need to match the two pictures that rhyme. Ask the children to cut out the pictures in the right hand column. Say the word of each picture and match the two together that rhyme. For example: hat: rhymes with cat |
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Week Starting Monday 15th June 2020
Monday
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Summer Syllables
How many sounds are in each word? The children can watch the video below to see how our friends from GoNoodle "clap out" the syllables, or sounds, in a word. The children are asked to clap out the amount of syllables (or sounds) in each word on the page and colour the number of syllables present. For example: ball ball has one sound so the children would colour number 1. |
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Tuesday
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Colour by Sight Words
As part of their oral language work, the children have been learning two lists of tricky words. See above for the blue and yellow list of words the children have been learning. For this activity, the children will see can they read and identify different tricky words. For each tricky word the children will use a different colour. For the word: like: the children will use the colour green have: the children will use the colour yellow are: the children will use the colour blue they: the children will use the colour orange was: the children will use the colour grey want: the children will use the colour pink What will the picture be when it is all coloured? |
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Wednesday
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Diagraph Sentences The children were learning all about the diagraphs, or sounds, ch, sh and th last week. For this activity the children will read the words which have the sounds sh, ch and th in them. The children will read the sentences and try to match the correct word in the box to each sentence. Hint: The pictures will help the children to complete the sentences. Ask the children to re-read the complete sentence to make sure it makes complete sense. If the children need to revisit the sounds sh, th and ch, encourage them to watch the videos above from Alphablocks again. |
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Thursday
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Summer Bucket List We know it is hard to plan things for this summer with the current situation in Ireland. However for this activity, let the children pretend that they could do whatever they wish during the summer. For this activity, the children will write 4 things that they would like to do this summer. Hint: This is a free writing activity. Spelling is not important for this activity. The focus of this activity is that the children are using their sounds and word knowledge to form sentences. |
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Friday
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A Visit to the Beach
Similarly to Thursday's writing activity, we know it is hard to plan a trip to the beach at the moment. However for this activity, let the children pretend that they are going to to the beach. Discuss with the children what they would like to do at the beach. Would they like to go swimming? Would they like to have a picnic? What would they like to have in their picnic? How would they make a sandcastle if they could? Hint: This is also a free writing activity. Spelling is not important for this activity. The focus of this activity is that the children are using their sounds and word knowledge to form sentences. Reminder: Remind the children that each sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. |
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Week Starting Monday 8th June 2020
Monday
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If I Were a Superhero We think the children have been the real heroes of the pandemic and we know they have all been so brave. What would they like their super powers to be? Here the children can describe what they would do if they were a superhero. Writing a line or two in each box the children can describe if they were a superhero First....what would they do? Then.....the next thing they would do? Next....what other power would they like? Last....the final thing they would do as a superhero. |
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Tuesday
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What's the Diagraph? The children can watch the two videos above which explore a range of words beginning with sh, th and ch. Can the children name some words themselves. For example: ch sh th church shin thumb chin shell thin For this activity, the children will say the word to match the picture and then colour the correct diagraph to match. For example: shark begins with the diagraph sh. The children will colour the sh diagraph. |
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Wednesday
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Short Vowel Fun The children were learning about vowels; a,e, i, o, u and how most words have at least one vowel. The rhyme "Angry Elephant In Orange Underpants" will help the children to remember the five vowels. All of the pictures have a vowel in the middle of the word. The children will colour the pictures according to their vowel.
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Thursday
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Ending Sounds:
The children can practise the final sound of a word and write the correct letter to finish each word. For example picture number 1: lip. The final sound of lip is "p" so the children would write "p" at the end of the word. Can the children think of any other words that rhyme with these words. For example: lip rhymes with hip, ship and chip. |
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Friday
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Sea-ing Diagraphs To follow on from Tuesday's Literacy activity the children will explore diagraphs ch, sh and th further. The children will look at each picture and say the word. If the ch, sh or th sound can be heard in the word, the child will colour that picture. Be careful: the sound may be at the start of the word or at the end of the word. For example: thumb: th at the start of the word couch: ch at the end of the word. donut: the sounds ch, sh or th cannot be heard: this picture will not be coloured. |
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Week Starting Monday 1st June 2020
Monday
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Bank Holiday
The children have been working so hard at home, as have the parents, so we think you all deserve to take a break on this Bank Holiday Monday. The children's work for today is to have fun out in the sunny weather. |
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Tuesday
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Sentence Jumble
Oh no!!! These sentences have got all muddled up! The children will focus on sentence structure for this activity:
A helpful hint for them is that the word with the capital letter will always be at the start of a sentence and the full stop will always be after the last word.
** If your child is experiencing difficulties working out the correct sentence, write out each word on small flashcards/ pieces of paper and work together to make the sentence** |
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Wednesday
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Secret Sentence
The pirate has a secret message for you all!! Help him to share his message by cracking the code. The children will use the initial or beginning sound of each picture. For example igloo -i tooth-t together would make the word it When the children complete the sentence.....they will crack the message and know where the pirate has hidden his treasure!!!! |
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Thursday
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Middle Sounds
The children were learning about vowels; a,e, i, o, u and how most words have at least one vowel. The rhyme "Angry Elephant In Orange Underpants" will help the children to remember the five vowels. For this activity the children can complete the word by filling in the correct vowel in the middle of the word. |
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Friday
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CVC Match
This is a reading and matching activity. The children will use the list of words at the bottom of the page. The will read the words and then write them beside the correct picture. Hint: Important note: When the children are writing their own words please remind them about:
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Week Starting Monday 25th May 2020
Monday
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CVC Words
This is a spelling activity. The children will use their sounds to write the correct word under each picture. Each word will have three letters: consonant, vowel and consonant. For example dog, cat etc. Hint: The middle letter will always be a, e, i, o or u. |
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Tuesday
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Syllables How many sounds are in each word? The children can watch the video below to see how our friends from GoNoodle "clap out" the syllables, or sounds, in a word. The children are asked to clap out the amount of syllables (or sounds) in each word on the page and colour the picture using the correct colour: For example: Blue for words with one sound/ syllable: dog Yellow for words with two syllables: doughnut Green for words with three syllables: elephant Red for words with four syllables: watermelon |
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Wednesday
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Beginning Sounds
The children can practise identifying the initial or beginning sound of a word and colour the correct letter. For example picture number 1: starfish. The beginning sound of starfish is "s" so the children would colour the box with "s" in it. To continue practising their fine motor skills, the children could also colour in the pictures. For an additional challenge, the children could attempt to write the word for each picture using their sounds. Spelling is not the focus of this additional activity: the children using their sounds to make words is the purpose of this additional activity. |
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Thursday
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Find a Word The children were developing their wordsearch skills very well in school. For this activity the children can read the words and find them in the wordsearch. For an additional challenge, the children could identify a word that rhymes with each word. They do not have to find the rhyming word in the wordsearch, they could write the rhyming word under each picture. For example: Under the picture of the ball, the children could write tall or wall. |
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Friday
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Read and Find Similar to the activity on Thursday, the children can read the words and find the correct pictures. When the children find the matching picture they can colour it in and tick the words they have found. For an additional challenge, the children could attempt to write the words of other pictures that they can see. |
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Week Starting Monday 18th May 2020
This week the children can continue with a range of literacy activities that the children would be doing as part of their literacy stations in school.
The pages can be printed or if that is not an option for you the children can look at the pictures and write out the word or sentence using their copy/ notebook or pieces of paper that can be stapled together.
Monday
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Alphabet Order We know the children are very good at saying their alphabet but this week they can practise writing it. Ask the children to write out the alphabet in lowercase (a, b, c etc.) and also in uppercase (A, B, C). They had just finished upper case letters in school before we finished so some of the letters may need to be revised more than others. Important note: When the children are writing their alphabet please remind them about:
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Tuesday
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Opinion Writing: My Favourite Animal What is your favourite animal? Ask the child: If you were allowed to have one animal as a pet what would it be and why would you chose that animal? The children can write which animal they prefer "My favourite animal is a _______" and write a sentence or two about why that animal is their favourite. For this task, the children should use their sounds to spell words. ** Spelling is not the focus of this activity** The children could draw their favourite animal at the end of their writing. |
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Wednesday
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Real or Nonsense
All the words have got mixed up. Some are real words and some are silly nonsense words. Ask the children to sort the words into the correct boxes. They can draw two boxes and label them real and nonsense. Read the words. Write/ stick the write word into the correct box. Hint: There are eight real words :-) |
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Thursday
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Sentence Repair These sentences need some fixing. They are missing all their capital letters and full stops. Ask the children to rewrite the sentences correctly including capital letters. Hint: Every sentence always starts with a capital letter and finishes with a full stop. Important note: When the children are writing their own sentences please remind them about:
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Friday
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Reading Comprehension:
The children can read the passage and complete the sentences below. Encourage the children to write out the complete sentence. They could even draw a picture to illustrate the story. To check your child is understanding what they are reading, ask them questions about the passage. For example: Who was digging in the mud? What did he see? Where did he run to? |
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Week Starting Monday 11th May 2020:
This week the children can continue with a range of literacy activities that the children would be doing as part of their literacy stations in school.
The pages can be printed or if that is not an option for you the children can look at the pictures and write out the word or sentence using their copy/ notebook or pieces of paper that can be stapled together.
Monday:
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Secret Sight Words:
The children can write out the words in their copy, notebook or on a sheet. To work out the secret word the children will use their initial letter sounds. For example: Apple - initial sound is "a" Rainbow- initial sound is "r" Egg- initial sound is "e" Putting the sounds together, the first secret word is "are" |
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Tuesday
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Opinion Writing: Summer Treats
Which do you like better...a cupcake or an ice cream?
The children can write which option they prefer
"I like _______"
and write a sentence or two about why they prefer that option.
For this task, the children should use their sounds to spell words.
** Spelling is not the focus of this activity**
The children could draw their favourite ice cream or cupcake at
the end of their writing.
Wednesday:
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Missing Sight Words
The children can read the sentences and then complete the sentence by filling in the missing word from the list below. Encourage the children to write out the complete sentence with the correct missing word. |
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Thursday:
Final Sounds:
The children can practise the final sound of a word and write the correct letter in the box.
For example picture number 1: penguin. The final sound of penguin is "n" so the children would write "n" in the box.
The children could alternatively:
- Draw the picture and write the final sound beside it
- Write the word and circle/ underline the final sound
Friday:
Reading Comprehension:
The children can read the passage and complete the sentences below.
Encourage the children to write out the complete sentence. They could even draw a picture to illustrate the story.
To check your child is understanding what they are reading, ask them questions about the passage.
For example: Who went for a jog? What did the dog sit on? What did the dog see?
Week Starting Monday 4th May 2020:
This week the children can continue with a range of literacy activities that the children would be doing as part of their literacy stations in school.
The pages can be printed or if that is not an option for you the children can look at the pictures and write out the word or sentence using their copy/ notebook or pieces of paper that can be stapled together.
Monday:
Even in these strange times it is important to take some time off from school work so for Monday the children's work is to enjoy the bank holiday and the sunny weather!
Tuesday:
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To complete the exploration of the Post Office, today's task is to encourage the children to write a letter or postcard to their friend.
They could tell them about something they did over the weekend or something they saw on their walk. The children could use the free postcards provided to each house by An Post. For this task, the children should use their sounds to spell words. ** Spelling is not the focus of this activity** To learn more about the "Come Together by Staying Apart" initiative by An Post click here. |
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Wednesday:
One of the most important activities your child can do during this time is to make sure to read at least once a day.
Today's activity is based on the book that your child chooses to read today.
A simple book review!
For this activity your child can draw a picture, write a simple sentence or both to review the story using the guide below.
The focus of this activity is to develop understanding of the question words:
Who Where What
The Characters
The Setting
The Problem
Who Where What
The Characters
- Who was in the story?
- Who was the main character?
- Can they describe any of the characters?
The Setting
- Where did the story take place?
- Did it take place in one place or in different places?
- Can they describe the place the story took place in?
The Problem
- What happened in the story?
Thursday:
Rhyming Words:
The children can look at each box and pick out the two words that rhyme.
For example in box one: star and car
Ask the children to try and write the rhyming words (using their sounds for spelling).
Rhyming Words:
The children can look at each box and pick out the two words that rhyme.
For example in box one: star and car
Ask the children to try and write the rhyming words (using their sounds for spelling).
Friday:
Reading Comprehension:
The children can read the passage and complete the sentences below.
Encourage the children to write out the complete sentence. They could even draw a picture to illustrate the story.
To check your child is understanding what they are reading, ask them questions about the passage.
For example: What type of pet does the author have? Where did they take the hen? Where did the vet put the hen?
Week Starting Monday 27th April 2020:
We decided that the children might need a break from their great work on word families this week so we have put together some literacy activities the children would be doing as part of their literacy stations in school.
The pages can be printed or if that is not an option for you the children can look at the pictures and write out the word or sentence using their copy/ notebook or pieces of paper that can be stapled together.
Monday:
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Postman Interview
We are very lucky to have a local postman who has agreed to answer some questions the children might have about the job of a postman. The children can write a question or two for the postman to be asked. We will report back to the children on all the answers. The children could also draw a picture for the postman. All questions and pictures can be emailed to Ms. Byrne or Ms. Livingston. |
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Tuesday:
Read the words. Match the word to the correct picture.
If the children are writing out the words themselves, they could also draw a picture of each word.
To add an extra challenge...do you know a word that rhymes with each word? For example bat and cat etc.
Wednesday:
Reading Comprehension:
The children can read the passage and complete the sentences below.
Encourage the children to write out the complete sentence. They could even draw a picture to illustrate the story.
To check your child is understanding what they are reading, ask them questions about the passage.
For example: What colour is dad's van? Who has a red van? What did the rat do at the end of the story?
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Thursday:
Vowels The children were learning about vowels; a,e, i, o, u and how most words have at least one vowel. The rhyme "Angry Elephant In Orange Underpants" will help the children to remember the five vowels. For the activity below the children can complete the word by filling in the correct vowel in the middle of the word. The children can write out the word and draw a matching picture. |
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Friday:
Sentence Scramble
The children will focus on sentence structure for this activity:
- The children will read all the words and say whether or not the sentence make sense?
- The children can swap some words around and then read the sentence correctly so it will make sense.
- Write out the sentence correctly.
- Draw a picture to match each picture.
** If your child is experiencing difficulties working out the correct sentence, write out each word on small flashcards/ pieces of paper and work together to make the sentence**
Week Starting Monday 20th April 2020:
This week the children are going to look at word families again. This time it is word families with the vowel "o".
We have included flashcards below for each word family to help the children if they are having difficulty thinking of the words independently.
Monday:
- Word family: op ( for example pop, cop, drop etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many op words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of op words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different op word in each sentence.
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Tuesday:
- Word family: od ( for example cod, nod, rod etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many od words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of od words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different od word in each sentence.
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Wednesday:
- Word family: og ( for example cog, dog, blog etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many og words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of og words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different og word in each sentence.
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Thursday:
- Word family: ot ( for example dot, cot, shot etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many ot words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of ot words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different ot word in each sentence.
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Friday:
- Let's see how well you got on with your word families this week.
- Write the words for each word family below.
- Can you find all the words in each word family on the duck's blanket......use the correct colour for each family to colour in the blanket.
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Week Starting Monday 13th April 2020:
We are sure the children did a great job with their blue tricky words last week.
This week the children can look at tricky words level 2 (yellow tricky words). These words, also known as sight words, are words that the children cannot use their usual blending approach to break them down. The children need to learn them by sight. Some activities that they can do with their tricky words are;
- Read the word
- Write the word
- Write a sentence using the tricky word.
- Make flashcards and see how fast they can say all the words.
- Call and find the word: You can call out the word and see how quickly they can find it....or they can call out and see how fast mam or dad can find them :-)
- Make two sets of the words and play snap.
- Search in their books, catalogues, magazines and even newspapers to see can they find the words
Monday:
It is a bank holiday so take a well deserved break. Maybe you could just read all of the blue tricky words from last week!
Tuesday:
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Wednesday:
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Thursday:
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Friday:
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Week Starting Monday 6th April 2020:
This week the children can look at tricky words level 1 (blue tricky words). These words, also known as sight words, are words that the children cannot use their usual blending approach to break them down. The children need to learn them by sight. Some activities that they can do with their tricky words are;
- Read the word
- Write the word
- Write a sentence using the tricky word.
- Make flashcards and see how fast they can say all the words.
- Call and find the word: You can call out the word and see how quickly they can find it....or they can call out and see how fast mam or dad can find them :-)
- Make two sets of the words and play snap.
- Search in their books, catalogues, magazines and even newspapers to see can they find the words
On Friday they can see how well they have learned them with a wordsearch.
Monday:
Tuesday: |
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Wednesday: |
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Thursday:
Thursday:
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Friday:
Now test yourself and see how well you can read and find all the Blue tricky words.
| blue_tricky_words_wordsearch.pdf |
Week Starting Monday 30th March 2020:
Monday:
- The sounds of the alphabet a to z
- Call out each of the 26 sounds (mixing up the order will be more beneficial) to see can the child remember how to form each letter properly.
- Ask the child can the tell you three things/ people's names/ places that start with that sound.
- The child can attempt to write some words for each sound (spelling isn't important- the focus of this activity is to see can they use their sounds to make words)
Tuesday:
We have started exploring word families recently in Senior Infants. It would be very beneficial for your child to continue practising these word families. Some children may need to repeat a word family for a few days before moving on to the next one
**There is a helpful guide to word families at the end of this webpage: try and let the children make words on their own first before showing them the ones on the guide**
- Word family: at ( for example cat, bat, that etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many at words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of at words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different at word in each sentence.
Wednesday:
- Word family: ap ( for example map, lap, apple etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many ap words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of ap words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different ap word in each sentence.
Thursday:
- Word family: an ( for example can, man, Anna etc.)
- Ask the child to write as many an words as they can and then to read the words they have written.
- Ask the child to put the words into a sentence for you. You could even work together to make a rhyming story: the sillier the better!
- If the child is comfortable with a range of an words; ask them to write 2 or 3 sentences using a different an word in each sentence.
Friday:
Capital Letters: We have been exploring capital letters and learned all about when to use them and how to form them.
- Discuss with your child when they should use capital letters
- start of a sentence
- a person's name
- a place
- a title of a film/ book/ poem
- when using the letter I
- days of the week/ months of the year
- Similar to the lowercase letters on Monday, call out each sound of the alphabet (A to Z) and ask your child to write them down.
- Ask them to name a person/place they know to match each sound.
Parents guide:
| parents_guide-_alphabet_and_word_families.pdf |