More Monarchs

Putting it all together... Students were able to do some water color painting today as they painted a milkweed plant.  They will be adding all 4 stages of the monarch butterfly's life cycle to their plant.

Roll and Record

In math today first graders played a game called Roll and Record. It involved finding the sum of 2 numbers and recording it on a chart.  The game ended when one of the numbers reached the top of it's column.  At our closing discussion we noticed that certain numbers were "popular winners".  We discussed why 7, for example, was a frequent winner.  The students thought that the numbers who had more possible combinations had a better chance of being rolled.  Great math thinking!!

We also had a great discussion about the concept of "true equations".  Volunteers held up some numbers and symbols and they moved around to make true equations.  

We then looked at the equations that we came up with and did some algebraic thinking!!  Wow!  These first graders are wonderful math thinkers!!

Small Moments

First graders are learning how to write about small moments from their lives.  They continued this work today by practicing telling their stories across a three page booklet with a partner, then sketching their story across the pages, and finally writing the words.  They also started keeping a small writer's notebook in which to write down ideas for their stories as they think of them.  The students are already making some nice progress with this!!  

Story Problems

In math today we worked on story problems.  We practiced retelling the story and making a picture in our minds of what is going on in the story.  This will help us understand what we need to do to solve the problem.  When we do story problems we need to show our thinking as to how we solved the problem.  The strategy that we practiced today was to make a representative drawing.  We also always need to include an equation.  The first graders did great with this today!!

Book Fair

RES Scholastic Book Fair

 
Reminder
RES Scholastic Book Fair
Where: Room 10
When:  Monday, September 22 and    
             Tuesday, September 23 
             7:15-8:15am, 11:00-12:00, 2:45-6:00pm

Online: RES Scholastic Online Book Fair 
September 15 - September 23

Five In A Row

On Friday first graders played a game called Five in a Row.  They rolled 2 dice, found the sum, and then covered that number on their board (like Bingo).  it's a fun way to practice addition skills.  We talked about "counting on" as an efficient strategy for adding two numbers.  Students are practicing putting the larger number in their heads, and counting on for the other number.  

The Caterpillars Have Arrived!!

On Friday afternoon we had an exciting package delivered to first grade - monarch caterpillars!!  Each classroom has about 10 baby caterpillars to watch grow and go through their life cycle.  We will be needing LOTS of milkweed!  If you have access to any (especially smaller, greener plants) and could send it in with your child it would be very much appreciated!!!