February 3-7

Dear Parents,

Exciting learning has continued this week in Grade 1.  Here are some of the highlights.

Please note:  We have postponed our walking field trip to Fish Creek Park for Monday, February 10th.  We plan to go on Wednesday, February 19th, if the weather cooperates.  We will keep you posted.  

Jeff Stockton Storytelling

On Wednesday, we had the pleasure of listening to Mr. Jeff tell a story to us, using his harp to enhance the events of the story.  We loved listening and contributing to the story of Grandma and her Dumpling.  We then captured a part of the story in our visual journals, by either drawing one of our favourite parts, or showing an event from the beginning, middle and ending of the story. 

Ask your child what their favourite part of the story was.

 

Learning Intentions:

I can identify key ideas and details from a story.

I can create imaginative representations of a story that includes characters, setting and events.  

I can present a story as part of a group.  

I can apply creative thinking to create a representation of a message. 

Science - Area Avenue

This week we wrapped up our learning about area as a measurable property.  We measured the area of our buildings we created and compared it to another peer’s building.  We then identified if the area of our building was bigger or smaller than the area of our partners.  We enjoyed collaborating together to create an Area Avenue of all our buildings! 

 

Learning Intentions

I can identify measurable properties of objects. 

I can compare the area of various objects.  

Wellness/Science

To wrap up the week, and take advantage of the warmer temperatures, we got outside in the beautiful sunshine on Friday.  We went for a walk in the snow, and paid attention to the land around us.  We reviewed how we need to be ‘mindfully aware’ and observe what is around us, using our 5 senses.  When we came inside, we took time to record our thoughts in a ‘Daily Double’ thinking routine.  These practices are ways that we are preparing ourselves for our Open Minds experience of City Hall in May.  

         

Learning Intentions:

I can observe seasonal changes in local environments.

I can document signs of seasonal changes.

I can share personal experiences related to seasons.  

I can reflect on feelings and emotions that result from various personal experiences.  

Literacy

This week, we have moved on to learning some new rules about letter sounds.  We focused on the sounds ss, ff, ll, zz at the end of words after short vowel sounds and -all, ull, -oll at the end of words.  Your child should be bringing home decodable texts that align with these different sounds.  Here is some extra practice as well, as we work on mastering these new rules.

 

January 24 - 27

 Dear Parents,

Please take a read below to hear about our learning in grade 1 this week.

Reminders:

We are fortunate to have Jeff Stockton in our school this week and on Wednesday, February 5 will be sharing his unique storytelling with us.  

Inline Skating

This week we wrapped up our Alien Inline skating experience.  All students showed growth in their ability to perform this skill along with showing bravery and perseverance when engaging in and attempting a new learning activity.  We ended our session with a dance party!

Learning Intentions:

Participate in physical activity in a variety of contexts to improve well-being.

Demonstrate various ways of moving safely through space during physical activity.

Perform locomotor movements in a variety of physical activity contexts.

Science

This week students enjoyed exploring and experimenting with the properties of length and area.  Students found and compared objects from around the classroom to measure, compare, discuss and document.

Learning Intention:

Compare length of different objects. 

Compare the space that different objects take up.

Math:

This week students built their understanding of equality in math.  Using a variety of numbers under 10 and with blocks and pan balances students experimented with this concept.  This concept is important as we begin to build our understanding of addition and subtraction.

Learning Intentions

Investigate equal and unequal quantities, including using a balance model.

Showing More, Less, or the Same Amount

As in Kindergarten, students in Grade 1 are asked to show an amount that is more than, less than, or the same as a given amount.

The given amount might be shown concretely, or it might be represented with a numeral.

•	For example, students might be asked to show more than this number of counters. In response, a student could show a set of 6 items.
•	Or students might be asked to show fewer than 6 items. In response, a student might show a set of 3 items.
•	To show an equal amount, a student should put out one item for each of the given items.

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How Might You Describe a Balance?

Because an equality describes a balance, students can show equality using either a mass balance or a length balance.

6 + 2 balances 4 + 4.

6 + 2 equals 4 + 4.

You can also write an equation to show a balance.

6 + 2 = 4 + 4

The equal symbol in an equation shows that the quantity on the left side balances the quantity on the right side.

8 = 8

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Helping Your Child

There are a number of books that you could read with your child that use the idea of equal amounts. Some examples are the following:

One More Bunny, by Rick Walton

Ten For Me, by Barbara Mariconda

What’s New at the Zoo?: An Animal Adding Adventure, by Suzanne Slade

As you read together, you could ask your child to interpret the equalities he or she sees in the words and pictures.

Literacy

This week we concluded our study of single alphabet letters and sounds V and Z.  Please review the home practice to support your child’s learning.  

January 20-24

Dear Parents,

We had another busy week in our classroom!  Here are some of the highlights.  

Math

Learning Intentions:

I can identify familiar shapes in various sizes and orientations.

I can model 2D shapes

I can put 2-D shapes together or take 2-D shapes apart to make other shapes and designs.  

We continued our learning of 2-D shapes.  This week we focused on recognizing shapes within other shapes.  

​​   You can put two or more 2-D shapes together to make another 2-D shape.

For example, you can put two triangles together to make a different triangle:

Or you can put the same triangles together to make a rectangle:

When you put shapes together to make another shape, you are composing shapes.

When you break a 2-D shape up into other 2-D shapes, you are decomposing a shape.

For example:

•	You can decompose a pentagon into triangles.
•	You can decompose a square into other squares.
•	You can decompose a rectangle into a variety of shapes.

We also created our own pictures using pattern blocks

Inline Skating       

Of course, one of the top highlights may have been Inline Skating for many of us!  We were patient to wait all week and excited for our first session on Friday.  We did a great job at getting our equipment on and learning some basics - such as drop stop and using our brake.  We look forward to continuing this week, and watching our skills improve!  

   

Literacy

We continue our learning of individual letter sounds, and are nearing towards the end of the individual letters of the alphabet that make their ‘most common’ sound.  This week we worked on ‘x’ and ‘Q’, and are remembering that ‘q’ and ‘u’ often go together in English words.  

Keep up the great home practising and returning our decodable texts!