Hey Snowman, What's the "MATTER"?

Students arrived at school on a "chilly" January morning to find a VERY special visitor! A snowman!! We got right to work naming our snowman. Students worked in groups to brainstorm and decide a name that the group agreed on. Then groups presented their name choices to the class and we took a vote. Since three of the four groups had the very same name choice, the majority definitely ruled! OLAF it is!!! We took some time to observe our snowman, measure our snow man, make predictions about what we think will happen to our snowman throughout the day. Olaf started out as a solid snowman and we watched him change throughout the day, dripping away slowly. Olaf got the spend the night in the classroom and when we came back to school the next day, well, Olaf was just a puddle. Mrs. Halloran took Olaf, the puddle, home to demonstrate what happens after the "puddle" or liquid stage. This was SUCH  a fun way for students to observe the different states of matter in action!

 

Unique as a Snowflake

Winter in Florida isn't quite the same as it is in the rest of the country. We did our best to do some exploring and learning about what winter really is besides just cute snowmen, jackets and hot cocoa. We took a close look a what is an actual snowflake, how is it formed, how it helps the earth and what can happen when there is too much snow. The students were intrigued that there is an actual scientific explanation for the unique patterns in a snow flake. Since we didn't have any snowflakes of our own to inspect here in the sunshine state, we made some crafty ones of our own with some shiny silver glitter :) Students then wrote about all the different reasons they are unique. My class is certainly filled with some very unique and special little snowflakes!!

"Simily Selfies"

Our class can be silly as a selfie!!
What kids doesn't like to take a funny "selfie" now and then on their parent's phone? While studying what similes are, students wrote creative similes about them selves. I thought it would be fun to display their simile with their very own selfie. So, they each got to use Mrs. H's cell phone to take their selfie. I printed out their selfies and they wrote their similes underneath. These were fun to read while hanging on display in our hall way. We had lots of visitors checking them out and seeing what creative things they wrote about themselves.

Class selfie :)

           

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 






               

Classroom TAKE-OVER!!

That's right! We have returned from Christmas Break ready to take charge of our learning. Students have spent the first half of the year learning their school, their classroom routines and responsibilities and expectations. They are ready to take charge! Students worked in groups to brain storm as many day to day responsibilities as they could think of. Each group presented their ideas to the rest of the class and we compiled one big list. We then determined which jobs on the list could be done by the students and which needed to be done by the teacher! Amazingly the students discovered MANY responsibilities they are completely capable of taking the lead. So we made a list of the most important jobs and students thought about which jobs they would like to be the leader of. Students completed job applications filling out important personal information like their strengths and things they are good at. Then they wrote to explain which job they would like the most and why they would be good at it! Man, these kids were quite convincing and gave Mrs. Halloran a tough job in deciding rolls and responsibilities! Students included in their application several other jobs they would consider and that helped to narrow it down- a little! After this process was complete, Responsibility Leaders were announced and students were excited and ready to take over the classroom- Mrs. Halloran told them she was ready to sit back and relax and watch them work work work :) The good news is that each week responsibility leaders get to be in charge of a different job. They look forward to getting their new jobs and getting to be IN CHARGE!! I love watching them take pride in their responsibilities and I also love that they are learning how important it is to all work together to get the jobs done and it takes a great team to have a great class!!

Buddy Class: Diorama Projects

We were so excited when our buddy class, Mrs. Donaldson's Third grade HAART Class, invited us to their classroom to see what they had been working on.  Their class came to see us earlier in the year to participate in our Invention Expo. Well, it was our turn to go visit them and see what they had been busy working on- their diorama projects. They invited us to join them to ask questions and explore their animal research. First graders proudly carried their clip boards around to the third graders to observe and ask questions about their projects. It is amazing to see these kids interact with each other and learn from one another! Great job third graders on your research and projects! We love our buddy class!!!!

Cousins!!!!

Brother & sister

Holiday Festivities

December was filled with lots and lots of exciting activities. From gingerbread houses, to a "Whoville Grinchmas", Harry Havery Christmas concert and First Grade Christmas Around the World. A highlight was our afternoon with our buddy class- Mrs. Donaldson's third grade HAART class. Our classes met at the picnic area. Students decorated Christmas Stockings with crayons, markers and lots of glitter! They also partnered up to put together tanagram puzzles. We filled our weeks before the Holidays with lots of traditions new and old. Sharing the gift of time with others making memories- what it's all about!