Summer Slide

This is the only summer slide I want our children experiencing this summer!  The first graders have made such wonderful progress.  We don't want them to lose any of the learning they have worked so hard to achieve.  If children don't read over the summer months, they can lose up to three months of progress.  Please don't let this happen.  In the children's last day bags, there is a summer learning packet.  The review packet is filled with reading, writing, spelling, and math activities to help the students sharpen and maintain their skills.  Also, don't forget the blog!  The top button bar for the blog has tons of FUN and ENGAGING ways to keep those little minds sharp.  RazKids is available all summer and so is Reading Rainbow.  Get involved with a summer reading program through the public library or Barnes and Noble.  Use our school district's free e-library to check out books on your devices.  There are so many great ways to keep reading.  Also, the Learning Links tab at the top of the blog will take students to interactive web games.  Last, don't forget about the app suggestions.  There are some great apps for developing math fact fluency.  Keep learning and growing all summer!

It's About Time

Clock Shop

On Time

Stop the Clock 1

Stop the Clock 2

Clock Shoot

Tell Time

Time Match

First graders need to be able to tell time to the hour and half hour on both analog and digital clocks. Those analog clocks are tricky, especially that hour hand! These are some great online games to practice at home. Telling time takes time! The students are doing great but, as always, extra practice can only help.

Field Day

It was a perfect day for field day. We had wonderful weather, great sportsmanship, and super fun games! The children had a blast. Here are a quick slideshow of some of the highlights!

Field Day on PhotoPeach

Rays of Sunshine

In science, we are almost done with our second Project Lead the Way module.  This module on the sun, moon, and stars has been out of this world.  We certainly spent more time on the unit than the original plan suggests.  However, this inquiry based science module took the children all around the solar system.  Our latest experiment was about the sun's ultraviolet rays. The students each got 4 mystery beads.  We made them into bracelets and drew what they looked like.  Then we walked out side....WOW!!!

The beads changed color in the sun!  Amazing.  The beads went back to white or clear after a few seconds out of the sun. When we came back inside, we tried to figure out the why.  Students discussed that the sun gives us heat or light.  So we tried to use a flashlight to shine direct light.  That didn't work.  We tried heating up the beads, no luck there either.  It was the perfect opportunity to introduce a UV flashlight and talk about the invisible rays.  The students were fascinated.

As good scientists do, the students generated more questions about ultraviolet rays. The students wanted to know if sunblock on the beads would change the effect.  So we set up an experiment to test.  We make more bracelets but this time we had a bracelet with no sunscreen, a bracelet with SPF 30 and a bracelet with SPF 50.  Are you curious?  Stay tuned for results.

Let's Bowl!

We had a great time at our end of the year celebration field trip! The children had so much fun! My pictures are blurry and the lighting is poor...but you can see lots of smiles! Thank you to all the volunteers for helping and to Fireside Lanes for hosting us! Enjoy this slideshow with some pictures of our great day!

This slideshow created with Smilebox