Apples, QR Codes and Dreambox

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY APPLESEED!  Today we learned about the generous and caring historical man John Carpenter.  Using individual USA maps, we charted where he was born and his westward movement while planting apple trees for new settlers.  We learned what it is to "close read" for meaning and use information found in the text to answer questions.  This is a hard concept for first graders because many children want to tell what they already know or heard and are not used to having to go back and find the words in the story to support their thinking and answers.  All day was apple themed.  A highlight was reading a recipe to make applesauce.  Our room smelled wonderful all day as the apples cooked in the crockpot.  We will continue apple themed activities all week.

Rachel working on apple math activities and enjoying applesauce.

Kathryn loved the tart applesauce, but Evan wanted more sugar!

Jack savoring every drop!

QR CODES:  The kids are loving this Choice Board option.  A QR Code is a code that must be scanned using an app, like the app "Red Laser."  The code holds a lot of special information, such as a video, song, story or guided drawing.  Using a classroom iPad  the kids scan the code for the special activity.  Below is a code that will show you how to draw a scarecrow.  The kids can show you!  Each week I put up new codes relating to the topic we are studying that week.  When they finish their work, they can choose a code to enjoy and learn from.  They have a stamp card to keep track of the codes they have completed, so look for those stamp cards to come home.  This is a great way to bring in enrichment opportunities.

Scan to see step by step how to draw a scarecrow.

Here are some pics of the kids learning about living and non-living things through QR Codes:

Dreambox Math

DREAM BOX MATH:  Dreambox Math is a wonderful math learning opportunity for the children.  The kids are figuring it out quickly..... log-ins, adventure worlds, avatars, etc.  The kids each chose an Avatar and will be that character as they visit one of four adventure worlds:  Pets, Pixies, Dinosaurs or Pirates.  Each adventure world has basically the same math games that your child needs to progress through to get to the next level.  They can choose to visit the pirate land one day and the pixie land the next; the program saves where your child is mathematically, so it doesn't matter what world they go to.  It's like visiting Disney World with the different sections, but they all have fun games.  Your child brought home all the information today.  I encourage the kids to go onto Dreambox 15-20 minutes 3-4 times each week, but I do not expect this!  Regularity will help them remember concepts they are working through.  They will be going onto Dreambox 1-2 times each week at school.  CLICK ON THE LINK TO THE RIGHT FOR EASY ACCESS TO DREAMBOX!

That's all for now... Check back next week to learn about the science experiments we will do later this week!  Happy fall!