February FUN!
Ok, parents. I have to tell you just how SMART your children are! Not that you didn't already know, but it's always good to hear. We have had the most insightful conversations this week! Our learning this week focused a lot around the topics of slavery and freedom. It's Black History Month, and we spent a lot of time learning about Henry Brown and Ruby Bridges.
We read Henry's Freedom Box----you can watch it here! It is a true, and really gripping story from the underground railroad about a boy sold into slavery for his entire life, until he decides to take action and seek freedom. He was so clever! Our hearts were heavy when we learned about what it meant to be a slave, how slaves were treated, and how families were separated. Our young ones feel all the emotions when they try to imagine such life.
We had discussions that lasted so long, we went over our allotted time! Everyone was that into it! Here are the discussion questions:
*Who are the characters? What is the setting? What is the problem/solution?
*What does it mean when Nancy says, “sell the children”? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
*Why did Henry nod instead of saying thank you to his master? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
*Explain what is happening on the 2nd to last page. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
*Compare how Henry feels when his parents got sold to how he feels at the end of the story. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
*What does the author mean when she wrote, “at last Henry had a birthday, his first day of Freedom”? How does this support the message of the story? Use evidence from the story to support your answer.
These questions led to conversations and student questions about how slavery ended. Who ended it? Why? Kenyon knew that "Abraham Lincoln signed a paper that said slavery was not allowed anymore". So then we learned a little about the Emancipation Proclamation. I tell you, the conversations and questions from readers couldn't have been more perfect---I wish I could/would have made a video recording of it! Their written responses this week were astounding. Look for them to come home this week. These kids make me proud!
Later in the week, we also learned about Ruby Bridges. Students in first grade can really connect with Ruby Bridges because she was a first grader who changed the world! It's always really neat to show students what an impact children have on the world, and that they have the power social action!
Check out the slideshow and interactive magazine article we read about Ruby Bridges!
Watch her story here!
We have also had a running theme of kindness this week. We are really working on being kind to one another with our words and actions. Here are some fun kindness videos we've been watching to get in the right mindset as we come together as a classroom family each morning!
We also have a lot of word work going on. These students are playing sight word hide and seek. There is a tiny tennis racket hidden behind one of the tennis ball words and students must read a word to try to find the racket on their turn. What a fun way to practice "ball words" and cooperative learning skills!
A great big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in Boo Grams in October. All those quarters added up and we were able to purchase a class set of word building mats for both first grade classrooms to share. These mats cost nearly $400.00!!! We are so thankful that the school participates in these little fundraisers, because they make a great big difference in classroom materials and resources. Did you know teachers only get a $200/year classroom budget? That hardly buys construction paper for the year, tape, paint, and other small office supplies.
I am SO grateful for your contributions to the supply list at the beginning of the year (we are still going strong on supplies, thanks to all of you!!), and for your support of other fundraisers! You are all amazing!!!
We have figured out how to use word tiles to build fun sentences! Students enjoy using the tiles to build silly sentences----and good combination of being a reader and writer!
Also, a GREAT BIG THANK YOU! to Mrs. Weatherall, Miss Allie, and Lydia's mom (Katie Clough) for all the laminating and cutting of the letter cards, as well as assembling all the mats in alphabetical order so that they were ready to go for the students! Your help is greatly appreciated!
Lastly, I'd love to hear from YOU! What are you most proud of your child for this school year so far? You can leave your parent pride comment below!
