OJCS Grade 1 / Kitah Alef

   The Three Little Pigs Challenge

Inspired by Making a Windproof House for the Three Little Pigs by Sue Gagliardi, students designed and built three houses to withstand the huffs and puffs of the Big Bad Wolf. Using creativity and engineering skills, they tested their structures and then put their imaginations to work by writing a brand-new ending to The Three Little Pigs. What happens when the wolf can’t blow the houses down? This engaging project blended STEM, Language Arts, and narrative writing,

Our first graders had an absolute blast completing this STEM challenge! They worked together with enthusiasm, using their creativity and problem-solving skills to design and build sturdy houses. Laughter and excitement filled the room as they put their structures to the test, using a blow dryer to simulate the huffs and puffs of the Big Bad Wolf. The best part? Seeing their pride and joy when their houses stood strong! This hands-on experience not only reinforced important STEM and literacy skills but also made learning so much fun.

  Goal Setting Workshop

Our Jr. Knesset leaders took mentorship to the next level this week! Three of our standout student leaders hosted an interactive workshop for the Grade 1 class, focusing on the power of setting goals and the grit required to reach them.
The classroom was transformed into a hub of energy and focus, featuring specialized stations designed to challenge and inspire our youngest students.

Bridging Generations: A Visit to Hillel Lodge

Our Grade 1 students recently visited Hillel Lodge for a special morning of shared stories and connection. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to practice their literacy skills in a meaningful, real-world setting.

The residents were a fantastic audience, listening intently as the students read aloud. Many remarked on the noticeable progress the children have made in their reading fluency and confidence since their last visit in November.

Beyond the books, the highlight of the trip was watching the natural, kind interactions between the two generations. Whether they were discussing a story or simply chatting, the children showed great maturity and respect.

  Grade One OJCS Store

To celebrate the end of our Money Unit, our classroom transformed into a bustling marketplace. This “Little Store” activity served as the grand finale, giving students a hands-on opportunity to put their hard earned coin recognition and counting skills to the test.

It was wonderful to watch the students navigate their budgets as they “shopped” for pencils, stickers, bookmarks, and toys. Seeing their excitement as they calculated prices and made change was the perfect way to wrap up our learning. All the shoppers had lots of fun!

Matzah Baking at Hillel Lodge

Our recent visit to Hillel Lodge was truly heartwarming, as our students had the special opportunity to learn how to make matzah with Rabbi Blum. It was such a joy to see the children and the residents baking side by side, sharing smiles and laughter. Afterward, everyone enjoyed the fruits of their labour by breaking and tasting the freshly baked matzah together, a beautiful moment of connection and celebration. The residents especially loved hearing the children sing their Pesach songs, filling the room with festive spirit.

Our Model Seder

Yesterday afternoon, our Grade 1 classes joined together for a wonderful mock Seder. Led by Morah Ada, the students explored the Passover story with impressive engagement and enthusiasm.

Morah Ada’s preparation was evident as she guided the children through the traditional songs and blessings. It was a pleasure to hear them recite the liturgy so confidently, showing a clear understanding of each step of the Seder. The tables were set with handmade placemats and Haggadahs, reflecting the hard work the students put into their preparations.

We are incredibly proud of how these students took ownership of the traditions. Seeing them lead the blessings reminds us of the importance of passing these values to the next generation. As we approach Pesach, we are confident they are ready to celebrate with their families.

Chag Pesach Sameach to all!

It has been a busy and exciting term in Grade One! Our students have been exploring big ideas, asking thoughtful questions, building creative projects, and growing as responsible members of our classroom and community. Here’s a peek at what we’ve been up t

📚 Growing Strong Readers in Grade One!

  🏠 Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities

In Social Studies, our focus was “Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities.” Students learned to identify the many roles they have in their lives — at home, at school, and in their community, and how those roles grow and change over time.

We had rich discussions about what it means to be a sibling, a student, a friend, and a classroom helper. When serving as Helper of the Week, students took on important jobs such as handing out papers, managing the calendar, and supporting daily routines. They approached these responsibilities with care and enthusiasm, strengthening our classroom community.

We also participated in an exciting North American postcard exchange! Students were fascinated to learn about different places and cultures. They eagerly located each class on the map, asked thoughtful questions, and were amazed by how far the postcards traveled. Representing our own community filled them with pride and purpose.

  ➕ Math in Action

Our mathematicians have been building strong foundations in number sense and problem-solving.

Students are confidently:

• Counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s

• Representing numbers to 50 (and recognizing numbers to 100!)

• Using tools such as unifix cubes, ten frames, tally marks, number lines, and base-ten blocks

• Developing addition and subtraction strategies to 20

• Exploring place value by renaming numbers into tens and ones

We also dove into patterns and data management, where students identified, extended, and explained repeating patterns — even those with two attributes! They conducted simple surveys, organized results into charts and graphs, and drew meaningful conclusions from their data.

Most recently, we explored linear measurement, mass, and telling time to the hour and half-hour, applying our learning in hands-on and meaningful w

  ✏️ Dream Houses and Creative Writing

After reading Mimi’s Dream House, students were inspired to imagine and design their own perfect dream homes. The creativity was incredible!

From houses with swimming pools and secret passages to tree house towers and animal rooms, imaginations truly ran wild. Students wrote descriptive pieces about their dream houses and proudly displayed their work. This type of writing sparked excitement and joy — and we loved seeing their ideas come to life!

     🔬 Young Scientists at Work

Our scientists have been busy!

Students completed animal research projects and proudly presented their findings to the class, developing confidence in research and public speaking.

During our winter weather unit, we explored the Scientific Method through hands-on experiments. From investigating the states of matter to exploring how salt affects ice, students made thoughtful predictions and logical hypotheses. They observed how snow changes as it melts and even used magnifying glasses to examine the symmetry of snowflakes.

Their curiosity, careful observations, and growing understanding of scientific tools have been impressive!

  🦌 Innovation Day: Creating Wildlife Crossings

Our Innovation Day was inspired by the book
Make Way for Animals! A World of Wildlife Crossings by Meeg Pincus.

After learning about wildlife crossings around the world and how they help animals travel safely across busy roads, students asked a big question:

Could we design and build our own wildlife crossings?

Each child selected an animal to support and, working with a partner, designed a sturdy crossing that could:

• Span at least 30 cm

• Hold 100 grams

With determination and teamwork, students planned, cut cardboard, tested structures, revised designs, and solved problems along the way. Challenges became opportunities to rethink and improve.

Our classroom truly lived one of our North Stars: We Learn Better Together. Students supported one another, shared ideas, and celebrated successes as a team.

     💛 Thank You for Joining Us on Innovation Day!

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents who visited our classroom for Innovation Day. Your presence made the day even more special!

The children were incredibly excited to share their wildlife crossing projects with you. They took such pride in explaining their designs, the challenges they encountered, and the creative solutions they developed. Seeing their faces light up as they presented their work was truly wonderful.

Your support, encouragement, and interest in their learning mean so much. Thank you for partnering with us and for helping make Innovation Day a memorable and meaningful experience for our Grade One students!

  🌟 Growing in Every Way

This term, our Grade One students have grown not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. They are developing responsibility, curiosity, creativity, resilience, and teamwork.

We are so proud of their hard work — and we can’t wait to see what the next term brings!

During the workshop the children listened to the story invisible boy, watched a short video about learning to be an upstander did some art activities and crumpled paper to demonstrate how feelings can be hurt. It was a powerful afternoon full of learning add in this info

🤝 A Special Workshop with Grade Six

We were fortunate to participate in a meaningful workshop led by our Grade Six students, who are currently exploring themes of bullying through literature. During the workshop, our class listened to the powerful story The Invisible Boy, which sparked important conversations about inclusion, empathy, and noticing those who may feel left out.

Students also watched a short video about learning to be an up stander — someone who stands up for others in a kind and respectful way. This helped them understand that even small actions can make a big difference.

One particularly impactful activity involved crumpling a piece of paper and then trying to smooth it back out. This simple demonstration showed how hurtful words and actions can leave lasting marks, even after we say sorry. It was a powerful visual reminder about the importance of kindness.

The afternoon also included thoughtful art activities that encouraged students to reflect on how they can help others feel seen, valued, and included. It was truly a powerful afternoon full of learning, reflection, and heart. 💛

 🌷 Wishing You a Wonderful Break!

As we head into the break, we want to wish all of our Grade One families a restful, joyful, and well-deserved time together.

May your days be filled with laughter, special moments, and a little extra relaxation. We look forward to hearing all about your adventures when we return!