3-D Shapes Slideshow

Thank you for being a part of this homework project!  Here is the finished product:




The students loved seeing "their" objects in the slideshow!

Fractions

Today we started a mini-unit on fractions.  We focused on how to make parts equal.  We also spent some time learning how to write a fraction.  There was much shock when we learned that 1/2 was more than 1/4.  There were lots of protests; "but 2 isn't bigger than 4!" was the most common rebuttal.  We spent some time examining how this could be true and I think I had some converts by the time we were done!

Morning Station Time

On Monday morning we had a chance to spend some time working in our literacy stations.  I tried to get a picture of each station, but sometimes those kids are faster than I am!!  

 This station has rhyming words on strips that the students pull through the picture.  Each time they get a new beginning sound, they read the new word to their partner.

 This student is working on his red folder work.  This week we are focusing on blends (2 consonants together).  He happens to be working on a paper that has him sorting different pictures into 3 columns based on the beginning sound.

 Reading is always a choice in this classroom!  Here is one of our students enjoying a Dr. Seuss book!

 Another reader!  Makes my heart happy!!

 These two boys have chosen the listening center.  Today there was a book about the true story of the 3 little pigs.  They were finding it hysterically funny!

This activity requires students to sort words based on their ending sounds.  They are working on vocabulary, rhyming and sorting.  He had just gotten started!

Dr. Seuss

In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America week, we have done some extra activities to foster students' love of books and reading.

On Monday, we were invited by Mr. Burns' 5th grade class to come to the library to listen to the 5th graders read Dr. Seuss books.  The students were put in groups of 2 or 3 and listened intently to the fun books they chose for their fifth grader to read.

Lots of comfy pillows of course.

Another view.

The whole group.

Sometimes you just have to have a quiet place to read.

Most of the group seemed to stay in one big space but a few of the groups found quiet spaces off by themselves.  It was fun to watch all the students engaged in the reading process.  I don't know who I enjoyed watching more; the first graders I currently have or the fifth graders who used to be my first graders!

On Wednesday morning, Mrs. Vielleux's fifth grade class came down to first grade with their class set of iPads.  The fifth graders taught the first grade students how to use the iPad by using an app about Dr. Seuss.  The students had to take a picture and then size and re-size the picture to get it to fit in the frame of the character they chose.

Here are some of the first graders getting their lesson on how to use the Dr. Seuss app. 

 It did not take them long to catch on!

 

Of course, once they got good at it, they had to have some pictures of the teachers too!

Mrs. Thorburn

Mrs. Pfeiffer

Mrs. Vielleux

The Penguin Lady

On Friday, The Penguin Lady came to first grade.  Dyan deNapoli, author of The Great Penguin Rescue, is an expert on penguins and came to share her knowledge with us.  Thank you DBS PTO for funding this incredible experience for us!

The Penguin Lady demonstrating how penguins use camouflage to survive.

All of the first grade classes came to the library where Dyan had a great quiz show set up for them to participate in.  She said more than once how impressed she was with the extent of their knowledge about penguins.  She was able to teach all of us a few new things though!

We found out that penguins do have knees (we had just read that they didn't before attending her presentation).  They just keep their legs bent all the time so that it looks like they don't have them.  This is why they waddle so much when they walk.  We also learned an interesting fact about how penguins keep their nests clean, despite spending so much time on them.  The answer relates to penguin guano and the students LOVED her picture that went along with this fact!  Be thankful you didn't have to see it!

Our penguin unit (sadly) is almost complete.  I enjoy this unit as much as the students do!  Please take some time this week to review your child's penguin folder.  They have learned so much and should be excited to share this with you!  (Penguin folders will be sent home some time this week).