News You Can Use
From Mrs. Arms' 1st Grade Class
A Valentine Success Story
Out of Touch?
Problem Based Learning
Design
Students collaborated to come up with a plan for creating a model that would demonstrate that air is all around us. Students had to list materials needed and list steps for creating their model.
Create
Students used every day materials: paper and plastic bags, string, tissue paper, tape, etc. to create a model to demonstrate how air is all around is.
Test
Students then had to collaborate again now to develop a hypothesis in which they lay out how they will test their model. Each group was then able to present their model to the class. Groups then recorded observations from the experiment phase and drew conclusions that: air is all around us. It can't be seen but it can be felt on our skin, trapped inside every day objects, and the affects of moving air (wind) can be seen in the environment. Ex: waving trees
Biography Research
Frida Kahlo
Students began their research project with a plan.
Harriett Tubman
Students were required to use 4 common questions and come up with 2 of their own to research
Jackie Robinson
Then students evaluated possible resources available to them. They discussed the safety, usefulness, and reliability of the source.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Students have spent 1 full week gathering information
Amelia Earhart
Graphic organizers were provided to help students organize their thinking.
Cesar Chavez
Students will synthesize their research in a final presentation: All About Book, timeline, poster, or dramatization.
Nothing to do?
- Are your kids board at home? Do you need more enrichment to keep them engaged and out of trouble?
- I have an enrichment calendar posted on our class wiki page for every month of the school year.
- There are lots of fun and challenging math problems, modified from the National Center for the Teaching of Mathematics.
- Don't like any of the activities on the enrichment calendar?
- We are so fortunate to have access to millions of resources at our finger tips. Use your favorite search engine to look for activities to engage your child. You'll be amazed at what you can find. There are at home activities for art, music, drama, math, keyboarding, online reading, writing prompts, etc.
Friendly Reminders
- Send a healthy snack and water bottle with your child everyday. Chips, cookies, and snack cakes are not examples of healthy snacks. I have observed a correlation between eating a "junky" snack and exhibiting unacceptable behavior 30-45 minutes afterwards. Students are off task and not focused on learning. This is an easy fix. Instead send fresh fruit or vegetables, crackers, etc. to keep their tummies full and their brains energized.
- Label all coats, hats, water bottles, lunch boxes, and layered clothing. Our "Lost and Found" bin is exploding.
- Please return "Home Reading Folder" weekly. I send home text that should be on your child's instructional level. That means they are reading with 90% accuracy and should be able to get through a lengthy picture book or short chapter book in a week. Lengthy chapter books may take a bit longer. Help encourage those life long reading skills by making daily reading for 20 minutes a day a habit in your home. This week only 7 folders were returned on Friday. Unfortunately I do not have a free conference period until Thursday and rely on the weekend to have folders ready to go for the following week and folders/books not returned on Fridays may wait until new books are sent home the next Monday.
Mrs. Arms-We Need You
Email: vicky_arms@roundrockisd.org
Website: http://vickyarms.blogspot.com/
Location: RM A115
Phone: (512) 704-0626