Bears Around Fate and Waller's Class!

It has begun! The study of bears. The students always love this unit and we are excited right along with them.

We jumped right in this week with our language arts block. Take a look at the activities the students completed using their tic-tac-toe boards.

Compound word review on the SMART BOARD...

HWT

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Word Work: spell your spelling words, write them on your dry erase board

PLURALS

SPELLING: say it, type it, write it!

Partner reading-review of word families





A review of compound words...

With Mrs. Waller the students have continued guided reading with the teacher. After reading our stories we focused on the setting of each one. We learned that  the setting is where and when the story takes place. Knowing the setting of a story helps us form pictures in our minds allowing us to better understand the story. Some of the students starting working on their AUTHORity List. This is a list of topics they know about and key words they associate with each topic. They will refer to this list when they need an idea for a creative writing assignment.

Choral Reading

Setting Sort

Miss Fate introduced adjectives. We stepped back in time and showed them a Schoolhouse Rock video, Unpack Your Adjectives. Miss Fate also taught them an adjective song. Have them sing it for you. Once they were familiar with an adjective, they worked together to come up with as many adjectives as possible for a pumpkin take a look below.

In math this week Miss Fate presented the skip counting rap as yet another way to present the concept.  The students also bounced a ball back and forth as they skip counted by 2's, 5's, and 10's.  After this, they returned to their seats and practiced their skills as a team at each table. They had to use dot markers to skip count on a hundreds chart. Once one student placed their dot on the board, they passed the board to the next student. The first table to complete their hundreds board was the winner.

Counting by 2's

Mrs. Waller introduced cuisinaire rods. We talked about how each rod represents a different number. The students then worked with their partner to show their doubles. The students also continue to review their doubles and learn how doubles help them when solving addition problems. This is all a part of improving their sense of numbers and their mental math.
Thursday we used the interactive Smart Board to find the hidden number on a hundreds board, after playing a fun game of Double Bubbles.

Cuisinaire Rods

5 + 5 = 10

Double Bubbles

Her number was 55!

Find 9!

In social studies we wrapped up our presentations. Thank you for your hard work on their family collages and "How I Got My Name" reports. We have loved learning about your children. We also took the time to introduce our bears to each other. They have been outside with us, played on the playground and they were a part of our TNT this week as they went for a ride on the parachute.

Bears at recess!

Where did they go?

On Monday the students started their K-W-L chart about bears. We talked about what they know about bears and what they want to learn about bears. When the theme is over we will talk all about what they have learned. Thursday, they started learning about the polar bear and we also touched on Columbus Day, with the holiday right around the corner.

Our K-W-L chart...

In computer lab we explored three apps that were recently added (by teacher request) to our iPads: Friends of Ten, Quick Images, Futaba.  Have your child fill you in and you can explore at home. 

Friends of Ten

FUTABA

Quick Images

In Hands-On Science the students visited the Gummy Bear Lab! What will happen over time when you place a gummy bear in water? We will see on Monday.

SPELLING: phonics skills: short "i" and phonograms -it, -ill, -ink, -ick

New Spelling Words:  sit, bill, pink, sick, hit, this, with, will, if, in
Challenge Words: grizzly, polar, hayride, pumpkin
SURPRISE!

Reminders:

October 8th--noon dismissal, teacher in-service day
October 10th--1st Grade Field Trip @ 9:15am to Carolyn's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch returning around 12:45ish.  Your child will need a disposable sack lunch and a drink. They will also need to be in weather appropriate clothing. Tennis shoes are best. We are praying for a wonderful day!

The buddy run is on Friday, Oct. 12th @10:00 am on the upper field

Doubles test is coming up on Wednesday, Oct. 17th

October 18th & 19th--ABC SALE

PET BLESSING Friday, Oct. 19th & end of the 1st Quarter

We have had another wonderful week. Thank you for your support. Have a great weekend!
Sara and Melissa