Weather Watchers

Today we started our first unit in science.  It's called Weather Watchers.  First, we shared what we know about the weather.  Take a look a our responses below.

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We also drew pictures of our favorite weather in our science journals. Here are some of the things that we would like to know more about: I want to know more about... *the rain *the sun *lightening *the sun in space. *winter *snowflakes *snow *thunderstorms *tornados Does your class learn about the weather?

Fun Run! Fun

On Thursday, our school had its annual Fun Run.  First graders wore their yellow t-shirts and we ran laps around the bus loop to music.  It's always an exciting day.  First, we take a class picture.  Next, we go outside and run our laps.  (You can also walk if you get tired.)  Parents were cheering us on!  After that, we went inside for water and a treat.  The Fun Run is always lots of fun!  By the way, Mrs. Ruckes ran, too.

Our class poses for a quick picture. 

Kayla is get ready for the event...groooowlllll!

We're off and running...

Does your school have a Fun Run?  We would love to know about some of your school events.

Family Read Along

Last week, we held our annual Family Read Along for all four first grade classrooms.  Yes, 80 first graders and their families.  It's always a huge event and a huge surprise.  It's a time to celebrate our reading lives with our family and friends.  The theme is based on the book, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.  In the story, the relatives visit and there is lots of hugging, kissing, and eating.

Everyone in our class was extremely surprised when their family members appeared at our classroom door. There were moms and dads, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and volunteers!  They brought along lots of book to read, snacks to share, and blankets to sit on.  It was the best reading time ever!  What does your class do to celebrate reading?

Math Fact Families

This week we have been working on fact families in math.  We decided to share our work using an App called a Show Me.  We started by throwing two dice to determine the three numbers for our fact families.  Next, we wrote down our three numbers.  Afterwards, we wrote our fact family.  Finally, we demonstrated our learning using a Show Me.  You can see some of the Show Me's we created below.

Happy 100th Day!

Last week we celebrated the 100th Day of school.  We've been keeping track of our school days since the first day of school.  To celebrate this event, our teacher, Mrs. Ruckes and our student teacher, Miss Larson created a lot of fun activities for us to do that represented the number 100.

When we arrived at school, we noticed a huge number 100 across our door.  It was so cool because we had to walk through one of the zeros to get into our classroom.  Mrs. Ruckes is tall and she complained about having to bend down so low.  We thought that was great because she got a lot of good exercise.

Each of us received a pair of 100 Day glasses.  We thought the glasses looked very silly, but we had fun wearing them.

During math workshop we were able to choose what we wanted to do.  Our choices were playing 100 Snowballs on the SMART board, playing a game using the hundreds chart on the computer, building a structure using 100 cups, creating designs using 100 pattern blocks, drawing a picture of how we might look when we are 100 years old, making a goofy picture using a stencil of "100" for the eyes, and charting how many of our own footsteps it would take to walk 100 feet.

We switched activities every 15 minutes and we got a chance to work with a partner or a group of friends.  It was one of the best days ever!




The is 100 Snowballs! at abcya.com



We are playing the 100 Number Grid game.



We used 100 cups!



We made patterns with 100 pattern blocks.



We worked together to make a pattern.



We are drawing pictures of how we'll look when we're 100 year old.



I'm going to make a silly face using the number 100!





We are counting how many footsteps it would take to walk 100 feet.

 What did you do to celebrate the 100th Day of school?  We would love to know.

Science Alive

Today our class participated in a program called Science Alive (Hands-On Education With Living Things).  Each class in our building gets to visit with the animals up close and personal.  Students receive Hands-On contact with live amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.  Today we were introduced to a chinchilla, a South American horned frog, a  Burmese Python, an alligator, and an armadillo.

Our class was anxiously awaiting the arrival of our animal friends.  Most of us remembered learning about the animals last year in kindergarten.  The biologist are great about introducing us to a variety of animals.  Some of the animals were new to us and some of the animals were returning for another visit.  Science Alive is a program that excites us year after year.  As you can see below, even Mrs. Ruckes tried on the python ( for the first and last time ever)!

Mrs. Ruckes wearing Sunny Delight the Burmese Python



Gracie and Brooke with the Alligator






Lily petting the Horned Frog



Griffin wearing a python necklace



Erica holding the Alligator



Sarah petting the Chinchilla



WE LOVE SCIENCE ALIVE!