Fire Prevention Day

The Shelburne Fire Department visited our school to teach us about fire prevention this week.  They talked to us about ways we can keep ourselves safe in a fire and the difference between tools and toys.  We practiced crawling through a smoke house and "Stop, Drop and Roll".  We also had fun learning about their fire truck and had an opportunity to climb in the back seat of the truck.  It was a great morning of learning for us.
We began our first Science Units this week.  During this time all the Firefly classes have been blended together and regrouped.  We will be studying three units this year.  Mrs. KillKelley is teaching a unit called A Work in Process:   Improving a Play Dough Process.  Students will learn about solids, liquids and Chemical Engineering through this unit.  During Mrs. Nakhleh's unit, students will be learning about changes in the earth and Materials Engineering by using the engineering process to build walls.  Miss Blair will be teaching a plant unit that will teach students about Agricultural Engineering and give them the opportunity to use the engineering process to create bee pollinators.  We will be switching units about every 12 weeks this year.
We continued to learn about what good readers and writers do during Literacy this week.  We have been working toward using more writing in our stories and "fancying" up our writing so we can publish our work.  We have been talking a lot about story elements during reading and started reading groups this week.  We have been focusing on what it looks like and sounds like to be in a reading group.  In Fundations, we have begun to practice spelling CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant) words.  We are practicing these words by tapping out the sounds we hear with our fingers, then writing them.
Math continues to be focused on decomposing and recomposing numbers to 20.  We have been using number racks, tens frames, tally marks and other models to show numbers in different ways and find different ways to make numbers.  The Habits of Mind and Interaction we are working hard on right now are "Justifying Our Thinking" and "Listening to Understand".  We are practicing "revoicing" our partners ideas to make sure we are focused on these to habits. 
Monday is picture day!  Please check this week's Friday Folder for the picture paperwork your child needs to bring back to school on Monday.  Wednesday is Hands On Nature day.  We will probably be going outside for part of this lesson, so make sure your child comes to school prepared to do so. 
It was nice to see so many families at Curriculum Night!  If you were unable to attend, there is a Curriculum Packet in this week's Friday Folder that includes any curriculum information you need to know about first grade.
Have a terrific weekend!
:)Deb