First grade students continue to enjoy PE class 5 days a week. They are well aware of class routine and the importance of fitness warm ups. They enthusiastically volunteer to lead their peers through various stretches, body holds, body balances, jumping jacks, high knees and other activities.  They are fully involved in skill sets that improve their new found soccer skills in the fall semester. They learn soccer language and the importance of holding the ball with their feet only. They are introduced to age appropriate rules and fundamental positions. They experience game play and understand the importance of “fair” play and team work. They also participate in an age appropriate President’s Fitness Challenge.

This morning the first graders participated the last of our four part workshop series with the Aldrich Museum.  Suzanne Ryan joined us to talk to the class about the movement of sound and how it can be pictured.  The students listened to various sounds and guessed what was actually making the sound.  They collected sounds throughout the classroom and drew pictures of what they thought the sounds made by the objects looked like.  They also recorded a sound symphony made by film canisters filled with various items such as marshmallows, rocks, rice, beads, and bells.  We want to thank Suzanne Ryan of the Aldrich Museum for working with us throughout the year!

On Monday May 9, 2011, the first grade scientists, along with their 7th grade partners, participated in a field experience at Southport Beach in Fairfield to support our month long study of Long Island Sound. Each group rotated though a series of observation stations where they took notes on what they saw within a transected section of the beach. They found many shells, rocks, seaweed, and hundreds of snails. Thanks so much to the seventh grade, Mrs, Sullivan, and all of our chaperones. It was a terrific morning of authentic science!

Our triangle friend, Teresa, is helping us learn about the letter “T” in Spanish, while at the same time explaining to us why she is so “triste” (sad). It just so happens that all of our special “T” vocabulary words help to explain why Teresa is upset. After reading and listening to Teresa’s story, student artists helped illustrate each reason why Teresa is sad.

The first graders visited Stepping Stones museum on Thursday April 7, 2011.  They participated in a workshop about the rainforest layers and even got to touch a Madagascar hissing cockroach!  After our workshop we toured some of the museum galleries and ate our healthy lunches in the museum cafe.  It was a wonderful morning of learning!  Thank you to Stepping Stones and our chaperones!

On Wednesday March 9, the first graders traveled to the Fairfield Audubon Center to learn about signs of the seasons.  They were able to meet many animals and even come face to face with an owl!!  After learning about what animals do get food and stay alive during the winter, students went on a hike to search for signs of spring.  They noticed that the bugs were alive under many logs and rocks, the buds were coming out on some of the trees, and the skunk cabbage was starting to bloom.  It was a beautiful afternoon of learning and wonderful peek ahead to spring!  Many thanks to Mrs. Curran and our chaperones!

Today students in First Grade listened to a  music story, The Tortoise and the Hare.  All of the students used their listening skills to hear the instruments tell these stories!  In the Tortoise and the Hare students heard the viola, clarinet, cello, and piano.  Students “played” these instruments as they heard them on the recording.  In the Lion and the Mouse students listened for an African talking drum and sandpaper blocks.  Students had to figure out which instruments portrayed the different animals and then illustrate what they had discovered!

Suzanne Fisher Staples an award winning author visited with the first graders who have been enjoying the book The Green Dog. This heartwarming and funny “almost true” story is taken from Ms. Staples’ childhood. The students enjoyed living through the adventures of Jeff the dog who shows up on the authors’ doorstep at the beginning of one summer. The First Graders had great questions for Ms. Staples and learned that words can be powerful. Thank you to the UPA for sponsoring this event and especially our authors’ day committee who once again helped to make it a successful day.

Our study of shapes coincided nicely with our celebration of Valentine’s Day.  Each student was given a sheet with two circles and one square on it.  They were responsible for coloring and cutting their shapes out. Then, they were challenged to use the three cut-out shapes to form a heart. Once they solved the puzzle, they enjoyed making their heart puzzles into a valentine.

Today in music we learned another partner song!  Students have been working on songs that involve partners to make rhythmic motions and sounds.