AAAAAACHOO! Sneezy the Snowman! Fractions, and Reading Goals

Hello Everyone!!
Hello February!!  I truly can't believe it is February already!   Or should we call it Febrrrrrrrrrrrary. It has been so cold everywhere!  Our little Texan firsties want snow so badly, but all we've gotten is cold!!  and ugh...flu!    Has the flu hit your area yet? I hate it when my littles are sick. Poor babies. We have been sanitizing like nobody's business!!!  Stay healthy out there!!!
In sticking with the cold weather, we decided to celebrate Sneezy the Snowman! If you haven't read this book by Maureen Wright, you have to run and grab a copy!  It has very quickly become my kids' fav for the season!  Some sweet characters share some of their personal items to help Sneezy the Snowman warm up!! So cute! We created a little mini unit to capture the essence of that little man!  AAAHHHCHOOOOO!

Not included in the unit, but in the snow unit I shared last time, is snow paint. We created the paint, painted Sneezy's head and then wrote a quote from the story showing off our very best handwriting.

We love Sneezy!!!

If you would like this free printable unit based on this awesome book,

CLICK HERE!! AH-CHOO!!

We have also been working very hard on our fraction objective for math, really focusing on equal and unequal parts, a definite prerequisite for fraction study.  I have added to my fraction unit.

The unit includes a lot of practice with equal and  unequal, and then some halves and quarters practice.

If you need some extra stuff to supplement your fraction unit, you can grab my unit for free by...CLICKING HERE!!!

The unit includes some whole group discovery lessons and some independent practice as well as some math tub games.

One last thing I want to share with you.  We are making our way through Lucy Calkins Units of Study in reading for Grade 1.  At times, following it has been a challenge, mainly because we were so used to teaching things in a different order. I do, however, love how she suggests making kids set goals for their reading and becoming the boss of their reading. In the past couple of weeks, we have worked very hard on exactly that!  I decided to take her ideas and create some mini posters and charts to remind kids about setting reading goals both at school and at home.  Be the Boss of your Reading!  Thank you Lucy Calkins for this inspiration!

 Kids pick a goal for their partner reading time. They hold each other accountable for reaching that goal each time. (Oh, and by the way some of my kids have two reading partners! )

Kids keep this chart in their reading baskets.

Kids brought this home as a home/school connection for parents.

This unit is not entirely complete.  It only includes goals through the first two units and a couple in unit 3.  I will be adding more!!  Stay tuned!

If this is something you think might be helpful to remind kids what readers do, you can print off part one of this document for free.  Use it in any way that works for your kids.

CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLES!

As always, please let me know if you spot some typos or irregularities in any of my printables.  Sometimes I just get going, and miss some stuff!!  UGH! Oh well. Most of you are good at letting me know!!!  Thank you!!

So, until next time, stay warm, and have a wonderful week!!

Now to gear up for our 100th day tomorrow!!!  Hope all my kiddos are back from the flu!!
Thanks for stopping by to see what we've been up to!! Stay tuned for more!!!
Joyfully!
Nancy
firstgradewow@gmail.com 

Snowballs!!

Hello Everyone!
Hope everyone had a great weekend, and perhaps a long weekend.  We actually had a teacher inservice day today. Kids had off, but we as teachers got a lot done organizationally!  Checked a few things off our growing list of things to do this semester. How often does that happen, right? 
Over the weekend, I had a chance to work on a little fun unit with a snowball theme. It started off as a little study on adverbs which is an objective we are covering this week, but it started growing and growing.  It actually snowballed!! Teehee! Anyway, I'm posting it tonight in case you need a little snowball fun in your week. I know some of you are probably soooooo tired of snow, but our little Texas kids can't get enough! 
 Here are a few pics of the 60 page unit.

This is a small sample of what the unit includes,  I can't wait to enjoy it with my kids starting tomorrow!!  I'll let you know how it goes!!

If you would like to try some of the snowball fun...

SIMPLY CLICK HERE!!!

I can't wait to show you how the kids are doing on our poetry unit!  We have been so excited to become poets!!! That update is coming soon!!

Have a great week everyone!!! Don't forget to look for the joy in every day!!

Thanks for stopping by our little window!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Questions? Comments? e-mail- firstgradewow@gmail.com 

Fraction Fun, Living and Nonliving, and MLK

Hello Everyone!
I hope you are staying warm during this chilly weekend! Some of you are having downright COLD weather.  Brrr!  And my thoughts and prayers are going out to families affected by tornadoes in one of my old stomping grounds...Florida!  This has already been a crazy year weather-wise. Stay safe and check in on each other!!

In school this week, we had some fun with fractions.  I always like to start off a unit on fractions with some lessons on symmetry and equal parts.  The magical look of paint and folded paper always amazes the kids and creates wonderful symmetry.

Then teaching the kids how to fold a coffee filter into equal parts and creating beautiful snowflakes!

Then showing them how to build symmetry in another way!

Then finally getting into the vocabulary and authentic use of  edible fractions using graham crackers!

We will continue with fractions next week.  I will add a little bit about determining fractions of a set.  Our first graders do not need to know this, but It really is a natural succession to what we did this past week. I added a bit more to the faction unit I shared last week, so If you would like, please download again to pick up the new stuff.

If you want the fraction unit with the additions, CLICK HERE!! :)

In science we finished up our unit on living and non living.

After exploring through technology the characteristics of living things vs nonliving things, we got to create a fun little non living pet.  

Pet Rocks are going to be so easy to take care of!!

In culmination we explored the differences between three things that looked alike! Gummy Worms, Rubber Worms, and Live Night Crawlers!

The kids made some great observations and discoveries!!!

If you need a unit on living and non living, you can get one here!!! CLICK! CLICK!! :)

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was also a focus this past week.  I love helping kids understand the character traits of some of our most beloved leaders.  I think it's also important for them to understand how the life of one can influence the lives of many.  

Not by the color of our skin...

But by the content of our character!

My Dr. Martin Luther King Unit is a CLICK away!! 

CLICK HERE!

Phew!! I know that was a lot of sharing, but we covered some wonder-filled topics this past week, and I am hoping my kids took advantage of the "hand to head to heart" lessons and truly have stored them in their hearts and use them often.

My little won't be at school tomorrow (They have off for MLK Day), but teachers have to report. I hope to enjoy some team time and good planning for the next few weeks!! We don't get enough of that quality time together! 

Have a great rest of the weekend!  

Don't forget to leave a comment!! 

Can you use any of these ideas?

 Is there something you would like to see? 

Anything you are wondering about?

Just ask!

Till next time!!

Joyfully!

Nancy