First Grade News: We Are Living Happily Ever After in First Grade!

We are celebrating our EARTH!

We are having so much fun during our fabulous FAIRY TALE AND FOLKTALE theme! We are also getting ready to celebrate Earth Day. We have been very busy this week. Take a look at our pictures below from this week's Language Arts block:

Cinderella on Startfall.com

Our listening center for the week: The Principal's New Clothes!

Scrambled Easter Words.....the letters in the egg spelled hatch....

Finley read The Three Billy Goats Gruff, then drew and wrote about the setting of this tale.

Our Fairy Tale mailboxes....we are having fun writing letters to our fairy tale friends!

Campbell is writing the final draft of her Australian story!

Guided reading continues....

Learning about homophones with Ms. Lorfing!

Reviewing non-standard measurement!

Handwriting Without Tears

--qu and -wh work in our phonics books....

Graffiti spelling....

Number Scrolls

In math this week we continued to review the concept of standard measurement using our rulers. We have discussed the concept of measuring by the foot as well. 1 foot = 12 inches, 2 feet - 24 inches, etc. We have also taken a look at a yard stick and a measuring tape and how these tools are used to measure. The children took part in our very own version of THE PRICE IS RIGHT; THE MEASUREMENT IS RIGHT! When given an object, Player #1, Player #2, Player #3 and Player #4 had to hit the buzzer and give us their best estimate of the object being measured. The player closest to the actual measurement without going over was the winner and remained in contestants' row for the next round. Your children were great audience members as well as contestants. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN!

Contestant's row!

Campbell was the winner of the round!

In Social Studies this week we have focused on the elements of a map. Collaboratively the children will work in small groups during this unit to create large story maps of an assigned fairy tale or folktale. Thursday, the children were assigned to their small groups and given the tale they will be mapping to share with the class. Working collaboratively is an important skill that will be expected of the students throughout their academic careers. Once they have finished their first reading they will work together to determine the story elements before they start to map out their story. Each child will be assigned an element and will be responsible for reporting back to the group. For example, one child may be in charge of determining the main character(s) and minor characters, while another may be responsible for describing the setting of the story. After they complete this step in the process they will work together to create a large story map which must contain a compass rose, a map key, labels for the main/minor characters , the title of the tale and it must illustrate the beginning, middle and end of the story.We will display these maps in the room once they are complete. We will keep you posted so you can come in and check them out!

Using our social studies books to help us learn about maps!

A map of our bedroom, for practice!

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Hansel and Gretel

The Three Little Pigs

Little Red Riding Hood

Jack and the Beanstalk

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

In TNT we began to discuss Earth Day and its importance. In order to try something new, we created self portraits by using newspapers that have already been used! Come see the finished project on the bulletin board just outside our room! REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

FIRST GRADE STANDS FOR HAITI!

We have started the planning for our annual lemonade and cookie stand. With Mrs. Waller this week, the children brainstormed words that would be great to include in the name of our stand. After the brainstorming session, we broke the children down into small groups to come up with names on their own. We came back together to hear the names, and voted on two favorites. Your children came up with some amazing names keeping in mind who the stand will benefit and also how they will benefit. The next step was to get together with Miss O'Connor and Mrs. Herber's class, who had voted on their favorite two names as well....we did this on Wednesday. We are having so much fun so far......and the name of our stand this year is.....

Great words to include in the name of our stand!

Brainstorming names....

Voting with the other class!

A PENNY OR A DIME - MAKE HAITI SHINE!

FRIDAY'S FIELD TRIP

A special thank you goes out to Mr. N, Reading Reptile and Rockhurst University for organizing and allowing us to come to this year's literature festival. It was great to hear these authors and illustrators. Brian Floca took us from beginning to end, how an idea becomes a published book. It was great to see and hear.