Busy Friday

It's been a very full week in first grade.

We learned more about the parts of a volcano and why a volcano erupts.  We learned about the shifting of plates (plate techtonics), the ring of fire, and even underwater volcanoes.
 

Here is our volcano (and yes, that is angel food cake).

Before the eruption

                                                                    After the eruption



Today we had a visit from True Kelley.  She was AWESOME!  She showed us how her career all began at age 4 by just telling stories to her mom and her mom would record the stories.

True Kelley has written approximately 40 books and illustrated over 100.  She has books published around the world.  We even got to see one of her books written in Chinese!

She talked to us about all the time it takes to make a book and how she had to make changes constantly to her illustrations and story line, she even showed us the dozens of post-its on her books from the editor telling her to change this or change that.   She said even though it is hard to make so many changes she always knows it's to help her improve her story.  True Kelley taught us that hard work pays off! 

Thank you, MainStreet Book Ends, Simonds PTO, and of course True Kelley for making this happen.  Memorable moments were made today!

           True Kelley teaching us how to add expression to cartoon characters.

Here's Owen telling a story, with characters the audience came up with, and True Kelley illustrated.  This is a story about a sad bird because he was bit by a scorpion, but no need to worry Super Bunny is on the way.   

        Kindergarten, First Grade, and True Kelley.  Can you find where True Kelley is?

Each student got a signed copy of one of True Kelley's books. 

                                

    

Reminder Basket Raffle Items Due Tomorrow

        

Did you know the PTO at Simonds supports our school through:

           * Movie Night

           * Pancake Breakfast

           * Playground Equipment

           * School Equipment

           * Support After-school clubs

           * And much, much more!

They accomplish so much by fundraising.  The yearly basket raffle is the PTO's  biggest fundraiser.  Please support the PTO by sending in one new item, matching our theme, for our basket by Tomorrow, Friday,  March 28th.  The items will be up for raffle at our Spring Concert, on April 10th.  

 

 

 

 

                             
                                  Here is the list of our classroom themes:

 

 

Mrs. Houle:  Be CReaTiVe (Arts and Crafts)

 

Ms. Marsh- Pamper Me (spa)

True Kelley Rescheduled

~ MainStreet Warner Literacy Day ~

RESCHEDULED

True Kelley will be visiting Simonds School on Friday, March 28, during the day and at MainStreet Bookends – 3:00 pm. 

 

Last week, and to be continued this week (and possibly next week) in math we are working on adding and subtracting with and without regrouping (it was called "carrying" and "borrowing" in our day :).  These are some of the tougher concepts for first graders to grasp.  We are attaching an addition with regrouping extra practice sheet to this post, in case you want your child to get in a little extra practice.  It's identical (with different problems of course :) to a page we worked on in class.

A saying we are using to help us remember what to do is:

If 10 or more, regroup next door.

If 9 or less, let it rest.

                                                                 Click here for a copy.
  We are still working on improving formatting but for now it's  a work in progress.  Enjoy!

Here is a tutorial similar to the way your children have learned to regroup.  We could have made our own tutorial but some of us are camera shy.  :)

Tutorial on Addition with Regrouping

In Science, we are sure you've heard we have begun studying volcanoes.  This is always a favorite unit with first graders.

We will be working on learning a song to help us understand how a volcano erupts.
It is called, "The Volcano Song."  You can listen to and view the song here.


Here are a few websites on volcanoes.

Science Kids

Volcanoes 101 Video

National Geographic for Kids Quiz

3D Geography

If you'd like to make a volcano with your child and send it to school to share - we'd love it!  Any student that brings in a volcano will have time to present and if possible erupt their volcano.  You might even see their volcano right here on our blog.  :)

Here's are a site on how to make a volcano.  Of course there are many ways to approach this, feel free to use the tutorial below or design your own.

Baking Soda Volcano Video at About.com