It is hard to believe that this semester is already coming to a close! The second quarter grading period also ends on Friday making the school year officially half over.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our botany unit in science. Last week we slipped old socks over our shoes to observe how many different kinds of seeds we could collect while running through a field. I will be sending home all of the science journals, so that the activities we have done all semester may be shared with family members; however, please send them right back! We still have a full spring semester of life science and physical science waiting to be recorded in those journals. Most of the science lessons included active student participation…sorting leaves (by margins, shapes, and vein patterns), eating different parts of plants, constructing a human skeleton, experimenting with echolocation, determining what things in the classroom are made of matter, dissecting a seed, dissecting a flower, measuring and predicting, etc. First and Second graders joined to explore science together, and the extra minds really inspire great conversations and questions. (A couple of students are still not convinced that AIR is made of matter! The debate rages on!)

When we return in January, the focus and tempo of our lessons will intensify. This may require a little more help from parents with home lessons, as a few new routines will be introduced. Please be expecting a "First Grade Report for the Spring Semester" to be sent to you by email during the holidays, so everyone will be ready to dive into learning in January.

My prayer is that your family will have a safe and memorable holiday, as we strive to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. Over the last few years two films have touched me deeply, and now I watch them both often, especially during the Christmas season. The first is simply called The Nativity Story (www.thenativitystory.com) by New Line Cinema. It depicts the birth of our Lord in a very personal and authentic manner. The second is  The Star of Bethlehem produced by Stephen McEveety. In this presentation, an amateur astronomer uses modern technology (possible because of what we now understand about the precision of planetary motion) to visit the skies of ancient times, and what he finds is breathtaking. These videos were not made with first graders in mind, but I hope your family has an opportunity to watch them, nonetheless. Perhaps you will add them to your Christmas traditions as I have :)

Don't forget to come to the Christmas Class Party on Friday, December 21, if you are able to join us. The starting time for the festivities has been moved to earlier in the morning to include more activities.

I hope to see you all there!

Spelling Words for the Week: boy, two, girl, about, hope, hoped, hoping, smile, smiled, smiling

Spelling Rule: For CVCe words (consonant-vowel-consonant-silent e), the silent e is dropped before adding the suffixes -ed and -ing. Also, the vowels in these CVCe words are usually LONG.

Praying for Connecticut families,
Mrs. E

Hanukkah began at sundown yesterday with its rich traditions that are celebrated world-wide by our Jewish friends. This holiday lasts for eight days, and so this week our class will be learning about several observances (common games and recipes) of this time in the Jewish year, as well as its origin. Christ's earthly life was full of these feasts and holy days, and as we study them further, we can see how He fulfills the expectant spirit surrounding these celebrations. I hope your first grader enjoys learning about Hanukkah this week!

Don't forget to attend the Christmas program on Tuesday, December 11th, at 6:30pm. Vicki Boyd asks for Christmas Sunday attire for this event.

Please help us plan a memorable Christmas party for the first graders. You will be contacted very soon with ways you can be a part of this celebration. Students are preparing a small presentation for anyone who can attend on that day, Friday, December 21st, at 10:30am. Early dismissal at 11:30am follows the party that day. Hope you can join us!

Spelling Words for the Week (Finally!!):
  good, very, want, cute, flute, joke, choke, broke, kite, white

Please don't forget to send a small package of your favorite potpourri to school for a special Christmas project. Thanks!

Blessings,
Mrs. E

Scripture memorized as a child stays with that individual for all his life; whereas, scripture learned as an adult must be reviewed frequently. For this reason the first grade class is learning several passages of the Bible as well as Patriotic Songs during this school year. This month we are learning portions of Luke Chapter 2, the Christmas Passage. We will very soon compile these works of recitation in a Song and Poetry Book for you. I am very certain you will be amazed!

In science we are learning about the SEED this week. Your student will be eating sugar snap peas, edamame, sunflower seeds, and mixed nuts. Don't be surprised if your first grader will be interested in starting a spring garden next year. Dr. Eidson really inspired us with his vegetable garden. We have already started by sprouting pumpkin seeds in the classroom!

This Thursday, December 6th, our class is scheduled to go on a Field Trip to the CAC. Please let me know if you are available to transport students that morning around 10 am.

I am also in need of the following items:
  1- a small bag of your favorite potpourri.
  2- a bag of candy for a project to be done at our Class Christmas Party, Dec 21. An email will go out with a list of specific candies, so you can sign up for one.
  3- volunteers for our class Christmas Party. Please let me know if you are able to attend and help.

Christmas Program is December 11th at 6:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Mrs. E.