Classroom Newsletter 4/10/09

4/10/09

Dear Families,

We have had another exciting week in first grade with incredible learning!

We were treated to another interesting Hands-On-Nature class on Tuesday. Our parent volunteers taught us about animal camouflage. They performed a puppet show and showed us many pictures with camouflaged animals. It was sometimes very tricky to find the animals in nature in these pictures. Ask your child to tell you about the picture with the deer. We all needed to take an extra look. We also had the opportunity to go outside and see camouflage in action. We were looking for “worms” (yarn) in bright red and blue, but when we searched for the brown “worms” we could not find them!!! Our parent volunteers certainly illustrated this very important aspect of nature perfectly! Thank you!!

In math, we have started telling time in five minute increments and we continue to build basic number sense across all areas. We continue to focus on thinking strategies so we can become self-reliant mathematicians. This week, we also learned to measure by centimeters and meters. Ask your child to tell you about our mathematical exploration comparing meters and feet while measuring how far an Australian kangaroo can jump! Please visit our classroom to see the incredible work these first grade mathematicians completed.

We “traveled” to Australia this week and learned about the capital Canberra, the city Sydney and Mount Conner. We also learned about the Outback and the Aboriginals. Ask your child to describe the Aboriginal Clapping Sticks used as a morning greeting and please visit our new mural and display of Aboriginal dot paintings. We also learned about the different animals in Australia and wrote a report on marsupials. Ask your child to tell you about the characteristics of these interesting animals. Please also visit our new hallway mural entitled “Inspire First Grade travels around the world”. See if you can recognize your child’s portrait somewhere in the world…..

News and Reminders:

• Please do not forget Inspire’s Music Concert on April 14^th at 7 pm. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Diana Burritt.
• Enclosed in this folder is information regarding the “Dynamic Dates”, a very fun and popular PTO fundraiser. The Inspire Team teachers participate and we will have a special lunch with special treats.
• The Inspire First Grade Wiki is constantly being updated so please do not forget to check it out periodically. Please go to scsvt.org and click on “Academic Teams”, Maria McCormack and “First Grade Wiki”.

Have a great weekend!

Regards,

Maria McCormack