Oh' Snap, Cochran's, & Landforms

 Greetings!

This week we had Our second day at Cochran’s and it was a bluebird-type of day! 🌞 We are always amazed at how fast kids pick up skiing/boarding!!

Back in the classroom, students continued to dive into their nonfiction writing projects. They’ve been researching animal life cycles, body parts, and where they are located on a map. 🗺🗺🗺

On Friday, we had a playful virtual visit from Ms. Neeson, who’s currently in Florida. She gave us a glimpse into her beautiful condo with a stunning ocean view and shared the story of her friend, Harry the Heron. 🌊🌊🌊

Our W.O.W. (Word of the Week) was “landform,” a term that describes natural features on the Earth’s surface. From mountains to volcanoes, hills to plains, students discussed different types of landforms and explored how they appear on maps. ⛰⛰⛰

Hopefully, your child shared about the fun project we did with Mr. Weber and Mrs. Aucter this week.  Students collaborated on creating a mini-story that included clay characters, a setting (background), a problem, and resolution.  They then used the Oh' Snap! App to make an animated mini-movie!  They had so much fun with this activity and their little penguins and seals were just the cutest!! 🐧🐧🐧

Despite all of the assessments and work that needed to be completed this week, the students have been exceptional. They’ve shown great perseverance and effort throughout it all.

Safe travels to those heading out, and for those staying in Vermont, I hope you enjoy the abundant snow and all the fun that comes with it. See you soon! 

Happy Winter Break! ☃

Notes:

Back to School on Wednesday, March 5th!

Snow Motion continues on Thursday, March 6th at Cochran’s. We’re still looking for volunteers—please reach out to Mrs. Cowan if you can help!

 Roses are red

Violets are blue 

I am so lucky to have a class like you!

Love Is In The Air: We had a wonderful week together, ending it with a heartwarming celebration of friendship! Thank you so much for helping your child create their cards— they were thrilled to pass them out and receive so many in return! I also appreciate the special treats you gave me. Thank you for making this week so memorable!

Students Became Animators: This week, Mr. Weber came in and taught us how to use the Oh' Snap app, which allows us to animate figures. Next week, we will use this app for a larger project: bringing Antarctica characters to life!

1st Grade Math:  This week, students began a new unit focused on computation. Throughout this unit, we will concentrate on building fact fluency and mastering addition and subtraction using a variety of strategies. A great way to support your child’s learning at home is by asking questions like, "What number comes before or after [insert number]?" For example, while waiting in the car, you could ask, "What number comes after 76?" Keeping counting and math facts fresh and fun makes it easier for students to grasp new math strategies!

K Math:  Kindergartners were introduced to the number line as a valuable tool for practicing the rote counting sequence. This tool will also serve as a strategy for solving equations in the future. Additionally, students enjoyed playing partner games that helped them practice adding numbers together in a fun and engaging way.

 Through Sickness and Health

This week has certainly been a challenging one for our class, as a virus has been making its rounds through many of us. It’s been tough seeing so many absent faces, and we’ve all been trying our best to stay healthy. As we push through, I’m hopeful that this will be the last of it for a while. I’m looking forward to a healthy, productive period ahead!

Writing: Crafting Teaching Books

One of the standout highlights of our week has been the students' work in writing. They’ve been busy creating their very own teaching books about animals they’ve chosen. The process has been incredibly engaging for them, as they practice taking factual information about their animals and putting it into their own words. It’s been amazing to see how they’re growing as writers, learning to communicate complex ideas in clear and simple ways.

Kindergarten Math: Exploring Numbers and Arrangements

On the math front, our kindergarten students have been diving into some important concepts. They’ve been practicing arranging a set of objects in different ways, and this exercise has reinforced a key idea: a quantity remains the same, no matter how it’s arranged. This foundational concept helps them understand that numbers represent amounts, and those amounts don’t change just because the objects look different in a set.

Additionally, they’ve been working on decomposing numbers into parts. This involves breaking numbers down into smaller parts and then using numbers and addition notation to describe these parts. For example, a student might say that 5 can be broken into 2 and 3, or 1 and 4. It’s a critical skill for developing number sense and preparing for more advanced math concepts in the future.

First Grade Math

Students are wrapping up their unit on number patterns and using the 120 chart.  Learners have been focusing on patterns they see when counting by twos, fives, and tens.  In addition, they are learning to add and subtract 10 from any number on the 120 chart. 

Geography: Exploring Maps and Globes

Students have been continuing to explore the world around them by studying different types of maps. They’ve been learning how maps provide different kinds of information about locations, features, and borders. Most recently, we compared the use of maps with a globe, highlighting the differences between these two tools for representing Earth. The students had some great insights into why we might choose to use a map over a globe (for example, when we need to zoom in on specific areas or look at a larger scale). This hands-on experience has been valuable in developing their spatial awareness and broadening their understanding of geography.

VT, Raccoons, & Animal Research

 

Looks like 6 more weeks of winter, but I think we knew that already! 😉

Enjoy some of this week's moments!