Math centers - Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island

Fee Fi Fo Fun!

February 7, 2016 by Naomi Stein

Lots of Learning with Jack and the Beanstalk!

We compared and contrasted different versions of Jack and the Beanstalk. We enjoyed discussing how books were alike and different. We noticed that: “Jack was the main character in two books, and the giant was the main character in one book.”

After discussing the books, we planted bean seeds; and each child created a beautiful castle, stretching out and gluing on a cotton ball for the cloud base, and sticking a dowel into the cup.

Now we are waiting for Jack’s beanstalk to climb up to each castle.

Meanwhile, we are working with partners to count large collections of beans (more than 200). We are practicing our skip counting, writing our numbers, and working cooperatively with a partner.

A very Special Friends and Family Day in First Grade

May 18, 2015 by Sarah Shay-Davidson

There was so much joy, love and fun to be had on Special Friends and family day. Work stations were set up and the students and their guests worked together to complete each one.

Center #1-

Students picked book from a huge collection of books about families or friendships then discussed and wrote an answer together to “What can you do to be a good family member or friend?”

Center #2-

Our guests helped the students make “Mom ROCKS” for Mother’s day out of beach stones, gems and pastels.

Center #3-

Students painted their rocks to give them an extra special shiny appearance and made Mothers’s day cards.

Center #4-

Students worked together to draw a Special Friends and Family Tree and their hands to create the leaves of the tree.

All of the work came together on our Bulletin board. Come check it out!

What a blessing it was to have our guests visit.

Hey Now, You’re a Rock Star!

December 4, 2014November 25, 2014 by Sarah Shay-Davidson

Brain breaks are one of the keys to success in First grade. I have discovered that my kiddos crave this five minute break of dancing to refocus themselves after a group discussion. Here are some snap shots of the kids boogying on down a dance video. By the end of the week everyone was doing it.

heck out the dance moves on these kids!

T’kiyah!!!! The Shofar was blown in First Grade

Rosh Hashanah was our main focus this week in Kitah Aleph. Student learned how to blow the Shofar and welcome the new year. They learned new Rosh Hashanah songs by using the words of the song as props.

For many students, it was their first time blowing the Shofar!

בראש השנה אומרים שנה טובה

Highlights of the week:

Math Centers!

Students reviewed how to read a graph by looking carefully at the number of letters in their names and analysing the data. Conclusion: Ruben wins first place for the longest name of 23 letters and Yaniv a close 2nd place with 20 letters!

Students also reviewed the hundreds chart and skip counting.

Kindness and acceptance reigns in First Grade

This week we read two books related to kindness towards each other in the classroom; Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes an The Family Book by Todd Parr. We had a meaningful conversation about how many families may look different but that all families share similar many things in common such as, their parents love of their children.

Below is a student generated list of what all families share in common and our smoothed out (but still a little wrinkled) heart complete with bandaids to help heal a heart that had been hurt by mean words.