It's "BEARY" Fun in First Grade!

We LOVED the Pumpkin Patch!!

This week in language arts...

  Ms. Lorfing started working in small groups on Halloween stories.  The children are learning that building a story takes patience and organization.  They know to write a story you must start with a topic, brainstorm your ideas and every story must have a beginning, middle and end.  They will have their published pieces ready to share at conference time!

Story Writing....

 We used our new facts we've learned about black bears to unscramble sentences.  Once the parts of the sentence were assembled, we wrote them out on paper.  This was such great reading and writing practice.  We also practiced our cooperation skills by working on this task with a partner.

Our focus in phonics this week was short "i".  We practiced saying the words, writing the words and building words with this vowel.

Jake is using the steps to draw the world in the Christopher Columbus packet while Joshua practices his spelling by making each word with pipe cleaners.

Raquel is using the iPad to practice friends of 10.

Page is matching the bears according to their opposite words.

Abby is practicing her spelling with rainbow writing.

Asa put the different types of bears in ABC order.

In math we worked on missing addends.   We've also reviewed our doubles and doubles with neighbors to help prepare for next week's quiz. 

Showing the missing addends on our white boards.

Raquel is practicing her doubles plus 1.

Near doubles flip book.

In social studies this week we've talked a lot about Christopher Columbus in preparation of Columbus Day next Monday.  We began our unit on bears by filling out a "bear" KWL chart.  We listed all the facts we already KNOW about them, then listed what we want to LEARN about bears and finally, over the next few weeks we'll record what we've LEARNED.  We began that "learning" with the American and Asian black bears.

KWL chart

American black bear.

Asiatic black bear or the "moon bear".  Ask your child why this bear has this nickname.

Our bears had fun this week playing on the playground with us!

The highlight of our week was going to Carolyn's Pumpkin Patch.  Thanks to the parents who made the trip out with us to enjoy the beautiful day!  Enjoy these great pictures of our sweet pumpkins!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAQUEL AND PAGE!!

In Hands-on-science we did an experiment with gummy bears.  The idea was to see what would happen when a gummy bear is placed in water.  We will continue to watch into next week to see the BIG results!

In computer lab this week we went on abcya.com and reviewed verbs on an activity called "Word Clouds".  You should see their unique creations coming home today.

Spelling

The children did great on the first & second tests.  Here are the words for the next test.  We will start grading the Spelling Tests with N (needs improvement) S (satisfactory) O (outstanding) .  They will be graded on Spelling Words, Challenge Words, Sentences & Neatness starting next week.  All the sentences are made up and used from the spelling words.  Occasionally there will be sight words in the sentences they should know how to spell.  We will build on the sentences each week.  We will say them orally over and over and  start easy.  Then, we will move our way up to 5 sentences. Please help prepare your children for the grading.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT AT HOME HELPING TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD EACH WEEK FOR THIS TEST!

Spelling Words- Week #3 October 14-17, 2014

Phonics Skills: short “o” 

1. top
2. hot
3. dot
4. hop
5. stop
6. on
7. dog
8. not
9. mom
10. got

Challenge Words

11. jack-o-lantern

12. witch

13. scarecrow

14. endangered

“Surprise the Teacher Word”

15. ??? (This is your choice)

Reminder:
NO SCHOOL on MONDAY- Staff development day
Doubles test next THURSDAY 

Special thanks to our supportive volunteers who came in this week to help us out in the classroom.  We couldn't stay afloat without you!

Enjoy your weekend and stay dry!
Sara and Carey