Tuesday, November 22, 2016

We are Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving from all your 1st grade friends. There are so many wonderful people and things we are thankful for each and everyday.

I am thankful for my lovable first grade family. Happy Turkey Day!

Friday, November 18, 2016

GRA Finale

1st graders (and their teacher) are sad to say that Global Read Aloud 2016 has come to an end. This week we celebrated the big event by reading the last chapter of our shared story.  We used our beloved book The BFG to help us work on our retelling skills, which is a strategy we have been using to help us comprehend texts.  As a class we discussed the five major details to include in every retelling (characters, events, setting, problem and solution).  We refer to this as the "five finger retell".  We divided up the major events and used the iPads as a digital tool to create detailed illustrations. After, we put our illustrations together to retell the whole book. Check out our final project created in animoto:

Common Core State Standard RL 1.2 Retells stories including key details and demonstrates understanding of their central message or lesson. RL 1.7: Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Kindness Day

Monday Fuller Meadow celebrated World Kindness Day by creating our very own kindness rock garden.  Kindergarten and 1st grade classes have been hard at work over the last few days to get these inspirational rocks ready.  First we met with Mrs. Libby's class and painted our rocks.
After our rocks dried, we met back up with Mrs. Libby's class and Mrs. Halligan's class to draw kind messages and pictures. 
Once all the prep work was done, all Fuller Meadow Kindergarten and 1st grade classes met in the courtyard to place our rocks in our own kindness rock garden. 
Thank you to Mrs. Halligan for bringing the Kindness Rock Project to Fuller Meadow.  If you are ever in need of a kind message or something to put a smile on your face, check out our rock garden in the courtyard. Remember, always be kind!

Monday, November 7, 2016

Election Day

The results are in and with a 45 to 17 vote, 1st graders overwhelmingly voted for an Extra 1st Grade Recess.  Each 1st grader had a job throughout the day to help make Election Day run smoothly.  Picketers were out again, trying to gather any last minute votes.  1st graders worked at the voter check-in booth.  Voters needed to present their registration card, have their names checked off the voting list before receiving their ballot.

Once voters received their ballots, they stepped into the voting booth and with a little help from some step stools cast their votes.
Voters then checked out by putting their ballots in the ballot box and received their "I Voted" stickers (thank you to Middleton Town Hall for their donation).
When all votes were cast, the vote counters were needed.  They counted the votes, and then made sure to double check so no recount was needed.
We gathered as a whole first grade at the end of the day to hear the results.  There was a huge roar when the results were revealed.  1st grade voters will be having an Extra 1st Grade Recess soon!   

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Election Prep

Just like many Americans, 1st graders are anxiously awaiting voting day. On Monday, November 7th, 1st graders will be casting their votes in our very own first grade election. Since first graders haven’t quite turned 18, we aren't voting on the presidential candidates but rather between a No Homework Night or an Extra 1st Grade Recess.   First, students had to register to vote.  In order to register, voters needed to reside in Middleton, attend Fuller Meadow School, and be in 1st grade.  Voter registration cards are filled out and ready to bring to the polls on Monday.

Next up was creating campaign posters.  1st grade voters spread across classrooms to work in different campaign headquarters.  Students made posters, signs and catchy slogans to try and convince others to vote their way. 
On Friday, we put our campaign posters in the courtyard for voters to read on their way to lunch.  We also picketed outside to get those last minute undecided votes.
Polls open Monday morning and we are excited to see what the 1st grade voters pick. Every vote counts!