One more week and the Thanksgiving holiday is upon us! The first graders have thoroughly enjoyed the teepee in our classroom as they explore how Native American life must have been like years ago before the Europeans "discovered" North America. Each student has chosen an American Indian name, and a "Crayon Resist" drawing will find its way home soon to explain their choices.
The Botany study is underway, and the student leaf collections have supplied ample examples of the various ways that plants are classified….leaf shapes and leaf margins. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Please look for the first grade bulletin board to see our beautiful presentation of our study. On Monday (11-12), one of our parents, Dr. Leigh Eidson, will come talk to the science class about his extensive vegetable garden. This will coincide wonderfully with the study of the Four Food Groups this week before Thanksgiving. Last week most of the students tasted the different parts of plants that we eat as vegetables: ROOTS... carrots and beets; STEMS… celery and asparagus; LEAVES…lettuce and spinach; FLOWERS…cauliflower and broccoli; FRUIT…pomegranate "jewels." Add some ranch dressing and almost anything tastes great!!
Sunday is Veterans Day, and as we pause as a nation to remember and thank those who serve in the military, I want to personally thank those in our first grade family that are serving or who have served to protect our freedoms. May God protect you, bless you, and grant you the peace that surpasses all understanding.
The students are turning their thoughts to thankfulness this coming week. When sadness and despair try to overtake our thoughts, all we need to do is remember the many blessings we DO have. This simple exercise always seems to cheer me up and give me a grateful heart before the Creator, from Whom all blessings flow. May this holiday bring each of you wonderful memories as well as a humble and thankful heart for all we have here in America. My prayer for the first graders is that they realize how many people contribute to their well being, and how much sacrifice is made (from those who love them) toward their happiness.
Spelling Words for the week: of, said, only, you, thank, thanked, thanking, grin, grinned, grinning
Some spelling rules we are learning: (C-consonant V-vowel)
1) CVCC plus ending : When a word has only one vowel and ends in more than one consonant,
just add the ending (-ed -ing) Example: thank, thanked, thanking
Other examples: help, helped, helping; wish wished, wishing
2) CVC plus ending: When a word has only one vowel and ends in only one consonant,
DOUBLE the consonant and then add the ending (-ed -ing) Example: grin, grinned, grinning
Other examples: drop, dropped, dropping; step, stepped, stepping
Hope to see you at the Sharing Feast on Friday, November 16. You will soon be contacted to contribute a batch of dressing for the festivities.
Blessings,
Mrs. E
