We have been so busy in first grade, that I haven't had a moment to collect my thoughts and share our our learning with you in weeks. I apologize for the belated response, but hopefully the photos and explanations below will show you why I have been busy prepping lessons and not blogging about the awesomeness that is first grade. MathIn preparation for teaching students about 'greater than' and 'less than' symbols (>,<) We began to explore the equals symbol, and defining it's meaning. We realized that in order for an equation to be equal, we needed to have the same amount on both sides of the equals sign. We sorted equations into categories defining whether they were 'true' - correct, or 'false' not equal. After understanding '=' we began to use angle brackets to identify numbers that were greater and less. We used pac man, and an alligator mouth to help us with this, knowing that each creature would like to eat the amount that was more. We have also been working on number stories and reading data that require calculating how many more or how many fewer. Students have been using pictures and quantity and difference boxes to help solve these type of problems. Students have been enjoying counting money using pennies (1 cent) and dimes (10 cents). While American currency is not something that all students will use in their lifetime, the concept of counting on 10s, 5s, and 1s is an essential skill. I will be focusing more on counting than on currency with your children. Additionally, we have been learning about weight in lbs. in first grade. Students have been measuring, calculating, and comparing the weights of different animals. 100th Day of SchoolAnother massive math moment was our 100th day of school celebration. Students counted, predicted, and completed several activities around the number 100.
With Mrs. Lucia, students worked on making a 100th day of school crown that had 100 polka dots on it. With Mrs. Danielle, students worked together to make a list of 100 reasons why we love school. With Mrs. Mbola students worked together to build a tower using 100 cups. With myself, students played a dice game called rolling to 100. Once we were finished with our kindergarten friends, we returned to our room. In small groups, students; put together number grid puzzles, ordered numbers from 1 to 100 using base 10 cards, and made predictions around the number 100 and then checked to see if their predictions were correct. Language ArtsThere were also several literacy connections that we made around the 100th day. First, we wrote a class book called 'Things We've Been Told 100 Times!'. Students brainstormed sentences that they have heard their teachers say nearly every day this year, and each wrote a page stating what they are tired of hearing. I certainly am a broken record.
In language arts, we have been learning about parts of speech. This is something that we are digging back into that was introduced early in the year. Students completed an activity where verbs in different tenses were blown up in balloons. Students had to pop the balloons, read the word inside, and decide whether the word belonged in the past, present, or future tense. During our Daily 5 time, we have introduced our last component, word work. Students are using the 'Words their way framework for word study. 'Words Their Way' is "based on years of research into invented and developmental spelling, the classroom-proven framework of this successful series is keyed to the five stages of spelling and orthographic development. Teachers everywhere have grown to love its no nonsense method for studying words. Each stage-specific companion volume features a complete curriculum of reproducible sorts and detailed directions for teachers working with students in each stage of spelling development, from emergent through derivational relations." (Pearson) Your children have been grouped into ability groups based on an assessment that was given before beginning the program. When we are finished with each sort (about 2 weeks each) students will be assessed on the vocabulary, their understanding of the word patterns, and the spelling of some words. I will send each sort home to continue to be practiced at the end of each cycle, and students will receive a new sort. Please come speak with me if you have any questions related to this program. Below you can find some photos of what our Daily 5 time looks like in class. "The Daily 5™ is a framework for structuring literacy time so students develop lifelong habits of reading, writing, and working independently. Students select from five authentic reading and writing choices, working independently toward personalized goals, while the teacher meets individual needs through whole-group and small-group instruction, as well as one-on-one conferring. These choices include
Our little learners have also been dabbling in procedural writing. Now that we are finished introducing all of the necessary phonics sounds for first grade, we will be focusing heavily on writing. Our first procedural writing piece was on how to make s'mores. If you don't know what s'mores are, read on... Unit of InquiryWe had the lovely ladies of ADES Solaire come in to visit us to speak about solar energy, and how we can use sunny weather to help us cook. We learned that this is important as the rainforest in Madagascar is being cut down to make charcoal, and animals are losing their homes. We were so inspired by the amazing solar ovens, that we decided to build our own. Students were given the task of creating a solar oven that they could melt chocolate and marshmallows in to make s'mores. We learned that a s'more is melty chocolate and marshmallow sandwiched between two biscuits, traditionally gram crackers. After building our solar ovens, we placed them in the sun in the parking lot. Each solar oven had a thermometer in it. In small intervals students went outside to record the temperature of the ovens, and any noticeable changes that they could see happening to the s'more. Mr. Joe also helped us set up a camera on the real solar oven purchased from ADES to make a time lapse movie. You can see our s'more time lapse video here. We then enjoyed our delicious snacks heated by the suns energy! We also learned about the water cycle. We completed a number of investigations about how the cycle works. In the photos above we used shaving cream to represent a cloud, water to represent the sky, and then took turns dropping blue died water to represent rain drops into the clouds. Students learned that clouds can hold billions of drops of water in the sky, before they get too heavy and rain down. We also learned a few songs, and built 3 different models to help understand evaporation, condensation and precipitation. While learning about how most of the water in the world comes from the ocean, one student had a brilliant inquiry; if the rain comes from the sea...why doesn't it taste salty? I loved this inquiry. This is what the PYP is all about, getting students to ask good questions and guiding them toward answers. We set up an experiment to find the answer. We put two plates of water outside. One with salt, and one without. When we checked them at the end of the day, we noticed that the water had evaporated from both plates, but that the salt had stayed in the bottom of the salty container. In order to better understand weather, the first graders engaged in an inquiry on tools that meteorologists use to measure weather. Students learned about several tools, and how to use them. We also made different tools that we can use to measure the weather, and engaged in hands-on experiences with thermometers, rain gages, anemometers, and wind vanes. We also finally got our beautiful clouds hanging in our room! Celebrating KindessFirst grade joined the elementary school students and participated in the global Great Kindness Challenge. During the week, students had opportunities to show acts of kindness in our classroom and the school. We used a 50-item checklist to mark our progress throughout the week. The acts of kindness included, not only being kind to others, but being kind to yourself, animals, and the earth. The intent of this one dedicated week was that it will hopefully spread into the rest of the year, off school grounds, into neighbourhoods, and local communities. You all know that I am the biggest proponent of kindness. The Workshop Approach to Learning
The above photos show some of the diverse workshops that students have been delivering, and the different models that students have been using. Again, I am wowed by all of your brilliant children and their unique talents. MusicA note from Mrs. Van,
Hi Mason, Your class did really great today! I snapped some pictures if you'd like to put it on your website. We have been learning about the pitches "sol" and "mi." The students can sing from handsigns, read from the staff, and today we wrote these pitches on the staff. They used these pitches to create a compose a melody for a "Singing Valentine." When they give it to someone, they should be able to sing it to their Valentine. Thank you! Kristen photos can be accessed via the link below https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzyvkIOgHiXeTnR6Y2pFd2wtYjhMbFNxSHhIdG5qdjhjMkdN/view?usp=sharing
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ASA First GradersWe are caring, balanced , reflective, openminded, risk-taking, knowledgeable, principled, thinkers, communicators, inquirers, explorers and learners. Archives
March 2018
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