Posted in General Studies

Science Experiments

1B has had the amazing opportunity to take our science lesson down to the Maker-space every Monday morning. The maker-space is a fun space in our school where we get to explore, complete fun Science experiments and STEM activities.

In Science, we have been learning about seasonal changes. We just finished learning about what happens in fall and today we continued on in the cycle of seasons and moved on to winter. We decided to do a fun experiment where we looked to see how we could make ice melt faster. We tested it out by adding nothing, sugar, and salt to ice and then we waited patiently to see what happened.

Before conducting the experiment, the students made some hypotheses on what they thought would work to melt the ice the fastest.

Noah, Reagan, and Seth all thought that the sugar would help the ice melt the fastest as it seemed to be the smallest ice cube when we first put everything into the beakers.

Leni, Callie, Dahlia, Lev, and Hallie all believed that the salt would help the ice melt the fastest as it seemed to them that it was already working and already melting the ice. We also pointed out that during the winter, we have salt trucks on the road to help melt the ice.

Finally, Levi and Adlai both thought that they would all melt the ice cubes the exact same because none of them would be placed in the freezer.

So we put our ice cubes into the different beakers and kept checking them throughout the morning. We found that salt and sugar both worked to melt the ice faster than just leaving the ice by itself, however in the end, the salt was the clear winner!

Posted in 1A, 1B, General Studies

General Studies Homework!

I am SHOCKED at how excited the grade 1’s were today when they heard homework would be starting!

For general studies homework, we decided to go with a bingo board for each month. The bingo board has a variety of different activities that all target different concepts or topics that we are learning about in class. Students have all been sent home with a login card with their password and username for both Raz-Kids and IXL. For the choice board, students are challenged to complete at least ONE activity per week and they will keep this homework choice board for the month. Students are encouraged to make a “BINGO” line by the end of the month with their homework. The goal is one activity a week but students are welcome to do as many activities as possible. If you have any questions about the choice board please email your child’s general studies teacher and we would be happy to help! I know a few parents have asked to have some hard copy versions of the homework (for example, having a reading book rather than using the raz kids program) that can be arranged as well or anything can be printed from ClassKick or from the bingo board itself.

November Homework Board

RAZ-KIDS: in Grade 1 we are using Raz-Kids to help with reading at home and at school. It is a fantastic program that can be individualized for each student according to their individual learning needs and learning goals. I have created a quick video just showing how to use Raz-Kids at home to help ease any confusion.

 

IXL: IXL is the online math platform that we use at the school. This is also individualized for the students and the grades. The activities that are on IXL are the same activities and concepts that we learn in class so it helps to reinforce learning. I created a video to help explain how to use IXL at home as well.

 

I hope this helps answer any questions around the general studies homework. If you have any additional questions or concerns please let us know!

Posted in 1B, General Studies

Global Read Aloud – Another

This week for Global Read Aloud we read the story “Another” by Christian Robinson. We really enjoyed this story especially because there were no words! We had to guess what was happening based on the pictures.

In the story, the little girl went through different portals and had many different adventures. We started to brainstorm where we would go if we had a portal and what we would see in another world. Some of our ideas included: candy land, a video game land, minecraft, a big ball pit, a beach, and so much more. Check out some of 1B’s ideas and drawings below.

Stay tuned for next week as we read the next book from the Global Read Aloud called “Milo Imagines the World” by Christian Robinson.

P.S. 1B now has their own class twitter where the students will be tweeting out their own work or tweeting questions to help us further our learning. Be sure to follow us to keep up with our learning journey! @1bojcs

Posted in 1A, General Studies

1A Happenings

Here’s an update to some of the great things happening in the class.  Our own Morah Lianna introduced our class to a Structured Word Inquiry Lesson. The Lesson was on suffixes and adding ing, ed, and er to words we may know.  In Math we are exploring numbers beyond 20. Some of the math tools we used in class were a double 10 frame and a Hundred chart.  Take a look at our chart for the beginning of our Social Studies Unit on Roles and responsibilities to see what job your children said they were responsible for at home 🙂

Today we read and discussed two books for Truth and Reconciliation Day. During our Library time Miss Bridget taught us the difference between Fiction and Non Fiction Books. Please remember in order to choose a new book the old book must be returned.

In our Daily Five have a look at how we read to Self and Read to someone!

Next week we begin The Global Read Aloud. One book to connect the World  To learn more about the books and author chosen for the Picture book study you can read all about it here. theglobalreadaloud.com

We have started to send home our Note-totes. Please empty and return on a daily basis.

1A and 1B read these books today!

Posted in General Studies, Next Steps

Next Steps

Dear Parents,

It has been an absolute joy to watch your children grow both academically and socially this year. We are so proud of how far they have come. Summer is upon us and it is time to recharge our batteries by taking time to enjoy our family and friends. Whatever way you choose to embrace the summer months, we hope it is filled with fun and laughter. As I have stated in your child’s report card, here are things to use at your discretion to strengthen their understanding of a particular concept or improve their reading and math fluency.

Reading

Decodables

Kate and Jake

The Nice Mice

No More Sad Tunes

Thad and Thelma

Chase and Chet

Reading (Level H)

Grasshopper’s Gross Lunch  

Elephants Giant Mammal’s

Brainstorm Bear

I Collect That

Reading (Level K/L)

Blackbeard The Pirate

Model Rockets

All About Kites

At Jacob’s House

Printing

Handwriting Without Tears letter and number formation.McKenna, Mrs. / Handwriting Without Tears | Handwriting without tears, Writing without tears, Preschool writing

Letter placement anchor chart and writing paper.

Summer Journals

Please watch these videos on how to create a personal narrative.

Writing a Personal Narrative-Brainstorming

Writing a Personal Narrative-Planning

Writing a Personal Narrative-Writing an Introduction

Writing a Personal Narrative-Writing a Conclusion

Math

IXL

Username: first and last name@ojcs.ca

Password: math123

Science

Watch this video on living things

Listen to What Do You Do With a Tail Like This?

Epic(Code-cyr9056)

Social Studies

Learn more about maps, watch these videos.

There’s a Map on My Lap

How to Make a Map

Here is some graph paper .

 

 

 

Posted in General Studies, Grade 1 Reading

Flashlight Fridays

                               Flashlight Fridays

Each Friday the students will participate in a special event called Flashlight Fridays. For our Read to Self period I will turn out the lights and we will use our flashlights to read. The purpose of Flashlight Friday is to get students excited about the fact that they can read independently and have a whole library of books at their fingertips. Ms. Brigitte will provide us with books, both fiction and non-fiction to enjoy during this time.

Please send a small flashlight (labelled) to school with your child on Friday. The children will keep these flashlights at school in a bucket to use every week.

peacefully reading

Posted in General Studies, Support

How to Best Support at Home

Here are a few videos, games, apps and anchor charts to help with supporting your child at home. I have reposted some of the items from my first homework blog post and also added new videos, anchor charts and activities. 

Extra support for Language Arts below if needed:

Handwriting Without Tears letter and number formation.McKenna, Mrs. / Handwriting Without Tears | Handwriting without tears, Writing without tears, Preschool writing

Letter placement anchor chart.

Extra support for Math below if needed:

  • Click on this video to see various addition strategies introduced in class.
  • Click on this video to see various subtraction strategies introduced in class. I have not yet introduced Touch Math.
  • Click on this video to see what the students have learned about place value. If they need more practise they can redo these Place Value activity sheets.

    If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me.            a.rapoport@theojcs.ca

 

 

 

Posted in General Studies, Grade 1 Reading, Making Global Connections

Global Read Aloud

What is Global Read Aloud?

 

The premise is simple; we pick a book from the Picture Book Author Study (this year the author is Duncan Tonatiuh) to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make global connections.  This year we have chosen to connect with just one school, Yavneh Academy in Paramus, New Jersey.  Our first book, Dear Primo, A Letter to My Cousin we zoomed with Yavneh Academy and shared how we compared our lives to that of one of the main characters, Carlitos.

 

We took the time to comment on their work that they posted on Seesaw and this week we are excited to see their comments on the legends we created as a class. We were inspired to write a legend after we read The Princess and the Warrior 

We talked about what a legend is and then attempted to create our very first class legend. Each class wrote their own legend, 1A wrote a legend on How The Elephant Got His Trunk and 1B wrote a legend How The Snail Got His Shell.

Please take the time to comment on our work as these comments will help us grow as a writer.

Posted in General Studies

General Studies Weekly Homework

Dear Parents,

  • The reading homework, located on Classkick, was used during our small guided reading groups. Each student is familiar with the text and are on their way to becoming fluent readers. Please have your child read Monday-Wednesday.
  • Here are the colour groups, links and class codes:
  • Blue Group   Class Code: VGV SHY
  • Green Group  Class Code: 36E UXl
  • Yellow Group  Class Code: VAR Z2Q
  • Orange Group Class Code: XBL SNY 
  • Purple Group  Class Code: 8ZN 45F
  • If needed, print and use the reading strategies bookmark as a tool when completing the reading homework.
  • Please sign the reading log (on Classkick) each night (this lets me know the homework was completed) and your child will receive a sticker the following day. At the end of each month, the students are required to record themselves reading 1 book from their assigned homework on Classkick.
  • Looking for ways to build their sight word vocabulary? There are 3 games below your child will enjoy playing. Remember this is not homework. Only move on to the next game once they can read all the words independently
  • The IXL program will be the math homework for Thursday. Please complete C.1 and C.10
  • Log-in information is:

Username: first and last name@ojcs

Password: math123

  • Click on Learning at the top of the page and then the yellow star on the right to access assigned work. When your child gets 100 points he/she has mastered the skill. Please let them complete the homework independently (I will provide tools when necessary). 

Extra support below if needed:

                Ready, Set, Read!

  • reading
Posted in French, General Studies, Jewish Studies

Popsicles, Pals and Pick-Up

Dear Parents,

On Tuesday, June 22nd, OJCS will be hosting Popsicles, Pals and Pick-ups. It is a chance to spend some quality time together while adhering to distancing guidelines. At 9:00 1A will meet at the blue play structure and 1B will meet at the side of the school (Picnic Table area facing JCC). Each group will spend half an hour either playing on the play structure or eating popsicles and signing yearbooks, then switch.

Please read the important instructions below:

  • As directed by the province of Ontario, all parents in Grade One who plan to stay must complete the Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Screening Tool and ALL students attending will need to use the Ottawa Public Health COVID-19 Screening Tool before arriving;
  • No additional guests or siblings may attend the cohorted events;
  • Parents of students can drop-off their child(ren) as the events will be heavily supervised;
  • As is mandated by the provincial regulations, masks will be worn when children are not snacking;
  • Hand sanitizer will be made available;
  • This is a wonderful opportunity to return any items that belong to the school (i.e. library books, textbooks, novels, materials, etc…).
  • Your child’s belongings will be ready for pick-up while you are on campus from the gym door facing the OJCS parking lot.  Volunteers will bring your child’s items to you.

We understand attending these Goodbye events could be challenging for some families for a variety of reasons.  Please know we have been guided by Ministry guidelines regarding Health and Safety and a day-event ensures enough supervision to meet these requirements.  Let us know if you require a different pickup time and we’ll be happy to make an arrangement outside of school hours.

    Excited to see you on Tuesday, June 22nd!!!

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