1st Grade
Class 101
Class 102
Class 103
Class 104
Resources
1st Grade Happenings
Current Unit: Informational Writing/Nonfiction - Solar System
Summary of Unit:
Students will be growing as informational writers as well as reading and investigating non-fiction books. Students will learn about the 8 planets, the moon, stars and sun. Students will learn about the characteristics of each planet and how they are affected because of their relation to the sun.
Reading:
In Unit 5, students will be exposed to non-fiction books. Our students will learn about some new text features and review text features previously learned. They will learn why authors include these text features and how the text features help us as readers. Students will also learn how to identify specific information an author gives and how it supports the ideas within the text. In addition, students will continue to make text to text connections by comparing the information presented in two non-fiction books about different planets.
READ! READ! READ! In the early childhood years, it is so important to read to your children. If possible, please try to read to them as much as you can. In addition to being read to, first graders are expected to read books of their choice for 20 minutes each day at home. They can choose to read books at home or on RAZKids.
Please encourage your child to decode the words by him/herself by looking at the letters in the word and by tapping it out. As your child reads, check in with them to make sure they are understanding what they are reading. Ask questions after each couple of pages to make sure that information is not getting lost. Encourage them to respond in complete sentences.
Materials:
Questions to Ask:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qEXl12ytQhbMjnIJtWQxJS1DyE-ztBHt/view?usp=sharing
Writing:
In Unit 3, students began to learn about informational writing and will continue to build on what they learned about informational writing in Unit 5. Students will continue to learn how to use the writing process to write an informational writing piece on one or more planets of their choice. Students will begin the unit by gathering information about the planets from various sources. In their writing, they will include a hook, topic sentence for each planet they chose to write about, 3-4 details about each planet they chose, and an overall closing sentence. Students will be encouraged to try to make their writing into multiple paragraphs. We will also review partner sentences, and try to have the students include two or more partner sentences within their writing. In addition, students will include non-fiction text features in their writing. Students will also continue to learn the importance of editing their writing. Students will work on making sure they are starting each sentence with an uppercase letter, ending each sentence with the correct punctuation, using finger spaces between words, and using a word wall to help them spell common words.
Home Connection: As your child is working on writing at home, please have your child try their best at sounding out unknown words to spell on their own. Encourage your child to use the personal word wall to help spell common words. Also, guide your child to always use an uppercase letter to start each sentence, the correct punctuation at the end of each sentence, and finger spaces between words. In addition, encourage your child to reread their sentences to make sure the sentences are complete and make sense.
Materials:
Writing Checklist for Editing: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p05p2Iq0XANV5VaMiU-WO8kEPvyzSD1p-ErhXlZBXNE/edit?usp=sharing
Personal Word Wall:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CnpzrCnKqLwJx0u0s8xzWoXVYeydkAv10M84lHtg96I/edit?usp=sharing
Math:
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In this unit, students will continue focusing on developing strategies to add and subtract within 100 and developing an understanding of the place value and properties of operations to add and subtract. Students will use strategies such as counting on, using concrete objects, drawing and decomposing ten to add and subtract. Students will move away from counting by 1’s and continue to skip counting by 10’s from any number up to 120. In addition to the new strategies, the students will continue to solve problems in multiple ways to ensure that they understand the concept. They will use their strategy chart to help label their work and take a step forward to explain how they came to their answer.
Home Connection: As your child is working on math at home, please have your child try their best with the new strategy being taught. For example, if the lesson target is focusing on place value; direct your child to use the place value chart and any other hands-on tools that are given during this module. Our goal is for your child to be able to use multiple strategies to foster conceptual understanding. Also, guide your child to use the strategy chart that is presented in the math slideshow to help label all the strategies that they are using during the problem of the day. This way, your child will become more aware of the math vocabulary and be able to speak on how they solved the problem in various ways. In addition, encourage your child to explain their work to someone in the home. They can practice by saying “ the steps I took were,” “my answer is,” “ I know because ___.”
Materials:
Math Vocabulary
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWYHzeDIe7GjldW_goeXVM7qlaZnLGpY/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NhnPkFmbNXUaS1b2Fn8lxxh3poUtDQRV/view?usp=sharing
Scaffolds
Art
First grade will make connections to their ELA unit by creating a rocket in space. Students will learn how to draw different types of lines and the colors of the rainbow to create the flames of the rocket. Students will make a space background with analogous colors and planets.
Music
First grade musicians are learning about maintaining a steady beat with their bodies and on instruments. They are learning to distinguish between musical opposites (high/low, fast/slow, loud/soft…etc.). Students will be notating quarter notes in the coming weeks. Students will also be learning and singing songs about space.
Home Connection: Share your favorite songs and sing together. Practice marching around your house on the steady beat, or coming up with steady beat dance moves!
Parent & Student Voice
What students LOVED about Unit 4:
Class 1-101
Isabella: I love learning tens and ones because it helps me learning math.”
Calvin: “I loved learning how to retell a story because it helps me become a better reader.”
Alaia: “I loved learning 1 more and 1 less and 10 more and 10 less.”
Olivia: “I loved learning how to add all caps words because it helps my writing be better.”
Class 1-102
Zuhra: “ In math, I learned about tens and ones.”
Maliyah:” In math, I learned about place value. In reading, I learned how to do a reading response.”
Adiba: “ In math, I learned about tens and ones. In reading, I learned about non- fiction.”
Class 1-103
Anayah: “ I enjoyed learning about tens and ones in math.”
Liam: “ I liked learning about central idea in writing.”
Anayah: “ I like learning about ellipses in writing.”
Class 1-104
Brayden: “I like learning about tens and ones.”
Yeilin: “I learned about tens and ones.”