Mysteries solved!
First grade scientists observed these objects several weeks ago and most thought they were seeds or crumbs. Now, however, they know differently: those tiny objects were eggs!
These are the silk worms that emerged from the eggs:
The mystery of the mealworm pupae has also been solved, as darkling beetles emerged.
As they watched, students recorded their observations as well as their questions. Take a look at their thinking!
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At work on the web
To enrich our reading unit on animal classification, students in Room 123 will be writing books about animals that will become part of our classroom library. As the first step in the writing process, they used the Internet to research their chosen animals. Over several days, students went to a student-friendly website where they could read and listen to text as well as watch videos of their animals.
After researching, students also completed bibliographies to include in their books. We don’t expect perfect MLA or AP citations, but students are learning about the importance of letting the reader know what sources they used. Next week, students will begin writing their books–watch for updates!
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Art for Youth
First graders made connections between art and science during an Art for Youth presentation on Wednesday. Mrs. McDonald led students in a discussion about Alexander Calder’s artwork, focusing on his mobile Lobster Trap and Fish Tail. This led students to recall their learning from our earlier study of balance and motion. After this discussion, students explored balance by creating their own mobiles.
Special thanks to Mrs. McDonald and the PTO for sponsoring this program!
Crossing all the Ts
Transparency sheets and highlighters–that’s all they are. Yet these simple tools can help young writers as they learn to edit their work.
Writers in Room 123 learned about this final step in the writing process as they prepared their individual book reviews for publication on our blog. Look for several reviews each Thursday on our Room 123 Reads page!
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Merrily we roll along?
Rollerskating may be the perfect springtime pursuit, and first grade students are mastering the basics during a two-week Physical Education unit. Special thanks to the PTO for sponsoring this program, to parents for volunteering to help the program run smoothly, and to Mr. Genthe and Ms. Swanson for their expertise and enthusiasm!
Here’s a look at Room 123’s first day of rollerskating:
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Checking the odds
Students in Room 123 learned that four students had lost teeth over Spring Break!
After celebrating with four Tooth Cheers, students returned to a question posed earlier this month: is it probable that students will lose more teeth in April than in December? After weighing in this new evidence, students made their predictions:
We will reconsider this question once again at the end of the month.
Sharing our stories
Over the last few weeks, readers in Room 123 identified many themes in fiction texts that helped them answer this question: How can I become the best me I can be? During discussions around this question, students also realized that they had personal experiences that helped them learn important lessons.
Students decided to write personal narratives describing their own experiences. After writing, they revised and illustrated their work. Then they practiced reading their narratives smoothly and with expression. Finally, they shared their stories with Senior Kindergarten students. Special thanks to Mrs. Opelt, Mrs. Alter, and their classes for joining us!
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