a class of stars

Yesterday during Art we talked about lines. We used big words for simple lines; words like horizontal and diagonal. But, we put those big words and little lines together and ooooooh, just look!

 to see the connections and excitment 5 and 6 year olds have for making what muscle-memory has us, as adults, creating without thought was a gift.

"...chelsea! look! another one!"

"ooooh, i did it too!"


"chelsea, you work here and I am working on these!"

"...at first i couldn't do it and then i kept going and going!"

"...it's like Israel!"

peanut butter (pb) and jelly (j)

As part of a lead-in to our Unit of Inquiry we put together a PB and J factory.

We did some reflecting before we began our factory and then, after our sandwiches were assembled, we did a lot more thinking and reflecting. The photos that follow show the roles students had in the factory and their thinking.

 

                            

 



Term 2 Reminders and Specialist Schedule

P1 C 2010-2011

Daily Routines:

-A hat must be worn during break and lunch times. Send a hat labeled with your child’s name. We will keep this hat at school.

-Send water in a refillable bottle

-Send healthy foods for break and lunch times. Please, NO sweets

-Return plastic ‘Home Folder’ to class. Notices and completed learning can be removed and kept at home.

Specialist Schedule

Monday:

Library (bring a separate book bag in order to check out and return books

Tuesday:

- PE Skills (wear blue shorts or track pants, ISM t-shirt, sport shoes, hat, and bring extra water)

- Music

Wednesday:

- Swahili

- Swimming: (wear PE kit to school in case we are unable to go swimming. For swimming bring costume/suit, towel, sun cream and pool shoes)

Thursday:

            -IT

- Sport (wear blue shorts or track pants, ISM t-shirt, sport shoes, hat, and bring extra water)

Friday:

            -IT

            -Swahili

            -Choir

inquiring into teamwork

We are starting a new Program of Inquiry in P1. We are looking into the following central idea: “In a workplace people share responsibility towards a common purpose.” To begin the unit we are looking at our class as a workplace, how we work together and what makes us an effective team of learners.

These first few days of Term 2 had us talking about many things. We've spent a lot of time remembering how we work together and thinking about how we can be successful in learning and working together.

We've been spending a bit of time on some 'challenges'. Our first challenge was called 'Partners Up'. We formed teams of two, sat back to back and worked together to stand. By the end of the challenge we had 15 (out of 15 today)standing and cheering!

 'Balloon Juggle' was a challenge that had students passing a balloon to every one on our team. First they used their hands and found it "...too easy!" The next challenge was to pass the balloon to everyone on our team not using their hands.  

 Our final 'challenge' was to have everyone in our team sitting on the knees of the person behind us. We tried it and...

 ...quickly fell over.

 One student in class suggested we attempt this same challenge with small teams of three people. So, we tried .... 

Welcome Back!

Dear P1 Parents,

Welcome back!

I hope you had a lovely holiday and that this transition back into school goes smoothly for all. 

A few notes:

-          POI: We are starting a new Program of Inquiry. We are looking into the following central idea: “In a workplace people share responsibility towards a common purpose.” We would love for you to help us with our learning.  If you are interested in coming to class and sharing with us the work you do and the responsibilities you have, please let me know.

-          This week in Literacy:

o   Reading: We will be learning about our take home book system. We will also be reviewing the strategies good readers use while reading both familiar and new text.

o   Word study:

Letter review: long and short vowel sounds a , e, i ,o ,u, y

New words of week: (consonant/vowel, vowel/consonant)

be, no, so, go, by, my, or, no, so, up, (she)

Previous words of the week that fit this pattern: he, me, we 

Blends of week: review sh/th/ new: bl, cl,

-          This week in Math: We will be reviewing number combinations to 10 and 15, will continue exploring symmetry and will begin talking about features of clocks.

-          Swimming: Please send your student with both their swimming and PE kits TOMORROW, Tuesday 18/01 as we are unsure whether we will be able to go swimming tomorrow.

-          Homework: We will begin taking books home this week; look for a note with more of an explanation over the next few days. If interested in the poetry homework students took home during Term 1, students are encouraged to continue with that as well.  I will begin sending Math homework/suggestions for additional practice within the next few weeks. The list of online Literacy and Math resources are a great way to reinforce learning we are doing in the classroom.

As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, comments or ideas                                                                                                             

Unit of Inquiry: Like Clockwork

Central Idea:

in a workplace people share responsibility towards a common purpose

Lines of inquiry:

-importance of working as an effective team

-individual roles and responsibility

-how systems are organized

Key Concepts: function, connection, responsibility

Related concepts: cooperation, systems, roles, interdependence, employment

Transdisiplinary:

social, self-management

Learner Profile: communicator, open-minded, principled

Attitudes:

cooperation, tolerance