Update

 Dear Parent(s) / Guardian(s):

Thank you for your patience as we work through some necessary planning in preparation for resuming structured learning opportunities for your child. I understand there has been a lot of uncertainty about what learning is going to look like moving forward. I can assure you that we are going to work on key learning outcomes at-home within the parameters established by the province and CBE.

To help me understand your family’s access to technology, can you please provide responses to the following three questions:

▪ Does your child have access to a computer, laptop, iPad/tablet, smart phone?

▪ Does your child have access to the Internet?

▪ Is your only option a paper-based education for your child?

While the lessons I will be providing are aimed to minimize technology, there will still be times where we will need to rely on technology as a resource. It is important that your child knows their CBE ID#, email and password. The CBE ID# can be found on their digital report card through PowerSchool. When you check in and reply to this email, I will send you your child’s email and password.

Starting Friday April 3, you will receive from me a weekly learning plan for the upcoming week. Each week’s plan will highlight what we are working on, various resources and an explanation of your child’s activities or tasks.

I will have a Grade 1 learning plan, for this week communicated to families via email and blog by the end of the morning on Tuesday March 31. In the meantime, read a story together and share your favourite part.

I will primarily be communicating with you and your child via email with all learning plans also posted to the blog. As time moves on I also intend to use Google classroom and if necessary, will replicate lessons into a paper format.

Students and/or parents can reach out to me for help or for clarification via e-mail at kjpittman@cbe.ab.ca or meafraser@cbe.ab.ca. If you have questions during the weekday, I expect to be able to answer most questions that same day. If specific support is needed I can also be available to call you at a time that is convenient for you.

I recognize this is new for most of us and we will get through this together. I am here for your child and look forward to being in regular contact with you and your child.

Sincerely,  

Kim Pittman and Meagan Fraser

Spring Break

Hello families, 

We hope you are having a good week. Just a quick reminder that next week is Spring Break for families and teachers but we look forward to connecting again March 31. Below are a few pictures from this year to remind the kids of some of the regular activities we do in grade 1. 

Thinking of all of you!

Mrs. Pittman and Ms. Fraser

Explore, test, observe, discover

Listen to stories

Be creative and make up stories

Look closely and sketch 

Find cozy spots and read!

Explore your backyard. Spring is coming so look for signs! Below is something I noticed in my yard. 

Pussy Willows!

We miss you!

Room 15/16 boys and girls, we miss you!!! Our room has been very quiet the past couple of days and we sure miss seeing your smiling faces every morning.
Parents and families, while we are figuring out the next steps, you can refer to the CBE website for activities to do at home. We hope you are all doing well and staying healthy.
https://cbe.ab.ca/programs/curriculum/learning-at-home/Pages/default.aspx

Animals!

For the past few months we have been reading a book called "Heartwood Hotel." This story is set in the Fernwood Forest at an animal hotel. Although the story is fictional, it is fact based in many ways. It focuses on animals, habitats, needs, seasons and friendships. As we near the end of the first book, the students are choosing an animal character from the story that interests them and will focus on this animal for some upcoming projects. Today the students used clay to create a sculpture of their animal. We also talked about a community helper called a Wildlife Rehabilitator. After reading a story about a team of experts that take care of ocean animals who need help, the students brainstormed information that they would need if they were to become a wildlife rehabilitator and expert about their animal. Students began their research today and will share their findings to educate others about their animal.

Reminder: Conference bookings can be made as of today. Conferences will be next Thursday March 19 and Friday March 20.

Field Trips Feb-June

Below is a list of the field trips confirmed from now until the end of the year. If you have your police clearance and a completed annual volunteer form and are able to join us, please email your child's teacher.

April 1 Leighton Art Center

April 9 Bow Habitat

May 13 Kamp Kiwanis

May 27 Hull's Wood (half day morning only)

June 17 Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area

Grade 1 Celebration of Learning will take place in your child's classroom on Friday March 6 from 11:30 until 12:15. This is an opportunity for your child to share some of the recent projects they have been working on. Please feel free to drop in anytime during this timeframe. 

Chain reactions

Lately we have been learning about chain reactions and cause and effect relationships. The students have been writing fiction and non-fiction stories that include chain reactions and have recently started creating Rube Goldberg machines. Yesterday we made a plan for a machine that will help us with a simple, daily task. Students have created a plan in their journals. Next week, we will be starting to build our machines. If you have extra materials around your house that we could use, please feel free to send them in with your child. Some of the things we are looking for include: cardboard, paper towel rolls, wrapping paper rolls, dominoes, old marble tracks, old train tracks, old hot wheels tracks. Please ask your child about their machine! We will be presenting our Rube Goldberg machines during our Celebration of Learning on Friday, March 6th. Parents are welcome to come in to our classroom between 11:30am and 12:15pm on March 6th to see what we have been learning!

Upcoming field trips:

A list of field trip dates for the rest of the year will be available on Monday, February 24th. So far we have two confirmed trips. If you are interested in volunteering for either of these, please email your child's teacher. 

Wednesday, April 1st - Leighton Art Center (all day) 

Wednesday, May 13th - Kamp Kiwanis (all day) 

Reminder:

No school Thursday, February 13th 

No school Friday, February 14th

No school Monday, February 17th

Cross Conservation Pics and Valentines

Today we sent home a list of students in the class. If your child would like to hand out Valentines to their peers next Wednesday, please ensure they bring enough for the class (19). We request you don't sent treats as we have many severe allergies and food sensitivities in the class.

Next Week:
Thursday Feb. 13 No school for students
Friday Feb. 14 No school for students
Monday Feb 17 Holiday. No school

We had an AWESOME trip to Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area. Thank you so much to our volunteers for helping us make it happen!
Students were investigating 3 questions while we were there.
1. Is the snow good for the conservation area?
2. Are the trees alive?
3. Is there any evidence of animals?

Student explored these questions during a nature walk as they identifying scat and tracks, played games about the subnivean zone and animals who live under the snow. We walked through the forest and looked for buds on trees and signs of animals. We found lots of holes in the snow where animals enter. We saw mice, mule deer, chickadees and woodpeckers!