Cloud Watchers

 Before vacation 1st grade meteorologists went outside to be weather watchers.  We have been waiting for a perfect cloud observation day and were lucky to fit it in before all this rain.

Cumulus clouds floating by

Scientists recorded weather and cloud words based on what they observed in the sky.  They focused on describing words and finished with a detailed illustration.

It was a great day for seeing fluffy, puffy cumulus clouds that changed shape as they moved across the sky.  There were also some thin, high, wispy white cirrus clouds, too. 

Ask your weather watcher what types of clouds they notice in the sky.

Earth Day

GO GREEN!  This month we have stressed the importance of helping the Earth. We read Fancy Nancy, Every Day is Earth Day and learned fun sayings to help us reduce, reuse and recycle.

1st graders painted the Earth with their hand print in the middle (their tiny prints are too cute!). Students then wrote a cinquain poem using words and phrases about saving the Earth.

Remember, "take a note use a tote" and "get clean but stay green". 

I "mustache" you a question...

As part of our Math in Focus curriculum students practice their graphing skills throughout the year. 1st graders decided to put these skills to the test and create their own bar graphs. Students first created a question to ask peers. They came up with everything from favorite color, food, country 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 tallied the results and created their own bar graphs.  We then analyzed and interpreted our information.

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

Go Sox!

The 2014 baseball season is officially underway!  1st grade friends are hoping our support can lead the Red Sox to another World Series Championship.  Opening Day at Fenway Park is always a special day so we took the celebration into the classroom to show a little Sox Spirit!

As part of our poetry unit 1st graders learned the correct form of creating a diamante which ties perfectly with baseball.

Noun

two adjectives

three _ing words

4 word phrase

three _ing words

two adjectives

Noun

This form of poetry also helps us practice the different parts of speech. As a class we brainstormed baseball nouns. 1st graders came up with everything from Wally to Dustin Pedoria to Big Papi, even hot dog. We brainstormed adjectives and baseball words ending in -ing. Students then created their own baseball diamante poems to decorate our classroom door.

From all of us 1st graders in Red Sox Nation we wish the Sox the best of luck in their 2014 season. Let's "Play Ball"!

Clouds

1st graders have turned into meteorologists and are learning all about clouds. It's as much fun as being on cloud nine. We have learned about four main types of clouds:cumulus, cirrus, stratus & cumulonimbus. Students have learned describing words for these clouds, constructed cloud flip books and even went on a cloud QR hunt with the iPads.

Come on down, you're the next contestant on Name That Cloud

After 1st graders learned all about the four different types of clouds, they used the iPads to go on a QR hunt. Using the app, Qrafter, students worked in pairs to scan the QR codes located around the classroom. When students scanned each code it brought them to a question about clouds. They discussed the answer with their partner and then recorded it on their answer sheet. Try scanning the code below (all you need is any free QR scanning app).

Try scanning this code!

Once students became experts on clouds, they made their own cloud flip book. Students used cotton balls to make realistic looking clouds then flipped open their books to write describing words. Do you know which clouds are the dark and stormy cumulonimbus clouds? Or which clouds sometimes look like pancakes?

Can you tell which clouds are high and wispy?

Make sure to take a peek at the clouds with your child. They have tons of cloud knowledge to share!