February & March Curriculum
Language
This month we will practise using different types of punctuation to end a sentence (periods, question marks, exclamation marks), and when to use each one. We will continue to use adjectives in our journal writing. We will review nouns and verbs, and introduce adverbs (adjectives to describe verbs). Every week our class does a shared reading of a new Poem of the Week. Each student has a poem book at school. If you would like to practise reading our Poem of the Week at home, you can find links on the Homework tab. We will continue with our Word Study homework each week. Keep up the great work! For a fun way to practise Word Study spelling words at home, check out: Spelling City (type in spelling words and click on the free activities below, such as "spelling test" or "play a game") ... you will need functioning computer speakers to make the most of these activities! In the upcoming month, we will continue to monitor students' reading levels using the PM Benchmarks reading assessment kits. The goal for the end of the year is to have all grade 1 students reading at PM level 10. So far, our class is doing a wonderful job! There are already many students who are reading beyond, or very close to level 10. Character Education
This month at CIS, we are focusing on the Character Education trait of perseverance. Perseverance means never giving up! Always try your best, even when things are difficult. You can do it, grade 1!
Social Studies
Unit 2: The Local Community
We will continue our unit in Social Studies which focuses on the local community. Students will learn about community helpers, where they work, what they do, and the tools they use to do their job. We will learn about the importance each community helper has to the community. We will also visit some community helpers at CIS to learn about the jobs they do and why their role is important to our school. The Arts
In art class, we will introduce the concept of shape and symmetry into our art work. Students will be learning about 2-D and 3-D shapes in math, which we will incorporate into our art. We will also learn about the concept of symmetry, and will make symmetrical art creations.
In drama class, we will continue to do some "mime" practice. We will incorporate music into our drama class, and discuss emotions and movement inspired by certain types of music. Mr. John is teaching our class music this year. Students have been enjoying learning new sounds and moving around to various types of music. |
Math
Unit 7: Exploring 3-D and 2-D Shapes
We will begin our unit on 2-D and 3-D shapes by learning about shape names, attributes (number of sides, verticles, faces, etc.), and describing shapes using math terms. We will compose patterns, designs, and pictures using common shapes. We will look for shapes in both school and home environments. In addition, we will describe similarities and differences between three-dimensional figures and everyday objects (example: a water bottle looks like a cylinder). During this unit we will also locate shapes in the environment that have symmetry, and will learn how to identify the line of symmetry. At home, your child can also get more math practice at: http://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1 (Try activities under section J) http://www.turtlediary.com/grade-1-games.html http://www.sumdog.com (Use individual user name/password stapled into each student planner) Science
Unit 2: Understanding Structures & Mechanisms - Materials, Objects, and Everyday Structures
We will continue our unit on materials, objects, and structures. Students will investigate structures that are built for a specific purpose to see how their design and materials suit the purpose. We will continue to examine different materials, their properties, and how they are made. Last month, we examined the materials: plastic, wood, glass, cloth, metal and found examples of each around the school. For some interesting science videos, check out a free trial at: http://brainpop.com (Science videos) Health and Physical Education
Students will continue to practise throwing and catching skills, and we will introduce Physical Education "centres" in the gym where students can rotate through different activities to practise their skills. The class is also learning about good sportsmanship when playing games in PE and at recess time. Students have been practising to find their heart rate when engaging in physical activities. Please remember to bring reusable water bottles to gym class every Monday.
Swimming is an important part of the Physical Education program, and students will receive an individual mark on their report card for swimming. Please make sure your child is ready for swimming class every Wednesday. If your child is unable to go swimming, please provide a doctor's note. Ms. Heather is our swimming teacher this year. In health class, we will discuss the topic of bullying, and what students can do to avoid it, and how to problem solve if it does happen. Ms. Glicy, our school nurse, will be visiting our class again in the new year to discuss topics such as Hand Foot and Mouth disease, healthy eating, personal hygiene, and avoiding germs by washing hands, covering mouth when sneezing/coughing, etc. |