Career Day 2014

Yesterday was Career Day at VHE.  Take a look below to see pictures of our students learning about careers from these awesome professionals!

THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who took time away from their careers to teach us!  
Also, THANK YOU to Mrs. Bishop for organizing this awesome event for our students!

Mrs. Werning, a physical therapist, talked about the body and how she helps people take care of their bodies.  

Mr. Schanbacher, a dairy farmer, showed students how technology is used to milk cows on his farm.  

Mr. Bange, a construction manager, told students about important responsibilities he has and how he has done his job all over the world!

Mrs. Seeck, a pet groomer, demonstrated how she does her job on her friend Nacho!

Mrs. Nolan, a realtor, explained her career by having students "buy" ans "sell" homes of their own.  

Wonderopolis & Padlet in FIRST GRADE

We looked into why elephants have big ears on Wonderopolis last week.  Next, we put our new knowledge together and shared it on a Padlet wall. (Ms. Upah did the typing this time)  Check our the wonder and our Padlet wall.  

Padlet Wall - Why do elephants have big ears?

Wonderopolis - Why do elephants have big ears?

Preschool Reading Buddies

We spent some time sharing our reading talents with our preschool friends.  We hope to make this routine as long as the schedule allows through the end of the year. 

Jelly Bean Math & My Favorite Peeps

Here are a few scenes from our Jelly Bean Math activity that we did last Thursday.  

Some of my favorite peeps...!  :)

I'm so glad to be back with these kiddos today!  

Spring! Exciting Times!

I hope all of my first graders have been able to catch up on a little R & R, family time and outside play the last few days!  I am excited to get back to school tomorrow and finish first grade strong!  It's crazy to think I have less than 30 days with these kiddos!  Please keep reading and writing through the end of the year.  We've been discussing our first grade goals a lot lately and what we need to do to reach them by the end of the year.  You can help your first grader by reading and writing and writing and reading.  

Friday is the VHE Spring Concert at the MS/HS.  Please be sure to send $6.50 to school by Wednesday for your child's t-shirt.  You will need to bring your student to the band room so they can change into their t-shirt that evening.  (This is the same place you dropped your student off at last year.)  Mrs. Lampkin and the students have worked hard to prepare what promises to be a spectacular show.  I've heard them practicing across the hall for months!    Please let me know if you have any questions.

May is going to be a VERY busy month at the school.  Keep checking our blog to get dates and times for important events that are approaching!

Wonderopolis

I was recently introduced to this SUPER COOL website that takes random questions we have and answers them with an article and video.  For example, the "Wonder of the Day" today is "Why do skunks stink?" and the answer is then explained the with an article and video.  

This is available as a website and an app.  It was named on of the fifty best apps for kids by TIME in 2011.  

Check it out with your first grader!

Wonderpolois

Rocks ROCK!

We've started our study of rocks.  We've conducted all kinds of experiments with rocks and water already.  Soon we will move into clay and soil and discuss how different areas have different types of land that affects the kinds of resources they produce.  

Important Dates in April

April 2^nd – 1:00 Dismiss – PD
April 7^th – PTO Meeting @ 7pm - VHE
April 12^th – Cheesecake Pick-Up @ 10am @ 
                   Keystone
April 16^th – State word list due
April 17^th – 1:00 Dismiss – PD
April 18^th – No School
April 21^st – No School
April 23^rd – T-shirt $ due
April 25^th – VHE Music Program @ 7pm
                   @ HS Auditorium
April 27^th – PTO Movie @ 2pm @
                   Keystone

States Project

States Project –

In conjunction with the VHE music program, first graders will be doing a research project on assigned states.  Their projects will be displayed outside of the auditorium on April 25^th, the evening of the concert.  Please help your first grader come up with a list of words about his or her assigned state.  These words will be included in the project.  The words may be anything related to that state: cities, attractions, resources, etc.  All word lists need to be turned in no later than April 16^th.  Please contact your child’s teacher with any questions. 

Thanks! J

Ms. Upah & Mrs. Happel

We will be turning these lists into a Tagxedo word cloud.  Check out the website below.  Your first grade knows how create these!  

Tagxedo Word Clouds

VHE Music Program T-Shirts

There will be a note going home today about the VHE music program on Friday, April 25th.  It will be held at 7:00pm at the HS auditorium.  Each student needs to bring in $6.50 by Wednesday, April 23rd, for their program t-shirt.  As always, Mrs. Lampkin has taken care of ordering your child's size.  There will NOT be a form sent home that needs to be returned.  Please make sure your student's name is on the check or envelope with his or her money.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

Visitors

We've had a few visitors recently!  

Our friend, Karen, the Benton County Naturalist, came in and taught us more about butterflies.  She was amazed at all of the students' prior knowledge!  

Benton County Fair Queen, Willow Huber, came and talked to us about agriculture and her role as a fair queen.  The students really loved having royalty in the classroom!  They were full of questions for Willow.  

EAGLET DEBUT!

I apologize for my recent absence.  I've got a number of posts ready for pictures and to be posted.  I will post more about our recent eagle research soon, but I got very excited this evening when I saw one of the eaglets have hatched.  I couldn't wait until tomorrow to share!  Make sure you ask your first grader about the special tooth the eaglet has to help it come out of the shell.  

Below is a link to a story KCRG published about the eaglet.  I can't wait to show the kiddos tomorrow!  :)  

Decorah Eaglet Debut - KCRG