Counting Collections in Math

We used a 120 Chart to count art supplies.  Knowing your numbers to 120 is a first grade and kindergarten standard!  

You can count the pieces any way you like.  This student counted by 5's.

Then she used her chart to do the rest!

Grouping like amounts is another way to count things.

You can use your chart too!

We talked about different ways to skip count.  You can count by 2's, 5's, and 10's.

After we counted the pieces we wrote the totals on a sticky note and shared our totals.  

The Math Strategy is called Cognitively Guided Instruction (CGI). CGI is a professional development program that increases teachers' understanding of the knowledge that students bring to the math learning process and how they connect that knowledge with formal concepts and operations. 

In other words, we let the students show us what they know about a specific math topic.  In this lesson, the students showed us what they know about counting numbers.  

Air Under Water

In this experiment students found out more about air by submerging vials into basins of water.  The submerged vials had a tiny paper towel inside.   Our Science Question:  Is there air in the submerged vial?  How do you know?

First we pushed a paper towel into the bottom of the vial.

Next we submerged our vials under water.

Then we asked:  What did you do to keep the paper towel dry?

Our parent volunteers helped our students understand that air was captured in the vial and the water couldn't get into the vial as long as air was taking up the space.  

She wrote, "My favorite part was when we submerged the vial under the water.  The paper was dry because air was taking up space in the vial."

We also learned that to put something completely under water is to submerge it.

She said, "My favorite part was putting the vial in the water.  The paper towel was dry because the air was taking up the space in the vial."

We learned that air takes up space so the water can't get in and get the towel wet.

Last we wrote about our experiment.  

Air Is There Science Experiment

We gave the students a bag with a straw, styrofoam ball, cotton ball, red feather and balloon.

Students explored the objects and we encouraged them to describe what they did and how air is used.

We learned that air is a form of matter.  There are three kinds of matter:  solids, liquids and gases.  Air is an invisible mixture of gases.

We learned that air can move things from place to place.

We also learned that you can feel air when someone blows through a straw.  

We also learned that air is invisible and it takes up space.  

We has so much fun experimenting with our materials!

Focus Standards:  Students know solids, liquids, and gasses have different properties. (PS1A)

Record observations and data with pictures, numbers, or written statements.   (I & E4B)

Meet the Students!

Meet the First Grade Boys and Girls of the 2017-2018 School Year!  

(Note:  We need your signed permission slip to include your child's picture on the blog.)