First Grade Newsletter and Pics 1/24/25

 Hi! We made it through all of the gas giants in our solar system! We made a picture of ourselves on the moon looking out into space. We painted with watercolors for the objects we saw. We used regular paint for the moon. We took a bouncy ball to use as an asteroid hitting our moon to make craters! We then wrote astronaut shaped stories to go with them. This gave us the perfect opportunity to learn to use commas correctly when writing if  sentences. (If I were an astronaut, I would...) 

We worked on place value in math. We even threw in some regrouping in addition. We learned two ways to solve the problems. The first is the traditional way you probably learned in school where you carry the one. I remind them that they can't have two digits in one column so the one will have to go in the tens. I then show them how it still looks like the two digit number but diagonally. The second way is to count the tens, count the ones and then add. For example, 15 + 17 is the same as 20 + 12. This way they can say 12 and count up two tens. This is a second grade skill so don't worry if it is hard. We also started writing number scrolls. Ask your child how far s/he got on theirs!

Reminder, your child can leave sneakers here in their locker if they don't want to carry them back and forth to school. Wearing boots all day can be very uncomfortable if they forget them. You can also leave snow pants and extra mittens. Don't forget to label everything. 

UPCOMING DATES

* Friday, January 24th - Mid Trimester Reports come home.

* Thursday, January 29th - Whole School to UMaine Collins Center to see Yamato Drummers.  

* Friday, February 7th - 100th Day (if there isn't a snow day) - Dress like you think the style will be in 100 years OR dress like you are 100. You're choice. I'm looking for some donations of Hershey kisses and Red Solo cups for special activities this day. Email me if you are willing to donate. I need 100 of each on or before Wednesday, Feb. 6th.

* Friday, February 14th - Valentine's Day - I will send out a class list next week along with what we need for our party. This day also starts our February break.

Happy Weekend!