OWNCS ES May PYP Newsletter

First grade marches into spring!

Ms. Young and Ms. Godinez, Ms. Ferguson and Ms. Bo, Ms. Jahangir and Ms. Litt.

March was filled with exciting new math skills that are essential in everyday life! Students learned to tell time by understanding the hour and minute hands on a clock. To reinforce this skill, they created their own Time Garden, where each flower represented a different time of the day. In this hands-on activity, students designed colorful flowers with a clock at the center, carefully drawing the hour and minute hands to show a specific time. This creative approach made learning to tell time both fun and engaging.

Additionally, students explored money by identifying and counting different coins, including pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters. They practiced recognizing each coin’s value and learned how to add them together. Through interactive activities like sorting coins, students became more confident in handling money. By studying the size, color, and features of each coin, they developed a solid understanding of counting money practically and enjoyably.

Students counting coins by recognizing size, color, and other distinguishing features.

1-209 Colorful Time Garden, where each flower represented a different time of the day

Students proudly hosted their IB unit Sharing the Planet showcase, presenting research on various animals and their habitats. They studied their chosen animals’ characteristics, diets, environments, and adaptations. To bring their research to life, they crafted detailed clay models, carefully shaping and painting them. During the event, students shared their knowledge with teachers and peers, developing research, creativity, and public speaking skills while deepening their appreciation for nature. By staying focused, putting in effort, and following through on their tasks, students demonstrated the pillar of the month Self-Discipline.

Students presented their animal projects to their peers and enjoyed creating them out of clay

First graders had the opportunity to visit the American Museum of Natural History, where they explored a diverse range of animals and their habitats. During their visit, they engaged with interactive exhibits, observed life sized animal displays, and learned about different ecosystems and the ways animals adapt to their environments.

Students observing a life sized bear and exploring the interactive exhibit "Invisible Worlds"

On March 17th, we celebrated St. Patrick's Day creating leprechaun traps. a mischievous leprechaun visited their classroom leaving a big mess behind. The students were excited to see the evidence of the leprechaun's visit and had fun discovering what he had done!