Groundhog Day

We had a wonderful opportunity to work with a Kindergarten class on their Groundhog's Day Science. The kindergartners were learning about their shadow, and the way the sun is in a different part of the sky at different times of the day. Our class had just finished our study of the Solar System so we had plenty of information to share with the kindergartners.

In the morning the kindergarten students stood on a line and found their own shadow. The first graders traced the shadow so that the the kindergartners would be able to compare there shadow throughout the day. The kindergarten class went back out at midday and at the end of the school day to make observations about their shadows.

After assisting the kindergartners we came in and our class wrote in their Science Journals. They drew what they observed when we were outside and made predictions about what they expected the kindergartners to see throughout the day. Our learning of the Solar System for Sleepover really payed off. All of our students were able to make accurate predictions.

Sleepover Under the Stars.

One of the amazing traditions at Chets Creek Elementary is the annual First Grade Sleepover. Traditionally the first grade has done a series of lessons and activities centered around narrative stories about sleepovers. The "Grand Finale" of the study was on Sleepover Day when the children come to school wearing their pajamas and carrying their homemade Teddy Bears that they had made for homework. They then spent the day participating in many different sleepover related activities.

This year the First Grade Teachers decided to shake things up a bit. The new tradition includes a great deal of focus on Science. The theme focuses on the night sky! The children learned about stars, planets, and the sun. Science was Incorporated throughout the day. The children read non-fiction texts about space and wrote about what they were learning. The children also participated in a series of labs surrounding the study of Space.

There was an amazing family night where first graders and their families came to Chets Creek to watch a movie under the stars. The following Friday was the culminating day! The children paraded through the building in their pajamas holding their homemade pillows which included Venus, the sun, stars, Jupiter and many more "Spacey" themed pillows. Immediately after the parade the children enjoyed a donut and juice breakfast, in the dining room. There was a slide show presentation where each first grader was represented. There was loud music and even line dancing by the teachers and our Fearless Principal Mrs. Phillips.

After breakfast, the children traveled through several different stations , they sang Unearthly songs in the Music Station. They made super cool picture frames in Art, an indescribable experience in a very large bag where the children could watch the earth and moon move, and They were able to play intergalactic games on the Smart Board. The end of the day was held in the media center where the children watched a shadow story on the ceiling! They watched a space movie and then they cranked the music and everybody danced! It was a fun filled day and a great way to celebrate all the learning that the children did about Space. What a great "new" sleepover tradition.