Rhythm

We have some very good dancers and movers in the first grade. This month, we have been learning about rhythm through movement.  The half notes are our giant steps, the quarter notes are our walking steps and the eighth notes are our running steps.  The girls have seen how these rhythms are written and have been learning to recognize different rhythm combinations.

Art: The Important Thing About Me

 First grade has begun a project inspired by the book "The Important Book." After reading the book together and making predictions based on the illustrations, girls examined works of art to figure out strategies or tricks artists use to make the important thing look EVEN MORE IMPORTANT!

First graders have several challenges in this painting: showing the important thing about themselves, using artist strategies to make the important thing look even more important, and covering all the white of their paper. 

Doubles, Doubles, I Can Add Doubles!

In math, we have been working on different addition strategies.  This week we started to explore the concept of doubles facts.  The girls have enjoyed building the doubles staircase and exploring other patterns that these facts make.  A highlight has been learning The Doubles Song.  See the video below and sing along with your daughter!!

 



The Doubles Staircase!

Building doubles with blocks

 

Mrs. Hanley: Spelling

From this week forward all the girls will be completing their spelling homework at home.  They are familiar with the assignments and should complete the work independently.  The assigned spelling words are words they should spell correctly from now on.

Below are some suggestions for making homework a positive experience:

•  Have a consistent, quiet place for completing homework.  This will help establish routine.
• Use a pencil with an eraser.  This will make help your daughter to be successful.
• Before she begins, ask your child what her assignment is for the particular night. This will enable her to focus on the assignment.
• If she doesn’t not know how to spell a non-spelling word in one of her sentences encourage her to sound it out.  This allows her to practice what she is learning in word study and to become more self-sufficient in her writing.
• Return materials to Homework Folder once work is completed. This will help with organization and routine (and a happy morning).

Happy Spelling!

Spiders and Spirit Day!

This week the First Grade classrooms welcomed some amazing arachnids to observe and study.  We are hosting "Charlotte" the tarantula, a beautiful orb spider, and two smart wolf spiders.  In our Spider unit, the girls will learn all about these fascinating creatures, while also becoming familiar with non-fiction text features, distinguishing between facts and opinions, and learning to write scientific findings. Be sure to ask your daughter what a spider's web is made from or how a spider eats its food!

Orb spiders are known for the circular webs they weave.

Waiting for the tarantula to come out from her hiding spot

This Tuesday the First Graders were excited to participate in a time-honored Bryn Mawr tradition: Spirit Day!  Dressed in their best green, white, and gold outfits, the girls spent the day writing journal entries on green paper, learning cheers in French, and learning more about Bryn Mawr's history.  The day ended with a marvelous parade led by the Morgan State University marching band and our own Bryn Mawr king and queen.  What a great day!

Spirit Day Writing

Waiting for the parade to begin...

Go BMS!

Friends cheering for Bryn Mawr

All Smiles

What a day to show our spirit!

First Grade Values!

We study our core values throughout the year.  Here is a sneak preview of a few activities related to them.

Compassion activity after reading Those Shoes



Super girls with super values!!

 

Learning about responsibility and resilience while reading Brave Irene



Friends of Ten

In Math this week, the girls are exploring different ways to make ten.  Throughout the week, the girls have used counters, created fact patterns, and developed strategies for solving these addition problems.  They have enjoyed their new iPad app, Find Sums, where they can test their accuracy and speed with finding friends of ten!

Be sure to check your daughter's black folder to see more of her friends of ten work!!

Girls playing a game of Spill and Add!



How many ways can you make ten??
 

Spill and Add!

Working hard to find sums of ten with our new app!



Art: Monotypes with Shapes

First grade is practicing finding shapes in their surroundings, using their iPad cameras. They will be using these found shapes to make prints inspired by their environment. 

We practiced making monoprints with pre-inked Mylar shapes. Students discovered that the ink was dry on the plastic, but when placed on top of wet paper the ink came "back to life" and transferred to the paper! They each made two prints. Ask your child how she made a "ghost print." 

First graders used a special tool called a barren for printing by hand.