Merry Map Making

Social Studies Learning Targets - map key or legend, title (capitalized and underlined), symbols, compass rose (cardinal directions), visual planning and design... oh, ya, and so much imagination!

Stocking Symmetry

fine motor skills

locating the lines of symmetry

measurement - marking 2 centimeter increments with skip counting

more fine motor skills - paper punching and lacing

Ta-da!  The blending of cross-curricular skills!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Ok, so these don't meet at least five standards and you can't find the grade level and strand listed on the back of their shoes, but they made us feel HOLLY JOLLY.  They built a sense of community.  They were the focal point of spontaneous singing and joyful conversation.  They were a springboard for compliments and giggles. You won't find those on the state standards.  

Composting At Its Best

And the third little pig built his house from bricks.....

First Graders finished up the Pebbles, Sand, and Silt unit with a culminating activity.  We took the bricks we made a month ago and placed them outside in our School Forest.  

We had in depth discussions about the materials and methods used.  What makes a solid brick?  Which bricks held up and which didn't?  Will they endure the winter?  

Separating Solids

The best learning feels like play

The purpose of this lesson was to compare the properties of solids based on their sizes.

The focus of this lesson was that solids can be separated.  An additional concept was discovered.  Like liquids, small solids can be poured.

Scientists use tools in science processes.