Ms. Duff's 1st Grade Update
January 17, 2016
Reading
In Reader’s Workshop we have started a new unit about characters. We are focusing on how our characters think and feel throughout the book. We have discussed using pictures and punctuation to help us figure out how the character is feeling and thinking. We will learn how to think about our character’s actions and what they tell us about how he/she feels. As we read, we ask ourselves questions such as: How does my character feel? Why is s/he feeling that way? Would I feel the same way if I were him/her? These higher level questions are great to ask your child when listening to him/her read at home.
Writing
In Writers Workshop, the children have been writing expert nonfiction books. The children have been working on incorporating different types of nonfiction writing into their chapter books such as, lists, how to pieces, and zoom-in’s. We are finishing this unit in the next week so the children’s focus will be on fixing up and fancying up their books. This Friday, January 22, the children will do a post On Demand assessment for non-fiction writing. At this time the children will plan and write a teaching book in 45 minutes. It will be very beneficial if the children have thought of a new topic to teach about beforehand and have their thoughts planned out. They could certainly use your help with this this week! Thank you in advance.
Gianna and Ross
Nico
Gift giving
Science
In science we have been very busy planting again. We have planted bulbs (garlic) and roots (carrots and radishes). We are exploring how different plant pieces grow new plants. The kids made predictions about which part of the carrot and radish will grow a new plant. Their evidence supporting their opinions is quite convincing! We will be finishing up this Plants and Animals kit this week.
This past week I went to a training on our new science kit, Air and Weather. It is sure to be a lot of fun and provide children lots of opportunities to work together with their classmates!
On Friday, Marin's mom brought in some animal bones and skeletons. The children got to pass them around to get a closer look. As a grand finale she rebuilt the skeleton on a Minke whale! It was so exciting to see how long it was (and it's one of the smallest whales) and to see all of the different bones! Thank you Mrs. Roman!