Happy Monday!

Greetings, everyone, and welcome to a new week in first grade. Like always, first grade was busy learning new and exciting things today. In Language Arts, we learned the sounds for the letters sh and th. In Math, we continue to practice our double facts. Tonight we have our very first fact homework assignment.

We also held a class meeting today to discuss what it means to be a good friend. We talked about how friends share, say polite things, and include everyone. We all promised to do our part and be good friends!

So Much to Share

Friday was such a busy day in first grade. In Religion we continued our discussion on how Jesus healed many people. The students created a picture with Jesus in the center and wrote the names of 4 people who they would like to pray for around Jesus. The highlight was adding the band aids. Here is a picture of what they did. 

Today also marked the end to Fire Safety Week. Not only did we have a fire drill but also some of the firefighters came to talk to us about safety. With them, we practiced stop, drop, and roll, crawling under smoke, and trying on the fire gear. Back in the classroom, we finished our mini fire safety books and wrote our fire safety rules. Here are pictures from our finished products.  

We ended our Friday with Art Class. This week the students created either a bat or a skull using marshmallows. They first traced a pattern on black paper and then glued marshmallows around the outline. I must say that they look spooktacular. Here a samples of their work. 

Have a great weekend!

Notes from Religion Class

Today was quite a pleasant day in first grade. Our focus this week in Religion has been how Jesus helped many people. Yesterday we read a story about how he healed a blind man by touching his eyes. Today we read a story called Who Wrecked the Roof? which tells the story of how Jesus healed a paralyzed man after his friends lowered him from the roof. This story is interesting in that it is told from the viewpoint of a bystander. After reading, we created a mini of how Jesus helped all kinds of people. The children are really like hearing these stories of Jesus helping others. 

"It just can't be the time to go home!"

This is what one student said when I said it was time to get ready for home. We were all amazed at how fast the day went and sad that we were leaving. I must say that I love seeing the children's enthusiasm for learning. 

In Reading today, we read a story about an animal park in Africa. I hope all of you enjoy your journey to the safari tonight when you son/daughter reads you the story. We continue learning our double facts in Math class. Our Doubles Rap is sure a hit with the students. 

Please remember that we do not have gym class tomorrow because of Living Rosary. Students must wear their regular dress shoes to school tomorrow. 

Growing in Reading!

What a great day we had in first grade. Each week, I love seeing our phonics knowledge grow as we learn more decoding skills. Today we talked about final blends. The students are really working hard at becoming fantastic readers. 

This week is also fire safety week. We began our discussion of fire safety by creating a little lap book. We talked about smoke alarms, the importance of a meeting spot, and other fire safety rules. 

As promised here are pictures of our Columbus Day projects. I hope you enjoy! 

Happy Columbus Day!

Happy Columbus Day! Today in first grade, the students learned about Christopher Columbus. We learned that he discovered America in 1492 and that he led three ships across the Atlantic Ocean. To honor and celebrate him, we wrote about what we would have done if we discovered America and created a picture with his three ships. Check back tomorrow for pictures of these projects.

Besides learning about Columbus, first grade studied the short u sound in Language Arts and how to write number sentences for 'some, some more' stories in Math.

It was an exciting day in first grade!

A Ghost Garden!

Happy Friday, everyone! What a great day first grade had to end the week. We started the day by attending Mass where Msgr. reminded us that God cares about us very much. 

Afterwords, first grade was busy learning new things. We got to experiment building designs with pattern blocks in Math. In Science, we learned about the basic needs of animals and how parents take care of their babies. 

Of course, the big thrill was Art class. Today, we made ghosts for Halloween. As I was hanging them up in the classroom, one student said that they looked like a ghost garden. See what you think! 

                                                     A close up picture of the ghosts!

Have a great weekend!