Week 18 - Buddy Fun!

This week we participated in a fun drawing activity with our 5th grade buddies.  We used blank paper, rulers and followed directions to create nutcrackers!  We also kept busy taking our math and science assessments.  It is hard to believe that we are already half-way through the school year.  Where has the time gone?  We'll be back in January to report on our continued adventures in learning.  Until then, Happy Holidays!!

Letters to Santa

Yesterday we wrote letters to Santa.  Take a look and see!

Dear Santa, 
What do you do on Christmas Eve?  I want a video game and legos and pokemon cards.  Your friend, Brad

Dear Santa,
I want a bow from Hello Kitty a bow of makeup and a leap frog.  Thank you for getting us presents every week.  Your friend, Hailey

Dear Santa,
I wonder how old you are?  Is it hard to make and deliver those toys?  I would want an IPOD Touch and a pair of real high heels for Christmas.  Do you sometimes get cold?  Your friend, BilliJo

Dear Santa,
How are you doing?  I hope you are not sick.  I hope you did not lose your Ho!Ho!Ho!  You are so nice and I would like sandals and a chart.  Love, Sophie

Dear Santa,
I will like a bb gun for Christmas.  Love, Ethan

Dear Santa,
I have been 100% good.  Do reindeer really know how to fly?  I want a Teebow jersey, MN State.  Don't I have to ask elf?  Your friend, Garrett

Dear Santa,
What are you doing at the North Pole?  Are you looking at the letters?  Are you getting ready for Christmas Eve?  Do the reindeer want to fly?  Your friend, Mackenzie

Dear Santa,
How is the reindeer?  Are they going to fly on Christmas Eve?  How is the elfs?  Are they making lots of toys?  What is your favorite cookie?  How old are you?  Your friend, Leah

Dear Santa,
What are you doing?  Are you doing good?  Are you doing hard work for Christmas?  For Christmas I would like a stuffed zebra and jagings and brown boots.  Your friend, Elle

Dear Santa,
How is it going?  I would like for Christmas snow dots.  Your friend, Macie

Dear Santa,
Are you ready for Christmas?  It is 13 more days.  Is the reindeer going to fly?  I want a IPOD, book, and you can surprise me.  I can't wait.  Your friend, Mya

Dear Santa,
You are the best.  For Christmas I want some new boots.  What is your favorite color?  Your friend, Amy

Dear Santa,
I wonder if your reindeer will fly!  How many toys do you have in your workshop?  I think you are the best.  I want some Pokemon LVX, some crayolas, oh and is Rudolph doing good?  Your friend, Zak

Dear Santa,
I will leave plenty of cookies for you.  I wonder how reindeer fly.  Are you having a good year? Is it hard making toys?  I really want the Rapunzel doll I saw at the store.  Your friend, Dannika

Dear Santa,
If I'm being good for Christmas can you bring me some presents?  If you bring some presents I would like more makeup.  Your friend, Jade

Dear Santa,
How is December?  How cold is it in the North Pole?  Can I please have for Christmas a Magic Tree House book and a DS?  Have fun on Christmas.  Your friend, Meredith

Dear Santa,
How are the reindeer doing?  I hope they fly.  How are you doing?  What's the temperature at the North Pole?  For Christmas I would like Lego star wars, football cards.  Your friend, Jonas

Dear Santa,
Thank you for all of our presents.  How do the reindeer fly?  Are you magic? Is Rudolph real? You are very nice.  I want Lego Star Wars.  Your friend, David

Dear Santa,
are you doing good work for Christmas? I would like a leather jacket and a Lego Star Wars set and a fake puppy that looks like a real one.And a DSI and the Cars 2 movie.  Your friend, Ben

Dear Santa,
Is it hard to make toys?  Are you having a good December?  I like you Santa.  I want for Christmas a crar (?) and some make up.  Your friend, Alli

Dear Santa,
I am so glad that you come around each year to brighten the lives of the little ones.  For Christmas my wish is that they all get what they want and need and return to me safely in January.  Merry Christmas Santa!  Love, Mrs. Heath

Happy Holidays to all.  Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  Thanks for sharing your children with me each day!

1st Grade Weather Forecast for Monday, December 12, 2011

It is 40 degrees.  It feels warm to us but the thermometer says that 40 degrees is still cold.  It is a partly sunny day.  There are many thin, white and gray clouds in the sky.  You should wear long sleeves and a jacket.  You don't need your hat or gloves today.  It is getting warmer and the snow is melting.  There is a lot of slushy ice and puddles on the ground.  When we go outside to play at recess we won't have to worry about ice, but we will have to worry about puddles and keeping our shoes dry!

40 degrees F     Partly Sunny with some clouds    Have fun playing outside!

Week 17 - Indoor Recess Fun (and a little artwork too!)

This week we enjoyed our first dose of indoor recess!  While the temperature was within an acceptable range, the snow left us a VERY ice playground that wasn't safe for our little feet!  After a few kids (and Mrs. Heath) slipped we decided to stay inside for a day or two until the ice melted.  We were blessed to be able to enjoy our new recess games, courtesy of very giving families.  I love that it allows the students a chance to work together and build lifelong social skills.  Losing, playing fair, and taking turns are all great life lessons that can be learned from playing games.  Plus, having unstructured play time is an important thing.  Too often we "structure" every minute of our kid's lives.  Having recess, either indoor or outdoor, is athe perfect opportunity for them to enjoy their lives as  kids.  So -- play away!!

I am also posting a picture of our holiday bulletin board.  We talked about how our actions are like lights that others can see.  We want to make our lights shine, just like the beautiful holiday lights during this season. Each child wrote one thing that they could do to make their lights shine.  I love the fabulous decisions that they make each day to be a good to each other.  What an awesome example they set for each of us!
Happy Holidays to all!

Wednesday Adventure - A True Class Story

We were hard at work when the intercom made an announcement. "Please have your children get their jackets and go outside. There is the odor of gas in the hallway. " said Mrs. Kunkle. We quickly grabbed our coats and headed out the door of the classroom. "What is a gas leak?", someone asked. "Is it going to hurt us?" "Hurry!" said Mrs. Heath. "This is just like a fire drill." Once we were outside we noticed a lot of vehicles coming. First we saw a school truck with a snowplow, then police cars, and finally a fire truck. We waited for 5 or 10 minutes outside. It was FREEZING! "Put up your hoods," said Mrs. Heath. After we waited some more, the firemen said we could go inside. All of the students at Hickory Hill went into the gym. Mrs. Palatas said "Let's sing some songs." First we sang Rudolph, then we sang Jingle Bells, and last we sang Frosty the Snowman. At the end of the Frosty song, Mrs. Heath said "We can go to back to our room now." "YAY!" the kids cheered. I wonder if we will ever have that happen again?











--written by Mrs. Heath's Class about our adventure today! No worries, everyone is safe and sound.

Week 16-Weather Fun

Students have embarked upon another science unit - this one on weather and seasons. They began this week by measuring water temperature using thermometers and journaling about what they found out. They also learned the difference between WEATHER and TEMPERATURE. While sunny and cloudy are types of weather - hot and cold are not! Also, it is interesting to know that Mrs. Heath is correct when she says that 50 degrees is COLD and anything under 32 is FREEZING - we even labeled our thermometers that way! (some people - Mr. Heath- make fun of Mrs. Heath when she says 50 degrees is cold. I guess Mr. Heath is wrong after all!!)