Catching Up!

First, please accept my apologies for not keeping the blog up.  I had good intentions each night to post about our fun at school, but LIFE kept getting in the way.  I did take lots of pictures of the things we have been doing so I could share them with each of you.  

We started December by making a Santa Countdown "calendar."  It was a bit challenging because we had to write the numbers backwards from 25.  Everyone did a great job and I hope the calendars helped with the Christmas countdown excitement.  I made one for our classroom and the  our class secretary 

(our helper) cut off a number each day.

Adding numbers to Santa's Beard

Putting on Santa's Beard

All finished, ready for the countdown to begin!

To add to the Christmas excitement, we made "Rudie the Reindeer" Snazzy Snack.  A fabulous family from our classroom signed up for and donated the supplies for the snack.  Each child has a cookbook with the recipes for the snacks, and we make the snacks together following the recipe.  

"Rudie" was a fun snack to make and to eat!  YUM!

"Rudie the Reindeer" Snack

 

 

 We started Unit 4 in math in December.  We will explore place value in this unit.  

We will continue the unit in January.

During Social Studies, we spent two weeks studying the past with a focus on Pioneer Days.  A first grade family brought their horses and covered wagon and took all of the first graders for a ride.  

It was so much fun!  

Before we took our ride on the wagon.  Everyone talked about the Horse and Wagon ride and asked a million times if it was our turn yet!  So much fun!

Petting the horses after our ride.

We made Snowman Christmas tree ornaments for our families.  While the idea was super cute, I owe our custodians major for coming in and vacuuming up our HUGE mess.  The "snow" was everywhere by the end of the day-the floor, our hair, our clothes, inside the desks, in the hall and on our backpacks and the list goes on and on.  Oh my!  Again, it seemed like a great idea at the time!  We did end up with super cute ornaments.  I hope your child enjoyed hanging them on your tree!

Notice the "snow" all over his desk.  What you can't see is the "snow" on the floor, his shirt, his hair, his neighbor, etc.  But it was fun and that is all that matters! 

 

The finished product!

 

We completed an Elf glyph.  A glyph tells a story without words.  For example for this glyph, if you like candy canes then draw red stripes on your elf's legs.  This is one of my favorite holiday projects.  Each elf is different, just like my kiddos!

A happy Elf in the hallway

Our elves!

We mixed up a little Christmas and math by making peppermints with addition facts.  Each child made their own peppermint and added addition facts to the peppermint.  I covered them with Saranwrap and they turned out so cute!

Peppermint with addition facts.

 One last Christmas activity to share.  During Reader's Workshop we practiced identifying nouns and determining if they are people, places or things.  We made a book of Christmas Nouns.  Below are a few of my favorites.

Love the carolers!

Reindeer-and important 'thing' we need for Christmas!

Please noticed the lights on Grandma's House!

Rudolph

I hope that all of my first graders and their families are enjoying the time off.  I have already enjoyed a much slower pace and I am looking forward to sleeping in a few more times. 

I will see everyone in January!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!