Parts of a Plant

First grade is learning about the different parts of a plant.  Students used the "Show Me" app on their iPads to draw a flower and label the parts of the plant.  They now know that the roots hold the plant in place and soak up nutrients and water from the soil, the stem is like a straw and sucks the nutrients and water to the rest of the plant, and the leaves have the important job of making the food.  Check out our labeled flowers below and the experiment that we did with celery to demonstrate how a stem is like a straw.

The red water was sucked up by the stem of the celery. 

Butterfly Life Cycle

This week in science we are continuing to learn about animal life cycles.  We focused on the life cycle of a butterfly today and read Butterfly by Gail Gibbons.  Students learned the meanings of some new vocabulary words like LARVA, PUPA, and CHRYSALIS.  We made a fun butterfly craft that helped us practice sequencing using  key words first, next, then, and last.

Chloe was such a good sport!!!  

She volunteered to be the caterpillar inside the Chrysalis!

EGG, LARVA, PUPA, BUTTERFLY

How to Make a PB and J!!!!

After this little activity the kids and I were all really hungry!!!!!  We are learning how to put things in order using key words like FIRST, NEXT, and LAST!  My kiddos did a great job sequencing the picture cards to help us write about how to make a PB and J sandwich.  Who knew learning could be so yummy!!!!!!

Frog Life Cycle

In science this week, we have been learning about animal groups and life cycles.  My first graders now know that frogs and toads are amphibians!  Each student made a frog life cycle craft to represent the different stages of a frog's life.

Cylar is super excited about his frog life cycle!

Rhyme Time

My students were busy this morning using their iPads to scan QR codes to find rhyming short a words.  They worked together as a team and did such a great job!!!

Math Centers!

I am so excited to share with you what we are doing in math this year.  We are exploring a new way of learning math through guided math groups and learning centers.  My students are getting an opportunity to engage in more hands on learning and work with me on specific math skills in a small guided math group.  We are off to a great start and my kiddos are loving the fun activities each week. Check out a few of our centers this week.

Technology Center

Game/Activity Center

This week students were practicing their subtraction facts.  They played SUBTRACTION SMASH by smashing balls of play-doh to represent the number they were taking away.

Work Center

Students complete their daily practice page and then practice tracing and writing numbers 1-20. Hopefully this will help with all of those backward numbers I see on their papers=)

Teacher Center

In this center students were writing number sentences and showing their work to go along with story problems I was reading aloud.  They did a great job!

Math About Me!!!

We are off to a great start in first grade this year!  My students have been very busy learning our new schedule and classroom rules.  In math we started the year off with a "Math About Me" project!  Students shared their age, birthday, favorite number, how may people and pets are in their family, and how many teeth they have lost!  They did such a fantastic job and we all learned a little about one another!