It is wonderful to have a full week of school this week! A highlight of our week was using oreo cookies to make the phases of the moon as part of science. First and second graders had a delicious time using the oreos to show the various ways the moon looks during its month long cycle. Next week we will complete our moon study with kedush l’vanah, ceremony blessing the moon.
In Fundations, we completed our unit on digraphs (two consonants that appear together and make one sound). We have begun a new unit on “bonus” letters. The bonus letters are l, f, s and sometimes z. These letters are doubled at the ends of one syllable words with short vowels, for example, “full, jazz, stuff.” The children also continue to work on building their knowledge of trick words. These are words that cannot be sounded out as they are not spelled according to “the rules” of English spelling, for instance the word “said” which really should be spelled “sed.”
The children have been working hard to complete their books on the creation story: Bereshit as part of Tanakh. We are hoping to finish these next week and send them home.
We have begun our author study of Kevin Henkes. So far, we have enjoyed reading Chrysanthemum, Julius the Baby of the World, Wemberly Worried and Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. We have been listing the characters and the settings of each story as well as making text-to-self connections with these books.
In math, we have moved on to a unit on subtraction. We are exploring different approaches to solving subtraction problems. These include simply taking something away from a larger group, using a number line to count up or to count down and making number bonds. Ask your children to teach you the game, Pico, Fermi, Bagel-a math logic game.
Social studies has focused on Thanksgiving. The children are learning a lot about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. We also have continued to explore the role of the president and how elections are conducted in this country. We will be having a lower school election on Monday on the Massachusetts ballot question number 3. We will have a presentation by staff about both sides of the issue and then the children will have a chance to vote on this issue.
Finally, the children earned their first mission mitzvah party. Te’enah students came to school in their pajamas and shared the day with favorite stuffed animals. We had some special treats for snack and the children had extra indoor recess time.