Weather Alert: Tornados hit school

Riddle:  What is as loud as a train? Moves as fast as 300 miles per hour? Can be 1 mile wide? And fit in a jar?
Answer: A tornado

Mrs. Hoffman overseeing the tornados in our classroom

As part of our weather unit, we are making a learning stop at tornados. We have learned about their sounds, their possible size, and where they have touched down. We were happy to learn that they don't like to visit New England or Middleton often. Mrs. Hoffman checked the internet to see when the last tornado or tornado like storm stopped or better yet.....passed through Middleton. The answer was there hasn't been one in Middleton but there was one nearby in 1970. Of course to a First Grader that was around the same time as the dinosaurs. HA!

Mara, Myla, and Andrea making the tornados swirl!

A great video to learn about tornados. We were spell bound as we watched and learned more about tornados.  Please take a look.

 We also learned to make a tornado in a jar. Some of our class members have already tried it at home. Give it a try if you haven't made one yet. Check out this science project. Super easy and fun!!!
Remember it's okay to TRY THIS AT HOME!!

An upclose look

CC joins in the watching the swirling effect!

Essential Question: What else do scientists need to learn to assist them in gaining greater understanding about the functions of nature?

If our walls could talk....

They would tell you about 1st graders working in partners to make a piece of art that shows the weather word they randomly chose. They would tell you about the collaboration and excitement of sharing ideas and creating something better together than they could have created alone.

Books and Art

They would whisper to you about the weather pictures and weather facts we marvel at and share after snack. They would tell you about all the weather words we add to the weather word cloud after we read books or have an excited discussion after a weather presentation.

Weather Words, Weather Art, Weather Books

They would tell you who gazes at words to help them write or read.

Word Wall

They would tell you who is having the crispy chicken, bagel or who brought lunch from home.

Lunch choice cups

They would tell you what time special is and lunch and recess. You would learn who is the messenger or the trash helper or the assistant and who has the week off.

Months, Daily Schedule, and Job Chart

They would tell you who looks at the visuals and follows the steps as we practice regrouping in both addition and subtraction.

They would tell you who lost a tooth this month or last or in October. You would know whose birthday is in June or July or all the other months.

Birthdays, Lost Teeth, and Calendar

If these walls could talk......

Essential Question: How does the learning environment effect the learning experience?

How to.....

How to do how to writing....

Step 1 - Decide on a topic you know how to do
Step 2 - Write an opening sentence that informs the reader
Step 3- Write 4 steps to teach the reader
Step 4 - Write a closing sentence that wraps up your writing
Step 5 - Illustrate your book
Step 6 - Make a cover

A writer at work! Using their planning page to write their book.
Another writer preparing the cover.

Domenic adding details to his cover

Andrea and Chase working on their books.
That's Mara in the background .She created a quiet space to write.

Owen's hands hard at work adding details to his cover of How to do a Reverse Roll.

Our How to Library!!

Essential Question: Where do writers get their ideas for procedural writing?

Common Core - Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.