Week 15

Here is our 12 Days of Kindness so far, so you can practice at home! (To the tune of 12 days of Christmas)

 8 acts of encouragement
7 gracious thank yous
6 notes of nice thoughts
5 fabulous hugs
4 heartfelt compliments
3 friendly greetings
2 helping hands
A great big smile to everyone

 On Thursday, we spent our writer's workshop writing notes of nice thoughts to each other. The students spent time writing kind words to their table partner, reading/writing partner and whoever else they wanted. The first graders now have a great start to their very own smile file (a place to keep sweet notes) at home. 

For our full bucket reward, the class voted on Mystery Science. We took a quick break from studying rocks. In our Mystery Science lesson, students answered the question, why is snow white? They got to see how the shape of snowflakes causes them to look like the color of the light that is shining on them. In the activity, Wax Paper Snowflake, students created a decorative snowflake and investigated how to make something transparent look white.

 Here's the lesson - check it out!
https://mysteryscience.com/trending/mystery-3/light-materials-color/164?code=NDE4ODQyMjE&t=student

 In math, we are continuing to practice using the information we do know, to figure out the information that we don't know. We played "missing addends with a twist!" To play you need number cards and a partner. First, you lay down 2 rows of 4 cards - face down. One partner flips the card in front of them, so both partners can see. The other partner lifts their card so only they can see it (it's a mystery to the other partner). The partner who is looking at both cards adds them together and tells their partner the sum. Then, the partner uses their strategies (doubles/neighbors, counting on, counting back,etc.) to figure out the mystery card (missing addend)! After, you switch roles! I encourage you to play this game at home to support your first graders math skills and fluency!

 We ended the week with our 3rd grade buddies! They have been researching and writing about all of the holidays in December, and they taught us all about what they have learned. After, the buddies got to share some of their holiday traditions :)

 December 18: Spirit Day “Crazy Hair Day” 
December 19: Spirit Day “Hat Day” 
December 19: First Grade Cozy Cocoa Reading Party @ 9:00**
December 20: Spirit Day “Blue/ Yellow Day” & Lion Pride Assembly, 1:30pm-2:00pm 

 ** If you are able to come in for the party, we can always use adult help with fort building, cocoa and popcorn serving and of course some reading buddies! Let me know if you can make it!

 Here are some photos from the week...

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