Art: Adding Underglaze and Glaze to Vessels

First graders are adding colorful underglaze and clear glaze to their coil vessels. They are being attentive as they cover their entire piece with multiple layers, as well as detail. Ask your first grader about the differences between underglaze and glaze. 

First Grade Happenings

We hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Before our break, First Graders were thrilled to share their sound instruments with the rest of the school in a parade through the Elementary Center.  These homemade instruments were a part of our Sound Unit in Science and our parade was the perfect start to the Thanksgiving weekend.  Maybe you'll see us at Macy's in NYC next year.

Miss Lacy leads the parade

First Grade Debut!

Marching to the tune of "Make New Friends"

As a First Grade community we often meet together for different activities.  Our three homerooms recently spent time playing Addition Bingo.  The girls were excited to test their addition strategies and work with a partner from a different class.

As a part of our Social Studies curriculum, we continue to study holidays and celebrations around the world.  This week we have been learning about Hanukkah customs and traditions.  The girls have been listening to read alouds, making menorahs, and playing dreidel in class.

Playing Dreidel

Who will win?

Painting Menorahs

Coloring each candle

Happy Hanukkah

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. 

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!