May 2022

Week 36: May 23rd-27th, 2022

Math: This week we worked on measurement, review, and finished with an assessment. We were provided a bag of small classroom materials and asked to choose an object to compare the length of two other objects indirectly. Throughout the lesson, we made our own choices about what objects to use and how to use them to compare two other objects. As a class, we compared and discussed our reasonings for choosing the objects. We also took a break from measurement to review multi-digit addition during center games. Our next measurement challenge was to use connecting cube towers to measure the length of different insects. We were asked to build towers that were exactly the same length as the insects and make a comparison statement (“The grasshopper is the same length as a tower of 7 cubes”). Next, we used connecting cube towers to measure the length of more insects and described the length as “___ cubes long.” Finally, we solved story problems about measurement. We revisited familiar Put Together Result Unknown, Take Apart Result Unknown, and Compare Difference Unknown story problems in measurement contexts. We ended the week with a an End of Year Assessment, which demonstrated the amazing growth in First Grade!

Language Arts: This week we wrapped up our units and discussed characters, and how the character's feelings change, and the authors intent with describing these feelings or characters in a particular way. We read the book, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter and compared Peter Rabbit to our favorite mischievous squirrel, Squirrel Nutkin. We thought about how Peter Rabbit started out being proud and confident and ended the story feeling sick and much less confident. We thought about Beatrix Potter and discussed how she loved to observe animals, draw them, and eventually write stories about them. We realized that maybe her intent was to teach us about how busy and curious these animals are, but also how we can also love their character. We also finished The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes. We talked about Billy's character and how we can also look at the characters around Billy to notice more about him. We used our descriptor words to describe Billy to help us finish our own self-portrait poems in writing workshop. We also got to write a story about a bunny if we finished our poems. It was a busy last week!

Integrated Unit: We finished our squirrel proof bird feeder and then continued our exploration of rabbits and read the book, Rabbits, Rabbits, and More Rabbits by Gail Gibbons and watched some informational shows about rabbits. We were then challenged to build a rabbit proof garden fence as we thought about Mr. McGregor and Peter Rabbit. We used Legos and other blocks in the classroom to build our creations.

Last Show-And-Tell of the Year

Lego Club: We worked read the book, Everything You Need to Build a Treehouse by Emily Hughes and then were challenged to build our own treehouses! We had fun thinking about our wildest dreams of summer days, but also mourned the fact that it was our last Lego Club of the year!

Week 35: May 16th-20th, 2022

Math: This week we practiced explaining methods for adding two-digit numbers based on place value and the properties of operations. In one activity, we were invited to choose any method that made sense to us to add within 100 and explain our methods to each other. In another activity, we used what we learned about place value and methods for adding and created expressions that met different constraints. We finished up unit 5 and took the unit assessment and enjoyed starting our next unit of measurement exploration. We were asked to compare the length of objects and consider how we know which is longer or shorter. Then, we ordered three objects by length. Previously, we ordered three objects by length by lining them up at their endpoints. We used complete sentences to describe the relative length of objects. The purpose of this lesson was for us to compare the length of two objects indirectly by comparing them with the length of a third object. Indirect comparison allows us to compare the length of objects that are difficult to compare by lining them up. The ideas in this lesson lead to the understanding that iterated length units can be used to measure and compare the length of objects providing us with the language to communicate our understanding.

Language Arts: We are perfecting our read aloud voices and have become audiobook reading stars! Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad was our inspiration. We listened to Lobel reading his book and noticed all the beautiful ways he shared his stories with the world and then modeled our own reading after his. We also noticed the punctuation in stories because authors use punctuation to tell the reader how to make the reading sound! We then practiced alone, with partners, and in groups. Finally, we recorded our reading in Seesaw. In writing, we continued our work on our self portrait poems. We read poems from bell hooks in her book, Skin Again and some poems from the anthology, Arrow Book of Poetry. We noticed how these poets shared their thoughts using rhythm, showing but not telling feelings, and sometimes shared thoughts that made us think! We also had some time to write outside for the inspiration of fresh air for fresh ideas.

Integrated Unit: We are continuing our squirrel proof bird feeders. We watched videos of squirrels working their way into feeders and also watched some problem solving videos. We read The Busy Little Squirrel by Nancy Tafuri and enjoyed enjoyed some more visiting puppets.

P.E. Relays!

Recess and Fun!

Week 34: May 9th-13th, 2022

Math: This week we learned another version of Target Numbers to incorporate adding two digit numbers within 100. We also had the opportunity to work with numbers up to 100 in the context of story problems. We learned to add 2 two-digit numbers in any way that makes sense to us. We applied methods learned in previous lessons, including methods based on making a new ten or adding tens and tens and ones and ones. This method is important because it sets students up to add multi-digit numbers in later grades. We also applied what we learned about the commutative and associative properties to see that it doesn’t matter if we add tens and tens first or ones and ones first. Finally, we were asked to represent our understanding of these chosen methods to the class in groups of four. This supported team work, number flexibility, and explaining our thinking!

Language Arts: We read the book The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter to start our week, and answered comprehension questions that supported opinion and inferencing. This book made us laugh and wonder about riddles and poems and rhythms we hear. It supported thinking about the nature of squirrels and we talked about how Beatrix Potter spent many moments of her day observing these creatures which allowed her to write stories to fit the characteristics of these particular critters. We practiced more reading strategies thinking about ways to understand new words by replacing them with synonyms. We read outside and enjoyed the weather while practicing. In writing we started a new project: Self Portrait Poems. We read the book, The Best Part of Me by Wendy Ewald which is an anthology of poems written by young students.

Integrated Unit: We started a new unit this week on squirrels! After reading Those Darn Squirrels by Adam Rubin, we were challenged to create a squirrel-proof bird feeder. We had to think about our bird beaks, what types of food we would be using, what squirrels like to eat and what they might not like, and we noticed how intelligent squirrels can be!

Palio, Recess, and Fun

Week 33: May 2nd-6th, 2022

Math: We started the week with adding a one-digit number to a two-digit number in a way that makes sense to us. We explained our own methods and connected different methods. We noticed the value of the sum has more tens than the two-digit addend and connected this to methods that explicitly showed composing a new unit of ten from 10 ones. In one activity we used 10-frame diagrams to support the determination of the quantity of ones that can be added to a two-digit number to get to the next multiple of 10. Much like we did when looking to make a ten when adding within 20, we considered decomposing a one-digit number in such a way that we could combine one part with the two-digit number to make a multiple of 10. Next, we compared different representations of this method, including those using connecting cubes and base-ten drawings. These representations helped us use our understanding of place value to see that when adding ones to ones, we can sometimes make a new unit of ten. This is a conceptual jump for us from understanding that we can count to a “10” (or the next ten) to understanding that they can create a new unit of ten from 10 ones. In another lesson, we considered when a new ten would be composed before we found the value of a sum. When we recognized that we can compose a new unit of ten whenever the ones digits make 10 or more ones, we looked for and made sense of the base-ten structure of numbers.

Language Arts: We are continuing to read The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes and practicing our reading strategies, thinking about the characters and inferencing. We worked on our bird beak research, took some assessments and worked on noticing the quotation marks to understand who is talking in our book. We also continued working on poems and learned to incorporate big feelings because published poets write about things they care about. It was a great week!

Integrated Unit: Many have finished their bird beaks, but some need some extra time to put the final touches together. We will start our next unit next week!

Field Trip, Lego Club, Fourth Grade Ecosystem Presentations, and Nature Walk! We had a super busy week with lots of fun events. The field trip to the Art Institute organized by our wonderful teachers, Ms. Lorenz and Madame Courtial was a success and something the first graders will talk about for days! In Lego Club we looked at sculptors and then we were challenged to create our own sculptures!

Week 32: April 25th-29th, 2022

Math: We finished unit 4 with an assessment and have moved on to unit 5! The unit began with asking us how two-digit numbers change when they add only ones or only tens. For example, in 24 + 3 = 27 we noticed that the digit in the ones place changes when 3 is added to 24, while the digit in the tens place does not. In 24 + 30 = 54, we noticed that the digit in the tens place changes, when 30 is added to 24 while the digit in the ones place does not. We were invited to add 2 two-digit numbers that were not multiples of 10 in ways that made sense to us. We explained our own methods, interpreted others' methods, and connected different methods . We noticed different ways to make use of the base-ten system to count on or add by place. One lesson proposed that we add two-digit numbers using methods of our choice and write equations to match our thinking. We interpreted and compared different methods for finding the value of the same sums. We practiced explaining our methods and listened to others' methods. We had opportunities to revise how we explained our own and others' methods and considered how representations of our thinking (for example, drawings or equations) could help us explain our work.

Language Arts: In reading workshop we continued practicing understanding the plot in our stories. We can do this by checking in with ourselves and partners and ask, "what has happened so far?" We also practiced this by making a movie in our mind to fill in the parts that aren't explicitly explained. In other words, we are learning the art of inferencing. This can be a challenging skill to learn and takes lots of practice! We finished the week with our literature circles which another way to practice these new skills with other readers. We also started to read an incredible story, The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes. This book brings up a lot of emotion about starting second grade. In writing, we continued our work with poetry and learned more about adding big feelings to our small moments. We already have music, looking at objects in fresh new ways, and now we have big feelings. We will continue our feelings in poetry next week!

Integrated Units: We finished our nests and they are on display in the hallway. Please take some time to look at our work! Bird beaks are our next focus and require a lot of problem solving, research, and time. We have studied the vast variety of beaks and their purpose and are now tasked with building our own beaks and share what they are designed to eat and do!

Stand Against Racism: This week we stood on Ridge Avenue to support the anti-racist movement. We have been reading books and having discussions about racism, about what it means to live in a respectful and peaceful world. We shared that it is our responsibility to understand privilege and use our privilege to support ant-racism by demonstrating kindness everyday.

Show-and-Tell and Recess