Beach Day

The BIG day finally arrived! Today we suited up (in our tie dye) and headed out to Odiorne Point in Rye, NH.  1st graders had a blast exploring the rocky shore and seeing first hand everything we've been learning.  Thank you to all the chaperones who were able to join us today on our excursion.  Our little scientists did an excellent job sharing all their sea creature knowledge.  I'm happy to report we all looked adorable in our tie dye and made it back to school with smiles on our faces (just a little sweaty).  Enjoy our Seashore Smilebox:

May Flowers

When we peek outside our classroom window we see beautiful May flowers budding all around us.  Well, flowers have also been budding in our classroom too.  Students made "math flowers" to show their knowledge of representing different numbers.  1st graders showed their target number with equations (addition and subtraction), in a ten frame, with tens and ones and some even wrote the number word. 

These flowers came out so adorable we decided to send a set to our penpals.  While creating our penpal flowers we focused on the difference between interrogative sentences (questions) and explanatory sentences. 1st graders asked their penpal a series of questions on the front side, making sure to include the question mark and then answered these questions with explanatory sentences on the back.  We even included our mustache pictures to give our penpals a smile.

Non-fiction

Students have been using non-fiction texts to learn facts and information about different tide pool animals.  1st graders were split into groups to fill out an organizer with all the facts they read.

Deep in research

Each group became the expert on that ocean animal so they could then teach the rest of the class.  We recorded all their information on large posters hanging in our classroom. 

1st graders weren't done there.  Each group then created a labeled diagram of their animal for our very own classroom tide pool.  Students used labels and captions (which are non-fiction features) on their posters to help inform us.

Our very own classroom tide pool

We really are getting ready for our field trip!

Tide Pools

1st graders have been getting reading for our upcoming field trip to the tide pools.  Mr. Money came for a visit yesterday and brought hands on sea organisms to help us learn even more.

Checking out a sea sponge: an
animal filled with tiny holes

A dog whelk used his rough
tongue to drill the hole in this shell

Looking at a sea star's mouth, rays and 5 eyes

Students have learned lots of new vocabulary and facts.  A new vocabulary word we learned was invertebrate or animals with no backbones. Did you know a crab molts its shell? Or that a sea star can regenerate? Keep discussing these facts at home with your child so you're ready for our field trip too!  You never know what you're going to learn.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to the wonderful Moms of the students in room 116.  We hope you enjoy your day; may it be filled with hugs, loves and snuggles.  Cherish your gifts that came home this weekend.  Someday many years from now you will look back at your card and jade plant and think fondly of your child at this age.  Thank you for all that you do to send smiling happy students to our classroom everyday.

Also, I would like to send a virtual very special thanks to my wonderful Mother (who I'm sure is reading this). Ever wonder where I get my creative ideas, or who helps cut out laminating projects or buys endless supplies for our classroom?  Well she gets the credit for all that and more!  She is a spectacular Mom and does so much for all of us in Room 116.  Happy Mother's Day! xoxo

Scavenger Hunt

1st graders and their Kindergarten buddies went on a Weather Scavenger hunt in the courtyard.  Using all their knowledge of weather, spring and Mother Nature, 1st graders used the iPads to take photos of items on their scavenger hunt list.

Finding something that lighting could strike

Finding something that changes
with the seasons

Finding something that crawls

When we headed inside, students used the apple TV to share their photos.  Here's a peek at life through a 1st grade eye:

Something that could be carried by the wind

Something that is warm

Something that is shaded from the sun

Something that will grow towards the sun

Something that will evaporate and become part of a cloud

Not only are these photos fantastic but it was also wonderful to hear the scientific discussions going on.  1st graders and Kindergarten friends came up with different creative photos for all the items on their list.

How to...

In Writer's Workshop, 1st graders have been focusing on informational writing.  Each student chose a topic they were an expert on to create a "How To..." book.  Once students decided on a topic they began with a rough draft, making sure to use rich transition words.  Next, students used green pens to revise and edit their work.  After that, 1st graders used scribble press on the iPads to create a how to book.

I was very impressed to look around the classroom during Writer's Workshop to see every single student, I repeat EVERYONE on task for the whole writing block. 1st graders were so into creating their books and repeatedly asked and begged to finish them.

Students using their rough drafts and turning them into published books

Check out our published Scribble Press creations by clicking on the book titles below.  

Brady: How to Get
Ready for Baseball

Kaitlin: How to Play
Tennis

Riley: How to Make a
Paper Airplane

Olivia: How to Play Just
 Dance Three

Mia: How to Swim
on a Swim Team

Rayan: How to
Play Soccer

Kurt: How to Be a
Soccer  Goalie

Kenna: How to Skate

Emma: How to Make
a Dog with Cans

Max: How to Play
Flag Football

Andrew: How to do
a Belly Flop

Allison: How to
Rock Climb

Ana: How to Play
Tennis

Jake: How to Play Wii

Aidan: How to Ski

Rebecca: How to
Make a Necklace

Ariana: How to Ride
a Bike

Nick: How to Slam
Dunk a Basketball 

Liam: How to Make a
Snake Grow

I "mustache" you a question...

Currently in our Math in Focus unit students are practicing their graphing skills.  1st graders decided to put these skills to the test and create their own bar graphs.  Students created a question to ask peers.  They came up with everything from favorite color, food, Mario character and even Boston sports team.

1st graders then walked around the classroom with mustaches in hand  above lips to collect their data.  Once data was collected students tallyed the results and created their own bar graphs.

I "mustache" you a question....do you love 1st grade?

Walk to School

As you may know, Fuller Meadow participated in Walk to School day this morning.  When we were all settled in at school, students and teachers took to the Brigadoon neighborhood behind Fuller Meadow for a morning walk.  It was a "beautiful day in the neighborhood" and we enjoyed a wonderful stroll around the block (with the exception of some 1st grade friends ready for lunch, snack, water and even a nap).