Farm Math has begun with the acquisition of land. As new land owners we made a plan for the roads needed. The roads must enter and exit at two places and allow you access to your house. To place the house, 6 squares of green grass are required. Next we’ll add a barn and...
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Classroom Notes from: Mrs. Pechette
Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Are you a butterfly? You start your life in an egg. As soon as you are strong enough, break out of it. You do not look like your mother or father. You are a caterpillar. You have sixteen legs, a hairy back with tiny breathing hole in it. You have very small eyes and...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
When we begin a new unit of study changes occur throughout the classroom, all of which are designed to create high interest. The Science Table now has live insects, dead insects, factual books, magnifying glasses and recording journals. Fictional books that have insects as the main characters can also be found in the room. ...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
We are grateful to have the beautiful camellias of spring for our art lesson on value, the range of lightness or darkness in a color. We first observed a pure white flower, then painted several randomly on the paper. Next a dot of red was added to the white paint on each child’s palette. ...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Phrases like symmetrical, area, cube, pyramid, rhombus, trapezoid, right angle, and triangular prism will soon become part of your child’s vocabulary as we begin to incorporate the study of geometry into our math program. We will be working to help students develop a comfort and familiarity with common shapes. We’ll learn their names and...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
When asked, “What is Spring?” The most likely responses have been about blooming trees and flowers. This past week we’ve had discussions about the season Spring, how many seasons there are in a year, and why do trees and plants show signs of life. We also did an art lesson drawing a spring bouquet...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Pebbles, Sand, and Silt, our rock study, began with time spent investigating a pile of rocks. We were reminded to use our senses to make discoveries. What can you learn when looking, smelling, or touching? Our first tool for investigating was a magnifying glass. This week three small screens of different sizes were included,...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Saint Patrick’s Day allowed us to experience a bit of Irish storytelling. The folktale, Jamie O’Rourke and the Big Potato, taught us that taking the easy way out is sometimes more trouble than it’s worth. Potatoes also became part of math. Each child selected a potato and evaluated it. Was it small, medium, or...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
After 100 days of school and much hard work toward math learning, the numbers are getting bigger, 2 and 3 digit. The children have learned there just aren’t enough fingers and toes to add and subtract these numbers. Unifix cubes work, but there is a lot of counting and each equation takes a very...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
The Owl and the Pussy Cat, written by Edward Lear in the 1871’s, brought back memories for our visitors on Grandparents and Special Friends Day last Friday. We prepared for our guests by reading several versions of the poem, comparing illustration style. Our favorite was illustrated by Jan Brett, who remembers her mother reading...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Valentine’s bring joy to the giver and receiver. After a busy morning of serious learning, the afternoon began with quiet reading. Many of the children have chosen to ready special Valentine books or books about friendship. Quietly each of us took turns delivering Valentines to the boxes made with care last week. Anticipation was...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Perhaps your child has come home and told you our class is taking a trip to Antarctica, an area of the world very different from our own niche in the Pacific Northwest. Passports have been issued and our math investigations have begun. Addition and subtraction facts to 10 are being practiced daily, but we...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Our conversations about families have given us much to contemplate. When asked, “What is a family?” the children agree families live together sometimes in one house, sometimes in two houses. The ideas of families loving one another and taking care of each other have been expressed many times in our discussions. We’ve learned families...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Monday was Abigail’s last day at Lewis School. She is leaving us to continue first grade in the Chinese Immersion Program located at Woodstock School. Abby shared with her friends feeling of sadness having to leave our classroom, but also happy and exciting feelings in anticipation of learning Chinese with new friends. As...
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Mrs. Pechette
I am so glad the children have learned to come prepared for outdoor cold weather play, because Monday morning the old furnace just didn’t want to heat our room. With cheerful attitudes we worked with coat and hats on, then moved to the much warmer cafeteria to write in journals and share information about...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
The celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. leads us into a study of notable African Americans. Each study will begin in childhood and follow through their life’s accomplishments. We will hear about a Civil Rights leader, politician, artist, musician, writer, ball player and student. Each story will tell about working hard to achieve your...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
The year 2013 has arrived along with winter. Many changes have taken place in our classroom. The calendar has begun a new year and we are discovering a growing pattern with rectangular prisms as the days go by. Ask your child what a growing pattern is? New book choices about winter are out and...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Homework did not come home this week. During Winter break there will be many opportunities for reading and learning. Daily shared reading with your child is very important. When asked many of the children said they love reading to grandparents who perhaps will spend time with your family over the break. If you are...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Once in awhile time is taken to work on a project that takes hard work and extended time before the gratification of a job well done rewards us. The next two weeks we are sewing gingerbread people. First the job of sewing on buttons is accomplished. What are the holes in a button for? ...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
I very much appreciate meeting with you, the parents of these excited young learners. After many hours of sharing information I believe we have a good understanding of the foundation that has been built for our year. Reflecting back on our time at Tryon Creek State Park, we remember a cool, dry, overcast day. ...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
Math is moving forward in some very exciting ways. After learning to tell time on the hour we’ve starting to use the half hour. This is a good time to practice counting by 5s around the clock face. We’ve also been looking at and practicing examples of what makes an odd or even number. ...
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Mrs. Pechette’s First Grade
In preparation for our day at Tryon Creek State Park on Friday, November 16, we are learning to be scientists. One of my favorite science books is What is a Scientist, which is where some of this information comes from. A scientist is a person who asks questions and tries different ways to answer...
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