Science

Oh boy the kiddos are EXCITED about our new science unit that focuses on observing the sun, moon, and stars! They've already begun tracking the moon each evening. Yesterday we created sun trackers so we can also track the movement of the sun!

In the previous Light and Sound module, students explored how light and sound travel over distances. The primary source of light on Earth is the Sun. The Sun is the star at the center of our solar system. Students will learn that stars, including the Sun, generate their own light, while objects such as the moon reflect that light.

Throughout the module, students will document patterns as they observe the Sun, moon, and stars. The ability to recognize patterns is an important scientific skill that researchers use to develop explanations of observations in nature.

Finally, students will be challenged with the task of designing, building, and testing a device to protect students from ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Students will analyze media to determine the peak times during the day for UV radiation and then design a cover for a playground structure.

Reading

We are starting a fun reading project this week - reader's theater! After our character study unit we always conclude by performing reader's theater. Students enjoy "becoming" characters as they work on fluency, voice level, expression and incorporate details as they create settings (backgrounds) for their performances. The three plays our students are working on are: The Three Little Pigs, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. When we perform these in class they will be posted on SeeSaw. :)

Math

We are assessing this week on our current Addition and Subtraction 2 unit. Next week we will begin our measurement unit which lasts about 5 weeks. This unit focuses on the understanding of length by comparing objects to determine which is the shortest and longest. Students measure the length of objects using nonstandard units, such as pieces of string, cubes, and paper clips.  Students learn that objects can be compared directly or indirectly.  This unit also includes time, under the big idea that time is measurable and can be represented on a clock using hours and minutes.  Students are introduced to telling and writing time to the hour and half hour using both analog and digital clock Additionally, we will do some brief work with basic coin identification during this unit.

Essential questions for this unit:

Why do we measure?
What is important when we measure?

Writing

We finished our persuasive writing unit by writing different types of reviews: toy, game, movie, video game, etc. and then general persuasive books. Students understand that persuasive writing is used to convince others of a belief, want, or need. The kiddos had a great time doing this type of writing!

We are now moving into a non-fiction research project. Students will be working in pairs to select a topic of interest, research for facts, organize facts, and create a google presentation. Students will then present their google slides and take questions as they become the experts of their topics. 

This unit incorporates so many of our valuable skills the students have learned this year: reading for information, organizing writing ideas, capitalization and punctuation, working with a partner, listening and speaking! Presentations will be uploaded on SeeSaw. :)

Social Studies

We are in our Location! Location! Location! unit in Social Studies. Students are staying in our classroom for this unit and the remainder of Social Studies units this year. This is a fun unit! If you have any maps lying around at home that we could borrow during this unit that would be great!

Students will work on their geographic skills as they use maps and globes to locate a place and describe its relative location to the United States and other political and geographic features. Students will be introduced to the compass rose and cardinal directions to assist them in locating and describing the location of places on the map. The students will be able to locate the seven continents and five oceans.

Essential Question:
How can we find and show where places are located in our world?

Reading

We are in our unit - Meeting Characters and Learning Lessons. This is a time and place for amazingly deep first grade conversations around story elements but especially characters! Students are going beyond what is explicitly in the text and draw conclusions about a character based on what they say, how they act, etc.

Essential Questions:

How do readers keep track of the events in a story?
How do partners share their reading adventures?
How do readers study the characters in books?
What important lessons can I learn from the character and their experiences?
How do readers share their opinions about books?

This past week we've been focusing on these skills:

Readers keep track of events in a story and use them to make predictions and retell key details

Readers pay attention to characters when reading

Readers learn important lessons from the books they read 

Readers grow opinions about the books they read and share them

You'll notice that we are incorporating some of what we are learning about OPINIONS from our writing reviews unit we are also currently working in. This is a fun way for the kids to make a cross-curricular connection!

We are diving into characters this week especially. Using various texts as a whole group and in partners and small groups we are working on some fun ways for students to really get into the character's shoes. Students will introduce characters to each other, re-read to sound like a character, act out a character from a part of their book. 

We will also discuss what lessons characters learn throughout this unit.

Dates

March 4 - Spring Book Fair Week (M-W:4-5pm)(Th:4-8pm)
March 4 - Raising Awareness Around Anxiety at Central Middle (6-7:30pm)
March 5 - Chick-Fil-A Fundraiser Night (4-8pm)
March 7 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (4:30-8:30pm)
March 8 - Skate Night @Skateport Plaza (5-7pm)
March 9 - Pancake Breakfast @SVE Cafe' (9-11am)
March 11 - 5th Gr Orchestra Rehearsal Field Trip to Family Arena
March 12 - All District 5th Gr Orchestra Concert at Family Arena (7:30 pm)
March 13 - Board of Education Mtg at Central Middle (7pm)
March 14 - PAMEE Mtg (6-7:30pm) at ISC Building
March 15 - Spring Book Fair ONLINE SALES END
March 15 - Spring Party Day (2:55-3:55pm)
March 18 - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break (3/18-3/22)
March 25 - Talent Show Rehearsals in the Gym (4:30-7pm)
March 26 - Talent Show in the Gym (6-8pm)