What a Difference We Can Make....

In chapel and in the classroom, we have been talking a lot about how one person and/or a small group can make a BIG difference. As a first grade, we are getting ready to make a BIG difference in the lives of those who attend or work at our sister school in HAITI. We have also talked about how these acts can affect our EARTH as well, as we celebrated EARTH DAY on Wednesday. 

In TNT on Wednesday, we read the Lorax and talked about what a negative impact the cutting down of a habitat can have on the creatures that live within that habitat. The children then brainstormed a list of ways they could help out the environment and then placed their idea on the tuft of a Truffula tree. Check out our front door....it is eye-catching and full of the beautiful tufts of the Truffula tree! 

We have also been hard at work during our language arts block in the mornings.  Take a look at the pictures below as we continue to read with the teacher, learned all about VERSATILES- a fun way to review skills, practice our spelling, work with nouns, verbs and adjectives and much, much more! 

Page completes a review on the  "r" controlled vowels....

This groups completes an assessment on nouns, verbs and adjectives...with Ms. Lorfing.

Jack is working on a spelling activity....trace around and color!

Reviewing our 2D shapes with GEO BOARDS!

Elianna completes her "must do", a letter to a fellow fairy tale character!

Maddie is working on her own version of THE GINGERBREAD MAN.....THE JELLY BEAN MAN....in guided reading with Mrs. Waller.

The children added up the change and then recorded and stamped the amount!

Creating....a fairy tale castle out of circles, rectangles, squares and triangles! 

Playing memory with our spelling words!

Now that our Australian stories are complete, we have been reading our stories to the class! SO FUN! WE ARE AUTHORS!

Heckedy Peg, a fun fairy tale.....below Lila completes an activity on the felt board to help with her comprehension of the story!

VERSATILES

Ms. Lorfing taught the kids how to use Versatiles! It is a fun way to review language arts and math concepts. They will use them more in second grade, but did great with them this week! SO FUN!

By looking at the completed pattern you will know if your answers are right!

In math this week, Mrs. Waller has continued to expand on the concept of 2D shapes. The children finished creating these shapes on their geo boards, then we went on a 2D shape hunt around the room. There were challenges when having to find things in the shape of a rhombus (diamond).  The children know that the study of shapes is called GEOMETRY! We talked about the word parallel and what that means; two lines that will never intersect! They have also been working on creating and discriminating between shapes such as hexagons, pentagons and octagons! Thursday we briefly introduced 3D shapes! YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE GEOMETRY!

Julian and David create a heptagon...a 7 sided shape! WOW!

Working in our shape books!

Jack and others, on a shape hunt!

3D SHAPES!

In social studies the children are busy completing their story maps! WOW! They look amazing. They will start to present their hard work next week....they have done such a good job with this collaborative project! We also continue to work on our lemonade and cookie stand. We will discuss the cost of the cookies/lemonade, paint a banner, distribute fliers, and meet with the other first grade class next week to set a goal and finalize our plans!  

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Jack and the Beanstalk

The Three Little Pigs

Little Red Riding Hood

Hansel and Gretel

The Three Billy Goat's Gruff!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FINLEY!
We enjoyed celebrating with you!

In hands-on-science we planted beanstalks in honor of the folk tale, "Jack and the Beanstalk".  We discussed the process of how a plant grows and what it needs in order to survive.  We shared that unfortunately, ours won't probably grow as tall as Jack's did but it would be just the right size for Thumbelina and Tom Thumb!

In computer lab we visited www.braingle.com to play a logic game called, BEANSTALK, and help Jack plant his seed in the ground.  Once his seed was planted, fertilized and watered, Jack then moved to the next level. You might want to visit this game at home, the kids loved it. Go to the website, click on games and you should find BEANSTALK on the left side of the screen. You have to watch you every move to be successful....and you CAN'T GIVE UP!

SPELLING:
Skill: irregular plurals

Words: brushes, foxes, bosses, boxes, lunches, dresses, glasses, matches, wishes, dishes

Challenge: lemonade, children, Haiti, geese 

SURPRISE!!!!!????????

INFORMATION FOR OUR STAND:

1. The children have created fliers to help market their lemonade and cookie stand. We realize this is somewhat "old school" but it is one way the children can really be involved. We are instructing the kids to distribute the fliers around their neighborhoods with an adult. We also encourage distribution at parents' workplaces- only if appropriate. We will send these home at the beginning of the week!

2. On Tuesday or Monday of next week, I will send out an email blast that you can forward on to anyone and everyone you know-as a means of further advertisement; friends, family, neighborhood associations, etc. THANK YOU!

3. You can drop off items starting Thursday afternoon at 805 W. 58th Terrace (58th Street and Summit-the home of Jeff, Mary, Evelyn & Gibbs Morris). There will be a designated area in the back area for items to be dropped off. 

Thank you for your support! The response has been amazing. WOW! Your children are learning what it truly means to give and how good giving makes you feel.

OTHER REMINDERS:

1. Thursday April, 30th-your child may come to school dressed as their favorite fairy tale or folktale character. The information on this came home Tuesday in their backpack folder. This is completely OPTIONAL! It is the last day of our theme and just one way we celebrate.

2. Friday, May 1st: A PENNY OR A DIME - MAKE HAITI SHINE! 4-6PM @ 58TH & SUMMIT!

WOW! It is almost May. We are trying to take in every last minute possible with your children. We can't imagine a day without them! We will soon be moving on to our MERRY MONTH OF MAY theme as we introduce the children to the wonderful world of poetry! TIME IS FLYING BY.....enjoy and have a great weekend!

Love,

Sara and Carey