I am so happy to say that we all thoroughly enjoyed our first week of school! Wow! What a whirlwind! I was in my pajamas most days by 8:00pm!! {I’m sure that a lot of you feel my pain! hahaha}
We spent much of the week going over procedures and expectations. We practiced Literacy Centers and Math Bins and also worked on our handwriting. Of course on Friday we completed our first Science experiment. This year my class is very heavy on boys and they were thrilled to do a Science experiment. (The girls loved it as well!)
This week I introduced my students to “work mats.” We reviewed CVC words and using our manipulatives. The boys below are working on CVC mats by Lori over at Teaching with Love and Laughter. You can get them here if you are interested. This was a great, easy activity for my new first graders. They loved the hands on activity and they could successfully sound out the words.
Another center this week was CVC puzzles. Again, this puzzle is by Lori and my students LOVED this. This is a great first week activity as it is self correcting!
I also began our handwriting instruction. We played this really fun game that my kids LOVED. After going over and practicing how to make the “ball,” (as in ball and stick letters) I grouped my students into three teams.
They made lines at the board behind their handwriting mats and their challenge was to trace my “o” carefully. Then they had to pass their marker to the next friend in line and go to the end of their line. I told them this is NOT a race, instead, it is a challenge to see which team can be the most supportive and careful.
They silently traced their letters and encouraged their friends with smiles and thumbs up.
Here they are saying good job with the thumbs up! They were so sweet and kind and really enjoyed this! Plus it let me help my students form their letters correctly.
On Thursday I introduced “Read to a Buddy.” I use this often in my classroom so it was important that I taught them the correct way to read with a friend. They really enjoyed sharing their favorite books with their new friends.
On Friday I introduced what a Scientist is and how to use some of our Science tools. I did a mini-lesson on how to use a magnifying glass because children normally think they need to put them close to their eyes. I told them to find a cut or birthmark on their body and showed them how to “inspect” it with a magnifying glass.
This was a huge hit!!
Then we were ready for our Science experiment! As you know, I start my year of Science experiments with the milk experiment. I always set it up in advance b/c we are still learning self control and patience! I use yogurt tops to put the Dawn dish soap in and put Q-tips for each student in the cups.
I start my mini lesson showing my students all of the ingredients we are going to use:
Milk
Dish Soap
Q-tips
Food Coloring
I then ask them what they PREDICT is going to happen. I then send them back to their desks to draw what they think is going to happen.
“I predict it is going to change colors!”
“I predict it is going to EXPLODE!”
“I predict that it will turn lots of colors!”
Then I model the experiment whole group. This class GASPED when the saw what happened! (PRICELESS!!)
Afterwards, I partner my students up and let them explore!
They LOVED it!!
This Science experiment is part of my Making Predictions Science Unit but you can get it for free here:
(just click on the picture to get taken to it!)
Next week we will start our curriculum and get into our daily schedule. This year our specials and lunch time changed so my schedule now looks like this:
Here are my visual lesson plans for the week. We will be using Reagan’s Daily Math packet as our morning work. This was a huge hit last year and it helped my students master their math concepts quickly and easily.
You might be wondering what the “short vowel song is.” It is to the tune of “Are you Sleeping?” and it goes:
A says a, a
E says e, e,
I says i, i, i, i
O says o, o
U says u, u
a, e, i , o, u
a, e, i , o, u
(where I wrote the vowels in lowercase you sing their short sound.)
another version goes:
A says a, a
E says e, e,
I says i, i, i, i
O says o, o
U says u, u
now I know my vowels
yes, I know my vowels
My theme this week is “shapes and colors.” I will be using activities from my friend Vickie’s shape pack. Holy cuteness, I love it! She has so many really adorable activities in it!
We will definitely have a blast with these activities!!
We are still working on becoming a first grade expert from Lyndsey’s pack. My students are loving the cute stories and refer to the characters often! I will continue to introduce the experts next week!
My centers will look like this:
You can download my visual plans by clicking on any of the pictures or here. Once you download it there are hyperlinks where the words are. If you click on the words, it will take you to the activity!
I’m linking up my visual plans with Deedee from Mrs. Wills Kindergarten. Click on the picture to get taken to see more visual lesson plans!
I hope you enjoyed a peek at my week last week and my upcoming week. If you start on Monday– good luck!! 🙂
I have the most amazing friends ever!!!! Just saying!
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I am a homeschoolwr and use or adapt LOTS of your amazing ideas! Thank you so much for being so generous, and for all of the wonderful inspiration!!!!
I am a homeschoolwr and use or adapt LOTS of your amazing ideas! Thank you so much for being so generous, and for all of the wonderful inspiration!!!!
I am a homeschoolwr and use or adapt LOTS of your amazing ideas! Thank you so much for being so generous, and for all of the wonderful inspiration!!!!
I am a homeschoolwr and use or adapt LOTS of your amazing ideas! Thank you so much for being so generous, and for all of the wonderful inspiration!!!!
I love the team handwriting idea . . . I really, REALLY LOVE it!!!! Going to roll with this one next week. Thanks for the inspiration my friend.
Kristen, you are such a fun teacher! I love your activities and schedule and pictures and everything about you! Thanks for sharing how amazing you are!
Lori
Teaching With Love and Laughter
luvyorkies@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing the great science experiment! I am going to do it with my students next week!
Thanks again,
Shelly
Smiling and Shining in Second Grade
Wow! Looks like you and your kiddos were busy with LOTS of fun stuff during your first week back! Love the science investigations -such a fun way to get started with science for the year! Have a great weekend!
🙂 Tamra and Sarah
First Grade Buddies
Looks like a great time!!! Your kiddos are lucky to have ya! 😉
ღDeAnne
First Grade and Fabulous
I love seeing friends in your plans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Megan
Mrs. Wheeler’s First Grade
Mrs. Wheeler TpT
Oh my word! Girl! What an amazing post! Thank you for linking up with me!
Looks like you’ve got some cutie shapes ideas. Going to check them out..
Jayne
Smart Kids
Oh and to add to my last comment…my daughter is an auditory learner..thank you for posting the math songs!! That made my job homeschooling much easier!
I guess my first comment didn’t post…so thank you for posting everything. I am homeschooling and I use your resources and ideas to create curriculum for my daughter. Thank you for the inspiration! Thank you for your hard work!!
Love your organization! and weekly science!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful gifts of ideas.