This week we start our Ocean Unit. We began the week by learning about Earth, the water planet. We studied the globe of the Earth and located the main oceans and seas. We saw the the Earth was filled with more water than land. From there we answered the question…What is a beach? We learned about erosion and the roll it plays in creating our beaches. Experiments had us making sand by shaking boxes filled with rocks and sugar cubes. We looked at collections of sand from around the world and talked about how different they look and feel. We also began a mural of the ocean sorted into layers or zones. Next we’ll experiment with the differences between fresh and salt water. Students will make predictions about what will happen when we put an egg in either fresh or salt water. Finally, later in the week, we will identify the layers or zones of the ocean and talk about animals that are found there. Well also take a look at the food chain.
In Math, we returned to the arithmatic strand of first grade. Activities are geared toward studying facts to ten and using strategies such as: adding and subtracting numbers using doubles and neighbors. Our primary focus is practicing the mathematical understanding of first grade concepts. Then we are emphasizing independence by working on organization, putting our names on our papers, and checking off our daily activities on our math planners. Finally showing your thinking and working on number formation are being talked about.
In Writing, the students are sharing their small moments in personal narrative. Students are making a list of possible topics they can write about. The list includes: happy memories, day to day things, funny family stories, and stories about being scared or hurt.
