We are learning about winter holidays around the world. To begin our learning this week we started learning the names of the 7 continents to give the children background schema about where the countries are that we will be learning about and where they are in relationship to Colorado. We learn about other countries and different cultures and how they celebrate so that we understand different points of view. Using our critical thinking helps us better understand everyone. As a global school it is very important that we understand that we are a small part of a large world around us. We can understand other people better if we first understand ourselves. Please take time to talk with your child about your family beliefs, values, and how you celebrate winter holidays at your house. So far this week we have viewed a video about Christmas around the world and have also learned about Hanukkah. Stay tuned to find out what other countries and cultures we are learning about in our "travels around the world".
We are also doing "close reading" about each of the countries that we are visiting and writing paragraphs about what we have learned about each country. As we do "close reading" we use our pencils to read. On the paper we are reading we pay attention to vocabulary words we think are important, we write down what we are wondering, we write questions we are having as we read, and we also write what connections we are noticing as we read. Be looking for the holidays reading and writing that we have worked on to be coming home during your holiday break! You will become a "close reading" expert as your child teaches you about "close reading".
We will be using what we have learned from our "close reading" to write paragraphs about each country and culture we learn about. Children will be citing evidence from what is read as they write paragraphs about what has been learned. First graders at this time in the year should be able to write a paragraph using:
* a topic sentence "topic, topic, a topic, topic sentence"
* a transition word to start each big idea "transitions, they move
our writing along"
* 3 big ideas "big, big, big idea"
* an additional sentence telling more about each big idea.
"stop and tell me more, tell me more about about the big idea"
* and end with a conclusion "conclusion, conclusion,
this is how we end.
7 Continents Song
We are also doing "close reading" about each of the countries that we are visiting and writing paragraphs about what we have learned about each country. As we do "close reading" we use our pencils to read. On the paper we are reading we pay attention to vocabulary words we think are important, we write down what we are wondering, we write questions we are having as we read, and we also write what connections we are noticing as we read. Be looking for the holidays reading and writing that we have worked on to be coming home during your holiday break! You will become a "close reading" expert as your child teaches you about "close reading".
We will be using what we have learned from our "close reading" to write paragraphs about each country and culture we learn about. Children will be citing evidence from what is read as they write paragraphs about what has been learned. First graders at this time in the year should be able to write a paragraph using:
* a topic sentence "topic, topic, a topic, topic sentence"
* a transition word to start each big idea "transitions, they move
our writing along"
* 3 big ideas "big, big, big idea"
* an additional sentence telling more about each big idea.
"stop and tell me more, tell me more about about the big idea"
* and end with a conclusion "conclusion, conclusion,
this is how we end.
7 Continents Song
Enjoy this Hanukkah song the children loved singing as we learned about Hanukkah.
The Carol Deck the Halls originated in Wales. This song in sung in Welsh and allows the children to recognize the connection between the Welsh words and the English words. We hope you enjoy learning about holidays around the world right along with us.
As we traveled to Mexico we learned about the poinsettia, a pinata, the Posadas which takes place nine days before Christmas. Nativity scenes are the most common Christmas decorations in Mexico at Christmas time.
A site we watched to learned about a Swedish Christmas.
Oh, Tannenbaum is a song we listened to when we were learning about Germany!