The Night Sky

Using Nearpod, a fun interactive program, student's will explore the night sky.  They will have the opportunity to test their basic knowledge of the moon, draw the eight phases of the moon, discover new constellations, watch a video clip of the stars, and learn about the North Star (Polaris).

2nd Grade Utah Core Science Standard 2:  Earth and Space Science.  Students will gain an understanding of Earth and Space Science though the study of Earth materials, celestial movement, and weather. Objective 2:  Observe and record recognizable objects and patterns in the night sky.
Ed Tech Standard 6:  Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and to communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning and for the pursuit of personal interest.

Butterfly Life Cycle

The Four Stages of a Butterfly's Life Cycle

I love the slogan of Educreations.  "Educreations is a community where anyone can teach what they know and learn what they don't."  I think this is a great tool for students.  I used this tool for a presentation on the four stages of a butterfly's life cycle.  After students watch and learn about the egg, larva, pupa, and adult stages we will have a short matching worksheet to see how well they remember the information.  They can go back through the presentation or discuss with other students.  I used the information from www.learnaboutnature.com for most of the content of my presentation and for students who want to learn more about butterflies or other insects this is a great resource!  I will post the link to the butterfly website at the bottom of this page.  I also used some of Eric Carle's book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" which is a great book to help solidify this life cycle and the metamorphosis that takes place.

Utah core Life Science Standard 4:  Students will gain an understanding of Life Science though the study of changes in organisms over time and the nature of living things.  Objective 1:  Tell how external features affect an animals' ability to survive in its environment.

Ed Tech Standard 8:  Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

For more information see: http://www.thebutterflysite.com/life-cycle.shtml#sthash.QkGlao5p.dpuf

Children's Genres

Through out the year we will be reading a wide range of text types.  The different styles of writing we are going to review are:  Picture Books, Picture Storybooks, Traditional Literature (folktales, fairy tales, fables, legends, and myths), Historical Fiction, Modern Fantasy, Realistic Fiction, Non-Fiction, Biographies, and Poetry.  The Google presentation is focused on these writing styles and gives examples of each genre.


Utah Reading Literature Core Standard 5:  Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.

Ed Tech Standard 4:  Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, to remediate sill deficits, and to facilitate learning throughout the curriculum.

Figures In Our Nations History

Using bubbl.us (a mind mapping tool) students will have the opportunity to learn more about the figures in our Nations history who highlight honesty, kindness, and responsibility which are the elements of good citizenship.  After viewing the Mind Map I would like students to make a mind map of their own using Thomas Jefferson as the central point for the first mind map and second put their name as the central point and give examples of of qualities that make them a good citizen.

Mind Map

Utah Second Grade Social Studies Core Standard 2 (Citizenship): Students will recognize and practice civic responsibility in the community, state, and nation. Objective 1:Examine civic responsibility and demonstrate good citizenship.  Describe characteristics of being a good citizen through the examples of historic figures.

Ed Tech Standard 5: Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Point of View

Using the tool Prezi students will be able to explore First Person point of view in different children's stories.  After reading the excerpts from various stories they will be asked to determine who is telling the story in each one.  The answers follow at the end of the Prezi.


Utah Core Reading Standard 6: Identify who is telling a story at various points in a text.
Ed Tech Standard 6: Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning and for pursuit of personal interests.

National Landmarks

We are using ThingLink as a fun tool for this unit while we study National Landmarks.   As the students use the mouse to scroll over the country they will be able to watch and listen to videos, see pictures, and read about some of our Nations most famous landmarks.  After students have had a chance to look through the landmarks that I have chosen, see if there are others that are important but not discussed above.  I would love to hear which ones should be added to our list and as a class we can decide which other National Landmarks we should study.  Students will be able to help edit this map and add other key elements to make this a more comprehensive map of our National Landmarks.

Utah Social Studies Core Standard 2: Students will recognize their roles and responsibilities in the school and in the neighborhood. Objective 3: Identify National Landmarks

Ed Tech Standard 5: Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Newsletter

The first issue of our class newsletter is being sent out to parents/students this week.  This issue focuses on responsible behaviors for the health and safety of our students.  Please read through the newsletter and discuss the contents with your children.  You will find information on healthy eating, the importance of physical activity, and some information on harmful and helpful substances.  If you have further questions please refer to the websites posted in the newsletter or contact Miss Walpole through her e-mail also listed at the bottom of the newsletter.  I look forward to a great year!

Miss Walpole's Newsletter: Issue 1

Utah Integrated Core Standard 1: Students will develop a sense of self.  Objective 1: Describe and practice responsible behaviors for health and safety.
Ed Tech Standard 8:  Use technology resources for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

Teaching Ideas and Activities

Pinterest is a great tool to use for teachers.  The following link contains a variety of ideas for the classroom, lesson plans, art activities, science projects, writing activities and so much much more.  Click the link below to access my Pinterest board and see my pins associated with teaching.

Pinterest Board

Ed Tech Standard 6:  Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of direct and independent learning and for pursuit of personal interests.

The Earth's Seasons

Using the web tool Animoto students will be able to explore the seasons by viewing and reading a poem attached to each season describing them in the video presentation.

Utah Core Curriculum Grade 1 Science Standard 2:  The students will be able to identify characteristics of the seasons as they read, observe, discuss and explore information.  Objective 3: Compare and contrast seasonal weather changes.

Ed Tech Standard 8: Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

Utah State Symbols, Documents, and Landmarks

It's time to get excited about the great state of UTAH!  Tiki-Toki is a fun and interactive tool that students can use to view a timeline of some of Utah's important historical documents, state symbols, and landmarks.  While viewing the timeline students can click on the various documents, symbols, or landmarks to learn more, see additional information, pictures, and videos.

Timeline of Utah Symbols, Documents, and Landmarks

Social Studies Utah Core Standard 2: (Citizenship):  Students will recognize their roles and responsibilities in the school and in the neighborhood.  Objective 3C:  Identify Utah state symbols, documents, and landmarks.
Ed Tech Standard 8:  Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

Ivan the Inventor

Ivan the Inventor is a children's story about a little boy with big dreams.  He leaves his home in search of a way to bring his inventions to life.  He meets a friend who helps him along the way and discovers that nothing is impossible.

Ivan the Inventor Story Book

Ed Tech Standard 8:  Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem solving, self-directed learning, and extended learning activities.

Utah Core Standard: English Language Arts: Grade 1

Reading: Literature Standard 7:  Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

The Water Cycle

I hope the students enjoy studying the water cycle using Glogster.  This is a fun and interactive program where they will have the opportunity to ready a story about a rain drop  named "Drip," go on an adventure with Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus, listen to the water song, and see the water cycle.
(Utah Core Science- Standard 2):  This activity will help students to gain a better understanding of the earth through the study of earth materials and weather and hopefully understand how important water is to each one of us.
(Ed Tech Standard 8): The students will be using educational software for self directed learning and extended learning activities.
The Water Cycle on Glogster

What is your personal style of art?

Art is such a unique and empowering form of communication.  There is never a wrong answer when a student uses a different medium (paint, water color, crayons) to express themselves and explore ideas.  This art brochure discusses six widely known styles of art and gives examples of each.  It also describes characteristics of that style, and discusses the artists feelings.  After students read the brochure and have a chance to think about the different kinds of art, there is an assignment on the back that asks them to do some research if possible with a parents help on the internet.

Art Brochure

Utah Core Standard 1: Students will develop a sense of self. Objective 3:  Develop and use skills to communicate ideas, information, and feelings.
Ed Tech Standard 4:  Use general purpose productivity tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, to remediate skill deficits, and to facilitate learning throughout the curriculum.

Sink or Float?

This month for our Physical Science Unit we are learning to predict, observe, and record results.  Sink or Float is a fun activity where the students will be able to do all three of those objectives while discovering whether certain objects float or sink.  I will provide the students with all materials and objects for the lesson but they are more than welcome to bring small objects from home to test if they are particularly curious about something.  I will send home a reminder the day before we perform the experiment.
Sink or Float Survey

First Grade Utah Core Science Standard 2:  Earth and Space Science.  Students will gain an understanding of Earth and Space Science through the study of earth materials, celestial movement, and weather.  Objective 1:  Investigate the natural world including rock, soil and water.
Ed Tech Standard 7:  Use telecommunications and on-line resources (e.g., email, online discussions, web environments) to participate in collaborative problem-solving activities to develop solutions or products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

CHICKA CHICKA 1*2*3

I am so excited for this Math lesson!  After reading Chicka Chicka 1-2-3 by Bill Martin Jr., Michael Sampson, and Lois Ehlert, we are going to be doing a fun math worksheet.  The worksheet focuses on using addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems where objects and equations are used for the unknown number.  It also includes problems to encourage an understanding in the meaning of the equal sign in determining whether an equation is true or false and determining the unknown whole number in an addition or subtraction equation.

CHICKA CHICKA 1*2*3 Math Worksheet

First Grade Utah Core Math Standard:  Represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction.  Objective 1:  Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unkowns in all positions.  Objective 2:  Solve word problems that call for addition of three whole numbers whose sum is less than or equal to 20, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unkown number to represent the problem.

Ed Tech Standard 8:  Use technology resources (e.g., calculators, data collection probes, videos, educational software) for problem-solving, self-directed learning, and extended activities.

Welcome Back!

I would like to welcome you all back to school and look forward to getting to know each one of you.  We are having a back to school night Tuesday, August 18th from 6-7:30.  Come and meet your new teacher Miss Walpole and make new friends.  I hope you will have a chance to express yourselves through art and show me just a little about who you are.  We will have a lot of fun and you will get to create something to hang on our class wall.  I am excited for this coming year and having you all in my class.

Art Flyer

Ed Tech Standard 5:  Use technology tools (e.g., multimedia authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras, scanners) for individual and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.