Dr. Seuss Day
March 2 is Dr. Seuss' birthday. We had a Reader's Campout at the end of the day. We also got to wear our Pajamas to school.
Navy Country Current Band
The Navy Country Current Band came to play for Beach Elementary. One song needed volunteers to come up to the front to help make animal noises. One of our classmates was selected to come to the front. The band made the pig noises for our classmate! The band was really amazing!
We had a special assembly. We learned about the contributions made by African Americans.
Building Bridges
Our final activity for our Teamwork Unit was to build a bridge. The students designed their bridge on paper, and then worked as a team to build their bridges. The students worked well together and did a great job. They had a lot of fun!
Beach Buddies!
We got to meet with our Third Grade Beach Buddies. We got to take turns reading to each other. We had a lot of fun.
'Twas 5 Days Before Christmas and All Through the School.......
December 20th was our last day of school before Christmas Vacation. We had a great day. We had guest readers come to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas to us. We made Polar Express bells, we played Dreidel, and we made Ice Cream Cone Christmas Trees. We had a party in the afternoon. It was a great day! I would like to thank Mrs. Dudley, Mrs. Cowen, and Mrs. Wilson for coming in and running the morning activities for us!
Halloween
The weather was a little wet, so we had to hold our parade indoors. We still had a great time even though we were inside.
Entomologists can.....
We were scientists today. We learned that scientists start an experiment by asking a question. Then they make a prediction. After that they test their predictions. We were proving what tools would make the best mouth parts for different types of bugs. We all learned a lot and had a great time!
Piece of Pizza!
We retold the story Chrysanthemum using the SIOP strategy Piece of Pizza.
Good Readers can Visualize!
We read several stories and made a movie in our minds. This is called Visualization. Visualization helps the reader to understand the story better!
Readers can identify the Elements of Literature
We worked with a partner for find Literature stories in our textbook.
Mathematicians can work with partners and work at centers.
We are starting to introduce our math stations. Going to stations will be an important part of our math block.
Race to 120
We played the game Race to 120. Eventually we will be making models to represent the numbers we are on on the gameboard.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Partners
We practiced our reading with our Peanut Butter and Jelly Partners.
Mathematicians can count to 120!
We are learning how to count, read, and write numbers to 120. Counting with Go Noodle or Jack Hartman makes it a lot of fun!
Blue Sky Puppet Theater
Blue Sky Puppet Theater came to Beach Elementary. The puppet show taught the students about being a good friend and being a part of a team.
Ward Farm
On September 12, we were entomologists. We took a field trip to Ward Farm. We learned about the 5 different jobs of bugs. We got to dress up as bugs to learn about their body parts. Then we went to the meadow and the forest to catch and observe different types of bugs. We learned a lot, and we had a great day.
Indoor Recess!
Mathematicians can collect, organize, and interpret data.
We took a survey of our classmates. We wanted to know who had been stung by a bee and who had not. We made a tally mark in the appropriate column, and then totaled our responses. It seems that almost all of us have been stung by a bee.
We took a survey of our classmates to see which bugs bug us the most. We turned the information we collected into a graph. The data tells us that mosquitoes bug us the most!
We read and discussed the book "First Day Jitters". We thought about our feelings about the first day of school, and made a pictograph of our feelings. We also arranged ourselves into a graph to show our feelings.
First Day of School
2018-2019
More pictures from Calvert Marine Museum
Calvert Marine Museum
Our class went to Calvert Marine Museum on May 30. We learned about the animals that live in our Estuary. We climbed to the top of Drum Point Lighthouse. We also got to ride on the boat named The Tennison. We learned a lot and we had a great time!
Field Day!
Friday, May 24th was Field Day. We participated in a lot of fun activities. We had a picnic after Field Day. Some of our families attended our picnic too. It was a great day!
Entomologists can.....
We were scientists today. We learned that scientists start an experiment by asking a question. Then they make a prediction. After that they test their predictions. We were proving what tools would make the best mouth parts for different types of bugs. We all learned a lot and had a great time!
Ward Farm
We were entomologists today. We went to Ward Farm to learn all about bugs. We dressed up as bugs so we could learn about their body parts. We collected bugs and observed them so we could learn more about their body parts and to learn about how important they are to the Earth and all living creatures. We returned the bugs into nature when we were finished observing them.
Sock Hop
We had a great time dancing at the Sock Hop. We also helped to earn money for the Beach Elementary School Relay for Life Team, the Baystriders.
Mathematicians can learn about place value in different ways!
Teamwork!
It took teamwork, and several indoor recesses and bus dismissals, but this 100 piece puzzle was finally completed.
Reader's Camp Out
We celebrated Dr. Seuss Day on March 1. We had many activities that revolved around Dr. Seuss. At the end of the day we had a Reader's Camp Out with our 3rd Grade Beach Buddies from Mrs. Goucher's class. We had a great day!
Mathematicians can create a graph to interpret data.
We read several Dr. Seuss books in class this week. We then determined which was our favorite book. We made a class graph....literally, showing what our class' favorite books were.
We can observe our shadows to understand that the Earth moves instead of the sun.
We went outside 3 times on 2/28 to observe our shadows. At 9:30 we traced our shadows. We went back out at 12:30 3:00 to see if our shadows had changed. We noticed that our shadows had changed size, and had moved around the blacktop.
One of our classmates complimented the book, Penguin and Pinecone in the library. Mrs. Grenier took a picture of our classmate and emailed the picture, along with the comment to the author Salina Yoon. Salina responded to Mrs. Grenier, and our classmate received a very nice gift package from Salina Yoon.
On Valentine's Day we had a special assembly. We got to watch a production that taught us about Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. We will be learning more about Martin Luther King later in our Courage Unit.
100th Day of School!
February 13 was our 100th day of school. We are 100 days smarter! We spent the afternoon doing activities that revolved around the number 100.
Piece of Pizza
We were able to identify the story elements characters, setting, problem, and solution. We retold the story Chico the Brave using the SIOP strategy "Piece of Pizza.
Everything is Awesome, When You're Part of a Team!
We used Teamwork to build bridges.
Scientists can apply the Scientific Principle
We used tuning forks to learn about sound waves.
Mathematicians can play Addition and Subtraction games.
Mathematicians can play games to reinforce their addition and subtraction skills.
Twas 5 Days Before Christmas and all Through the School......
During the last week before Christmas break, the first grade learned about 4 Traditions and Customs that are celebrated at this time of year. A special thanks to the volunteers that helped our class participate in activities that helped to enhance our learning.
Fun Run!
We had a great time at the Fun Run. We helped the school raise money, and we learned about being part of a team!
Mathematicians can collect and organize data.
We went around the room gathering data from our classmates. We wanted to know what their favorite Thanksgiving side dish was. We graphed the results. Our class like the rolls the most, and the vegetables the least!
We used illustrations and key details to retell the story Swimmy.
To spend or to save?
One member of our class decided to save her hard earned Beach Bravos, and she was able to purchase this very pretty Beach Elementary Shirt. She had been saving her Bravos since Kindergarten!
Happy Halloween!
Everything Is Awesome! Everything Is Cool When You Are Part Of A Team!
We started our Teamwork Unit by working as a team to put together a 24 piece puzzle.
Piece of Pizza
We could retell the story Chrysanthemum by identifying the characters, the setting, the problem, and the solution of the story.
Good Readers can Visualize
We have been working on illustrating what we see when we listen to stories.
Mathematicians can composed and decompose numbers.
We are learning how to compose and decompose numbers by playing Shake and Spill.
TAG
We revised our stories by using the strategy TAG.....Tell your partner something you like about their story......Ask a question......and Give a suggestion.
Informational Text
At our table groups, we looked through stacks of Informational Text books to see what they all had in common.
Bayfront Park
On Friday, October 5, we went to Bayfront Park. We listened to a story that explained the importance of the world's waters. We used our senses to help us as writers. We went on a scavenger hunt, and looked for sharks' teeth. We had a great time!
Mathematicians can compose and decomposed 3-D shapes.
Piece of Pizza!
We were able to retell the story Froggy Learns to Swim by using the story elements of characters, setting, problem and solution.
Mathematicians can identify and explain the attributes of solid shapes.
Mathematicians can locate and identify solid shapes in our classroom.
We can identify the elements of literature.
With our table partners, we looked through books to see what it is books of literature had in common.
Mathematicians can use Geoboards to compose and decompose shapes.
We can work with groups at stations.
We are ready to work in groups at stations. We were doing a word hunt around the room, filling our book boxes, and partner reading.
Mathematicians can divide shapes into equal parts.
In class we went on a "picnic". We had to divide our food into halves.
Mathematicians can use shapes to create pictures or create a new shape.
Mathematicians can sort shapes by their attributes.
We are learning about geometry in class. We explored the shapes. Then we sorted the shapes by their attributes.
Writers Can Personalize Their Writing Journal
BINGO
We played Bingo with our kindergarten words.
Readers and Writers Can.....
We are building a Reading and Writing Community in class. We will work with groups, partners, and independently in class. We will also play games and work at centers.
Writers Can........
In class we are working on building a Writing Community. We learned about the different types of writing we may read.
First Day of School!
Go Capitals!
Patience paid off for one member of our class this year!
Everything is Awesome!
Everything is COOL When You are Part of a Team!
We launched our Teamwork unit by completing a 25 piece puzzle. We worked as a team on this task.
Piece of Pizza
We used the strategy Piece of Pizza to identifiy the story elements in the story Chrysanthemum. Story elements include the characters, setting, problem, and the solution of a story.
Bayfront Park
On October 18, the First Grade went on a walking field trip to Bayfront park. It was a beautiful day. First we listened to a story that explains the food chain in the sea. The story also explained shy it is so important for people to help protect the oceans and the seas. After that we wrote in our writing journals. We wrote about what we could see, hear, smell, and feel. Then we went down on the beach to look for sharks' teeth and other treasures. Many of us found horseshoe crab shells. They must molt at this time of year. Finally it was time to go back to school. We had an eagle following us most of the way back to school. It wa a wonderful trip! Thank you to all the volunteers that helped with our trip!
A Guest Speaker
Nurse Payne spoke to the first grade. She taught us about things we can do to keep healthy. She also taught us about ways that our bodies keep us healthy.
Mathematicians Can Compose and Decompose Numbers
First graders should have "ownership" of the numbers through 10. Ownership can be achieved by composing......putting together, and decomposing.....taking apart, the numbers. If the students truly own and understand the parts that make up a number, they will understand how to use those parts for addition and subtraction.
Indoor Recess
The students look forward to indoor recess. During indoor recess we get to play with some toys that are over 25 years old! But there are the Ipads and the computers too.
Readers Can Identify Literature and Informational Text
We looked through a pile of books. Then we sorted them into Literature and Informational text. We compared and contrasted the two piles of books and developed a class definition and anchor chart of Literature and Informational Text.
Mathematicians can Compose and Decompose shapes
During our Geometry unit, we Composed and Decomposed geometric shapes. When we composed shapes, we made new shapes by combining shapes together to make new shapes. When we decomposed shapes, we took the shapes apart to see what other shapes we could see.
Roll and Dab!
We rolled an A-F dice and a 1-6 dice to locate and read words.
Sun Halos!
We got to see a Sun Halo on the Playground. Halos are rings of light that can encircle the sun or the moon, and they usually occur when a thin layer of cirrus clouds are present in the sky.
We can go for a hunt for words.
We went on a hunt around the classroom looking for short vowel sound words.
Mathematicians can compose and decompose shapes.
We have been composing and decomposing shapes in class.
Piece of Pizza
We retold the story "The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes" by Gary Rubinstein. Each student had a story element to illustrate. The students then put their story elements together and retold the story.
Roll, Read, Write!
We can roll dice and read our Kindergarten words.
Mathematicians can sort shapes by attributes.
We sorted shapes by the attributes curves and no curves.
Mathematicians can use tools.
We explored the tools in our Tool Box. We were thinking like Mathematicians.
Inner Circle Outer Circle
We discussed our thoughts about a story using a speaking and listening strategy called "Inner Circle, Outer Circle".
Concentration
We played Concentration with our Kindergarten words.
Go Go Mo!
We went on a Consonant Hunt around the room.
First Day of School 2017-2018
Tuesday, September 5, 2017 was our first day of school. It was the first time schools opened after Labor Day in all my years in Maryland.
We did an activity called "'Go Go Mo". The students were asked to write one short vowel word into the top box of each vowel sound. They then had to go around the room to interview the rest of the class to see if they had the same word; Go , Go, or a different word, Mo. The students had a GREAT TIME with this activity. They loved having the chance to move around the room and interview the other students. The class is looking forward to doing this again!
Good readers can get a picture in their mind when they listen to a story
We read Clifford the Little Red Puppy in class. We stopped several time during the story to discuss and illustrate the images the children were getting in their minds. The class was then able to retell the story by using the pictures they had drawn.
Mathematicians can use different strategies......
We have been using different strategies to help us add numbers. We have been making models and counting on.
Is it Literature or Informational Text?
In class we have been learning about the differences between literature and informational text. Each table was given a stack of books to look through. They had to decide which books were literature which were informational text, and why.
We compared and contrasted Ruby the Copycat and Stephanie's Ponytail.
Mathematicians Can........
Mathematicians can work with a partner.
Inner Circle, Outer Circle
Inviting Nature into your yard.......
We have talked about ways we could invite nature into our yard this year. I have had some visitors in my yard this year!
Wow!!!!!
Look what we saw on the playground on Friday, March 11! These pictures show a SOLAR HALO! Of course, my cell phone camera does not show how spectacular this halo really was. One of the students noticed this at lunch recess on Friday. Thankfully she alerted the teachers so we could blow our whistles and we could have all the students witness this. It was AMAZING!!!!! The students were SO EXCITED!!!!!! We do have ospreys and eagles that fly over our playground during lunch recess, and the students are so excited about that. This Solar Halo was a new experience however! For more information about Solar Halos, see the link below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22%C2%B0_halo
Thank you to all our volunteers that have helped our class this year. Our room and hallway look wonderful thanks to our volunteers!
Our Eat and Shop Local Basket for the PTA Basket Auction
Our Eat and Shop Local Basket it ready for the Basket Auction. A special thank you to all the families and businesses that made contributions to our basket. The following businesses made donations to our basket: Rod and Reel, Traders, Beverly's Gifts, Rolands, West Lawn Inn, Chesapeake's Bounty of North Beach, Karens of Calvert Florist and Gifts.