Nonfiction

During reading we have been busy exploring nonfiction books. These books have special features that inform, tell or explain new information to us. The table of contents, real life photographs, labels, captions, bold print, maps, and glossaries all help us understand the information we're learning. 

Using our anchor chart to help us decide if books are fiction or nonfiction

We have done lots of different activities with all these nonfiction features. We sorted books into nonfiction or fiction. 1st graders went on a scavenger hunt for nonfiction text features and even wrote down nonfiction notes with all the facts we learned.

We have also been exploring digital nonfiction books.  Download the free scholastic classroom magazine app at home to explore more digital nonfiction stories and discover their unique digital features. Make sure to keep looking for these text features while reading at home. Remember, reading is thinking!

Common Core Standard: RI.1.5 Reading: Informational Text Craft and Structure- Know and use various text features (e.g., headings, tables of contents, glossaries, electronic menus, icons) to locate key facts or information in a text.

Snowmen Should Not...

1st graders have been working with their Kindergarten Buddies in Mrs. Newton's room over the past few weeks to brainstorm tips for snowmen. We started by reading Snowmen at Work and listening to Olaf sing "In Summer". With buddies, students then completed a sentence of what a snowman should NEVER do. In partners, students illustrated a snowman in some hot places. We then used one of out favorite apps Chatter Pix and made our snowmen come to life. Check out our video below with everything a snowman should not do.

Opinion Writing

In writer's workshop, 1st graders have been working on opinion writing. 1st graders have LOTS of opinions but we have learned that the best opinions are supported with reasons why. To practice our opinion writing, students first voted on their favorite season.

In these seasonal groups, students then worked together to brainstorm why they like that season. Many students loved summer for swimming, fall for Halloween, spring because the baseball season rolls around and winter for sledding. 

Group members working on reasons for why they love their season

Each group wrote their reasons on large chart paper and then presented their work to classmates and our friends in Mrs. Higgins's Class. Groups made sure to start by stating their opinion, giving multiple reasons and closing with their opinion. This helped us work on being good presenters and audience members.

We'd love you to leave us a comment with your favorite season and a reason why.

Happy 2016!

HOPES AND DREAMS FOR 2016!

To start the new year off right we brainstormed New Year's resolutions. We discussed how these are goals or promises we make to ourselves for the new year. 1st graders used an organizer to think of personal goals, school goals and goals for friends and family. Then, they picked one resolution and typed it using the iPads onto our Padlet.

We would love for you to add your 2016 resolution to our wall. Just double click anywhere on the wall. Then add your name and type your resolution (I need to approve it before it will show up on our wall). Happy New Year!