EL Module 2

Dear Family, 

During Unit 1 of this module, your student will generate questions about the sun, moon, and stars and begin to consider how the sun and moon have inspired storytellers. Students examine and read various narrative stories about the sun, moon, and stars, and build skills of retelling role-playing and writing in response to text. By the end of the unit, students will be able to participate in a discussion about the unit guiding question: “Why do authors write about the sun, moon, and stars?” I am writing today to explain what your student will be learning, describe the activities that will support this learning, and suggest how to support this learning at home. 

What will your student be learning? 

Students will begin to study the topic by reading various narrative stories about the sun, moon, and stars and considering how they inspire each story. As students read, they gather and record descriptive language used to describe the appearance and position of the sun and moon, and work to retell key events from each story. The learning will be focused on these ideas: 

• The sun, moon, and stars are always there and affect our lives in different ways. 

• The sun, moon, and stars inspire us and make us imagine. Students will also practice these reading literature skills: 

• Retelling stories, including key details and demonstrating an understanding of their central message or lesson 

• Describing characters, setting, and major events in a story, using key details 

• Identifying words in stories that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses 

What can you do to support your student’s learning at home? 

Throughout the unit, your student will read, think, listen, talk, write, and ask questions about the topic of how the sun, moon, and stars inspire storytellers. Students will participate in these activities, among others, to build their literacy skills: 

• Listening to read-alouds of a variety of texts about the sun, moon, and stars 

• Closely observing and examining pictures of the sun, moon, and stars to generate notices and wonderings 

• Singing songs and engaging in movement routines about the sun and moon 

• Engaging in role-play with peers to act out and retell various parts of stories read aloud 

•  Responding to text through writing and drawing 

What can you do to support your student’s learning at home? 

Students will begin to study the topic by reading various narrative stories about the sun, moon, and stars and considering how they inspire each story. As students read, they gather and record descriptive language used to describe the appearance and position of the sun and moon, and work to retell key events from each story. The learning will be focused on these ideas: 

• The sun, moon, and stars are always there and affect our lives in different ways. 

• The sun, moon, and stars inspire us and make us imagine. 

Students will also practice these reading literature skills: 

• Retelling stories, including key details and demonstrating an understanding of their central message or lesson 

• Describing characters, setting, and major events in a story, using key details 

• Identifying words in stories that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses 

How will your student be learning? 

Throughout the unit, your student will read, think, listen, talk, write, and ask questions about the topic of how the sun, moon, and stars inspire storytellers. Students will participate in these activities, among others, to build their literacy skills: 

• Listening to read-alouds of a variety of texts about the sun, moon, and stars 

• Closely observing and examining pictures of the sun, moon, and stars to generate notices and wonderings 

• Singing songs and engaging in movement routines about the sun and moon 

• Engaging in role-play with peers to act out and retell various parts of stories read aloud 

• Responding to text through writing and drawing 

What can you do to support your student’s learning at home? 

Here are a few activities that you can do at home with your student to support his or her learning: 

• Ask your student to talk with you about this question: Why do authors write about the sun, moon, and stars?

• Read books and sing songs about the sun, moon, and stars from home or at the library.

• Observe the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day and discuss their appearance and position in the sky. 

•  Encourage your student to read to you every night.

• Practice reading and spelling regularly the Letterland weekly unit. 

  • Focus on the weekly patterns.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss your student’s learning. 

Sincerely, 

The First Grade Team

Dear Family, 

During Unit 2 of this module, your student will dive deeper into the study of the sun, moon, and stars as the class transitions from their reading of narrative texts to reading informational texts. By the end of the module, students will be able to participate in a discussion around the unit’s guiding question: “What patterns can we observe in the sky?” I am writing today to explain what your student will be learning, describe the activities that will support this learning, and suggest how to support this learning at home. 

What will your student be learning? 

Through a combination of read-alouds, hands on experiences, authentic writing tasks, and small group discussions, students take on the role of astronomers. The learning will be focused on these ideas: 

• The sun and moon appear in different places in the sky during different times of day and year; stars are visible during the night, but not during the day. 

• The pattern of motion of objects in the sky can be described and predicted. 

Students will also practice these language skills: 

• Using frequently occurring adjectives and prepositions 

Students will also practice these speaking and listening skills: 

• Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions while building on others’ talk in conversations by responding to the comments of others through multiple exchanges 

How will your student be learning? 

Throughout the unit, your student will read, think, listen, talk, write, and ask questions about the topic of the patterns we see in the sky. Students will participate in these activities, among others, to build their literacy skills: 

• Listening to read-alouds of informative texts about different patterns that we can observe in the sky 

• Reciting poems about the sun, moon, and stars to learn about adjectives and prepositions

• Engaging in hands-on science demonstrations and activities to make the learning come to life 

• Participating in Science Talks, using student-created notes as evidence for their discussion 

• Participating in shared and independent writing practices to describe the appearance and location of the sun and moon 

What can you do to support your student at home? 

Here are a few activities that you can do at home with your student to support his or her learning: 

• Ask your student to talk with you about this question: What patterns can we observe in the sky? 

• Read books and sing songs that describe the patterns of the sun, moon, and stars. 

• Work with your student to re-create science experiments from class at home and discuss what is happening and why. 

• Encourage your student to read to you every night.

• Practice reading and spelling regularly the Letterland weekly unit. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss your student’s learning. 

Sincerely, 

The First Grade Team

Dear Family, 

During Unit 3 of this module, your student will continue to observe and describe the sun and moon at various positions in the sky throughout the day. By the end of the module, students will use their observations and their knowledge of the sun and moon to create narrative poem. I am writing today to explain what your student will be learning, describe the activities that will support this learning, and suggest how to support this learning at home. 

What will your student be learning? 

In this unit, students will conclude a module study that has been ongoing for the past several weeks. This unit specifically focuses on describing both the sun and moon, their position in the sky, and what the sun and moon “see” during various time of day when they are visible in the sky. Your student’s learning will focus on the following area:

• Writers can use their knowledge and observations of the sun and moon to write a narrative poem. 

Students will also practice these writing skills: 

• Writing a narrative poem that includes sequenced and detailed events, temporal words, and use of details to provide some sense of closure. 

How will your student be learning? 

Throughout the unit, your student will read, think, listen, talk, write, and ask questions about the topic of what the moon and sun “see” while in the sky. Students will participate in these activities, among others, to build their literacy skills: 

• Closely observing and examining pictures of the sun and moon to generate noticings of what the sun and moon “see” in the sky 

• Singing songs and engaging in movement routines about the sun and moon 

• Engaging in role-play with peers to aid in the planning process of writing 

• Participating in shared and independent writing practices to craft a narrative poem about the sun and moon 

• Giving and receiving kind, specific, and helpful feedback regarding their narrative poems 

What can you do to support your student at home?

Here are a few activities that you can do at home with your student to support his or her learning: 

• Ask your student to talk with you about this question: How do writers use their knowledge and observations to write a story? 

• Continue to read books and sing songs about the sun, moon, and stars from home or at the library. 

• Observe the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day and discuss what each “sees” at this time of day. 

• Encourage your student to read to you every night.

• Practice reading and spelling regularly in the Letterland weekly unit. 

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss your student’s learning. 

Sincerely, 

The First Grade Team