Playing Is Learning

Each day, part of our day is spent exploring the math materials...sorting and organizing and talking or exploring alone.  Play is the work of young people.  They learn to negotiate and share.  They learn to take turns and delay gratification.  They learn to use their imagination.  All of these skills are needed in school and life.  Here are some pictures of your children doing the work of children...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Legend of the Poinsettia

Today we read The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola.  This story takes place in Mexico and tells the story of the Poinsettia at Christmas.  A young girl finds she doesn't have any gifts to give at Christmas.  An old woman appears and tells her that anything given is a gift.  The young girl gives some pretty green weeds which suddenly, and miraculously, bloom into beautiful red flowers.  And so this is how the Poinsettia has become a popular Christmas plant...or so it is said.  Here are some of the lovely poinsettia flowers made in our classroom today!

Latkes and Menorahs

Yesterday we learned a little bit about the Jewish holiday Hanukkah and each child made a beautiful menorah.  Actually, we started them yesterday and finished today.  I read them a poem that explains why Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah and that it isn't just a Jewish Christmas!  The class was interested in the story of Hanukkah and how they had to defeat the King of Syria because he wouldn't let them pray the way they wanted.  It didn't take long for them to notice that the King of Syria was a little bit like the King of England from the Pilgrim story.  Today we made potato latkes.  Your children peeled and grated potatoes and some even helped to chop onion into very small little pieces!  We mixed the egg, flour, potato and onion together and then I did the frying.  As much as I like to cook with children, hot oil makes me a little nervous!  I served them with a dill pickle and they loved the latkes!  Check out these awesome menorahs and my helpful little chefs!

 

 

 

Russian Stars

Today we read the book Uncle Vova's Tree by Patricia Polacco.  It's a touching story of a family whose roots are Russia.  Uncle Vova and Aunt Svetlana incorporate their Russian traditions into the mid-western celebration of Christmas.  Each year Uncle Vova and the children make traditional paper stars to decorate the tree outside along with popcorn and cranberries for the animals.  After reading the book and looking at Russia on the globe, each child began working on their very own paper star.  Aren't they beautiful?

 

 

Saying Goodbye to Miss Hartman

Today was a happy and sad day in our classroom!  We said goodbye to Miss Hartman.  Last week they made cards for Miss Hartman that were precious!  They wrote things like, "I'll never forget you" and "You mean so much to me."  I bought her a teacher bag with her name on it, but we all signed it so we'll go with her to any job she has as a teacher.  Then we had ice cream sandwiches while she read each and every card.  She loved all of the books inside that she can read to her own students one day! Thank you for sending in books to share!  At the end, she gave each child a goody bag filled with fun toys.  We will all miss her terribly!!!

Hour of Code

This week children all over the world are celebrating Computer Science Education Week.  Today our technology educator, Miss Wilson, visited our classroom with a class set of iPads.  Before she arrived I explained to the class that humans create and write the games they like to play on computers and phones.  I shared that they use a special language, like a code, to tell the computers what to do.  Then I told them we were expecting a guest to help us learn to write this code for computers.  When Miss Wilson arrived, she taught the class a little bit about coding and then introduced the app, Kodable.  It's a fun program for children ages 4-10 and we used the free version.  If you're interested, there is a parent version.  You can click here to go to the site.  Several, if not all, children completed the free levels.  It's quite engaging and I enjoyed playing, too.  Ask your child if he/she liked Kodable and you can try out the free version.  Take a look at these future programmers:

Sinterklaas Arrives!

Today was a very exciting day in first grade!  In our study of customs and traditions elsewhere in the world, we learned about how the children in the Netherlands put out their shoes in hopes that Sinterklaas will bring treats.  Although this is not a class of Dutch children, we put out (paper) shoes last night in the hopes that Sinterklaas would bring treats!  And he did!  Here are some of the shoes that children designed:

They each received a few treats from Sinterklaas.  I reminded them that since they aren't in the Netherlands, Sinterklaas will not be arriving this time next year to bring them treats!  Miss Hartman and I got treats, too!  We all love Sinterklaas!

Welcome to Our Restaurant!

As part of our Community Helper unit, today we learned about the work that restaurant workers do for us.  Each child spent some time "working" as a waitress or waiter and a chef.  As wait staff they each set a table...

 ...then seated their guests and offered a menu...

...took the guest's order...

 ...and then brought the order to the "kitchen".  In our kitchen our chefs prepared the food (with clean hands!)...

 ...and then the wait staff served each guest! 

Each guest enjoyed their delicious fruit cup!  And of course the price was right!