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. 

On Thursday the first grade scientists traveled to the Discovery Museum for a  planetarium show about the stars.  They learned about special constellations and the phases of the moon.  Following the show they participated in a workshop called Space Kids where they tested toys used in outer space. Each first grader made a ball and cup toy used by the astronauts.  The first graders also were able to see actual footage of the toys being used by astronauts at the National Space Station.  They compared how toys work here on earth to how they work in space.  Our trip was out of this world!  Many thanks to our chaperones and the Discovery Museum.

First graders are learning all about the piano!  We are learning about the letter names of the keys and the different patterns there are on the piano.  Students have learned how to locate all of the “c” notes on the piano!  We are starting to learn how to position our fingers and learn a first song!

You might ask…How could anything grow under all this ice and snow?  Well, the first graders found the answer with the help of Mrs. Curran during a special science lesson where the they were introduced to the Grow-Lab.  They discussed how plants need light, water, soil, and oxygen to grow.  Each of the first graders had the opportunity to plant lettuce or turnips that will grow under the warmth of the Grow-Lab.  As the veggies grow, the first graders will take turns caring for the plants and also keep a journal that with track the growth of their veggies!  Many thanks to Mrs. Curran.

On a snowy Tuesday morning the first graders celebrated the power of their voice.  They listened to the story of Rosa Parks read by Kristen Dubay-Horton and discussed how anything can be accomplished if you use your words.  As the children listened to the story, they munched on Mrs. Horton’s famous mac and cheese!  After the story, Mrs. Horton taught the class a song called “Show Yourself Mighty” that the people of Montgomery, Alabama sang during the bus strike.

The First Graders were knighted in a royal ceremony prior to Winter Festival.  Our Kings and Queen presented the newly titled knights with their sashes.  The first graders created their own shields and earned different color badges for completing knightly deeds.  This year’s knights would like to thank all of the parents involved in making the shields and sashes look so very noble.  It made the ceremony extra special! Congratulations to the knights of Unquowa!

Yesterday the first graders visited the Aldrich Museum for the second workshop in a four part series for the New Literacies program.  Yesterday’s workshop focused on texture. They began with a discussion based on their homework about texture in their homes.  Next they went on a texture collection around the museum.  They took rubbings of various surfaces that would produce an interesting design.  Following their collection they toured the museum to study texture in the art work.  Finally they returned to the education room to explore the texture touch boxes and create their own textured art of a cozy place in their home.  Many thanks to Suzanne and Tori of the Aldrich museum.   

On November 5, 2010 the first grade class went on a field experience to the Ogden House in Fairfield, CT.  They learned about the life of children and adults in the 1700’s and explored the grounds around the Ogden house.  The class was able to compare the differences between our lives now and the lives of the Ogden family.  It was a beautiful fall morning!