Spin the Dreidel!

The first graders have been learning about Holiday Traditions, with one of them being Hanukkah. To wrap up our unit we celebrated with Mrs. Bell's 4th grade class by playing several games of dreidel and making latkes (potato pancakes)! The kids had fun playing dreidel and learned the Hebrew words nun, gimmel, hay and shin. Mrs. Bell and I served up a traditional meal of latkes and applesauce. Overall, the latkes were a hit and fun was had by all! 

Holiday Happenings...

It's the most wonderful time of the year...and the busiest! Sorry that blogging has slipped my mind the past few weeks!! 

There are only 21 days til Christmas and only 17 school days until Holiday Break. We have many fun and instructional activities planned for the month of December! Please note the following dates:

Thurs 12/9 PTO Santa Shop: this will be the ONLY day that our class visits the Santa Shop. If you wish for your child to purchase items, please send money in on this day only. Thank you!

Fri 12/10 Holiday Traditions Music Program 1pm: The first graders will perform many songs about Holiday Traditions and Customs from around the world. You may sign your child out of school following the program. 

Wed 12/15 Canned Food/Toy Drive is over. Please send in canned food and/or a new toy to donate to those less fortunate. We have collected about 30 cans so far! Let's try for 50 or more! 

Fri 12/17 Holiday Craft Party 

Tues 12/21 Holiday Traditions Around the World: students will travel from class to class learning about how other countries celebrate. 

Wed 12/22 Polar Express Day 

What Are We Learning This Week?

Hello! Here is an overview of the curriculum for the week of Nov 8-12. Have a great week!

Language Arts
*Short e
*Double ending consonants (-ell, -ess)
*High Frequency Words: help, said, so, who, now
*Spelling Words: red, bed, fed, tell, well, yell, fell, mess, said, who
* Phonics Story: The Big Mess (reviews high frequency words and decoding skills)
* Main Selection: The Little Red Hen (reviews high frequency words and comprehension skills)
* Writing complete sentences

Math
* Subtraction strategies
* Addition review

Social Studies
* Thanksgiving (history) including Pilgrims and Native Americans.
* Review of mapping skills

Science
* Winter Animals: hibernation, migration, adaptation

Miss Whitley's Class is Going "Batty"!

Bat Day was so much fun! We all participated in activities centered around bats during Language Arts, Math and Science! We learned some cool bat facts and had fun dressing up in our "bat black" outfits! We enjoyed eating a special snack too! Bat cupcakes, carrots and candy corn (bat food!).

Check out some of Miss Whitley's "Batty" Friends!

Bat Math! We learned about subtraction using candy corn as counters!

Bats vs Birds- our Reading class read a book about bats and then made a Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the two animals.

More Friendly Followers!

Our blog has more new followers! Thanks, kids!

Pumpkin Pickin'

Our class survived the pumpkin patch! It was very windy and looked like rain, but it held off long enough for us to pick some HUGE pumpkins! The kids had fun on the hayride and saw lots of cool animals at the petting zoo including a buffalo and a zebra! The hay maze and corn box were also a big hit! A big THANK YOU to all the parents who volunteered for the trip to Round Hill Farm! Enjoy the pictures!

Christmas in...October?

Well, Christmas decorations have been spotted in the local Wal-Mart! It's hard to believe, but there are only 60 days til Christmas! I am going to start my planning early! Our class will be having a Holiday Craft/Ornament party when it gets closer to the holidays, but I need parent help to get started. I have made a list of items that we will need to create 6 different crafts. If you are able to donate an item (or two) by November 23, I would be very appreciative! I will be sending home information regarding the party in December so be on the lookout! 

Holiday Wish List Items:

Brown and Green Felt (8x11 size or larger)

Sparkled Pipe Cleaners (any color is fine- silver, gold, blue or purple is preferred if possible)

White and Orange Foam (8x11 sheets or larger)

Sequins (regular or holiday themed)

Sequin Trim (any color)

Rick Rack (any color)

Red Pom Poms (large and small sizes)

Sparkled Pom Poms (any color)

Holiday Ribbon (1 inch or 1 1/2 inch wide)

Assorted buttons (flat on both sides)

Fishing Line

Shatterproof Ball Ornaments (red or gold) *these can be found at Wal-Mart in the holiday section*

Ribbon (the thinnest possible- red, white, green)

I know this is a LONG list but ANY items we receive are MUCH APPRECIATED! As always, thank you for your support!