1F Weekly News
What's been happening in the Land of Learning?
Greetings from Ms. Cat's Desk
It's been a really busy week. With the arrival of Baby Corbin, Mrs. D is now on full maternity mode, and I have spent the week with twenty inquisitive minds. We started the week with the daily letter, plus the video I made for Mrs. D (which was shared with you in the Newsflash last week). I wish I had the video recording of the students' simultaneous resounding 'owwww' at the sight of Baby Corbin. It was adorable to see that they were so excited to see the baby. Thanks to Mrs. Brooke, the children also decorated some treats for Mrs. D and the baby to enjoy. Please ask your child about this if you wish to find out more. I will share some photos soon.
It was also exciting to meet an artist, Danny Gregory, who came to speak with the children about his work. The children were engrossed in what he had to say, and completely in awe of his work. Although a short session, he inspired the children to draw their shoe! It was great fun for the children to take in the details of every day item.
Meerkat semantic web
Non-Fiction features
In Math, the children worked on comparing two digit numbers using the phrases 'greater than', 'less than' and 'equal to'. They also began working to order numbers according to their size, not to mention finding the number patterns.
Working with number fact family... and dice
Adding two digits using dice
1 more, 1 less. 10 more, 10 less
100 Square Puzzle
Rolling the Dice
Rolling the Dice
It has been a busy week with all the learning and getting to know one another, resetting class rules and expectations.
Looking forward to more learning next week!
Have a great weekend,
Ms. Cat
PS: The curriculum letter for our new Science unit is attached below.
Dear Families,
For the next seven weeks, first grade students will be working on a science unit called Plants and Animals: Form and function. They will be learning about the different structures of plants and animals and how each part helps the plant or animal to survive.
For the first three weeks, we will be studying plants to discover the answers to the following questions:
1. What parts do plants have?
2. What are the functions of each plant part?
Students will be identifying and sorting the parts of plants and observing experiments to understand the functions of the parts.
During the following four weeks, students will be learning about answers to the following questions:
1. How do animals get food and water?
2. What are the different parts animals have and how do the parts help them stay safe?
Students will discover why different animals have different parts for protection, how animals move to stay safe, and how animals gather food.
At home, you can observe fruits and vegetables as you prepare them to eat, take a walk outside to see the variety of plants, and notice the different parts of animals and discuss why animals look the way they do.
Thank you for all your support as we work together to help your first grader learn about the world in which we live.
Sincerely,
The First Grade Team
Special Events and Announcements
THIS WEEK:
February 2 - ASD Sports Day
February 4 - Elementary Swim Champs
COMING UP:
February 9 - No School, Qatar Sports Day
February 11- 1st Grade 100th Day of School (Date TBC)
February 14 - Valentine’s Classroom Party
February 14 -18- Reading Week
February 23 - 2nd Grade Concert
February 26 - Friendship Festival
March 10 - Trimester 2 Ends
March 17 - Report Cards sent home electronically
March 17 - St. Patrick’s Day and Shamrock Shamble
March 25 - April 4 - Spring Break
Friendship Festival T-Shirt Orders
Remember to please bring in your Friendship Festival T-Shirt orders by Sunday January 31st. T-Shirts will be sold at Gate 5 and Gate 8 the week of February 21st - 25th.
This years Friendship Festival T-Shirt gives you free entrance to this years Friendship Festival which will be on February 26th.
Important Information
Nannies and Drivers are not allowed on campus until 2:45pm daily. If you are sending a driver or nanny to pick up your child throughout the school day for an appointment or other reasons you need to let the Elementary Office know by email. Please email Deb Fenley dfenley@asd.edu.qa and Swati Korpal skorpal@asd.edu.qa the following information: Who will be picking up your child, what time they will pick up and the reason for picking the child up and family ID Number which is located on your ID badge.
Gate 5 Entry Update
After 8:00am parents can enter through Gate 5 on days when there are Principal Coffee Mornings, Counsellors Coffee or Workshops and Let’s Do Math Workshops.
Parents picking up sick students can enter through Gate 5, the ES Nurses will leave the parents name with the Guard House for easy and quick access.
Lower Elementary Math Parent Drop-in
Our Math Coordinator, Mrs. Carol Little will be holding a Lower Elementary parent drop in / office hour every Wednesday from 2:00 – 3:00pm. Mrs. Little will be available at this time every week to assist parents who need further information about our Math program or who would like help / suggestions with how to support their children at home. It will be held in Ms. Mindy Martin’s office.
Sneak Peak At The Week Ahead
Reading
Text features
Table of contents
Index and Glossary
Fluency
Nonfiction readers use a voice in their head like a teacher’s, to emphasize what is important.
Writing
Big Idea: starting independent book, spelling strategies
Planning for new book
Spelling strategies
Using twin sentences in writing
- ie Frogs sit on lily pads. Lily pads are flat plants on top of the water.
Math
Big Ideas:
add 10’s to a two digit number
counting on and making 10 to add across decades
- using single digit sums to support analogous larger sums
Word Study
- Word study routines
- Using a Word Study choice board
Social Studies
- Continued practice of ASD values
Science
Big Ideas:
New Unit Launch
What parts do plants have?