Questions to ask your first grader that will reinforce what we have been learning at school…

  • Tell me what you learned about mammals this week.  What are some examples of mammals?

  • What is unique about a bat?  (It’s the only mammal that can fly!)

  • Divide a square into 4 equal parts.  Now color 2/4 of it.

  • What classic tale did you read this week?

  • If you were the Little Red Hen, would you have shared the bread with your friends?  Why or why not?

 

Bag A Book

Next week is the last week for the Bag a Book program.

 

Zoo Field Trip

Just a reminder that the Detroit Zoo permission form and money are due on Monday.  We need to purchase the tickets prior to the trip, so that is why we are requesting to have everything in by then.  If you are sending in money to buy a ticket for yourself, plan on riding the bus with us and chaperoning a small group while at the zoo.  No younger siblings, please.  If you are meeting us at the zoo, we cannot buy you a discounted ticket.  You will need to buy a ticket at the zoo on the 28th.  Email me if you have any questions.  This is a fun trip-cross your fingers for good weather!  J

 

Spring Pictures

If you have not yet sent back your child’s spring pictures and/or money envelope, please do so by the end of next week.  Thank you!

 

WOW Words

This week we reviewed the following WOW words: he, me, be, we, she, see, eat, people, because & teacher.  We learned the different ways the long e sound can be made.  We will review 10 more words next week.

  

Science/Reading

We began learning about mammals this week.  We learned the characteristics of mammals.  All mammals…

  • Have a backbone

  • Have hair or fur

  • Give birth to live babies who drink their mother’s milk (with the exception of the duck-billed platypus and the spiny anteater.  They are the only mammals that hatch from eggs!)

  • Are warm-blooded

  • Breathe air with lungs

  • Have 4 limbs

 

Each child made a poster of mammals (they are hanging up in our classroom).  An interesting tidbit of information:  The word “momma” comes from the word mammal!

 

We also devoted a few days to reading another classic tale:  The Little Red Hen.  Each child wrote about what s/he would say to their friends if their friends acted like Little Red Hen’s friends and didn’t help.

 

Math

We completed Unit 9 this week and we compared fractions and names for fractional parts.  The children did hands-on activities to help them understand that, for example, the fraction 2/4 is the same as ˝.  This is an introductory skill and is not required to be secure by the end of first grade.

 

Summer Birthdays

If your child has a summer birthday and you would like for him/her to participate in our Birthday Book program, please send in a wrapped book with your child anytime between now and June 11th.  We will be sure to honor all summer birthdays prior to June 11th, whether or not you send in a book.  J

  

Upcoming Dates

Fri., May 28 – Detroit Zoo trip

Mon., May 30 – No school

Wed., June 2 – Field Day

Tues., June 15 – Walking Trip to Independence Park

Thurs., June 17 – Half day; End of Year Class Party

Fri., June 18 – Donuts with Dad (8:00-8:30)/Last day (half day)

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