Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Hayden


This is Hayden!  He is our Student of the Week this week!  Hayden loves to eat omelettes with cheese.  His very favorite spot is soccer.  Hayden loves to read 'Star Wars'.  He has two pets;  a dog named Oliver and a cat named Midnight.  When Hayden grows up, he wants to be a professional soccer player.  He loves to watch Thundermans on television.  If Hayden could pick anyplace to visit, he would go to Florida.  His very favorite color is RED.   Hayden is special because there is no one else like him, but the VERY BEST THING about him is that he gives GREAT HUGS!  (I would know... he gives them to me often!)

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Madison


Here is Madison!  She is the Student of the Week!  Her favorite color is BLUE. She would love to visit Great Wolf Lodge with her family.  Madison likes to watch 'Crashlets' on television.  When she grows up, Madison would like to be a vet to help animals.  She has two cats and a dog!  Madison likes to read 'Flat Stanley' at home.  She likes to play soccer.  Madison's very favorite food is spaghetti!  She is special because she loves her parents, and the VERY BEST thing about Madison is that she loves Jesus!

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Catching up!

It's time send out an update of a few items that went on in our classroom in the past two weeks!  Last week, on the day before Thanksgiving, we were treated to another fantastic cupcake creation from Trisha Schlipp, Zavier's mom!  The kids were SO VERY EXCITED to see what she came up with, and were even more happy to eat them!  Thank you so much for making our holidays extra fun Mrs. Schlipp!  We appreciate your efforts so much!

Zavier is so proud and excited to share his treat with his classmates!

  
This turkey is ALMOST too cute to eat!


Last week we also began our work with math fact fluency.  The goal is for first graders to know their addition and subtraction facts to/from 10 by June.  Our math series does a great job teaching many different strategies to help kids with their facts, but sometimes it takes a little extra effort.  So we began 'Bubblegum Math' in class.  Flashcards for math fact strategies, beginning with the easiest strategy, will come home weekly.  Each Wednesday the kids will be given a 1-minute written timing on the same facts.  12+ correct facts in one minute = a gumball sticker on the bulletin board for that strategy as well as a REAL gumball!  If less than 12 facts are known, the same set of flash cards will be sent home to continue practicing until the following week.  This is a great way for kids to move up at their own pace.  Of course, reviewing the flashcards each day with your child will also help him/her move ahead quicker.  There are 12 sets of flash cards to pass by June, but those who are able can work on extension strategies (up to set 19!)  Wouldn't it be neat to see a gumball machine on the bulletin board with 19 gumballs in it???   The kids are excited to try to reach their goal!



This week we had so much fun in Social Studies!  We've been learning about Christmas traditions, and have made some beautiful creations for our classroom!  We began by making three different ornaments for our tree.  First, we traced our hand, turned it around, and made it into a Santa face!



 Next, we used math to create an ornament.  Using pattern blocks, we discovered that 2 green triangles fit on a blue diamond.  3 green triangles fit on a red trapezoid.  And 6 green triangles fit on a yellow hexagon.  SO... we assigned numbers to the shapes:  green triangles (1), blue diamonds (2), red trapezoids (3), and yellow hexagons (6).  So the kids created a design using paper pattern blocks and then, on the back, wrote out a matching equation.

On the back of this one:  6+2+2+2+2+2+2+1+1+1+1+1+1=24

Finally, we created angels after decorating the robe/wings. 



Here is our finished tree after all three ornaments were made (although we placed a few on our other plants in the classroom):


Another fun activity this week involved reading MANY different 'Gingerbread Man' stories!  We compared and contrasted the different versions and did a little writing project about where we thought the Gingerbread Man was running!  Many creative ideas were given (Candyland, Gingerbread World, chocolate river and many more)!  We then decorated our own gingerbread man to staple at the top and display on the bulletin board.



We also read a book called "The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy" this week.  The story is about a puppy who wanted a boy for Christmas.  He searched everywhere for a boy, even asking several dogs with boys if they would give up their boy.  Finally, he found a Home for Boys, and joined them, giving Petey 50 boys for Christmas!  It was a heart-warming story.  The kids then wrote on paper ornaments about one very special thing that THEY would like for Christmas.  Our bulletin board looks cute!

 
A fun project we completed was our "Curly Santa"!  I showed the kids how to create spiral curls for the beard by cutting a circle in a spiral motion until they reach the middle of the circle.  They had fun making his beard and the hallway looks spectacular!




Finally, we made wreaths to hang from our ceiling.  As of this posting, only the green holly is cut out, but we will complete our wreaths on Friday afternoon!  The photo below is an example of what they will look like!

 
Well, as you can see, we've been very, very busy the past couple of weeks!  We love to use our small muscles to improve our fine motor skills with cutting, coloring writing and gluing!  Our classroom and hallway is filled with the holiday spirit! 

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Taber


This is Taber.  He is our Student of the Week!  Taber loves to eat ice cream (blueberry flavored).  He likes to play and watch soccer the best.  Taber has a favorite book called "Lego... Catch That Crook!"  He has many pets at home:  a horse, three dogs, lots of chickens and three bunnies.  When he grows up, Taber would like to be a builder and build homes for people.  On television, Taber likes to watch "Star Wars Clone Wars".  He likes to visit the beach in the summer.  Taber loves the color BLUE.  Taber is special because he gives great hugs, but the VERY BEST THING about Taber is the fact that he LOVES to fish!

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Lilly


This is Lilly!  She is our Student of the Week!  Lilly's favorite color is PURPLE.   She loves to play soccer.  Lilly has a lot of pets:  dogs, cats, birds and chickens!  Her favorite show to watch is called Strange Magic.  Lilly would love to visit Disney World someday.  She loves to eat grapes after she peels all the skin off with her teeth first!  Lilly's favorite book is called "The B Book".  When she grows up, Lilly would like to be a singer.  She is special because she has a lot of friends, but the VERY BEST THING about Lilly is the fact that she gives GREAT hugs!

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Traycen


This is Traycen.  He is this week's Student of the Week!  Traycen's favorite color is BLUE.   He would like to visit Florida someday.  Traycen likes to watch "PJ Masks" on television.  When he grows up, Traycen would like to be a police officer.  He has two pets at home:  A dog named Chauncey and a cat named Payton.  Traycen has a favorite book called "Mother Bruce".  he loves to play soccer the best of any sport.  His favorite food is pizza.  Traycen is special because he is a good person, but the VERY BEST THING about him is the fact that he has many good friends!

Friday, October 28, 2016

Happy Halloween!

We had a very special treat today!  Zavier's mom, Trisha Schlipp, made ADORABLE treats for us to celebrate Halloween!  She was also the creator of our Clifford cupcakes back in September.  The cupcakes were truly amazing!  The frosting had crushed up Oreo cookies as a 'dirt' base, topped with gummy worms and a gummy eyeball.  You should have heard the comments when the kids saw them!  They had so much fun eating these wonderful treats!  Thank you Trisha and Zavier for making our last school day in October a special one!

Look at that face! Zavier was very excited to share his treat with us!

The "Bee" group: Hayden, Madison, Ayden, Ashtyn, Zavier, Lilly and Jace

The 'Fish' group:  Traycen, Lexi, Jaydon, Adam, Layla, Lazarus

The 'Butterfly' group:  Parker, Grace, Cambri, Brendan

The 'Frog' group:  Braedyn, Rylie, Taber, Ella, Carson, Kailynn

Close up! Yum, yum, yum!

 Have a wonderful, long weekend and a Happy Halloween to everyone!

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Rylie


This is Rylie!  She is our Student of the Week!  Rylie loves to eat shells and cheese best.  She loves the sport of swimming.  Rylie loves to read Junie B. Jones books.  She has no real pets, but does have a favorite stuffed dog named Findo.  When Rylie grows up, she would like to be a teacher.  She loves to watch a new television show called Elena of Avalor.  Someday Rylie would like to visit Florida and go to Disneyworld.  She loves the color PINK!  Rylie is special because she gives great hugs, but the VERY BEST THING about Rylie is that she can make people laugh!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Brendan


Here is Brendan!  He is this week's Student of the Week!  Brendan loves to eat fish - especially fresh caught!  His favorite sport is football.  Brendan loves to read "Pete the Cat" books.  He has two outside cats for pets.  When Brendan grows up, he would like to be a construction worker.  He likes to watch Kickin' It on television.  Brendan would love to visit Florida again someday.  His favorite color is BLUE.  Brendan is special because he has a lot of friends, but the VERY BEST THING about him is that he is a good helper!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Lexi


This is Lexi!  She is our Student of the Week this week.  Lexi's favorite color is PURPLE.   She would love to visit Disney, but also Mackinac Island.  Lexi loves to watch "Good Luck Charlie" on television.  When she grows up, Lexi would like to be a teacher.  Her favorite book is "Pete the Cat".  Lexi loves to play soccer. She has one dog, two cats and two bunnies!  Lexi loves to eat Sloppy Joes.  She is special because she is kind to others, but the VERY BEST thing about Lexi is that she gives great hugs (believe me - I received one to test her and she really does give great hugs!)

Thursday, October 6, 2016

Outdoor Discovery Center trip

Have you heard all about our trip to the ODC?  We had a fantastic time even though we did get a little wet today!  We had an awesome guide named Miss Kelsey! She had the kids engaged and learning the entire time!  Thank you to the wonderful parents (and one grandpa) who joined us today! Not only did they get to spend time with their child, they also helped keep ALL of the kids on task and focused!

We began our time in Founders Hall.  Miss Kelsey gave the kids a few moments to look at some living creatures (turtles, frogs, snakes) and some taxidermy before gathering us up to discuss some characteristics of fall.  She discussed how plants and animals prepare for winter, which animals hibernate, migrate or stay in Michigan and active all winter long.  She asked the kids what the needs are for all animals and they knew most of them: food, water, shelter, space and air.  She then read us a story about fall.







Next, Miss Kelsey showed us a box turtle! She talked about how he (ask your child how we knew it was a male) will prepare to hibernate for winter. He will dig with his claws backwards into the ground about TWO FEET down and sleep all winter long.  She showed us a large turtle shell they have at the ODC so that the kids could see that the shell was the turtle's backbone and can't come off.  She then walked around the circle and allowed them to touch the turtle's back with one or two fingers!






Next, Miss Kelsey showed us a Black Rat Snake!  We learned that both turtles and snakes are cold-blooded, and get warm by lying in the sun or finding something warm to snuggle up to (Miss Kelsey).  She taught us that snakes will hibernate in the winter as well, but they always search for the same place to hibernate each year.  She then pulled the snake off of her arm and we determined that the snake was taller than Kailynn!  Miss Kelsey then brought the snake around for those who chose to touch it (but she was kind enough to put the head behind her first).





After washing our hands, we went outside to discover three different habitats: the wetlands and pond, the meadow and the forest.  We will compare each of these habitats again in the winter and spring.  At the pond, the kids were able to lie right down on the dock to look into the water and they saw fish, and some even thought they saw a turtle (except the adults were pretty sure it was a rock).  When we were leaving the pond area, Mrs. Nykamp's  guide handed her backpack to Miss Kelsey because they had caught a FROG!  So the kids had the opportunity to see one up close and personal!  We learned how to tell the difference between males and females as well (ask your child how to tell!).  When we were finished checking out the frog, Miss Kelsey let it go in the pond!











Our next habitat was the meadow!  Miss Kelsey handed out small magnifying glasses to the kids to help them discover different plants that were found in the meadow.  The kids brought all kinds of treasures to her for identifying!






Miss Kelsey told us that a bug laid an egg on the plant, and the plant adapted by creating a GALL around the egg, which then became shelter for the egg and later food when the egg hatched!

Milkweed Plant

Miss Kelsey told us that this particular plant smells like chocolate when it just begins to bud!

A plant with TWO galls on it!
Next, Miss Kelsey taught the kids about the Monarch butterfly.  She discussed how they migrate to Mexico for the winter.  Then, after reviewing the four stages of the Monarch butterfly life cycle, took the kids down the path.  She told them that the flight from Michigan to Mexico was filled with danger for them such as birds, tall buildings, wind, etc.  She had the kids pretend they were butterflies trying to migrate from Michigan to Mexico, avoiding the parents (dangers) in between. 





We also found another amazing part of the meadow on our way to our next habitat!  It was found on a plant just off the path... inside this amazing object are praying mantis eggs!  In the spring, they will hatch and come out of the case.  Miss Kelsey said there will be a bunch of them!

 

We then went to the forest habitat.  Because it was raining a bit harder now, we stood under a group of trees to discuss how trees change in the fall, and searched for types that lose their leaves (deciduous) and those that do not (evergreens).  As she discussed animals that might live in the forest, she pulled out of her backpack the skin of a raccoon.  Miss Kelsey taught us that animals with fur will adapt in the fall to prepare for winter by eating a lot to get nice and fat, and their fur gets thicker to keep them warm all winter long. She also taught us that animals with fur are called mammals.  By the way, the raccoon skin was available because it died and someone donated the skin for kids to learn about it (yes, a few students asked).




On our way back to the bus, we made a short stop to see the elk!  We didn't have much time to learn about them this time, but were very excited to see the large antlers on the male elk.




We had a wonderful time at the ODC!  We thank Miss Kelsey for showing and teaching us so much today and look forward to our next trip in January!  Thank you also to the Hamilton Community Schools Administration, who pay the cost for transportation and our guides and time spent there.