Time Foldables

The students were given various times in both digital and analog forms. They created a foldable to sort and match the times. They put the analog times on the top flap and then glued their matching digital time on the bottom.

Place Value Comparisons

The students were each given four number cards to model in a drawing as tens and ones on a foldable. They then wrote comparison sentences to determine which number was the greatest and which was the least.

 



Parent Guest Reader

We had a parent volunteer from PTA, who happens to have three students (yes, triplets) in our class, visit recently to read to the students. They enjoyed hearing a parent read them several stories. Thank you for supporting our class and school!

If I Lived in a Snow Globe

The students wrote sentences to explain what they would do if they lived in a snow globe. They then created a snow globe out of construction paper and illustrated at least one thing they would do.

Snowman Writing

Back in January the students created their own snowman and then wrote to describe them. They wrote what they looked like and what they could do.

 

What Time Is It?

To help the students with telling time on the hour and half hour, each student was given a small preprinted analog clock. They turned that clock into a watch. They then walked around the class asking their friends "What time is it?" Both partners would check the watches to make sure they got the answer correct. When they got the times correct, they gave each other a "high five."

 



Wind

In science we went outside to learn more about wind. We talked about what it looks and feels like when the wind is calm and when it is windy. The students experimented with the wind's movement with objects like streamers, luau necklaces, and plastic bags.

 



Daily Calendar

 

Daily calendar is an important part of our math spiraling and review. A new student leads calendar each week. We talk about the months, the days of the week, the number of days in school, and the daily weather. With the number of days in school, we use tally marks, straws, ten frames, and a hundreds chart to show different ways to make numbers. With weather, we look at things like cloud coverage and precipitation. We also check the daily temperature and graph it to see temperature changes over seasons.

Building Larger Numbers

The students rotated through stations in small groups to build larger numbers with pop cube tens and bean ones. At each station they had a number card telling them what number to build. They then recorded their number on the top flap of a foldable and modeled the number as a picture under the flap. When possible, I like having the students work in small groups to allow them to teach each other and give/receive feedback.

Merry Christmas!

From our characters to yours, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Party

On our last day before the Christmas break, we had our class party. The students made Christmas trees out of ice cream cones, icing, candy, and sprinkles. They also had "magic" drinks made from Sprite and candy canes. Thank you to all of the parents who sent items for the kids to enjoy. Thank you also to the parents who helped set up and clean up.

Holidays Around the World

In writing we researched and compared the role Santa Claus plays in The United States, Germany, France, and Mexico. As a whole group, we charted our findings on a grid for who the gift giver is, what he looks like, how he travels, when he comes, and where he leaves gifts. The students then took notes on their own copy of the grid. Using their notes, they chose to countries, and their version of Santa Claus, to compare on a Venn Diagram. After completing the Venn Diagram, they added heads, hats, legs, and arms to the Venn Diagram to look like Santa. Later in Social Studies we compared even more of the traditions of each country. We also looked at the traditions of Hanukkah in Israel as a part of our Social Studies lessons.

Polar Express Day

Friday we had our annual school-wide Polar Express Day. The day started out with a holiday sing-along in the cafeteria. We then went to the library where the office staff and specialty teachers did a Readers' Theater version of The Polar Express. The students were then treated to hot chocolate. All of first grade joined us in our class to watch the movie as well - a very rare treat for the kids. And, of course, I read the story to my class and we created a Story Map together to identify the story elements. Below are some pictures from our day:

The pictures below were taken to go on The Polar Express train ornament that the teachers make for the students each year. Fellow teachers, I didn't get a picture of the one we made this year, but if you are interested, you can see an example here from a previous year. We also have the students a bell necklace as a connection to the story.

Holiday Pictures

I downloaded and printed these adorable holiday photo props that I found on Pinterest. I took individual pictures of each student for them to put in a card for their parents. I also took a class photo that they could keep. Here are some of the silly photos we took.

Holly Wreath Fact Families

To quickly review addition and subtraction fact families, the students created Holly Wreaths. They counted how many leaves and how many berries and wrote their corresponding number sentences. You can download the templates for this mini-lesson here.

If Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney

The students wrote to explain what they would do if Santa got stuck in the chimney. A lot of the students said they would ask their parents for help. Several said they would call 911 or firemen. One said he would tickle Santa with a feather until he sneezed so hard he would come out of the chimney. Their stories were really funny!

Depicting Larger Numbers

In a training with one of our district math strategists, we learned a technique to get students to show what they know. Each group has a different pen or marker color and completes one portion, task, or question at a given station. They then rotate to the next station and do the same. They either add to what the other group has done or come up with a different answer. Using this idea, I created Place Value Depictions to 120. These worksheets allow students to depict numbers in pictorial models (sticks and dots for tens and ones), on a tens/ones chart, in expanded form, and in written form. I set up stations around the room with one of these worksheets at each. The students rotated to each station until all the ways to depict the numbers were completed. I loved it because the students could not always rely on completing the portion that came the easiest to them - someone else may have already done that portion. The kids loved it because they got to work together and it was like a puzzle to them. I plan to continue having the kids work on these in math tubbing. Once we have a complete set, I will bind them as a class book for them read as review. You can download the file here.

Sources of Water

In science we have been learning about various water sources. The students created foldables to illustrate rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, oceans, and glaciers. They label whether each source of water was fresh or saltwater, whether it was an open or closed water source, as well as its relation to land (i.e. land on both sides, land all around, etc.). They also brainstormed ways we use water. They illustrated at least four ways we use water.