Grade 1 Units this Month: September
Mathematics:
Unit 1 : Sorting and Patterning
Our Learning Goals this unit:
Your child can practise these concepts at home by doing the following activities:
Our Learning Goals this unit:
- Recognize attributes. Children look for things they think have something in common. For example, they may choose objects that are the same colour, size, or shape.
- Describe and draw patterns.
- Talk about a patterning rule.
- Use one attribute to make a pattern.
Your child can practise these concepts at home by doing the following activities:
- Make a colour pattern using different-coloured crayons or markers (green, green, yellow; green, green, yellow; green, green, yellow).
- Sort laundry or grocery items into groups with your child (all socks, all shirts; Dad's clothes, Mom's clothes; colours, whites, darks). Talk about how the items in each group are the same. Discuss other ways to sort the items.
- Ask your child to sort cutlery when you set the table. Ask what is the same and what is different about the items (forks have tines, all pieces have the same handles).
- Collect various shoes at home and put them into a pile. Ask your child "What is the same about some of them?" Ask your child to choose a way sort them (summer/winter; laces/Velcro; adult/child). Ask "How did you decide what to put in each pile?" Ask "Is there another way we could sort them?"
- Go on a pattern hunt at home with your child. See how many things you can find that have patterns (sweaters, socks, rugs, dishes). Ask your child to describe the pattern.
Drama with Miss Brew
Social Studies: Rule, Relationships, and Responsibilities
In Social Studies, we are getting to know each other with our unit Getting Along. We are discussing what rules we will need to get along in the classroom and at school, how the rules are different in different places, and how rules change as we grow up. We will talk about the relationships we have with the important people in our lives: family, friends, coaches, teachers, neighbours, etc.
Science
We will be studying Science in rotation with Social Studies and Health units.
We will be studying Science in rotation with Social Studies and Health units.
Health
We will be studying Health in rotation with Social Studies and Science units.
Writing
Sentence Writing
We are learning about what makes a sentence a sentence: a person or thing word, a doing word, punctuation at the end of the sentence, a capital letter at the beginning of every sentence. This will lead to story writing!
Journal Writing
We are learning how to make a journal entry sentence to write about our experiences. We write in our journal almost daily. You can support your child's writing by talking about what your child wrote today, or by suggesting an idea for a journal from their after school experiences. "You worked hard at practise tonight! You should tell Mrs. Brush about it in your journal tomorrow."
Phonics
Our phonics program is about learning letter sounds and how they go together to make words a few at a time. As we learn words, they will be posted on the Phonics Word Wall tab above. See the Word Wall page for ideas for how you can "play with your words" to learn the sounds and remember the spellings of these words and words just like them (word families).
Printing
Yes, even in this digital age, I still teach printing. Until every child has a laptop at his/her disposal all day at school, and until the need for fine motor skills becomes completely outdated, I will continue to teach printing. Clear, readable expression of ideas is part of your child's Communication mark in all subject areas, and, although technology is moving very rapidly, I'll bet that all tests in your child's elementary school career will be hand-written. In addition, fine motor skills are a key prerequisite for many jobs and careers -- tool and mold makers, surgeons, chefs, musicians, nurses, pipe-fitters, electricians, mechanics, assemblers, and many high tech industry jobs as well to name just a few.
There are efficient and inefficient ways to hold a pencil or other writing tool. If your child is demonstrating an inefficient grasp, I will let you know and we will work together to prevent muscle cramps and improve dexterity. There are also the correct ways to form letters that will prepare your child for learning cursive writing in Grade 3. Capital letters are now only for the beginnings of names and sentences. Please encourage your child to use lower case letters.
We are learning about what makes a sentence a sentence: a person or thing word, a doing word, punctuation at the end of the sentence, a capital letter at the beginning of every sentence. This will lead to story writing!
Journal Writing
We are learning how to make a journal entry sentence to write about our experiences. We write in our journal almost daily. You can support your child's writing by talking about what your child wrote today, or by suggesting an idea for a journal from their after school experiences. "You worked hard at practise tonight! You should tell Mrs. Brush about it in your journal tomorrow."
Phonics
Our phonics program is about learning letter sounds and how they go together to make words a few at a time. As we learn words, they will be posted on the Phonics Word Wall tab above. See the Word Wall page for ideas for how you can "play with your words" to learn the sounds and remember the spellings of these words and words just like them (word families).
Printing
Yes, even in this digital age, I still teach printing. Until every child has a laptop at his/her disposal all day at school, and until the need for fine motor skills becomes completely outdated, I will continue to teach printing. Clear, readable expression of ideas is part of your child's Communication mark in all subject areas, and, although technology is moving very rapidly, I'll bet that all tests in your child's elementary school career will be hand-written. In addition, fine motor skills are a key prerequisite for many jobs and careers -- tool and mold makers, surgeons, chefs, musicians, nurses, pipe-fitters, electricians, mechanics, assemblers, and many high tech industry jobs as well to name just a few.
There are efficient and inefficient ways to hold a pencil or other writing tool. If your child is demonstrating an inefficient grasp, I will let you know and we will work together to prevent muscle cramps and improve dexterity. There are also the correct ways to form letters that will prepare your child for learning cursive writing in Grade 3. Capital letters are now only for the beginnings of names and sentences. Please encourage your child to use lower case letters.
Physical Education