Tuesday, November 20, 2012

More summarizing!

Do you see red, green, and blue underlining in first graders' summaries? Our experts color code their summaries to make sure they have all the essential elements of a solid summary!

Summarizing!

For several weeks, first graders worked as a class to summarize books we read together, thinking carefully about characters, setting, and important plot points in the beginning, middle, and end of a fictional story. Once students understood these key elements, they were ready to begin summarizing on their own! Students learned to use a rubric to structure and evaluate their summaries. Students used excellent learning strategies during our introduction to summarizing! Each student stayed focused on writing a summary in their own words, but then consulted with members of their guided reading group to evaluate what they wrote and figure out what else to write. Students also used the text, our Word Wall, and their peers to spell unknown words.

First graders investigate balance

Our first investigation in our Balance and Motion science unit helps students explore concepts of balance. Students have been using clothespins to find as many different ways as they can to balance a paper "crayfish." Students are learning to use words like balance, counterbalance, weight, counterweight, stable, and unstable. Students record their experiments and diagrams in their science journals, along with why they think their method of balancing the crayfish worked (or didn't!).

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

First Grade Gardeners

First graders work with Ms. Massengale each week to apply what they've learned in our classroom to taking care of our school environment. This week, we are replenishing the top soul in the tomato garden, and will be planting radishes. Yum!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Our scientists hard at work!

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First Grade Research Scientists

First graders have been hard at work answering our essential science questions for the first quarter. Students have been scouring a wide range of texts to discover as much as they can about plants, animals, and environments. They have been recording the facts they learn on post-its, and then matching the fact to the question it answers. This is an engaging way for us to practice reading, writing, and science in a meaningful context!


--
All mail correspondence to and from the Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools
is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law, which may result in
monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.