Not even a full moon on Friday the 13th can't keep us from having fun in First Grade! On Friday afternoons we have time to buddy up with our first grade neighbors for a FUN curriculum related activity. Today we heard Mrs. Drummond read a story about the young Wilbur and Orville Wright and their first flight. We talked about the character traits that make them Amazing Americans---their bravery, curiosity, and perseverance. Everyone had a chance to illustrate their favorite part of the story with a partner from the other class. Then we heard clues to help us label a diagram---the eight parts of a modern day airplane. What a way to celebrate our first full week of school! Have a great weekend!
Our first term science unit Air and Weather was launched this week with an exploration into what scientists do. The class came up with a lot of great ideas so we could create a word bank on the smart board. Next, each first grader got to make their first journal entry. Stay tuned!
There is something to love about the back to school calendar that allows us to ease back into the hustle and bustle of it all. We've been busy getting to know each other, the school, and the routines. Rest up this weekend---we'll be back at it on Tuesday!
Even after one of the best Marblehead summers it only takes me about sixty seconds of that first day excitement to put me back into my school year zen. Even as a kid I've always LOVED the new beginning that each new school year promised... new folders, new crayons, new sneakers. Crisp cool mornings and warm sunshine filled afternoons. Most of all, each fall marked a new opportunity to learn and grow. Getting to meet these kiddos over the past two days has left me with that same touch of childhood nostalgia. Could you just feel the energy bursting from these twenty new first graders this morning? The next few weeks will be a magical transformation of twenty little individuals to one supportive community of learners and I couldn't be more excited to start our first grade journey together.
There are many things that make our little school special. I often find them hard to articulate. The CGS "special" is best felt and experienced... especially on a day like today when we show our children how to honor our veterans. We were lucky for to have our former custodian, Jim Shay, return once again as emcee of our early morning ceremony. On the Friday before the holiday, our entire school community joins around the flagpole to pay tribute to those who have bravely served our country. Any Coffin students having a mom or dad veteran were selected to stand in the "color guard" as several spoke about the significance of the holiday. (Look for our own Jamison and his dad! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE PAT!) When you check out the photo gallery, can't you just feel the pride in our young patriots?
Or... "Special Project" as we call it on our schedule is a special time we all look forward to on Fridays. Our project connects to the curriculum and often involves a multi-sensory activity to solidify or celebrate learning. For example, the week we read about the "Amazing Americans" the Wright Brothers, we made our own paper air-planes following steps on a YouTube video and then launched them across the classroom. The week we went to the apple orchard we cut open an apple for further study and made applesauce in the classroom. This experience served us well in a later Writer's Workshop assignment when we wrote "How-to Make Applesauce." Sometimes we "buddy up" during special project. Last week we invited the first graders from Mrs. Drummond's class next door to hear a story "Dr. Pompo's Nose" and we made our own unique collage Jack-O-Lanterns. Next Friday don't forget to ask your Firstie---What was your Special Project???
After a long weekend off we jumped right back into school with a field trip to Russell Orchard. We learned all kinds of fun facts about the life cycle of an apple tree and how to make apple cider. We got to see an old fashioned press and a modern cider press in action. Before we boarded the tractor with our driver "Mr. Pickles" we visited Darryl the very large (one TON) pig. Everyone had fun choosing the perfect apples to fill a bag of "Macoun" apples to take home. We enjoyed a snack of fresh apple cider and warm apple cider donuts. Yum!
Our "Knock at the Door" mystery reader program is up and running! Have you signed up for your turn to surprise us yet? We hope to see you a Friday afternoon coming up soon! (See the sign-up link on the curriculum page).
One of my favorite back to school/community building activities is a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) challenge where small groups must work cooperatively to save "Fred." Fred is a friendly gummy worm who fell out of his boat and is positioned precariously far away from his life preserver... oh and instead of using hands to touch the materials, only paperclips are allowed! EVERY group figured it out and was successful --- what great teamwork. (PS, no candy was consumed during this activity... First grade scientists never taste their "tools" --- no matter how delicious they look)
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