Measure Up

In math we have been exploring concepts of measurement.  We are concentrating on length.  In first grade, our objective is to develop accurate measurement techniques.  For example, we must line up our starting points and we must be careful not to leave gaps or have overlaps between units.  We also used a variety of nonstandard measurements to discover that different units of measure will result in different measurements.  Second graders must be able to do the same objectives as far as using accurate measurement techniques and understanding why different units of measure result in different measurements; however, second graders must understand these concepts as they apply to both standard and nonstandard measurement.  Therefore, in the pictures of our learning, you will notice second graders using both nonstandard (feet and hands) and standard measurement (inches, feet, yards, centimeters, meters).

 

What a Wonderful World

Continuing with the enthusiasm from Earth Day, we learned the song "What a Wonderful World" written by George Thiele and sung be Louis Armstrong. The students each took a line from the beautiful song and illustrated it.  Then, we used Adobe Spark to read each line.  The students did a wonderful job!  Enjoy.

Earth Day

We celebrated Earth Day in the classroom!  We read some great fiction and nonfiction books about why it is important to care for our Earth and how we can "Go Green!"



With one of our new favorite apps, EPIC, we had a bingo board of Earth Day themed books.  Students had to read three of the books and initial their three choices on the front board.  Look at all the great reading!  Thank you, Kami Butterfield from Teaching with APPitude!

We put our technology to work today.  When we were working on Earth Day themed story problems, practicing editing for punctuation, and even playing a math game...we went paperless.  Using SeeSaw and another teaching app called Classkick , we did most of our school work digitally, reducing the amount of paper used.

We discussed ways to reduce, reuse, recycle, and compost.  Mrs. Carsten helped us make a poster of the Earth with our handprints.  Then we brainstormed all the ways we can help the Earth and put the ideas on our poster.  The students wrote their own piece on how to protect the Earth using the poster of class ideas. They also made an Earth art project using a coffee filter, markers, and water.  Messy fun!

We didn't completely finish our writing before the day was done.  When students came back to school Monday, these directions awaited the children.

1. Finish your writing.

2. Take a photo for your digital portfolio in SeeSaw.

3. Upload the photo and record your voice reading the writing.

4. Send the photo and recording to me for approval.

 Aren't these students talented techies!  I just love how independent and capable they are becoming.  Each student was able to send me their work.  Here are just a couple examples of the finished products.

Once Upon A Time

 

We are loving reading and learning about fairy tales.  Every day at read aloud we have been discovering a new tale and having lively discussions about the literary elements.  First,  though the children have to discover the day's fairy tale.  We have a mystery box with an artifact from a particular tale.  The students have to ask questions about the object in the box to solve the riddle.  For instance, of the tale Cinderella, there was a glass slipper in the box.  The students asked questions like, "Can you wear it?" and "Is it breakable?"  In the mystery box we have found The Three Bear's bowl, Jack's magic beans, Rumpelstiltskin's golden thread, Cinderella's shoe, the Emperor's invisible suit, and Rapunzel's long hair.  Besides read aloud, students have been reading fairy tales independently, with a partner, and even in plays.

In our fairy tale study, we have learned about the elements of a fairy tale.  For instance, in fairy tales there is usually magic and the numbers 3 or 7 are important.  We have also learned about the protagonist and and the antagonist.  After we read the story, we chart the different elements in the fairy tale.  The discussions have been so interesting.  We had a lengthy debate about Jack and the Beanstalk and whether or not Jack was really a "good" character.  Some students thought he shouldn't be the hero because he stole from the giant and became greedy.

 Through the discussions, the children are learning to share their opinions, justify their thoughts using text evidence, and respectfully agree and disagree with their classmates different points of view.  We  also, by making an fairy tale elements chart, have been able to compare and contrast the different fairy tales.  The children are enjoying the fairy tales so much, they have no idea how many language arts objectives they are learning. 

 

 

After reading several of the classic fairy tales, we began reading fractured fairy tales.  In the fractured fairy tales, the author takes a familiar tale and switches it up a bit.  For example, we read a books called Sleeping Ugly and The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig.  So fun!  They have been having so much fun in fact, they have been making up their own fairy tales during centers.  You can really see their great imaginations shining through.

 

 

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. Second graders need to tell time to the five minutes and understand the quarters on an analog clock. 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.