Curriculum Highlights
“Whitefish Bay is an awesome place.”
Writing to persuade others is a challenging task, but first grade writers have begun to do just that. Working as a class, they wrote a piece to convince readers of our blog that Whitefish Bay is a good place to live. Their writing includes a topic sentence, facts, and details. Take a look, and see if they have convinced you:
Students will continue their study of this genre over the next few weeks, working in small groups and individually to write persuasive pieces on a variety of topics.
Math is everywhere
Math thinking doesn’t just happen during math class!
As usual, students in Room 123 started the day with our calendar routine and noted that it was the 50th day of school. I asked students if that meant we were half-way through the school year. After a pause for thinking time, students said no. Challenged to justify their thinking, students explained that 50 + 50 = 100 and we have more than 100 days of school each year. In fact, we have about 176 days of school each year.
I next asked if 176 is closer to 100 or to 200 and drew a number line to illustrate the question. After talking with partners, students determined that 176 is closer to 200. They shared three different methods they used to arrive at that conclusion. Take a look, and remember to click on the photo for a larger image!
Exploring air
First grade scientists have begun their first unit of study: air. First, they used everyday objects to explore what air is and how air acts. Then, they took time to think about and share what they learned from their experiments.
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Specials
Here’s a look at the Specials classes first graders enjoy! Madame Jacque’s student teacher, Madame Durand-Husting, is pictured working with a small group in French class.
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Why read fiction?
Why read fiction? First, for the simple pleasure of getting lost in a good story! But then readers take their thinking deeper, inferring the message the author wants to communicate. Finally, readers consider how that theme can influence them and their lives.
Over the last few weeks, students in Room 123 have been reading fiction texts to help them answer this question: How can I be a good friend? Here’s a look at their thinking:
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Figuring the odds
On occasion, first grade mathematicians are challenged to extend their daily learning. Below you can see how students applied their understanding of odd and even numbers to actual objects. This study of odd and even patterns is just the beginning for students, though–they will continue to look for number patterns throughout the year.
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Patterns are everywhere
First grade mathematicians are learning about patterns, beginning with visual ones. To extend this topic, students worked in pairs to identify or create patterns in our classroom. Then one partner took a photo while the other described the pattern in words. Here is what they found!
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The making of “India”
Reading, researching, writing, and illustrating–that’s what students in Room 123 have been doing over the last week! Their focus was on India, and their purpose was to learn about this country and use their new knowledge to teach others. Here’s a look at the process:
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