It’s STEAMy in First Grade!

April 26, 2015 by Sarah Shay-Davidson

It was so STEAMy (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (or Music) in First Grade last week!

Between our Siddur Ceremony, STEAM week and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence day) the week flew by!

We began with a fantastic trip to Berger Recycling in Pawtucket. Adam Sinel was our tour guide throughout the center.

A bale of tin cans

Can you guess how much it weighed?

Math!

Happy kids surrounded by bales of paper.

Such a great day!

We took home with us three boxes full of recycled material. Then used them to Engineer their own musical instrument throughout the week.

Duck tape was a key material used this week.

Check out the cool spoons, and keys!

Next, we read a book about an African folktale about summoning the rain then we made our own rain makers!

On Wednesday the students learned all about Tensile structures which are a object that has at least two anchors with a flexible material that is stretched between the anchors. We studied Architecture by famous Architects such as Felix Candela, Antonio Gaudi, Santiago Calatrava and Frei Otto.

We made our own tensile structures using pipe cleaners, straws and my special bubble formula.

The highlight of the week was working with our Brown and RISD students to create our outdoor PVC pipe organ. It will be installed on the playground so everyone can enjoy the magic!

Ta Da!

It is finished! Our proud students are preforming on their instruments. Did you know that our music was recorded and will become the soundtrack of the KinderSTEAM video?

Dig into Great Garden Books for Kids!

April 22, 2015 by Naomi Stein

Gardens have always been part of my life. In October of 2008, Jamie Faith Woods, Andrea Katzman and I attended a school garden program in Bristol, RI. That meeting was a catalyst for creating our beloved school garden. Kol HaKavod to Jamie Faith for all her work on our garden and school garden curriculum.

For several years, I conducted “Giggles in the Garden,” an outdoor JCDSRI preschool story time that resulted in a great garden book collection. In addition, I have created JCDSRI Pinterest boards on gardening with children, garden sensory activities, garden book for children and Earth Day books and activities. VISIT: https://www.pinterest.com/jcdsri/

Zimriyah Playlist!

April 24, 2015April 19, 2015 by Mike Murdock

Here is a playlist featuring some of the songs the students will be performing at Zimriyah. Please feel free to listen, practice and share at home!

18 minutes of Passover in First grade

April 12, 2015 by Sarah Shay-Davidson

It is amazing what can be done in 18 minutes.

18 minutes is the time required to bake kosher for Passover Matzah.

8 months is what it took for our 5th grade buddies to design and build brick oven to bake our matzah. (They even made the bricks from recycled milk cartons!)

13 Haggadah binders were passed on to me when I arrived this summer to begin teaching. 13 treasures, which were my first hint of the amazing creativity and serious students I would have the pleasure to teach in September.

One student asked me why each page was laminated.

“It has to be laminated because just think of all the chicken soup that your children might spill on it when they use it at your own family Seder table.” Oh how their eyes became round as saucers at that idea!

Please! please! return these treasures on Monday so that I may add in their photos and put them back into the magical box to pass on to our 2nd grade teachers for next year.

I hope you have all had a wonderful Passover. I am so looking forward to hearing all about it from the kids. Especially the 4 questions!

A Pyramid of Passover Books for Kids

March 26, 2015 by Naomi Stein

A “get up and dance” favorite! (comes with a CD)

Visit our Pinterest site for great book selections as well as yummy Passover recipes! https://www.pinterest.com/jcdsri/passover-books-for-kids/

We love books by Tami Lehman-Wilzig , who has been a Visiting Author at JCDSRI. Her website has children activities and more. http://www.tlwkidsbooks.com/ You will enjoy the recipes in her book

JCDSRI library suggestions:

Help! There’s a Wocket in my Pocket!

March 25, 2015 by Sarah Shay-Davidson

First grade celebrated a Reading Week by reading and studying Dr. Seuss and 5 of his amazing books. We began our week with There’s a Wocket in my Pocket where students created and wrote about different creatures living in their pockets.

We also read The Lorax and used our own voices to speak for different living things in our world. When we read If I Ran the Zoo, we learned about an imaginary zoo and we made masks to create our own “First Grade Zoo” filled with many different made up animals!

On Thursday when we read Bartholomew and the Oobleck, we made oobleck in our classroom and discussed if it was a solid or a liquid. Finally, we read Oh, the Places You’ll Go! and we wrote about the different things we wanted to do and see when we get older.

The first Grade brought in their favorite stuffed animals to read to

Come in and check out our bulletin board outside our classroom. It is amazing to see how much they have progressed in their writing!

Books for Girls-Challenging Stereotypes (K. White, librarian)

September 1, 2018March 19, 2015 by Naomi Stein

Looking for some awesome books for girls that challenge stereotypes? Check out the extensive lists of great books at Mighty Girl. https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=2241

Read the informative remarks noted in, “Why Does Gender Matter? Counteracting Stereotypes with Young Children,” in the next paragraph.

Some of my personal favorites that our students love:

“Picture books provide role models for children in defining standards for feminine and masculine behavior, yet sexism manifests itself in diverse ways in children’s literature. Nonsexist books, on the other hand, produce positive changes in self-concept, attitudes, and behavior. Children’s gender attitudes may be positively changed through the reading of appropriate children’s literature and other book-related activities (Blumberg, 2008). Parents and teachers are encouraged to critically evaluate books for gender bias. However, rather than eliminating all books with stereotypes, adults can guide children to recognize stereotypes and increase independent critical thinking about gender and perceptions of gender. Making a concerted effort to provide positive, empowered stories and images of diverse characters will activate positive self-concepts for children and promote anti-bias attitudes.” (Dimensions of Early Childhood. “Why Does Gender Matter? Counteracting Stereotypes With Young Children.” Vol. 39, No. 3, 2011)

What’s Happening in Design Lab?

March 18, 2015 by Naomi Stein

You might be wondering what’s been going on in our much talked about design lab. Based on student motivation, developmental ability, and classroom-connections, projects will look quite different from grade to grade. Here is a taste of some of the projects we have been working on most recently:

For the 100th day of school, kindergarteners worked to create the tallest structures they could using 100 toothpicks and 100 marshmallows. They noticed what shapes are structurally stronger than others. They also realized that sometimes you need to start a project over again in order to do it better the next time. Mistakes are what help you get better!

First graders have been learning about simple machines. They have been introduced to levers, pulleys, and wedges. Students experimented with all three of these machines then were tasked with the following challenge: Create an invention using at least one of these simple machines that could help someone with a problem. They have come up with some fascinating tools!

Check out a video of one student’s creation here:

2015-03-13 11.22.14 from Jewish Community Day School RI on Vimeo.

Second graders have been studying balance and motion and have created various tools and inventions such as musical instruments, cars, and marble coasters.

Third graders have been creating digital content to go along with their fantasy stories that they wrote with Mrs. Davis. They have learned how to navigate between apps, to pull pictures from the internet, and to record their voices in order to create powerful digital content. Soon you will see their work in the hallway near the computer lab. Please download a QR code viewer on your mobile device to be able to watch their projects.

Fourth and Fifth graders have been tirelessly working to create a Rube Goldberg machine. They have learned so much about creating ideas, testing, making mistakes, and trying again. Their grit and tenacity has been apparent as they tirelessly strive to make a successful machine. Stay tuned for the final video.

Here is one student talking about the process of creating the Rube Goldberg:

2015-03-16 14.02.15 from Jewish Community Day School RI on Vimeo.

Purim happenings in First Grade

March 15, 2015 by Sarah Shay-Davidson

The holiday of Purim is every kid’s perfect holiday. We dress up in fantastic costumes, eat delicious goodies and a whole day of school is devoted to celebrating with your friends and teachers.

Here is how we began our day with a coded morning message.

Purim was a fantastic day of fun. The entire school participated in the reading of the Migillah (The story of queen Esther) then all the kids were divided into three groups and enjoyed Purim stations of painting masks, Dramatic play , and made Hamentashen and cards for Mishloah Manot (Gifts of food).

We delivered with the 2nd grade to the seniors at the JCC on Friday afternoon!

The energy and joy in which the students gave their gifts was wonderful to observe. With paper Hamentashen hats and snow pants, students sang, danced and chatted with our seniors. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Check out the amazing costumes!

and finally, the Purim Puppet show was a smash success! First grade invited Pre-K and K to our special performance. First graders were so proud to host the younger students.

Our classroom was transformed into the city of Shushan, Persia!

A job well done!

Now it is time to get ready for Passover…….

NEW READING RESOURCE for PARENTS: Brightly (from the library. K. White)

March 10, 2015 by Naomi Stein

www.readbrightly.com

Brightly is a new online resource that encourages parents to raise lifelong readers. Brightly aims to provide moms and dads with inspiration and guidance around creating a reading life for their families. “Brightly is like your fun, friendly, and well-informed kid-lit pal. Our focus is on celebrating and embracing different kinds of readers, kids, and interests. Brightly gives parents insights into which books and authors their children might get excited about and what activities might enhance families experience of reading,” said Liz Kotin, editorial head.