Fun Website for First Graders

For their last visit to the computer lab, first graders had fun using the website Build Your Wild Self (http://www.buildyourwildself.com/) sponsored by the New York Zoo. This creative website allows the kids to create a human character with their favorite animals parts. This is a fun way to learn about the characteristics of animals. It is also a great story starter. After creating their Wild Self, the students were challenged to write a creative story about how they turned into their animal character. Here is a wonderful example:

One time we went to the grocery store. My mom bought this bottle that said, "This drink will change your personality!" My mom didn't think that was true. But I did, so I had a drink. When we got back we saw a butterfly. It went on my finger. I grew butterfly wings. I flew home instead of driving. When we got home there was a cockroach on my floor. Then I grew antennas. I stayed like that forever.

The Monsters Have Arrived in Second Grade

The second grade students were so excited to finally receive their monsters from their partner schools across the United States. As always, I was delighted to watch each child's face as his or her monster was unveiled. After viewing their original monster along with their redrawn monster, students were challenged to reflect about their work and answer the following questions:

1. Do you think you partner did a good job redrawing your monster? Explain.
2. What did you learn about writing and the writing process by completing this project?
   
3. List at least two ways you could make your writing better.
4. What did you like best about the Monster Project? What did you not like about the project?

While writing a reflection about their work is challenging, the opportunity for reflection is a key component in helping students extend the writing lessons introduced in this project (pre-planning, writing with details, painting pictures with words, using adjectives, word choice) to future writing.

I hope you can take a moment to check them out!

Mrs. Graham's Class
Mrs. Cameron's Class
Mrs. O'Mullane's Class
Mrs. McKenzie's Class

Kindergarten Slideshow

The end of the year is always so chaotic. Between finalizing student portfolios, wrapping up explorer movie projects, assessing keyboarding in 4th grade, and creating end of the year slide show, there is little time for blogging. I promise to write a lengthier post soon. In the mean time, I thought you would enjoy seeing "Everything We Learned We Learned in Kindergarten" slide show presented to the kindergarten families today at their program.

Kindergarten Program Slideshow May 6, 2011 from Anna Baralt on Vimeo.

Venn Diagrams in Second Grade

The Venn Diagram is a graphic organizer that enables students to record similarities and differences between two topics. Introduced by logician and philosopher John Venn in the late 19th century, the diagram consists of two overlapping circles. Students write details that tell how the subjects are different in the outer circles while details on how the subjects are alike are written in the middle where the two circles intersect. This tool can be used with any subject and provides students with a visual way of comparing and contrasting concepts.

Second grade students created Venn's using Kidspiration. Working with partners, each student was given an information sheet on countries in Africa. Students were asked to record at least three facts in each section of the Venn.

First Graders Use Clickers

First graders enjoyed using clickers to review fun facts about Florida. Clickers are a wonderful way to engage every child in their learning as each has the opportunity to answer all questions about Florida's borders, state symbols, and landmarks with their remote.

Kindergarten Shape Slideshows

Check out the kindergarten photos from the shape scavenger hunt!

Shapes Around Shorecrest by Mrs. Minke's Class from Anna Baralt on Vimeo.

Shapes Around Shorecrest by Ms. Conroy's Class from Anna Baralt on Vimeo.

Shapes in the World by Mrs. Vigue's K Class from Anna Baralt on Vimeo.

Kindergarten Uses Digital Cameras

While teaching basic computer skills is a core part of the lower division technology curriculum, instruction on the use of technology tools such as still cameras, video cameras, handheld GPS, scanners, document cameras and interactive white boards is also given. Kindergarten students were thrilled to use digital cameras today as they explored shapes in our school environment.

To kickoff the lesson, students were shown Tana Hoban's book Shapes, Shapes, Shapes and asked to identify the various shapes in the photographs. It was then explained that students were going to create their own shape photography books. Before embarking on the scavenger hunt, rules for appropriate camera use were discussed. These rules included:

• Keep your hands clean.
• Keep the camera away from sand, dirt, and water.
• Use the wrist strap at all times.
• Always walk when holding the camera.

Finally, students were given a brief introduction in using the camera such as powering it on/off, learning how to focus and zoom, and holding the camera properly. Working with partners, students took Shape photos across campus.



During their next visit in two weeks, kindergartners will go an alphabet scavenger hunt to further develop their photographic eye.