Hand in the cookie jar

We started our subtraction unit today and thought, is there a better way to learn subtraction then by using cookies?  The answer is, "NO!"  We read the girls a funny book called The Duckling Gets a Cookie, by Mo Willems, to get them excited about working with cookies.  We then worked together as a class to solve different subtraction stories using a huge cookie jar.

 

After we solved several problems together, we sent the girls back to their seats to solve some problems on their own, using their personal cookie jars and cookies.  

 

The girls completed a worksheet to end our lesson, again putting their cookie jars to good use.

Addition Math Centers

The girls had a wonderful first day back from Thanksgiving break--we loved hearing about their adventures and the fun times they spent with their families.  We eased them back into our school routine today with some fun math centers, focusing on the different addition strategies we have been teaching them. 

 

Center 1--Dice Addition (they had to flip over their paper dice, write the addition sentence and solve the problem)

Center 2--iPad (we introduced the girls to a new app, Hungry Fish)

Center 3--Number line addition (the girls were given problems and had to solve using a number line)

Indians helping Pilgrims

We have been learning so much about the First Thanksgiving in our room, and much of our learning has been pilgrim-based.  Today, the girls learned all about how the Indians helped the pilgrims survive in Plymouth.  We read 2 stories ... If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 and Squanto's Journey.  We broke the girls into pairs and one was designated the sculptor and other was the statue.  The sculptor "molded" the statue into a pose that showed a way the Indians had helped the Pilgrims.  We had hunters, fishermen and berry collectors.  They then worked in pairs to illustrate the ways the Pilgrims partnered with the Indians to learn to farm and hunt in their new home.

The sculptors at work.

Molding an Pilgrim into a hunter.

Teaching the Pilgrims to pick berries.

The girl's illustration.

Working together!

Number Lines

We introduced the number line to the girls today during our math period.  We watched a cute video then talked about how the number line is another tool to help them when they add or subtract.  The girls then used the number line to help them solve addition problems.  We will continue to work with the number line over the next few weeks.

Johns Hopkins Children Hospital

In the spirit of the upcoming election day, last Friday's Lower School Assembly was dedicated to a Lower School community service project.  The girls voted at recess Tuesday and overwhelmingly chose to support the Johns Hopkins Children Center.  Each class engaged in a project to benefit the patients.  In our classroom, the girls made friendship bracelets for a patient at Hopkins and a matching one for themselves.  They then wrote a note to accompany the bracelet with a special note.  Each girl was so proud of her gifts for her "friend" in the hospital.  The first graders will deliver these special tokens next week.

Our latest Mystery Readers

Here are some pictures of Pre-First's latest Mystery Readers!!!!

 

Kohena's mom, Debita

 

Catelyn's dad, Jim (aka Pinkalicious)

 

Rakeb's mom, Tigist

 

Blair's dad, Bobby