Sensory Garden
At Timahoe N.S. Friendship week this year a new project to create a sensory outdoor space for the pupils in the two special classes at the school began.
As gardening is an activity that can be shared, there were many opportunities for positive social interaction and teamwork.The area had to be cleaned and cleared initially - thanks to Matt McGrath and Liam Cooney!
Then, each class opted for a creative, hands-on role; adding plants and flowers, building a water feature and making "feely" equipment to bring this special and inclusive space to life!
Junior Infants cleverly recycled 2-litre bottles to make a popular and effective water fountain.
Senior Infants painted tractor tyres and planted them with a great variety of plants and flowers to enable their friends in the Naíscoil explore different colours, textures and smells in this calming, natural setting.
3rd & 4th classes recycled material to create a sensory hoop and wall. Used cable spools have also being delivered which will be turned into a variety of sensory play tables over the coming months.
As the two special classes are in temporary accommodation in the village they come to the main school building for gatherings and events and now this sensory space adds a new dimension for inclusion. A programme of reverse integrations is also on-going whereby mainstream classes join in curriculum time at 10am in the Naiscoil, singing songs and rhymes and participating in active shared learning.
At Timahoe N.S. Friendship week this year a new project to create a sensory outdoor space for the pupils in the two special classes at the school began.
As gardening is an activity that can be shared, there were many opportunities for positive social interaction and teamwork.The area had to be cleaned and cleared initially - thanks to Matt McGrath and Liam Cooney!
Then, each class opted for a creative, hands-on role; adding plants and flowers, building a water feature and making "feely" equipment to bring this special and inclusive space to life!
Junior Infants cleverly recycled 2-litre bottles to make a popular and effective water fountain.
Senior Infants painted tractor tyres and planted them with a great variety of plants and flowers to enable their friends in the Naíscoil explore different colours, textures and smells in this calming, natural setting.
3rd & 4th classes recycled material to create a sensory hoop and wall. Used cable spools have also being delivered which will be turned into a variety of sensory play tables over the coming months.
As the two special classes are in temporary accommodation in the village they come to the main school building for gatherings and events and now this sensory space adds a new dimension for inclusion. A programme of reverse integrations is also on-going whereby mainstream classes join in curriculum time at 10am in the Naiscoil, singing songs and rhymes and participating in active shared learning.