Happy Thursday! Today's morning work was chosen to jumpstart our day of learning about the Great Barrier Reef. Students looked for hidden pictures in a drawing of a coral reef. During our morning meeting, we chatted a bit and then completed our morning business.
One of our Fun Facts for Day 141 informed us that if you can see a rainbow, you must have your back to the sun. When I arrived home after school today, this was the view from my balcony. "How serendipitous!," I cried before snapping a picture. The sun was indeed behind me when I saw this rainbow! 🌞💧🌈
One of our Fun Facts for Day 141 informed us that if you can see a rainbow, you must have your back to the sun. When I arrived home after school today, this was the view from my balcony. "How serendipitous!," I cried before snapping a picture. The sun was indeed behind me when I saw this rainbow! 🌞💧🌈
Reading the morning message about the plans for the day led to a discussion about the Question of the Day: Are you a strong swimmer? From this, we segued to an article about the Great Barrier Reef. We read the passage together after which the students completed a crossword puzzle with clues based on the article We also looked at photos of colorful coral reef creatures.
Following a break, the first graders matched the names of animals that live in coral reefs to pictures of the animals. One of the animals was a hermit crab so Shelly, Crabby, and Clark joined us for a portion of the class. After this, the first graders took a break from their coral reef activities to work on their phonics skills. Today's lessons mainly focused on using -ed, and -ing endings, although there were a few exercises about making words plural with -s or -es endings.
Music, Lunch, Lunch Recess, and Quiet Time were followed by a viewing of Ms. Miller's announcements. During math, the students completed twelve two and three-digit addition and subtraction problems. We worked through several of the problems together, in particular the more challenging problems that used three-digit numbers. A common error was adding instead of subtracting and vice versa. Successfully solving the problems resulted in the creation of a coral reef picture. While working on the activity, the first graders listened to calming music and peeked at a coral reef web cam.
Following a break, the first graders matched the names of animals that live in coral reefs to pictures of the animals. One of the animals was a hermit crab so Shelly, Crabby, and Clark joined us for a portion of the class. After this, the first graders took a break from their coral reef activities to work on their phonics skills. Today's lessons mainly focused on using -ed, and -ing endings, although there were a few exercises about making words plural with -s or -es endings.
Music, Lunch, Lunch Recess, and Quiet Time were followed by a viewing of Ms. Miller's announcements. During math, the students completed twelve two and three-digit addition and subtraction problems. We worked through several of the problems together, in particular the more challenging problems that used three-digit numbers. A common error was adding instead of subtracting and vice versa. Successfully solving the problems resulted in the creation of a coral reef picture. While working on the activity, the first graders listened to calming music and peeked at a coral reef web cam.
The students were shown sea star and coral specimens. They also were told about the sea star picture strips in their project envelopes. I suggested putting them together to make sea star crowns. The first graders then began creating colorful interactive mini books about the coral reef. There was nowhere near enough time to finish this project in the time given even with the option of continuing to color during DEAR time. Students may work on their coral reef books bit by bit until they complete them in a careful, colorful, and detailed manner.
The in-person learners journeyed outside for recess. Here they are by another tree in the school playground.
After the recess break, students were shown pictures of mermaid purses, as well as an actual specimen. Mermaid purses are the egg sacs of certain sharks and skates. Inside each one are the yolk and the developing embryo. Tendrils hold the egg sac safely in place until the shark pup hatches. The first graders received oral directions for making their own mermaid purses. Each mermaid purse was its creator's own unique design. When we all gathered together for Closing Circle, I read aloud from The Great Barrier Reef: An Undersea Adventure.
Parents, kindly check the April 30 learning plan to prepare your child for class on Friday.
Also, here is the third installment of my The Sign of the Seahorse read-aloud videos for your child to enjoy!
Finally, Room 104 has been selected to lead the Pledge of Allegiance for the school next week. Ms. Miller will join the in-person learners a couple times and will play videos of first graders saying the pledge on the other days. If your child would like to lead the school in the pledge, please submit a video to me by Sunday afternoon. Thank you!
Also, here is the third installment of my The Sign of the Seahorse read-aloud videos for your child to enjoy!
Finally, Room 104 has been selected to lead the Pledge of Allegiance for the school next week. Ms. Miller will join the in-person learners a couple times and will play videos of first graders saying the pledge on the other days. If your child would like to lead the school in the pledge, please submit a video to me by Sunday afternoon. Thank you!