Bike Trip Information

A note was sent home with all first grade students on Friday regarding our upcoming bike trip.  If you did not receive this notice please let me know and I will send another copy home with your child on Tuesday. 

Popsicle Prizes

Last Thursday we had a fantastic day from start to finish!  Everyone was kind, cooperated, and followed all directions and signals.  To celebrate such a great day I brought popsicles to school on Friday.  Luckily the rain held off so that we could enjoy our treat out in the gazebo.  You know it's spring when popsicles taste good and refreshing!

First Grade Fun!!!

On both Thursday and Friday of last week we were able to take the chicks out of the tank and have some hands-on time with them.  Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate as I had planned so we stayed in the classroom with our feathered friends (we're hoping to take them outside on the grass tomorrow).  It's hard to see in these pictures, but all of the first graders sat in a circle on the floor while the chicks roamed across sheets of newspaper.  I think that there will be some sad boys and girls tomorrow as we say 'good-bye' to the chicks.

Calling all Books

As the end of the year approaches I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few moments to look around your house and see if you still have any school books.  Mrs. Flanagan is also beginning to try and track down library books that may still be missing.  Thank you for your help in this matter!

More Chick Fun!

Well, the total is in!!!  We now have twelve live chicks in our classroom (with the last one hatching just before 3 o'clock)!  Only one egg did not hatch.  Overall, this has been the most successful hatch the first grade team has ever had.  Today the boys and girls enjoyed spending time watching the chicks through the glass of the tank.  Tomorrow we will be taking the chicks out and students will get a chance to hold them! 

 First thing this morning

 Such keen observers

 Aren't they cute?!

 I love the look of wonder on her face!

 We made birthday crowns for the chicks.

 Welcome to room 8.

 Showing off crowns and foam chicks.

Happy first grade students!

Saint Michael's Observatory

I would like to thank Professor John O'Meara for opening the Saint Michael's College Observatory for our first grade students last week!  It was a fun and educational opportunity.  The clouds even cleared away as the dome was opened for our students.  

 Trying to line up the telescope to see the moon

 Family fun

 Listening to Professor O'Meara talk about the telescope

 Students took turns using the amazing telescope!

More nighttime viewing

Chick Journals

Each morning students document what is happening to the embryo/chick by journaling.  We have been looking at amazing photos from a website that show very clearly how the chick is growing inside its' shell.  Be looking for your child's journal to come home soon!

Chick Art

Chicks have taken over our classroom!  We are learning about the life cycle during science.  Students are singing songs about chicks and chickens.  We've read many fiction and non-fiction books starring chicks and chickens during read aloud and today we worked on some chicken art!

 Thank you Mrs. Lucier for the materials for this foam chicky!

 Even paper chicks have personality.

 Can you see the table anymore?!

 Our partially finished chicks make me smile!

Another happy first grader!

Chick-Mania!!!

Today turned out to be a VERY exciting day in first grade!  Although our official 'hatch date' is not until tomorrow our feathered friends decided to make an early appearance.  Although this picture only shows one chick, by the time I left school this evening we had seven healthy chicks!  Typically the hatch occurs 21 days after the eggs are placed in the incubator.  I know we are all excited to see how many of the remaining six eggs will hatch.  It was so much fun to watch and listen the boys and girls today.  Their excitement is contagious!

 Hello!

 "I'm pooped!"

Students took turns on 'hatch duty'.  Their job was to notify us if anything exciting was happening.

First Grade Bike Trip

There will be MUCH more information to come, but I wanted to let everyone know that our annual first grade bike field trip is coming up soon! The date for the trip is Thursday, June 2nd, and our class and Mrs. Sorenson's class will go in the morning and will then eat lunch at Airport Park. We will need volunteers to transport bikes to and from Airport Park, and everyone will have to bring their child's bike and helmet to school before the trip (unless you can attend and can transport your own child's bike). We will bike from Airport Park, through the neighborhood across to the street, through the Delta Park bike path, and then over the Winooski River bike bridge to the Burlington bike path. This trip was originally planned around a school-wide theme of Community, and it was a great way to show students a part of our community that many have not explored. Now, it's become a first grade icon, along with hatching chicks. :-)

Students can ride on two wheels or with training wheels--all ability levels are welcome and everyone has fun no matter how fast or slow. Since the weather is getting nice, it's a good time for your child to get out and practice! If anyone needs to borrow a bike/helmet, let me know. We have many people who can loan these things without any problem.

Please let me know if you did not receive a note about this on Friday.  And if you can volunteer, please do! We NEED volunteers to make this happen.

Egg Candling

The incubation period for a chick is 21 days.  While we wait for this very exciting day to arrive students will have the opportunity at different stages of the process to 'candle' the eggs.  This process includes shining a bright light (the light from an old overhead projector) through the shell of the egg to monitor development.  Today the boys and girls were able to see the embryo, blood vessels, and the air cell.  Some students even saw the embryo move!

 Candling the eggs

Students keep a scientific journal of what is happening inside the egg each day during development!

Fun During Math

 Building with pattern blocks

 Students worked in partners to find missing numbers on the number grid.

 More number grid puzzles

 Students created 'fraction creatures' and then had to tell what fraction each color of their shape was

 'Fraction Creature'

During the 'digit game' students draw three cards each and then see who can create the greatest three-digit number (a variation of 'War')