Inquiry in the Wonder Room

So exciting! Today, my young scientists ventured to the Wonder Room to explore the scientific process. Short synopsis of the experiment: Which solution will make an egg float? 

water and salt

water and cornstarch

water and vinegar

water and food coloring

The students each came up with a hypothesis, which they recorded in their science journals. Then we followed the procedures, mixing solutions and placing the eggs, VERY CAREFULLY!

Next, my students observed the results. Amazing! Which solution do you think will make an egg float?

In the Wonder Room

Materials ready!

Ask your child to find out what worked! 

Young Authors and Illustrators

My students have been creating their own books this week. We've studied several authors, including Eric Carle and Kevin Henkes. The students have created Noticings Charts to list craft techniques used by these authors, and now they are trying to incorporate some techniques into their own writing. Wow!

Check out some of their books!

Repetition: "Yes yes yes hey let's go play play play"

   

Thought Bubbles: "This is awesome"

    

 

Conversation: Mom-"Come to school now"

                       Boy-"But Mom"

                       Mom-"Come to school"

What awesome writers!

Goodies With Grands!

This week at OES we are celebrating our wonderful grandparents by sharing breakfast with them in our cafe. I enjoyed meeting my students' grandmothers and grandfathers and have a lot of pictures to share. 

                                                   

Insect Inquiry

Bugs, bugs, and more bugs! My students have gone crazy about bugs! It started on the first day of school - I brought in a luna moth caterpillar chrysalis and asked my students to predict what might come out. Now, they search relentlessly for other insects during recess. I have a basket full of books about bugs, and they love looking at them!

We created a "wonder wall" about insects where students can post questions. The Wonder Wall is located in our "Lightbulb Lab," a place where students can use books and iPads to research.

So far we've found a lot of beetles and ants, a Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar, and a Goliath beetle. There were lots of questions about the Giant Leopard Moth caterpillar because it is black and bristly. The students wondered if it was poisonous because "it looked scary." When we searched for answers we discovered that it is a harmless insect. Then we created a habitat for it with dandelion leaves to eat. We hope it will turn into a chrysalis and then emerge as a moth!

8 Days of First Grade!

Greetings from Room 109!

Wow! It is so hard to believe that we have only been in school for 8 days - it feels more like 8 weeks because my unique firsties have already learned a bunch! (By the way, unique is our vocabulary word of the week.)

Here are some of the things we've been doing:

• building stamina when we read our 100 BC books
• problem solving
• learning to develop strong listening and speaking skills
• monitoring the progress of a chrysalis
• interacting with Oliver Button, our classroom chinchilla
• working together cooperatively with partners and small groups
• more problem-solving!
• raising money for a our Fall Fundraiser
• reading exemplary books
• exploring our number wall
• MORE problem solving
• creating an "Insect Inquiry" club during recess
• laughing and dancing
• creating memories
• and much, much more!

Here are some photos from the first week and a half:

School Starts Tomorrow!

Excitement! Tomorrow is the first day of first grade for a whole bunch of curious, friendly students. We'll get started bright and early in the morning, so everyone be sure to get a good night's sleep!

Here are just a few reminders, helpful hints, etc. to help you get ready for our first grade adventure:

• Remember to bring a small, healthy snack and a water bottle.
• All students will go directly to their classrooms on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
• Traffic will be more convoluted than a pirate's treasure map, so plan to leave you house sooner rather than later.
• Please send a note of your child's afternoon transportation will be different from what you told me at "Meet the Teacher."
• I will put together my students' binders tomorrow afternoon, after school. Those should come home on Tuesday. The binder is important! It comes home everyday and is returned to school the next day.

Finally, here is our activity schedule for this year:

Monday = Library or Guidance
Tuesday = Computer Lab
Wednesday = Art
Thursday = Music
Friday = PE  **Students must wear tennis shoes on Fridays.

See you all tomorrow! :)

Ready to Set Sail!

School supplies, backpacks, lunchboxes, new shoes ... it must be that time of the summer that inevitably comes around every year: We're heading Back to School! I'm ready to meet my new group of first graders and looking forward to an exciting year of exploration and discovery. We're going to have a WONDER-ful adventure!

Here is a little bit about me: I graduated from Converse College (a LONG time ago) with a Master's Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I've been teaching in District 2 for 21 years, and everyone calls me "Mrs. Mac." My family includes an Irish husband, two amazing daughters, three cats and a chinchilla named Oliver Button. (Ollie comes to school with me everyday to entertain my class!) I love, love, love to read, and my favorite color is blue. And most importantly, I am so blessed to be a teacher! Children are precious gifts, and I treasure my time spent guiding each new group of students through the wonders of first grade.

I can't wait to meet everyone! See you soon!