Optional Independent Project

Thank you for supporting your first grader’s interest learning through independent projects this school year. We will continue to explore the concept of place through our social studies unit about community. We have been to walking to different places in our community and students are making connections and learning about point of view. We are beginning to identify important landmarks, and key features of our school community and our downtown community. Students are mapping their local world!

Our new independent project will give your child an opportunity to think about maps, and the places they’ve visited, or wish to visit someday. This project is also optional and can be done as a family or individual.

Here’s what we would like to have included in the final project. Your child can present it any way they choose. We would like to see students demonstrate the following components:

1. Choose any place you have been, or wish to visit, that can be found on a map (Montpelier, Hubbard Park, Montreal, your house/backyard, office building or structure, waterway, vacation destination, etc.)

2. Get a map of the location or make a map of the location  (print from the internet, Chamber of Commerce, photos, etc.)

3. Label the place or places on the map, include landmarks.

4. Include why you visited, who you saw or what you did, and some interesting facts about the place (photos, drawings, labels, fact bullets or charts)

5. Recall, then retell the visit with your family so you can share your story with the classmates

6. Have fun!

If you have any questions about this project, please send us an e-mail! Enjoy learning with your child.

The First Grade Team

*Projects are due by Monday, November 21st , but if finished sooner, please send it in.

Mapping

On Thursday, students continued their learning about community. This week's focus was on mapping and learning how to navigate around town.  Students looked carefully at google maps to plan an alternate route to Harrison Field.  Before embarking on this adventure, first graders walked up to VEDA to get a birds eye view of our school from above.  INQUIRE with your child how we navigated our way to Harrison Forest. Once we arrived on the ridge line of the forest, we learned about erosion and the importance of descending the hillside in a zigzag fashion, as to not make the erosion worse.  We ended our afternoon with two stories told by Ken about a beaver, bear, and raccoon!

Veterans Day

On Friday, first graders set out to thank veterans.   That morning, we learned about how the day is observed to thank those who have served our country in the armed forces. Students held their flags with pride, wearing american flag headbands as they marched down main street.

Sale is On!

As you might have heard, some classmates have took initiative to make a classroom "store."  Students have been working together to make both money and merchandise to sell.  This week, the merchandise was all sold when we had epic turnout and interest from other peers to buy everything.  This was a great opportunity for carrying out a plan and engaging in real life application! 

Spreading Love and Kindness

Last week our class community focused on love and sharing love.  We talked a lot about when kids, adults, or anybody else say unkind words, we can help by showing love to someone. We talked about how love is contagious and that if you are kind to someone, they will carry on the kindness.  Sometimes, it is not right away, sometimes it takes time, but the important thing is for all of us to share our love and kind words and work together to help all people.  

Election Day

On Election Day students learned about the voting process and a little about how our government works.  As we did this, we took two fictional characters from Doreen Cronin's book, "Duck for President" and thought about how and what each candidate would bring.  We then voted for who we thought would be a better president.  Students completed a ballot and put it in the ballot box before we counted the "private" votes.  Later in the day, students visited City Hall to see an actual voting place where people in our community cast their votes.  

Heads Up

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Message from Parent's Group

This Wednesday, November 9, from 6:00-7:00 please join the Union Elementary Parents Group in welcoming a special guest, Parent Coach, Kimberly Hackett.  We are so lucky to have her (for free!) coming to present to us. 

Please take an hour to join in this unique opportunity to meet Kimberly Hackett, a parent coach, who helps parents be the parent they want to be but also the parent their child needs them to be. 

Childcare is provided, so don't let this keep you home!

Kimberly will discuss the importance of parent leadership and growing alongside your child. You will leave with new insight into the inner workings of the parent-child relationship. We will discuss:

-       the value of Reactivity for personal growth

-       the need for internal and external Space, and

-       the parent definition of Self-Care

Kimberly is committed to helping parents maximize their parenting years by taking this opportunity for personal growth, healing and repair. When parents take care of themselves, they take better care of their child. When they understand themselves, they better understand their child.

Take an hour out of your busy schedule to focus on you. In the end, we can only give our child what we’re willing to give ourselves.  Feel free to check out Kimberly’s website to learn more about her : 

http://www.kimberlyhackett.com/

See you Wednesday night in the UES cafeteria from 6:00-7:00.  As always, childcare will be provided!  Bring the kids, it's fun! 

Heidi Groff

USPG Chair

Scholastic Book Fair

We are visiting the Scholastic book fair on Thursday, November 10th. 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, if not I will assume that you will expect books. 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.  

Community Walks

This week we have several outings planned if you'd like to accompany us.

Tuesday, November 8th @1:15 - City Hall to view the election process
Thursday, November 10th @1:00- Harrison Field to practice mapping
Friday, November 11th @9:30- Main St to walk (partway) in the Veteran's Day Parade

Please email me if you plan to attend any of these walks with us.

Leaf Art

Thank you to those parents who joined us on our last ECO trip. Please see the schedule on the side bar and let me know if you can join us on any ECO afternoons from 1-230.  This week, we'll be traveling on Thursday. 

Insect Parade

As a culminating activity to our science unit, first graders planned, designed, and paraded around the school sharing with the UES community all they learned about insects.  The focus and learning that was surrounding our classroom was impressive - and FUN! 

Pumpkin Day

Pupmkin day was a big hit in our classroom.  Thank you to all the parents who were able to donate pumpkins so all kids could participate in the many activities throughout the day.  I'm sure you heard all about what each student did with their pumpkin (I think the favorite activity was the balancing!).  Math activities included measuring and weighing, literacy activities involved naming their pumpkin, singing along to pumpkin songs, reading books, such as "Pumpkin Jack" science activities related to sinking and floating, and many more.  Students acted as a community of learners as they shared laughs, encouragement and support to each other throughout the day. 

Insect Collages

Buddies worked together to complete a culminating insect art project.  Check out the amazing work, inspired by Eric Carle hanging out side our classroom.  Students from Mrs. Pierce's class and ours worked together to plan and design their own insect using paper they made in a collage style.

Math Games

Students are developing fluency in both addition and subtraciton throughout their first grade year.  We spend a lot of time playing games that help to improve our ability to add and subtract - and strategize!  Try playing these games with your child - all you need is a simple dice..or deck of cards...or some dominoes.  Simple tools..but complex games.  Have fun!

Publishing

After finishing the editing and revising of our small moment stories, we had a chance to complete the publication of our stories.  Children had a chance to share with their classmates their final narrative.  This important part of the writing process is important and will help children develop speaking and listening skills.  

Tulips

This past week the first grade launched a science and beautification project here at UES.

Through the Journey North Citizen Science Tulip Test Garden Project (http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tulip/) every first grader will plant a tulip bulb, and track its growth this Spring. Students will report when their tulips emerge, track and record the rate of growth and date of blossoming to the national Journey North database. There scientists will compile data from all international test tulip garden sites to report the progression of Spring globally, and identify trends.

Classes will plant in the Park Ave. gardens in front of the school and at the UES welcome sign, as well as in the Loomis St. gardens. The 80 bulbs needed for this project were graciously donated by Montpelier Agway - thank you!                              First graders will be learning about what scientists do - from asking questions, to collecting data, experimenting and making observations throughout the year.   We will look closely at the tulip bulbs again that were planted this week. We will use our 5 senses to explore the bulb and document what we smell, feel, and see. The children also made wonder questions about the bulb - such as I wonder if it will survive the winter, I wonder what the outer covering does for the bulb. Students will also be looking at the cross-section of a tulip bulb and make a diagram of the inside.

Vision Screening

The Barre Lions Club is offering free vision screening with a SPOT vision screener.  To date, the Lions Club has screened over 3000 children in all the local schools and many daycares.  They will be at Union Elementary on Monday, Nov 7th to screen the children in grades K, 1,3.

The Spot vision screener is more accurate than school screenings and can be used in very young children.  It’s non-invasive and screens the child at a distance of 3 feet.  The child needs only to look look at the device – bird sounds and sparkly lights attract the child, and it generally takes about 2-5 seconds.

The SPOT screener detects the following vision problems in children from 6 months of age up and provides a written report, if needed, that can be shared with the child’s eye doctor:

·         Myopia (Near-sightedness)

·         Hyperopia (Far-sightedness)

·         Anisometropia (Unequal refractive power)

·         Astigmatism (Blurred vision, eye structure problem)

·         Anisocoria (Pupil size deviations)

·         Strabismus (Eye misalignment, Gaze)           

The Lions Club’s major initiative is to detect visual problems early and reduce the incidence of blindness.  Please call me if you have questions, or don’t want your child to participate.

Thank you,

Sarah Mele, RN

sarahm@mpsvt.org

802-225-8206