It is hard to believe how quickly the spring is flying by. I can't get over that Memorial Day is just around the corner. Here are some of the things that we have been up to in first grade over the last few weeks:
Reading: First graders have been reading across all genres of texts (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biographies, magazines) to learn about the rain forest. I have also completed an updated running record assessment with each child. Book check levels have been updated to reflect any changes.
Writing: First graders have learned about the process of researching to write a nonfiction text. We wrote all-about books on an animal that we saw on our trip to Jenkinson's Aquarium. We can't wait to share them with you at the end of the year. We are also beginning to revisit writing small moment, or personal narrative stories. We will be looking at mentor authors, such as Mercer Mayer, to help us learn special craft techniques to try in our writing.
Math: We wrapped up our Numerical Operations unit and completed a unit on Geometry. Students learned all about 2D and 3D shapes, as well as fractions. They created physical and digital posters to teach others what they have learned, and we can't wait to share them with our friends in Kindergarten. This past week we have been learning about telling time to the hour and half-hour. Next week we will begin to review for our end of the year math assessment. We will be taking the test the following week over a three-day period.
Science: We just finished our unit on the Sun, Moon, and Stars. We are beginning our unit on Light and Sound. This week, on Tuesday, we went into a completely dark room to test our hypotheses about what we would see if there was NO light.
Social Studies: We finished up our unit on Community Helpers. It was so exciting to be escorted to the post office by a SB police officer and to speak with mail carriers at the post office when we mailed our persuasive letters. This was such a great way to make real-world connections for our first graders. This week we read about the month of Ramadan and we learned about Memorial Day. Next month we will be learning about American Symbols around Flag Day.
Other Things to Ask Your Child About this Month:
- Autism Awareness
- The Rock Garden
- Our Soil Temperature Experiment and Ice Cube Experiment
- The Dark Room
- Friday, May 24th and Monday, May 27th- No School
- Wednesday, June 5th- Field Day Rain Date
- Thursday, June 6th- Early Release
- Wednesday, June 19th- Trenton Thunder Game
- Thursday, June 20th- 1st Grade Author's Celebration, 1:30 pm (Formal Invitations to Follow)
- June 24, 25, 26- Early Release
Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!
~Mrs. penna