January Happenings

This month we bean our study of snow using the works of "Snowflake Bentley" - a pioneering photographer who perfected a process of catching flakes on black velvet in such a way that their images could be captured before they either melted or sublimated. We learned that snowflakes are clear ice crystals that have six sides, but when they're all piled up together they look white. We learned how to fold and cut patterns to make snowflakes, and each child cut out and "glitterized" three snowflakes to make a mobile. These decorate our classroom. We continued our snowy theme last week learning about the Arctic, Antarctica, and polar animals. Our main focus was on the polar bear and penguin, their habitats, and their special adaptations for survival. We added pages to our science journals on these animals. With penguins, we also read penguin poetry then students chose their favorite poem to copy and write. Then then crafted a penguin, giving it a "fluffy belly" by mixing shaving cream and glue and sprinkling it with glitter. This was a fan-favorite activity. Our science experiments included "Why do penguins swim but don't get wet" and a hibernation bear butter experiment. I grabbed 2 empty food jars and labeled them "hibernating bear" and "awake bear".... we let the hibernating bear jar rest somewhere nice and quiet in the classroom.  The awake bear jar got passed around to each student for them to shake for 25 seconds and hold for a minute or so each.  Then we talked {and wrote} about our findings.

This coming week we will learn about snow men, create "snow" with a special science experiment, read the stories Snowmen at Night and Snowmen at Work, using these themes to write about the story, identifying nouns and verbs. Next week we'll wrap up snow with literature about snow globes, creating our own snow globes and and Arctic Animal snow globes. Our first grade snow projects will be showcased in our primary hallway entitled, "It's 'snow' secret, we're a great school!"

 In social studies we dive in to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We'll complete a study on the power of words and learn some of Dr. King's "BIG WORDS." We'll learn about Yolanda, Dr. King's grand daughter, and use Dr. King as one source of study in guided reading. If you are able to make it to our Catholic School's Week kick-off and Open House on Sunday, January 27th (beginning with 11:30AM Mass in church), be sure to check out our first grade wall "I Have a Dream" (in the primary hallway) where you'll see the dreams of our SMS Firsties on display.

We completed MAP math testing last week, and MAP reading tests will be administered this week. Students also completed the Unit 5 math assessment in class, and we move on to Unit 6 this week. The class was super-psyched to have our classroom store where they counted up their golden tickets and exchanged them for pennies, nickels, dimes and dollars to shop at store. They were able to utilize calculators to assist with totals, addition, and subtraction. They have so much fun learning about money this way! One of the kids' all time faves this past week was the Doubles Addition to 12 song. Be sure to check it out: Doubles Addition to 12 Song. 

A few quick photos I was able to grab of our math B.U.I.L.D. time!

(keep reading below)

In religion this month our focus has been on the Baptism of Jesus, the parables of Jesus, the Miracles of Jesus, and the return to ordinary time. We reinforced our learning about the Sacrament of Baptism by heading over to the church and visiting the Baptismal font where we filled little heart bottles with holy water. The children brought these home around their neck and are encouraged to hang them up someplace special so they don't leak, and also so that they can bless themselves, their family members, their rooms, and their stuffed animals.

The 100th Day of School celebration is rapidly approaching! Celebrations will be held on Friday, February 1st all day. Your child is responsible for preparing two items for this special day, and information was sent home about this on January 10th. In case you missed it, you can read all about it here! Also coming up is our Valentine's Day party on Thursday, February 14th from 1:15-2:15pm. First graders exchange valentines with their class. More information and a sign-up genius for volunteers will be sent via email within the next week.