FEBRUARY
We're celebrating Groundhog's Day! What are your predictions? Will spring be here sooner?...or Will winter last longer? Chuck, the Staten Island groundhog predicts that Spring will come sooner......what is your prediction? The girls made their own predictions and then also watched a replay of the news via the SmartBoard. We saw how Phil from Pennsylvania predicted more winter, but Chuck, the Staten Island groundhog disagreed....We explored the difference in weather between the two states. The girls learned some interesting characteristics and facts about groundhogs. They will also experiment with a source of light to learn about how shadows are made.
Additional topics of study for this month will include:
The 100th Day of School will be on February 9th!!!!!!!!!!!!! The girls have been counting since September and are super excited for this day. They will count out a collection of 100 of the same items, which we will weigh and compare. They will make a book of 100 stamps, as we review the concept of 10 groups of 10 to equal 100. They will make a snack of 100 small food items as they use a paper template to count out 10 groups of 10. We will count out 100 cents by pennies and dimes. The girls will sing some fun songs about being in school for 100 days and it will be a great celebration of 100 days of learning and fun!
We will celebrate Valentine's Day by learning how to write a letter to our parents and our 8th grade big sisters. The girls will also learn about their heart. We will experiment with why and when our heart beats fast and slow, and healthy food choices to keep our heart healthy.
February is Dental Health month, so we will learn all about proper care of our teeth. We will discuss why we have teeth (how they help us smile, talk, eat; baby vs. adult teeth) and the teeth that different animals have. The girls will compare/contrast through a sorting/classification activity a healthy tooth and food/habits that are good for our teeth vs. a sad tooth with a cavity and foods/habits that are not good for our teeth.
In honor of President's Day, we will learn some interesting facts about two very important Presidents: Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. They will also become familiar with our current President, Obama. We will begin our simple math study and recognition of coins and counting money (pennies, dimes, dollar). We will find both faces of the Presidents on the money, learn how to count it, and play "bank" where we can exchange (10 pennies for a dime.....10 dimes for one dollar...etc.)...100 cents equals one dollar.
In math, we will work with geometric shapes; count to 100 in many ways; simple measurement; sorting; weighing; equal parts (simple fractions); recognition of number words.
We will continue to strengthen our phonics and phonemic awareness skills as we continue to prepare for the Rigby leveled readers, and continue to gain confidence in our reading strategies and writing skills. This month, students will learn about "talking marks", the comma, and some new high frequency words (said; too; from; love; going/goes; come; us). They will be introduced to /ch/, /sh/, /th/, -ing, and some blends: cl, bl, fl, gl, pl, sl; gr, fr, tr, br, cr, dr.
In religion, the girls will briefly learn about the season of Lent, as Ash Wednesday falls over our Winter break.
In a very short month, we have lots of fun and exciting things planned!
Please take note of some important dates:
Feb. 3: Half day: Show and Tell day
Feb. 8: Uniform measurement day
Feb.9: 100th day of school!
Feb. 10: Chicken tender lunch / Fancy Nancy illustrator comes to VA!
Feb. 14: Bake sale
Feb. 17: Pizza lunch
Feb. 20 - 24: Mid-Winter Recess!
