1st Grade Learning News
Teacher: Louise Kimball Week 24 2/21/12
E-mail: Louise.Kimball@GreenMountainSchool.us
How Many Tens and How Many Ones
Students have been using groups of tens and ones to show and write a given two digit number. Ask your child to tell you what a digit is and then ask them how many digits are in the number 345. Understanding two-digit numbers as groups of tens and ones is a critical concept to know as children work with greater numbers. Understanding this concept establishes the fundamentals for their future understanding of place-value concepts. Students also learned that numbers can be written in different ways. For example, 37 ones is the same as 3 tens and 7 ones and the same as 30 + 7.
National Dental Health Month
February is National Dental Health Month. Students read a story called “My Bright Smiles” to reinforce good dental hygiene. Dr. Johnson, a dentist from Woodland has graciously accepted the invitation to visit Kindergarten, First and Second grade classrooms on March 2. He will also reinforce good dental hygiene.
Students have a tooth topic to write a story about. They are telling about a time that they lost a tooth…where they were, what happened, how they felt about it. If your child has not lost a tooth yet they pick a friend or a sibling and tell their lost tooth story.
March 2, Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast
Don’t forget, your child will be served green eggs and ham for breakfast on Friday, March 2 in honor or Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America. The breakfast will also include juice and toast.
Separating Solids
Students have been working with small solids called particles. Examples of particles are cornmeal, mung beans, rice, sugar, and salt. Students were able to put the particles in a pile and have them stay in one place. They learned that particles can pour and fill containers like a liquid.
Cornmeal, mung beans, rice, pinto beans and lima beans were mixed together to make a dry “soup mix.” Working with three different sizes of screens, groups of students separated the “soup mix.” This is always a fun but a little messy investigation. Ask your child what size of screen they liked using the best.
Spelling
Since this was a short week, new spelling words were not given.. Next week we will begin a new set. Your efforts in helping your child be successful in spelling really shows! Keep up the great work.
Louise Kimball
First Graders are Number One!