First Grade Newsletter –February 2016
More first grade news found on the Somerset homepage. Look for specialists’ newsletter and on the
first grade page.
Newsletter found on the Somerset Home Page
First Grade Teachers
Ms. Riley
Elizabeth_J_Riley@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Hannah Lee
Hannah_J_Lee@mcpsmd.org
Mrs. Bean
Elissa_M_Bean@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Rich
Hannah_B_Rich@mcpsmd.org
Ms. Krombach
Stephanie_M_Krombach@mcpsmd.org
Math:
Quarter 3 begins with the study of nonstandard measurement. Predicting,
estimating and measuring are words we
will be using a lot this month! We have
been measuring various objects in the
classroom with cubes, paper clips, place
value blocks, and craft sticks! Later in the
month students will work with addition (2digit numbers to multiples of 10) and
subtraction (2-digit multiples of 10.) We will
be adding 1 and 2-digit numbers. Fluency
of basic facts through 10 continues to be
our goal, but we are also working with
sums and minuends through 20! Keep
practicing doubles, doubles plus one, fact
families, counting on, and counting back!
Writing:
In writing this quarter, we will complete
our Young Geographers Unit! Within this
unit, there are three activities that the
students will do. The first is a 4 week
research project on a place in the United
States. Students will learn how to find
information for their writing through
pictures, books, and other technologyrelated resources. The second project is
an informative poem on the place they
wrote about, focusing on poem
structures. And the third is an opinion
piece about a place of their choice!
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Important Notes
2/12: Valentine’s Day Party
2/15: No School
2/26: Early Release Day
Reading:
This quarter, we will be reading informational text. The
students will ask and answer questions to identify key
details. They will also identify and use a variety of text
features to assist with their understanding of the text.
During reading, students will also be comparing two nonfiction texts on the same topic in order to note similarities
and differences. We will address prefixes, ask clarifying
questions, sort words by category and look at shades of
adjectives during our vocabulary study.
Science:
This quarter science blends well with social studies. The
indicators address the different physical features of the
Earth that help us live, and students learn to categorize
them as natural and human-made features. Students
will identify the materials that make up the natural
features of the Earth’s surface such as land, air, water
and living things. They will describe the properties of
those materials, and discuss how humans adapt the
materials to suit their needs. Then students will study
how the adaptations by humans can cause changes
and harm can the environment.
Social Studies:
We begin the quarter by exploring maps and map
elements. We then move on to look at maps from a
bird’s eye view. Next, we will explore human
characteristics of a place. We will conclude February
by exploring how humans modify their environments to
meet their needs.