This week in First grade...

Dec 1-5

Welcome back! It sure was nice to have the whole week to spend with my family!  I'm sure you all enjoyed your time off as well!

Early Release Day
Wednesday, Dec 3rd is an Early Release Day.  Dismissal is at 12:45
PTA Spirit Night at Newks starting at 5:00 p.m.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

Monday: Reading folders come home.  Reading folders are due back on Friday.
Tuesday: Tuesday folders come home. Please return signed Tuesday folders on Wednesday morning. Math Homework
Wednesday: Return Tuesday folders
Thursday:
Friday: Library Day! All library books are due by Friday morning at 8:00. 

Reading homework is due.  

 Here is what we will be doing this week:

READING and WRITING
With the holidays approaching, for the next several weeks we will be learning about many different winter celebrations around the world. We will explore the customs and traditions in different countries by researching and recording some facts about their traditions. 

Before the break I attended an exploratory workshop on Project Based Learning.  It was incredible!  Project Based Learning is exactly what it sounds like.  

1. "Project Based Learning is a teaching method in which students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to a complex question, problem, or challenge."  -www.bie.org

   We began our project to explore holidays and customs around the world today.  We asked questions such as, "What do we need to know to be successful on our mission?"  Our Elf, Frisbee, will travel the world to help bring us information.  Unfortunately, he will have to spend the night in the Elf Hospital for at least one night.  Hopefully, after a regimen of Peppermint Extract and Hot Cocoa 'round the clock he will be ready to help us on our Mission.  

   Today the students met in small groups and partnerships to make a plan.  One group, "Santa's Little Helpers" will decide what countries we will travel to based on our classmates heritage.  Another group will be our "Travel Agents".  They will arrange travel for our Elf and find out the best way to get to countries all over the world.  Another group will make a list of questions that have to be answered when our Elf goes to each country.  The last group will inform our Elf about the weather and seasons in each country so he can pack his suitcase and take the appropriate clothing.  Of course, we can't forget to include traditional clothing worn for a holiday celebration in each country.  

   I am so excited to see the learning going on in our classroom.  We will have a showcase the last week of school before we go on our Winter break!  

MATH
We will continue our double addition strategies and move on to subtraction. Subtraction names a missing part by taking away, removing or comparing to find a difference. We will use concrete and pictorial models including ten-frames, math racks, Base Ten blocks ad other manipulatives to represent word problem situations involving separating or comparing sets of whole numbers up to 20 where the unknown may be start, change, or result for joining and separating problems.

SCIENCE
This week in science we will learn about force and movement.  Energy causes force and force causes motion/movement.  Force can be defined as a "push" or a "pull" which causes objects to move in different ways such as straight line, zigzag, up and down, side to side, round and round and slow.  We will also explore magnets.  Magnets can pull or push certain objects.  The push and pull caused by magnets is also a force.

As always, Thank you for supporting your child's learning at home.  I want to extend a special Congratulations to Adithya for being on the Top 10 list of Sticker Earned for iXL!!  He is one of two first graders!  Way to go, Adithya!!

Have a warm week!