Dear Parents,
During the month of November, K/1 took some time to discuss gratitude and think about all that makes us happy, healthy and secure in the world. We read books on the theme, such as The Awesome Book of Thanks, Last Stop on Market Street, Little Beauty, and The Thankful Book, and talked about what makes us feel good and what we are thankful for. Everyday this month, we spent part of our day talking and writing about these things. At the end of the month, each student had created a heartfelt gratitude journal with writing and illustrations. The class also learned about the Thanksgiving origin story and how it evolved into the holiday we celebrate today, but our main focus was on gratitude and trying to incorporate a little into our lives each day.
In addition to their gratitude journals, the students in K/1 continued with their writing workshop work, with first grade working on completing their narrative stories and kindergarten writing about topics that they know a lot about. In support of kindergarten's work, both classes listened to a nonfiction book about fish and noted how the author made choices about what information to share and how to organize it across the pages of the book. We noticed captions, labels, pictures and other useful information.
In science this month, both classes continued their units on animals and plants. First grade worked to create an umbrella that could withstand wind, using trees as their models. Kindergarten learned about how animals protect themselves from danger and how they survive in their habitats.
K/1 participated in our Community Day, assembling toiletry kits for Friends in Deed's Women's Room. The students enjoyed putting together the bags and also working together to create a poster of our midah.
In math, first grade worked on solving subtraction problems using addition and solving for an unknown number. Kindergarten worked on counting and writing numbers through 10 and one more and one less than a number.
We hope you were able to see the students perform the Turkey Tango! They worked diligently to learn the dance and enjoyed it so much that they asked Ms. Feldman for permission to perform it for the school. I think they did a wonderful job!
In Hebrew this month, we concentrated on the book "Yeled Katan Halakh LaGan" (a beloved folktale about a young boy going to school. ) We learned the names for all the animals the boy meet on his way and greeted. As the weather changes we are talking about and checking the weather every day. First grade finished the second Ariot book and will be starting the third one.
In Jewish Studies, the students learned about the stories of Noah and the flood, the Tower of Babel, and the life of Avram (Abraham) and Sarai (Sarah). After reading the stories and listening to several versions of each one, we have been working collaboratively on collage murals illustrating
the stories. The children gain a deeper understanding of the stories through this process. These are hanging in the Art Room if you'd like to see them.
It was great seeing everyone for student learning conferences. I really enjoy sharing the students' progress with you.
I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving break!
Sincerely,
Ms. Ricci
