Today we decided to have an Election in our classroom.  We had three candidates, Spot the Dog, Scaredy Squirrel and Spike the Hedgehog.  The children loved hearing their political platform and discussed who would be best for our classroom.  The children voted and then even got to visit a real voting station in the school. The results are in, Scaredy Squirrel has won this years election!

Grade One Authors!

Here are a few samples of the work being created in class during "Learning Centres".  You will notice that some of the writing is hard to read because the students are just learning how to stretch-out their words and write down the letters that represent the sound.  Please look at each pieces as our starting place for writing.  I hope you see the efforts being made and the amazing ideas being put down on paper. I am "wowed" that the children are choosing to write.  I am very proud of them!

Is your lunch bag ready? It's waste-free lunch week. Are you up for the challenge? For more info http://www.wastefreelunch.com

Many of our students were curious about the human body. After a short discussion, I asked the children if they would be interested in having a "Human Body Inquiry".  With the help of the children we gathered books and collected varies items from around the school.   After a few days of exploration (students discussed their observations), students were encouraged to write down some of their wonders and their findings.                                                                                   

We are learning about the 5 senses and the human skeleton. We are learning about our brain.  We are learning about the ear. We got to touch what the brain feels like.  We are learning about our bodies. 

Thanksgiving Celebration

Our Thanksgiving Celebration

Creating our placemats.

We had fun celebrating with all our Grade One friends.  Here are the children's thought on the special celebration.  We sang song about being thankful. (Hayden)We had so much fun! (Leona ) My favourite part was being with the Grade Ones. (Abbey) I liked eating the fruit salad that we made. (Kaitie) We opened the wall to make one big classroom. (Avery)

We made our own placemats.

 

Eating our fruit salad.

Sitting with our friends.

Our fruit salad was yummy!!!

Yesterday your child received their first list of Word Wall Words.  Our words wall is a list of sight words that Grade One's frequently use in their writing.  These words are introduced at the rate of 5 per week.  (If it's a short week like this week, we have the same words for two weeks) 

Some Activities to Do At Home

• Use each word in a sentence
• Find rhyming words
• Create flashcards with the words
• cut out words using magazine letters
• Create a memory game by writing each word twice

Have Fun!

 Wonder, Explore and Discover 

Last Friday the students decided to take their inquiry outside.  We packed up our ipads and grabbed some bags to collect items and off we went to the park.  The children had so much fun taking pictures of insects, flowers and other living things.  They also collected some very interesting things to bring back to our science centre. The students were looking for signs of the season changing, however they took this opportunity to explore many other living things.  I was amazed to watch them work together to investigate their surrounding. 

Here are their thoughts on the inquiry walk

(We took a picture of a wasp- Katie & Avery, We found burs- Elliot & Christian, We found a sunflower- Abbey & Zoe, We watched a ladybug-Hayden, Nico & Chase, We saw a caterpillar in a tree eating a leaf (it was really cool!) - Isabella S. & Isabella B

Here are a few snapshots into their learning!

Today was our first gallery walk.  The children walked around the room reading each others interviews. They really enjoyed this process and we decided that we will have a gallery walk at the end of each month.

 Homework calendars went home yesterday.  Please keep them at home and send them back to school to be checked on October 30.  Have Fun!!!