Opinion Writing

First graders have spent the last month during writers workshop focused on opinion writing. This week they have been writing a "best piece" to show families at March conferences! I can't wait to show you all of the growth they have made! Also, if you are noticing the crowns in the photos, we have been learning about words that end with -ing and kids made "King of -ing" crowns as a fun celebration of our learn-ing!

Place Value

This week in math it has been all about place value! Today my group played a game exchanging "ones" for "tens" with our Base 10 Blocks. Tomorrow we will try the same game but with pennies and dimes to connect the two very similar concepts.

Classroom celebration!

When we fill our classroom Champ Band bucket we have a fun celebration in class. This last time students voted to make forts in class!

Learning About Light

Before our December break we focused our science learning on sound (what causes sounds, volume, pitch, vibration, sound waves, etc). This month our focus is on light. This week we have begun exploring what makes shadows. Your child should be able to tell you that shadows are made when an object blocks light. Today we took advantage of a sunny break to go outside to experiment with shadows that we make on the snow. Kids did different challenges that you can try at home as well! Make your shadow wider/thinner, taller/shorter, make it disappear, make it jump off the ground, get together with a partner and make a shadow with 3 arms then 4 arms, make your shadow shake hands with your partner's shadow without actually touching your partner, and make your shadow appear on the ground and the wall at the same time. Here are photos of kids trying these different challenges!

The Week Before Break!

This week we did lots and lots of fun things though I didn't get time to photograph them all! We had a sing along with the whole school, we read books about different December holidays, we had a party with our class, and we did a schoolwide celebration watching a movie this afternoon. We finished our learning about sound and when we get back from break we will learn about light (and the similarities between sound and light). Have a wonderful, restful school break and I look forward to seeing you in the new year!

Measurement Trees

Our current math unit has a focus on measurement. To have some fun with this we measured strips of paper to make pictures of evergreen trees in the snow and hung them on our bulletin board.

CHS Choir Performance

Each year in December some of the singers from the CHS choir come to our school to sing winter and holiday themed songs for (and with) us! Here are a couple of photos.