French: Transportation

The girls have been learning how to talk about different kinds of transportation in French.  Last week they played transportation bingo.  Then they listened to the sounds of different kinds of vehicles and tried to guess what they were.  Today they had to figure out what kind of transportation would be the best way to get to each place we wanted to visit.  Then they worked with partners to read a little story about traveling in different kinds of transportation.  Last but not least they listened to two songs in French about traveling.

Art: Clay Coil Vessels

First graders are making coil vessels out of clay. They learned two ways to roll a coil, as well as a technique called "score and seal." Ask your first grader what tools can be used for this method of working. A way we remember what score and seal means is with this rhyme: scratch it and attach it! This makes the clay become like Velcro, and makes places where two coils meet stronger. Girls focused on building a strong base for their vessel first and then will begin to make more personal choices as they build higher. 

Subtraction Action!

This week in First Grade we began our study of subtraction.  The girls have been busy solving problems about swimming fish, delicious cookies, and lost teeth.  Many of the strategies we used for solving addition problems can also be used for subtraction. The girls are comfortable drawing pictures, using manipulatives, and counting backwards on a number line to solve unknown problems.  They are also beginning to notice the relationship between addition and subtraction.  For example, if we know 4+4=8 then we can solve 8-4= __.  Check out your daughter's Thursday Folder to see some of her subtraction work.

Lost Tooth Subtraction

If there were 12 fish and 6 swam away, how many fish are left?

Subtraction with Dice

Cookies anyone?

Fluency Practice

First graders are practicing fluency in many ways in language arts class.  They are enjoying reading poems, reading groups, buddy reading and Reader's Theater.  We are encouraging the girls to read with expression and pay attention to punctuation and dialogue.  Their nightly reading is really helping.  You should hear your little stars read in class!

Putting on a show

So many giggles

Happy Readers

 

Practicing fluency through Reader's Theater

Reading with expression!

Reader's Theater Skits

Leading the class in our daily poem



 

Celebrations and Holidays

As a part of the First Grade curriculum, our students learn about many different holidays and celebrations throughout the school year.  This week we focused on Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights.  At Friday's assembly the girls watched two Upper School students perform a traditional Indian dance.  This week in our classes we have been reading, writing and learning more about this Hindu New Year.  

Lighting diyas at Friday's Assembly

Happy Diwali!

Beautifully decorated rangolis

This week we also celebrated First Grade Fall Birthdays.  Cupcakes and crowns were a big hit!  Happy Birthday to all!

Birthday Girls!

Delicious cupcakes

Making memories in First Grade

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.