It has been a very exciting couple of weeks during theme.  First graders have been exploring different types of balls and how well they bounce (or not).  We wonder, ask questions, inquire and record ourfindings.  Later in the unit we will add ramps to the mix. We will continue to to explore and discover how gravity plays a part in our experiments. 

Have a great break! 

Dear Families,                                                                 February 2, 2010

Our Mexico culture study was a huge success in the first grade.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays there was excitement and plenty chatter about their expert groups.  The few students who were hesitant to participate came to love this study along with the others and especially the Fiesta at the end.  First graders were proud of their work and thrilled to report on what they learned.  Chole and her two daughters came to visit and taught us songs, culture, and how to make tortillas.  They are Mexican Americans who live in Craftsbury.  Now that our study has ended we move into a more regular schedule and a few new units.

Yesterday we made science journals for a Balls and Ramps unit.  We will conduct experiments, record data, change variables, and analyze the results.  This will begin by talking about measuring the bounce of a ball.  First graders have great ideas about balls and ramps.  Some of their comments include:

Balls are

• ·        Bouncy, squishy, hard, soft, small, medium and large
• ·        You can throw, roll and do tricks with balls
• ·        You can roll them down ramps
• ·        You can bounce, kick and sit on them

Some types of balls include:

• Golf, baseball, softball, soccer ball, tennis ball, ping pong ball, yoga/exercise ball, super ball, and playground ball

Some comments about Ramps include:

• You can skateboard down a ramp
• A car can move all by itself down a ramp
• You would have to push a car up a ramp
• Hills made out of wood
• You can build them out of blocks and we have blocks that are ramps

We will also learn about the scientific method and try to use a modified version towards the end of our unit.

In Mathematics, we have moved into our third unit: computation and place value.  Students will continue to develop a solid understanding of basic operations and place value in the context of problem solving. Games and activities designed for practicing addition facts and sums of money will be introduced as we move through the unit.  We will also review sorting, graphing, classifying and comparing later in the unit.  Behind much of this work, is counting by 2’s, 5’s and 10’s and understanding the process to solve word problems.  Along with this unit we are integrating Mahesh Sharma’s mastery of arithmetic facts effectively.  This involves learning doubles (5+5=), near doubles (5+6=) and adding teen numbers (10+3=) orally and then solving on paper. Many children are doing very well mastering their ‘doubles’ facts and using strategies to solve other math facts.  

In writing, we are beginning Poetry: Powerful Thoughts in Tiny Packages.  The unit contains five parts: creating a poetry museum, putting powerful thoughts in tiny packages, focusing on language and sound, bringing together language and meaning and celebrations.  Yesterday your children thoroughly enjoyed poems from A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein.  I hope this shorter writing unit will inspire the poet within all the first graders. 

Onto a more physical note, we are cross country skiing on Wednesday February 10^th and 17^th.  Hopefully we will have more snow than we currently have.  I will send a note home closer to the actual date with a reminder and what to bring for skiing. 

I hope that Phil groundhog runs like a bandit from his burrow with no sight of a shadow to be seen.

Cheers,

Tiffany

On October 21st we had a Responsive Classroom culminating event.  I created a hunt using a set of the alphabet cards on our wall to various places at school.  The First Graders had a great time. Here are some photos of the afternoon.

A few weeks ago a small group of first graders created a Library radio advertisement.  If you click below you can hear it.

Tiffany

Dear Families,                                                                 October 16, 2009

The leaves are just beyond peek and the cooler weather has really shown its face.  It seems as time is flying by and your children are thriving, respecting each other and becoming a small community as first graders. 

As the cooler weather arrives to stay, please send mittens and hats for recess.  Also, when the snow arrives, please send shoes or slippers in addition to boots so that when your child takes off his or her boots s/he has something warm and dry to put on.  Most students have an extra pair of clothes at school and I will send a little note attached to this letter it your child needs to add something to his or her bag. 

I was so very proud of the brave boys who spoke about the litter on the playground and on our field trip at assembly.  We had a great walk to the center of Lincoln and our mapping skills are coming along.  There are many more details in our drawings and the orientation of our maps are deliberate.

We are finishing our garden bed book for the second graders.  Our garden map is almost complete and the intention of our garden book is to inform the second graders about what was planted in each bed last year.  This will help them to rotate crops in order to plant in the spring.  We planted garlic last week and there are pictures on our blog!  If you go to our website:  www.lincolncs.org click on blogs at the top of the website and then First Grade.  I post our school letters, information, thoughts and quotes from the First Grade. 

Peace,

Tiffany

Dates to Remember: 

Saturday, October 17, 2009   Garden Work Party 12:00pm-3:00pm.  Pizza provided!!

October 22 & 23 No School