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Engage in water play outside! Put on some old clothes and have fun! Fill a basin of water and use different types of containers. Some of you may even be lucky enough to have water guns/balloons. Ask your mum/dad to supervise and to join in.

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I have no doubt that we would have danced our way out of Senior Infants together. I hope you enjoy this dance party yoga session instead.

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We hope that you and your families are healthy and happy. We are missing you all so very much and are looking forward to seeing you again in September. It's hard to believe it is nearing the end of June already. You have worked so hard at school and at home this year, and now it's time to have fun! You'll be happy to hear that our last Padlet consists of fun activities only, we hope that you enjoy some of the suggested activities.

Please email us with pictures of anything you've particularly enjoyed, or just to say goodbye and tell us any plans you have for the summer holidays. We love getting your emails!

Our email addresses are:
lgleeson@mercypssligo.ie
rtaheny@mercypssligo.ie
lcarty@mercypssligo.ie
oflannery@mercypssligo.ie
cmcnally@mercypssligo.ie
hkilcawley@mercypssligo.ie

All the best, Ms. Carty, Mr. Gleeson, Mr. Taheny, Ms. McNally, Ms. Flannery and Ms. Kilcawley.

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Use chalk to make an obstacle course in an outdoor area (see the beginning of the video attached to today's next activity). Draw and use a hopscotch.

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What to do with this activity?

Get some chalk and draw a hopscotch design outside on the ground. Copy the picture above. The squares need to be big enough for one foot and to hop between. Here's how to play:

1. Take turns to throw a small stone onto a numbered square. Start with number one. If the stone doesn't land in the square you lose your turn. If you get the stone into the right square, hop to number 10 (hopping over the square with the stone in it) then turn round and hop back to near where the stone is.

2. Lean down (still on one foot) and pick up the stone. Then hop back to the start. You then throw the stone onto the next highest number and continue.

3. If you step on a line, hop on the wrong square, or step out of the square, you lose your turn.

4. Your goal is to complete the course having thrown the stone onto each number in turn. The first person to do this wins the game!

If your find it easier, watch this youtube video explaining how to play hopscotch. On a rainy day, you can stay inside and mark out the floor using masking tape that lifts easily.

Children learn numbers and maths in a natural way through play and everyday activities. It's different to school and should always be fun and practical - that way your child will enjoy working with numbers.

Your child also develops a sense of patterns and what time means in everyday life. This is important for helping your child to manage everyday activities - going places, how long they have to wait and understanding when things will happen in the future.

Talking about numbers helps your child's fluency in counting, estimating and understanding numbers and money in everyday life. It takes time for children to understand addition and subtraction so use objects when helping them understand this or when doing their homework.

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Get some chalk and draw a hopscotch design outside on the ground. Copy the picture above. The squares need to be big enough for one foot and to hop between. Here's how to play: 1. Take turns to throw a small stone onto a numbered square. Start with number one.

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JUNK ART!

Make something using recycled materials you have at home.

For example a rocket, a robot, a castle ect.

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Meet Kev the Robot (named after the delivery box that some essential hair care products arrived in!). Kev took about 10 hours to make, over two days. Kev will be joining the Youth Arts Department in Draiocht when we reopen!

We used:
Delivery boxes, Easter egg boxes & inserts, toothpaste box, egg carton, rolled up paper (eyebrows), tissue box, styrofoam balls, lots of silver & coloured paint, glue and lots and lots of masking tape.

We didn't have any red paint so Tillie mixed magenta & yellow to come up with the perfect shade of red - well done Tillie!!
Lots of fun was had, mostly from Albie our Director!

Enjoy!
Paula Quinn, Children & Youth Arts Administrator

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Take part in #ShowUsYourArt
https://www.draiocht.ie/blog/category/showusyourart

Send photos of your creations to paula@draiocht.ie

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More: https://www.draiocht.ie/blog/category/youth_arts_createathome

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Meet Kev the Robot (named after the delivery box that some essential hair care products arrived in!). Kev took about 10 hours to make, over two days. Kev will be joining the Youth Arts Department in Draiocht when we reopen!

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Use some coloured chalk to draw pictures on the ground outside. Why not start with a rainbow for the times that are in it!

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Kid Playtime outside with a Colorful Chalk drawing rainbow and truck with Ryan's family Review

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Happy birthday to all the students who have celebrated their birthdays while working from home and to all the summer babies. We hope you had/have a great one!

If you have any family birthdays coming up or if you fancy an end of school year treat why not try these delicious rainbow cookies.
Bon Appétit!

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Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the butter, sugars, egg yolks and vanilla with a wooden spoon until creamy, then mix in the flour in 2 batches. Stir in the orange zest. Roll the dough into about 22 walnut-size balls and sit on baking sheets. Bake for 15 mins until golden, then leave to cool.

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Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Mix the butter, sugars, egg yolks and vanilla with a wooden spoon until creamy, then mix in the flour in 2 batches. Stir in the orange zest. Roll the dough into about 22 walnut-size balls and sit on baking sheets.

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Go on a nature walk with your family. Look out for twigs/shells/pebbles ect. while walking. Make some Art on the ground using the natural materials you've found. Leave it for the next walker to find - I wonder how many people your Art could make smile?

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Today we'd like you to take a few minutes to think back on your time in Senior Infants.

Can you remember.....
a time you felt really happy/your favourite day/your favourite activity or aistear role play area/your favourite class treat or trip?

Tell your mum/dad about it and then draw a picture about it.

You could email a photograph of your drawing to your teacher and say your goodbyes.

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Unfortunately, we didn't get on our school tour this year. Why not prepare a picnic and go somewhere as a family. Bring your favourite teddy bears and make it a Teddy Bears' Picnic!

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Well done on all your hard work this year, we hope you had as much fun as we did! Enjoy your well earned summer holidays!

I'm glad I was your teacher,
I've come to love you so.
I can't believe the end is here,
I hate to see you go.
Remember all the fun we had,
in all the things we did.
But most of all remember...
You're a Very SPECIAL Kid!

From Ms. Carty, Mr. Gleeson, Mr. Taheny, Ms. McNally, Ms. Flannery and Ms. Kilcawley.

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Virtual SPORTS DAY!!!

(If today doesn't suit you can have your Sports Day any day this week. For more information please scroll down on the column to your left!)

Let's get started, follow the link for the first activity called Make the Face!

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Make your own ice-pops at home using water and cordial, or your favourite juice. You can also add some chopped up fruit. You could even attempt to make a rainbow ice-pop by using a combination of colourful fruit. (see link below)

If you don't have molds don't worry, children in Georgia in the US use plastic cups to make delicious frozen treats. They call them 'Thrills.' Thrills are very popular as in summertime Georgia gets very hot.

When I was little (long before Froyo was a thing!) I used to make frozen yogurt pops over the summer holidays. It couldn't be any easier! Open your yogurt pot (small petit filous work very well), place a tea spoon in the pot and then freeze. Top Tip: Leave at room temperature for a few minutes before pulling the frozen yogurt out of its pot.

Let's hope we get the weather!

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The kids and I had a great day outside playing in the pool and with the hot weather that we are experiencing it's always helpful to have a refreshing cold treat for them while the are outside. Today I decided to make one of their favorite treats which we call Thrills and I'm sure that everyone that reads this post will have their own unique name for this delicious treat. Thrills are super easy to make and only require a few ingredients that are interchangeable depending on your families dietary needs. The kids all decided that they wanted two different flavors for this batch of Thrills so we used two different types of flavors. Let's Get Started!

Items Needed:

Instructions:

1. Decide what type of flavored drink or juice that you will use and add more sugar to make the thrill sweeter.

2. Pour desired drink in cup and place a spoon or popsicle stick inside for the handle

3. Place inside a cupcake pan to ensure that the cups do not fall or use a cookie sheet to place them on while in the freezer.

4. If your making multiple layers than pour one color in the cup and freeze for 30 minutes then repeat the same steps to add more layers.

5. Continue to freeze for a few hours until the Thrill completely hardens.

6. Serve.

**You can also add fruit, candy or gummy worms for special treats. The kids love that too.**

COMMENT BELOW IF YOU WANT AN ADULT VERSION

**This post contains affilate links***

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The kids and I had a great day outside playing in the pool and with the hot weather that we are experiencing it's always helpful to have a refreshing cold treat for them while the are outside.

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Enjoy some summer themed mindful colouring.
What colours remind you of summertime? Blue and yellow remind me of summer. These are my favourite colours and they remind me of my favourite place which is the beach. What are your favourite colours? Where is your favourite place? I hope you will get to visit it over the summer holidays.

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I hope you enjoy this fun version of Somewhere Over The Rainbow... Don't forget to dance!

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Puppy Hey Hey - Nursery Rhymes And Kids Songs

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Somewhere Over The Rainbow WITH LYRICS | Nursery Rhymes And Kids Songs

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Welcome back to Mini Chef Mondays! This week my mini chef wanted to be in the photos again and was really excited about this recipe to boot! Since St Patrick's Day is coming up I thought it would be fun to do some rainbow themed recipes, and what better way than with some yummy fruit?! We made these easy and yummy fresh fruit popsicles with very little prep time!

Chop up your fresh fruit (or use frozen if you prefer) in rainbow colors. We used:

Blueberries for the blue/purple layer.

Kiwi for the green layer.

Pineapple for the yellow layer.

Peaches for orange. (canned, since they aren't in season right now) You can also use mango!

Raspberries for red.

Fill your ice pop molds with the fruit in rainbow color order. We did reverse order, but I found the juice made the red from the raspberries run into the other layers, so next time I'll do the red layer first! After adding all the fruit, carefully pour juice in to complete the pops. We use apple juice, but you could also use white grape juice or coconut water. Any clear or lighter juice would work. You could also use a mixture of half apple juice half water to cut down on the sugar.

Freeze overnight and then enjoy your frozen rainbow of fruit!

So pretty!

I am hosting Mini Chef Mondays along with 4 fabulous bloggers, find out more about the Mini Chef Mondays Team!
Join our facebook group to find even more recipes and share your own recipes!
Get featured and follow us too!

Pinterest: Check out our Mini Chef Mondays board with tons of kid-friendly, easy to make recipes!

Instagram: Use our hashtag #MiniChefMondays so we can repost your mini chef creations!

Twitter: We retweet every post with #MiniChefMondays

Be sure to check out each of their Mini Chef posts as well!

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Welcome back to Mini Chef Mondays! This week my mini chef wanted to be in the photos again and was really excited about this recipe to boot! Since St Patrick's Day is coming up I thought it would be fun to do some rainbow themed recipes, and what better way than with some yummy fruit?!

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Dancing Raisins

For this fun experiment you only need three things:
1. a glass
2. raisins
3. 7up/sprite

Have fun!

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Ready to make some raisins dance?? Although you won't need to buy them dancing shoes, once you give your raisins some soda pop, they'll start dancing for you with every bubble!

In this easy science experiment, your young scientists will learn about the effects of density and buoyancy. Below you will find a demonstration video, a supply list, and printable instructions. Suitable and fun for all ages.

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

Clear Drinking Glass

Clear Pop like Sprite or 7Up

Raisins

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 - Gather your materials together and begin by pouring the pop into the cup. Pour until it is about 3/4 of the way full.

As you are pouring the pop, take a moment to make observations. What did you notice as you poured the pop into the cup? Did you see anything interesting happen? Did you hear anything as you poured the pop into the cup?

What do you think will happen if you place the raisins into the cup? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then continue the experiment to test it out and to find out if you were correct.

Step 2 - Next, take a handful of raisins (approximately 10-15) and carefully place them into the cup. Then take a step back and look through the side of the cup to watch what happens.

Step 3 - What initially happened to the raisins? Did they sink to the bottom? Did they float to the top? As you observe the cup for a few minutes, did anything else happen? Was your hypothesis correct?

Do you know what caused the raisins to "dance" and move up and down in the pop? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below. It also contains ideas on how you can expand on the experiment.

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Video Tutorial

Watch the Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Step by Step Instructions

How Does the Science Experiment Work?

When you first place the raisins in the soda, the raisins sink because they are denser than the soda. As the carbon dioxide gas bubbles dissolved in the soda attach to the wrinkled surface of the raisins, the raisins begin to rise. The raisins rise because the soda bubbles help increase the buoyancy of the raisins.

Buoyancy is the tendency of an object to float in fluids because of the upward force fluid exert on objects.

This increase in buoyancy helps the raisins become less dense than the soda. When the raisins get to the surface of the soda, the carbon dioxide bubbles surrounding the raisins pop. The raisins lose buoyancy and become denser than the soda so they begin to sink. As the raisins sink, more carbon dioxide bubbles will attach to the raisins' wrinkled surface, starting the process all over again!

The raisins will continue to dance (sink and float) in the soda until all of the carbon dioxide bubbles have popped and the soda becomes "flat".

More Science Fun

Try this same experiment with objects that do not have a wrinkled surface like blueberries or grapes. Do they rise in the soda the same way the raisins did?

Instead of using soda like 7Up or Sprite, try using baking soda dissolved in water and vinegar. Dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda into a half cup of water. Add 6-7 raisins to the baking soda/water solution. Slowly pour a tablespoon of vinegar into the mixture and watch the raisins dance! (This version of the experiment could make a mess, so put your cup into a shallow dish, like a pie pan, before adding the vinegar).

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

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Dancing Raisins Science Experiment: Simple Instructions & Video Tutorial

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Ready to make some raisins dance?? Although you won't need to buy them dancing shoes, once you give your raisins some soda pop, they'll start dancing for you with every bubble! In this easy science experiment, your young scientists will learn about the effects of density and buoyancy.

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Enter a universal breathing room. The visual and instructions will help you to inhale, exhale and relax. The map at the bottom might interest your child. Can they find Ireland? Do any of your family members live elsewhere in the world? If so, show them where.

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Here are a selection of fun games you can play throughout the week.

Card games (snap ect.)
I spy with my little eye...
Headbands (who/what am I?)
20 questions (who/what am I?)
Charades (book, movie, TV show)
What time is it Mr. Wolf?
Board games
Jigsaws

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Hi all. This will be a very different sports day compared to usual. You can pick whatever day suits you best to do it during our last week.

The activities can be done by individual children, siblings or family groups. The children might want to compete against others in their family, work as teams or complete activities for the fastest time. Whatever suits.

Obviously all the children will be at different levels so they may prefer some activities to others and may need some activities adapted for them.

It’s entirely up to you which, if any, activities you choose.

Each skill has various activities, the first is easier. Many of them can be made easier/harder by decreasing/increasing the distance/speed involved. I’m sure the children will think of ways to adapt them.

The activities are all on the activities attachment and the other attachments are print outs for the scavenger hunts. There is also a design activity as a rest activity. any equipment needed should be easily found at home. Some of the activities have a link attached so you can see exactly how to do the activity.

We would be delighted if you sent us some photographs of your fun day.

I hope everyone enjoys this virtual sports day.

D. Sherry and all Mercy Staff.