Analysis and Ideas Shared

Hello First Grade Families!

This week has been full of lots of exciting momentum of thinking.  We have been brainstorming about our animal project and thinking about what elements we want to research and how to share this information when we are done.  The students were excited to let the brainstorm lead them to many ideas.  At first we began with two questions:

What would work would we do in our Animal Project?

How would we share the information we collect?

The students talked mainly about ways to research and drawing as a form of documentation.  The ways to share our info at the end ranged from a show, a book, info cards... The friends had ideas of selling the information, but then I asked what we'd do with the money.  One idea was to use it for field trips.  I asked how the money could help animals.  This lead us to brainstorm some more:

What animals might need our help?

What causes animals to become extinct or almost extinct?

Please stop into our class to check out the students ideas and stay tuned!  Next week we will come to some agreements and begin this new work.

Another idea that is growing and is connected to a lot of the work we've been involved in (water, journaling, animals) is the creation of diagrams.  I collected many examples on the internet of diagrams that show information.  The students became empowered by looking at these examples and noticing the different ways info is shared.  The students have been creating their own diagrams to explain information they want to explain.  Below you see some of their first tries showing new information.  As we continue to study other diagrams, the students will add more elements to make the information as clear and organized as possible!

 Explaining the movement of waves at the beach

 Showing how water comes from the wall to the faucet

 Showing a lake's reflection

  Explaining a frozen waterfall's parts

How the Water Treatment Plant Works

The list we wrote from our analysis discussions today.

Homework keeps coming in!  Friends have written stories and songs to share as well as taking many measurements around their house.  When friends have shared their measurements they are finding a few important factors.  We realized that it is very important to know if the measurement is feet or inches, when we look at the difference, they see how much this is!  They also realize that it is important to explain what measurement they are referring to.  Jayden explained that his couch was 28 inches high.  We looked at this amount and many thought that was a short couch.  Then Jaden explained that he meant that this measurement was the height of the arm of the couch.  This helped everyone better understand things.  

And today was Abdullah's last day before he moved to Stockton.  We had a lovely goodbye circle and some brownie treats that Abdullah's family brought.  We wish them all the best!  I hope you have a nice night!  

Love, Jennifer