Technology: We have an app for that!

The girls have been very busy learning a variety of new apps, both in the classroom, during art, french and technology. Here is a list of the apps they have been using:

Mystery Number
Line Em Up
Teach Me First Grade
Doodle Buddy
Magnabet
Montessori Numbers
Montessori Crosswords                       
Alphabet Board
Number Sense
Pic Collage
Art Set
Draw Free

Life cycle of an ant

The girls learned about the life cycle of an ant today during science.  Using a magnifying glass, the girls had to record their observations of the four different stages in step books.  

We also read a wonderful book called, It's Fall, and the girls brainstormed their favorite things about fall.

They then created their own poem about their favorite things about the fall season.

Ordinal numbers

In math we have been focusing on ordinal numbers.  The girls are getting comfortable recognizing and writing the ordinal numbers for 1-10.  

Here they are playing a game based on their place in line.

The girls lined up shapes and recorded the ordinal numbers of the shapes.

We also started our word study this week.  Every Monday the girls will get a new group of words focusing on a certain feature.  This week our feature was beginning consonants (b, r, s, m).  Each day the girls will be completing a different activity with their words:

Monday--introduction to the focused feature and cut and sort words
Tuesday--sort and draw 6 of their words
Wednesday--sort and read words to a friend
Thursday--sort and write words
Friday--sort and glue words

Our first official mystery reader arrived this afternoon.  The girls were so excited to see who gave the clue, "if I look out to my backyard, I can see where a princess lives."

Setting dioramas

We read another story by Donald Crews, our author of the month, and discussed the setting element of a story.  As they listened to Night at the Fair, the girls had to determine what was the setting of the story.  

We then paired the girls up and told them that they would be making setting dioramas based on Night at the Fair.  The girls were given a shoebox and a table full of supplies (tissue paper, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, etc.) and told to recreate a scene from the book. They were AMAZING--without specific directions, the girls used their creativity and own initiative to work cohesively to create their own setting.   We were so impressed with their cooperation and imagination...please make sure to ask your daughter what her diorama looked like.

Parent Night Video

Here is the link to the video from Parent Night.  Enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/106484658
Password: parentnight2014

Busy in Technology

The girls have been working very hard during technology.  We began the year with a discussion about the acceptable use policy and the basics of iPad.  We have learned how to use several apps like Face iMake and Alphabet Board.  We also began a digital autobiography using My Story.             

Welcome to music class!  I have heard many good musical ideas from our pre first girls already.  I look forward to more insights as the year moves along.