First we estimated (guessed) how many M & M's were in our cups.

Next, we counted the M & M's.

Then we grouped the M & M's by color.

Then we graphed how many of each color.

And last... we got to eat the M & M's.

Fun project!

Each child estimated how many M & M's they had in their cup.  After guessing, they actually counted the M & M's.  Next they grouped the candies by color and counted how many of each color.  Then we graphed how many of each color, learning that to color in a graph, we start at the bottom and add one more square on top.  We compared which color had the most, the least and the same amount.  Then finally, we ate the M & M's .  Yummy!  What a fun way to learn many math skills!

Welcome to school!  Welcome to Mrs. Stites' First Grade Class!  We are ready for First Grade! 

Welcome to my First grade blog.  Let me introduce myself.   My name is Joi Stites.  I have worked in the Northwestern School system at Howard School for about 33 years.  I have taught first grade in the very same classroom all those years.  My son, mom, dad and I took a vacation out west to see Yellowstone.  It was a wonderful trip.  The mountains were beautiful. 
Now I am all rested up and ready for the upcoming year.  I'm looking forward to spending lots of time helping my First graders experience and learn many new things.

Thanksgiving centers in both 1st grades

Making a button yo-yo toy.

Grinding wheat in order to have flour to make our bread.

Button toy yo-yo.

Ball and cup toy.

Grinding wheat.

The 2nd round of children making the button yo-yo toy.

Trying to catch the ball in the cup.

You have to spin and spin and spin it to make it go like a yo-yo.

It's fun to make things like they did in the olden days!

Making Bread

We followed the recipe to make whole wheat no knead bread.

We needed to add eggs.

The yeast makes the bread rise.

We learned how to measure 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/4 cup. 1/3 cup.

The dough is ready to bake.

The bread looks yummy!

Now we will make our butter out of cream.

This is the ginder we used to grind our wheat.

We have to shake the cream a long time to make the butter.

We are good cooks.  What a fun learning experience!

Thanksgiving activities

Learning sign language using our reading vocabulary words.

Playing Turkey Trot Bingo and learning words with blends.

Learning to make the letters in sign language.

Weaving a mat like the Native Americans did.

Making a pattern for our mats.

Weaving is fun.

What is this word?

 

We made hornbooks, tee-pees, shell necklaces, a headband with feathers and a moccasin game. 

Special Student of the week

Our special student of the week lives in a white house with a playroom with his mom, his dad, and his little brother.  He has dogs named Tucker and Luca.  His favorite color is green because it is a really nice color.  His favorite subject is math because it helps him learn and it is fun.  His favorite TV show is ‘Tom and Jerry’ and his favorite book is I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean.  He likes to eat pizza, chicken nuggets and his mom’s Fettuccine Alfredo.  He likes to play with his little brother and play super heroes.  He feels happy when he is with his little brother.  He likes to dress up like a super hero, especially Captain America.  When he grows up, he wants to be an Army man because he can fight for this country and protect his family.  If he could go anywhere in the world, he would go to Germany or the beach and look for sunken ships and treasure.  He feels happy when he is with his little brother.  He feels he is special because he helps his little brother.  He feels the best thing about him is that he is a good big brother.

50th Day of School

The children came dressed like they did in the 50's on the 50th day of school!



We counted up to the 50th day of school.  And now we are celebrating by wearing clothing like in the 1950's.



We had 6 centers all about what happened in the 1950's.  We played Hopscotch.

The children learned to Hula Hoop!

The children jumped rope to many rhymes.  Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around.  Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear touch the ground.

In one room we learned to play Jacks.  You throw a ball up and try to get several jacks before you catch the ball.

We learned how to play Pick up Sticks.  Be careful not to move any other sticks!

We put together a 50 piece puzzle of the 50 United States.

We made and decorated a picture frame for pictures of us in our 50's day outfits.

We went to a drive in movie in one room.  We ordered hotdogs, potato chips and a rootbeer float!

We read Dick and Jane books while we were in the library.
What a fun day celebrating 50 days of school!