Shark Day!

Yesterday was Shark Day in our classroom and Ms. Ransom's. We have been learning about nonfiction research and working on a big project researching sharks for the last month so yesterday we wrapped up our unit with a day all about sharks! Kids made shark expert crowns in the morning and finished their individual "All About Sharks" reports then read them to partners in our class and the other class. We read a Scholastic News article about sharks, did some shark-themed math riddles at math time, and did some shark reading/writing activities as well. Below you will find photos of the kids sharing their "All About Sharks" reports with the other class.

Today we did a Mexican Fiesta day to celebrate the end of our unit studying Mexico. Each first grade classroom made a Mexican food (salsa, guacamole, quesadillas, and Mexican Wedding cookies) then rotated between the rooms to try each item. We ended the day by watching the Disney/Pixar movie, Coco, which connects to our learning about the Mexican Holiday, Day of the Dead. We were so busy making food that I didn't get photos of our fiesta but we had a great time (and students are bringing recipes home).

Have a wonderful vacation week!

Special Visitors!

UMS had two special visitors last week! We had a second visit from local author, John Churchman, as well as a visit from some Essex High School students from a group called Back to Bach. Their goal is to spread the love of string instruments and classical music to schools while also teaching students about finding a passion and working hard!

Mexico!

This month first grade has been learning about Mexico during our social studies time. Our big idea for the unit is the question, "how are we similar and different from people in a different country?" To answer this question my class always connects with a K/1 class I have a connection with in Monterrey, Mexico! As a class we email and Skype each other to ask questions and to learn the ways that we are alike and different! We did our Skype with them this past Tuesday and yesterday you would have seen a writing piece come home about this. Students in our class wrote about ways that we are similar and different from the students we "met" in Mexico based on what we talked about during our Skype. Ask your child about it!

I am adding photos below of Amate bark painting that students did in class (the Amate people of Mexico make paper out of bark and paint pictures with groups of three things on it with bright colors) as well as kids sharing reports they did on animals that live in Mexico! You should have seen those reports and paintings go home in the last few days as well.