The students in Division 15 have been working on creating and extending two and three part patterns. They have used unifix cubes, chains and various manipulatives to create patterns. At the same time, they have been asked to look at given patterns and explain what comes next. They are also working on identifying the pattern core (the part that keeps repeating). At the same time, students are learning to translate their patterns and represent them in different ways. For example, is a student creates a red, green, red green pattern, they could represent the pattern using letters. The pattern would be a,b,a,b. They could also represent the same pattern as numbers, which would be 1, 2, 1, 2. You can support your child's learning at home by asking them to identify patterns around them (i.e. on clothes, curtains, wallpaper, etc.) or to create patterns using materials around them. Take a look at some of our Halloween patterns below!
In grade 1 we focus on an in- depth study of numbers up to 20. At the beginning of the year we are focusing on recognizing and printing numbers to 20. To date, we have been focusing on reviewing what each number looks like in number form and in written form (i.e. 1 and one). We have also been working on representing these numbers in various ways. They can represent these numbers in written form, in number form, with manipulatives, using pictures, drawings, ten frames and tallies. Students have also been challenged with writing number sentences to represent various ways to "make" a number. However, we will cover addition and subtraction at a later date.
During the daily calendar routine and in our theme study, Division 15 students have been discussing the seasonal changes they have observed in their immediate environment as the seasons transition from summer to fall. After a group discussion about "how we know that it is fall", students used a writing frame to create their own poems. You can connect their learning to home by identifying additional signs of fall during family activities such as, "I know it is fall because we are seeing a lot of pumpkins now! Do you see any signs of fall today?" We also talk about all of our other senses when we discuss fall, such as the smells of fall, the feel of fall (i.e. it feels colder in the mornings, I can feel rain a lot more etc.) the taste of fall, (Thanksgiving dinner foods!), and the sounds of fall (crunchy leaves, etc). These are only a few of our wonderful poems! Feel free to come in and read the poems at the end of a school day.
The students are bringing home this home reading package the week of September 29th. Please read through the contents (pictured below) and take time to record the books. The students will bring their books back and exchange them every morning. Happy reading! They will also bring home a spelling list. Although the students will not have a spelling test every week, they will practice the words so that they become part of their sight word vocabulary. We hope that the students will use these words at home or look for them in their reading material.
Check here for updates about our learning! In September we will be exploring seasonal changes as summer turns to fall. We will also be using the All About Me theme to learn about ourselves and our classmates.
Division 15 is beginning the year learning about each other and sharing information about themselves. During this unit, students are learning to identify characteristics that make them unique and special. Students are developing a positive self concept as they begin to understand that everyone is different, with different interests and talents. As well, students are being encouraged to identify and share important information about themselves, such as their birthdays, their age, their phone numbers and home address. Students are being encouraged to use their phonetic spelling to write about and share their learning. Come take a look at the wonderful All About Me flags that are decorating the bulletin board outside our classroom! Our Beautiful Self PortraitsThe All About Me theme extended to our art this month as students explored the use of chalk pastels in these creative self portraits. Hidden in each portrait are the letters in each student's name. Can you find the letters? Come take a closer look inside the classroom!
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