Cozy

Believe it or not, we did have a productive and COZY day at school.  All stuffies showed great self control throughout all learning activities and helped your child learn! Thanks for remembering to send in stuff with your child.

Experimenting

We began a unit aligned with the newest grade one national Next Generation Science curriculum and the VT Common Core State Standards called Waves: Light and Sound. Students will plan and conduct investigations to understanding that vibrating materials can make sound and that sound can make materials vibrate. Students will also make observations to demonstrate they understand objects can be seen only when illuminated, and students will plan and conduct an investigation using a beam of light as well as an investigation to use sound/light to solve the problem of communicating over a distance. Your child will get read to roll up their sleeves, and learn how to use the scientific method to do investigations and experiments through this unit - interesting, and FUN!

Last week, we conducted our first experimented to help us learn about waves. Students thought about what scientists do, and followed the steps to doing an experiment. Partner groups experimented with what waves are to help them build background knowledge to sound and light waves. INQUIRE with your child what happened to the water when a marble, rock, and coin were dropped into a bowl of water. Also, INQUIRE with them what steps a scientist follows when conducting experiments.

Can sound make vibrating materials move? That was another question our scientists posed last week. To test this out, students used their voice to make salt "jump" on a plastic covered bowl. INQUIRE with your child what their "conclusions" were.

This week, our question will change- can vibrating materials make sound? We will use some elastic bands and cover a shoebox to put this question to the test. INQUIRE with your child later in the week about what they found out.

Winter Birds

We had a lot of fun learning new artist techniques after reading the book, "Snowballs" by Lois Ehlert.  We recreated her style of art by making a collage rendition of one of her pages.  Although not realistic looking birds, we enjoyed using a variety of colors to make the birds really pop off our pages.  We have learned about what birds do in the winter and next month will dive into the topic of birds in more depth.

Academic Choice

For many different topics we study, first graders often have the opportunity to build and extend their own learning. Universal Design for Learning is a great way to accommodate different learning differences and styles. In our classroom, we call this time, "academic choice," and kids think about what they know about the topic, what they want to know more about, and how they want to explore this learning deeper. They extend their understanding either individually or with a partner, presenting their knowledge through multiple means - writing, drawing, acting, or through technology.  We had a lot of fun last week exploring the Elephant and Piggie series in more depth.

Flynn Preparation

Mo Willems is by far the favorite children's book author in our class.  For the past few months, all kids have been spending any chance they get picking up a book from one of his favorite series, Elephant and Piggie. They have dived in to these books, learning to read with expression, understanding dialogue, and laughing along with the silly characters.  Leading up to the Flynn Performance (sorry- I couldn't take pictures there) we examined the characters in more depth, and thought more deeply about the content presented by Mo Willems. There are more than 20 Elephant and Piggie Books written, and the performance combined many of his famous titles into one show - "We are in a play!"  It was so fun to watch the kids on the edge of their seats, recognizing each book in the show.  If you haven't had a chance to read a book by Mo Willems, I encourage you to ask your child to bring one home.  

Book Fair

We are visiting the Scholastic book fair tomorrow- Wednesday, March 22nd. Your child may browse or shop at this time. If you would like your child to buy an item, it helps to have a labeled envelope with planned purchases listed on the outside or a note saying that the choice is theirs. If your child is free to choose at the fair, please let me know. I generally encourage students to buy only books when shopping at school. If you would like them to purchase trinkets, please indicate this on the envelope as well. Families can visit on Friday afternoon after school and evening as well to purchase books. Our classroom will have a wish list available at the book fair of books that could enrich our curriculum. Please consider helping out our classroom library and donating a book.  

ECO - THURSDAY!

ECO is THURSDAY!

(AND IT WILL BE SNOWY!)

Please make sure that your child is prepared with:

-warm socks and snow boots

-layered clothing

-snowpants and jacket

-mittens or gloves

-hat

**EXTRA WATERPROOF GLOVES/MITTENS ARE ESSENTIAL!! Kids will go out for recess before ECO, so having a dry pair to start the afternoon adventure is important.**

We will set out for ECO at 12:45 and will return for dismissal.  If you can join us, let me know!

Notice Sent Home Today - Check Red Folder

First Grade Field Trip!

What: Performance of Elephant and Piggie’s We Are in a Play

(adapted from Mo Willem’s award-winning books)

Where: The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington

When: Tuesday, March 21, 2017

We will eat an early lunch here at Union School before boarding the bus at 10:30.  The show starts at 12:00 p.m., and we will return to school with time to have a snack before dismissal.  

We would love chaperones!  However, due to limited tickets, only two chaperones per class may attend this trip.  If you would like to chaperone, your name will be put in a drawing.  Your child’s teacher will notify you by Friday, March 17th to confirm whether or not your name was selected.  Another opportunity to chaperone will be our trip to the VT Institute of Natural Science (VINS) later in the year.

Thank you!

The First Grade Team

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please return permission slip by Friday, March 17th, 2017.

_____I would like to chaperone

I give my child permission to ride the bus and visit the Flynn on March 21st, 2017.

Child's Name:___________________________________

Guardian's Signature:_____________________________

____My child will bring a lunch from home.

____My child needs a school lunch...please choose from the following:

____ham sandwich bag lunch OR ____turkey sandwich bag lunch OR ____yogurt bag lunch

____white milk OR ____chocolate milk

Opinion Writing-Collections

Last week, we began a new writing unit. So far this year, we have written small moments, where we share an experience with others in a narrative form, we have written informational books, where we have spent time teaching others about a particular subject, and last week, we began opinion writing where students are forming ideas about an object/topic and thinking about how to convince their readers to think like them. Much time was spent this week learning and understanding that we all have different beliefs, interests, and favorites - for particular reasons. This unit will get students to think more deeply, develop persuasion in their writing, and develop skills to help them provide reasoning to their thinking.

Last week, students learned how to look at objects closely, compare a number of different traits, and then choose which one was their favorite. Students learned that before they choose their favorite, they had to provide evidence of why it was their favorite. Acting as a "judge" students set out with a collection (ex. trains, coins, dinosaurs, horses, cars, rocks), and lined them up as if they were in a "dog show." Students examined the objects closely before setting off to write their thinking on which object would get first place. Some students extended their thinking, going on to explain who received 2nd place, 3rd place, etc while providing their opinion of why it did.


As students tried to convince their readers, they also had to think about introducing their writing, giving their writing a closing, and finding even more ways to get their readers to think like them. Today, we're even learning about how to quote experts - who can help make our reading stronger!

 

Boss of your Reading

As we come back to school after a long break, students are reminded of their important jobs as readers.  A review of strategies already learned is reviewed as first graders are being challenged to take control of their own reading - and be the boss.  Students are being reminded to self-monitor and employ a variety of strategies from their tool box when they get stuck.  When one of these tools doesn't work, first graders are expected to navigate the text and decide what other strategy would be more useful.  This high level of self-monitoring their reading will lead to increased fluency and comprehension.  Are you continuing to read with your child at home? What are you noticing?  Let me know if you have any questions or would like me to encourage your child to choose different books for at home reading. This continued support is extremely valuable to your child's progression of first grade literacy skills.  

Mindfulness

We have been implementing a variety of mindful practices in our classroom, especially when we come back in from lunch and recess in the afternoon.  Students are learning to direct their attention to their breathing, mind, and body.  INQUIRE with your child what the "jewel" activity was.  How did they feel after participating?  A peace table is being developed in our classroom, offering kids a chance to take a break when they feel as though they need one. This will happen after more tools are introduced to the whole class.  

Marionette Puppet Show

Today, students had the opportunity to watch "Nick Of Time" a puppet show put on by the organization, No Strings Marionette Company. This company is here at our school for three weeks to work with all the third grade classes who will create their own show complete with their own puppets. We will have a chance to watch their shows in a few weeks. Today, however the directors of the program entertained us with their own show and answered many questions we had about the puppets and special effects shown. While waiting for the show to begin, students sang along with the directors to various well known songs and also learned a few jokes. INQUIRE with your children who their favorite character was and what they learned about the marionette puppets! UES students are so fortunate to have the opportunity to see such fine performances each month!