Last week we spent a lot of time talking about what a how-to is, what it shows/tells us and how it does it. They brainstormed different how-to ideas based on their expertise or things they wanted to learn: how to draw, tie our shoes, play football, throw a party, make cookies etc. Then we discussed, how you tell the person what materials, tools, items, ingredients and any other supplies they will need to make "it". This week they have had an opportunity to listen to some cute stories: How to Babysit a Grandpa and How to Wash a Wooly Mammoth to help guide their writing. Today we talked about picking a how to they could write about based on their expertise or research! They are really into it and it's cool to see how engaged they are! So next week, they will finish working on these how to's and we'll go up to the digital learning lab and use iPad's to film our how-to's. I have found a video with a kid about their age that shows how to make a paper fortune teller (or cootie catcher :) whatever you want to call it) and they will follow his directions to make their own! I thought this would be cool to see a kid doing exactly what they are going to be doing! There will be some instruction about how to speak loudly, communicate clearly with directions and steps in order in order for it to be a successful how-to. My goal is to email all of these to me and grade them for a writing and communication grade, as well as hopefully be able to email them to you to share!
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Next week we will continue our mapping study. They are pointing out maps everywhere! They find them in books, our read alouds, nonfiction and many other places. I love that they are making real world connections!! We talked about how we use maps at the zoo, Cedar Point and Kings Island. They did a great job using their real world connections to understanding symbols and what maps show. They will start making their own maps using symbols, compass rose and other directional terms. Together we will create a map of our playground, or a playground since ours is giant!!! And then create their own map of a farm or playground on their own. We will spend some time on Pebble Go, which is a great nOn Thursday, we will use google maps, my GPS on my phone and their background knowledge to write directions to UDF. They will follow those directions (with me!) to UDF on Friday for an ice cream treat! They also have to write directions to get us back to school! We will talk about reversing the directions to help get is back! Should be fun! Keep talking about maps and using any real life opportunities that you can to show them how maps help us in real life! They are doing an awesome job with this concept. Topic 13 is Time. In first grade, they are required to know how to tell time to the half hour and the hour, as well as write and draw it on both a digital and analog clock. I have a Judy clock (remember those?!) to help them tell time and mini Judy clocks so they can tell with me. We will also talk about digital watches, cell phones and car clocks to help them tell time using real world applications. They did very well on the pre assessment. We are going to focus on drawing the hands (making sure the hour hand is short and the min. hand longer) and writing half hour times correctly on the digital clock, based on that pre assessment. I have some fun pages they will do, "spring into spring" where they color the analog clock (maybe spring will come if we do that sheet! (: ) and some other practices they can do with both writing and maneuvering an actual clock. This topic will only take a week, based on their pre assessment results. |
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