Math Investigations

Some students worked on answering this question today: "What addition combinations can be made with a set of double-six dominoes?" They worked in groups to create graphs with paper dominoes. 

In the math talk that followed, these were some of the ideas that came up:

• the sums showed a growing pattern
• the number of dominoes for each sum showed a growing, then shrinking pattern
• the shape of the graph was the opposite of the shape of our weekly temperature graph
• reasons there would be more domino sums for 6 than for 0 or 12

It's very exciting to see these young mathematicians making discoveries, connecting new learning to previous learning, and sharing their ideas!

Tables of Contents and More...

We are learning about nonfiction text features. These kids found tables of contents to help them find different sections in their books.

During word study, we have been learning about synonyms, words that mean about the same thing, such as "cold" and "chilly". The class wrote their synonyms on "synonym" rolls!

And, the teeth continue to fall out! These two came to school with brand-new holes in their smiles on the same day!

What happens when...?

The First Graders are becoming super scientists! This week we studied what happens when we mix different solids with water. We created a graph to show which solids got bigger, smaller, darker, softer, or disappeared altogether!

 We also found out what happens when we mix different liquids with water.

Finally, we came up with several ideas for experiments to answer the question: "Is toothpaste a solid or a liquid?" We will be conducting our experiments next week! If you're not afraid of a little mess, you may even want to let your young scientist try his or her own experiment at home!

Skip-Counting

We've been counting fingers by fives and tens...

 ...and ears by twos!

We've been learning about the patterns we notice in the numbers we use when we skip-count. You can help your child practice skip-counting by twos, fives, and tens. This is an easy skill to practice during a car ride!

BrainPOP Jr.

Our school's subscription to BrainPOP Jr. (grades K-3) and BrainPOP (older grades) has changed. You are now able to access these videos and quizzes 24 hours a day! BrainPOP Jr. has short, fun videos -- about 5 minutes long -- on so many topics covered in First Grade. There are science, health, reading & writing, social studies, math, and arts & technology topics.  

You already have Woodview's log in and password (First Grade Handbook, p. 61). The videos can be accessed online or through a free app. I encourage you to use this valuable resource to allow your child to further explore his or her academic interests at home!

Smile!

A photographer came by to take some pictures for the yearbook today. He caught us in the middle of a math lesson and a science-related art project!

We have been learning about particle solids, like dried beans,  in science class. We used some to create works of art!

Back to School

We've started 2015 off with lots of learning! Here are a few things we did this week.

We started to dive into nonfiction texts.

We learned about comparison language using -er and -est at the ends of words.

We worked on comparing numbers less than 100 in math class.

We continued science experiments with liquids (how they take the shape of the container and are level on the surface) and solids (how particle solids like beans and cornmeal behave). 

The Phonics Dance

We have now learned the ENTIRE Phonics Dance! The First Graders have been exposed to sh, ch, th, ow (as in down), ou, ing, all, ar, or, oo, ew, oi, oy, ir, ur, er, ea, ee, igh, oa, ow (as in snow), ai, ay, aw, au, tion, sion, kn, ph, wr, ed, wh, ck, le, qu, and ture through the Phonics Dance. 

It is exciting for the First Graders to find these "hunks and chunks" in words as they read! During I-Time, 3 days a week, groups in both classrooms will be working on using these to read and write words! You can ask your child to open any book at home and find something from the Phonics Dance.

Ask your child to bring home his or her copy of The Phonics Dance one evening to read it to you!