Halloween Fun

Crakenstein

We read the story Crakenstein today.  

While we read this book we would make inferences.  We would infer why Crakenstein was cranky.  We would use the prompt, I infer ____________ because _______________.  

Making inferences is what good readers do when they are reading...Good readers, think about their reading!

Candy Towers

Today we discussed all the different types of building shapes.  Our goal today was to design and build the tallest candy tower.  First, we drew up a blue print for our very own building design using nothing but candy pumpkins and toothpicks.  Once we had our blueprints drawn up, it was time to gather our supplies and begin construction.  

However, building was not as easy as we thought it would be. 

Our tower is getting taller!

Boo...my tower fell!

Candy Corn Bandit

The Candy Corn Bandit stole Mrs. Wanke's candy!  Mrs. Wanke was very excited to share her jar of Candy Corns with us.  However, when we came back from lunch it was gone!  It it's places...

  was a letter on our SMART board from the Candy Corn Bandit, Candy Corn Bandit booklets for each of us, a prediction poster, and a clue!  Then, we looked at the Candy Corn booklets. On the inside we had to draw what we predicted the Candy Corn Bandit to look like. 

Then, we had to predict three places we thought the candy corns might be.

Finally it was time to read the first clue!

We made a prediction based upon what we read in clue one.  We predicted the candy would be in the lunch room! When we got to the lunch room...all we found was another clue.  After reading that clue, we predicted that we would find the candy in the gym.

When we got to the gym, all we found was another clue.  After reading that clue, we predicted we would find the candy on the play ground.  When we got outside, all we found was ANOTHER clue!  After reading that clue, we predicted we would find the candy in the library.  But, when we got the the library, all we found was ANOTHER clue! Boy oh boy this Candy Corn bandit was causing some trouble! 

After reading the clue, we predicted we would find the candy in the classroom.

When we got to the classroom...what do YOU predict we found?

You got it...the CANDY and another clue!

Clue #6 told us to keep our eyes open and our candy protected.  We also had to finish up the last page of our Candy Corn Bandit book before we could get our candy corn.

This activity was great for making predictions.  Not only did we predict where the candy would be, we also made predictions about how the bandit was able to pull off this crime, did the bandit have an accomplice, how big was the bandit, and what was the bandits motive. 

When we got back to the class, Mrs. Wanke had a light bulb moment.  She said that we could use predictions when we read!  WOW...she is right. 

Bat Day

As we entered school today, the halls were dark, bats were handing from the ceiling, and Mrs. Carlson's room and been transformed into a bat cave!

We are so ready to go into the cave!

For Bat Day, we rotated to every first grade classroom to do different activities with bats and to extend our knowledge of these awesome mammals.  In Mrs. Wanke's room, we learned about what Microbats, Megabats, and Vampire bats eat.  We discussed how scientists can learn about what animals eat by examining their droppings.  

So, Mrs. Wanke had us look through bat guano!  We had to see what was in their guano to determine what bat let the mess.  If we found bones in the guano, we know it was a Microbat, because Microbats each insects, other bats, reptiles, rodents, and fish. 

If there was seeds in the guano, we know it was a Megabat, because Megabats eat fruit or nectar from flowers.

If there were clumps of blood, we knew that it was a Vampire bat because Vampire bats lick up blood from small cuts they make in the animal.  They DO NOT suck the blood of animals or people.

We each got our own cup of bat guano to investigate.

LOOK, a seed!

Okay...we will let you in on a little secret....it wasn't really bat guano.  It was actually pudding.  

We can wait to show you more pictures from what we did in the other classrooms!

Ball Problem

So far this year alone, we have popped 2 balls.  UGH!  In my 7 or 8 years of having balls in the classroom, I have never had this many balls pop total.  Before, this year I have only had 1 ball popped by a student.  These balls were brand new at the end of last year.

If you are willing to donate a ball or make a monetary donation for us to purchase more balls, please let me know.

Thank you in advance for your support.
Mrs. Wanke

Part Part Whole Apples

In math we are working hard on part, part, whole.  We are exploring how two parts are joined together to make and whole.  We are also exploring how we can take a part away from a whole to get another part.

In math groups this week we used our part, part, whole mats to explore this concept.  We used mini apples to join parts together into the basket (whole).  We even used this mat and concept to help us find the missing addend.