The Chicks Are Coming! (Actually they are HERE!)

A Chick Is Born!
While in the process of putting this blog together, our first chick was born.  By the time that I publish this blog tomorrow, I'm sure we will have many more chicks.  But here is a picture and a super short video of our first-born.

Here is the first chick cracking through its shell 
and into the world!

It tries its best to stand up on wobbly legs.  It must stay in the incubator for 24 hours before being put into the brooder box

Which came first the chickens or the Chick Hatching Show?  

Before the arrival of the incubator and eggs, the first grade enjoyed a chick hatching show put on by Mrs. P. of the Science Center.  The show was a preview into what will happen in our very own classrooms. 


Here are a few photos of the chick hatching show held last week:

First graders hold up models of eggs from birds both living and extinct (Evan holds up the extinct Elephant Bird egg)

Ms. P. explains the parts of the egg.

Ms. P.  shows a model of the inside of a chicken.

Mrs. P. explains the difference between a hen and a rooster.

A first grader from another class models how a chicken lays eggs.

...and how the hen keeps her eggs warm.

                         How many days does it take for a chick to incubate?

Mrs. P. introduces the Incubator.

She shows us the inside of an incubator...

...and the outside of the incubator

Nora demonstrates the comb and waddle of the chicken.

Introducing the star of our show... Mr. Rooster!

Back at the classroom, Mrs. P. puts eggs into our classroom incubators.

We have seven eggs in our incubator,
waiting to hatch!

The students begins writing down observations of the eggs in their chick journals.

After they write in their paper journals, they take a picture with their i-Pad and write in their electronic chick journal too.

Happy New Year!

Rocketing Into 2013

I hope you all had a restful and healthy holiday break. We are now teaching about the season of winter and will soon blast off to distant planets to learn about our Solar System. At he end of our study we will be going to the Museum of Science on February 13th. You will soon get a permission slip for this field trip (not to be confused for the permission slip that you have recently returned for our theater trip to see Click, Clack, Moo).

IMPORTANT Dates for January/February:

January 21st: No School MLK Day

February 13: Field Trip to the Museum of Science

February 18-22 No School February Break

Now Your Child Can Do ST Math at Home!

In the next homework packet, please look for a letter informing you of how you can get onto the ST Math site at home.  This is purely voluntary so please don't worry if you do not have computer access at home.  The children love it and it's a fun way for them to get more math practice at home.  Since the children all progress at their own rate in this program, the lessons I've opened up to your children to do at home may be new to them or ones that they have already finished at school.  Either way, they can have fun with JiJi the Penguin. I will open up new lessons as the year progresses.  The letter which you will receive states that your child has been using the ST Math software program at Pine Glen Elementary, but this is only because the Burlington license for ST Math is through Pine Glen.

The letter will contain the username and password for ST Math, along with directions on how to set up this program at home. Any computer or tablet can be used. If you have any questions, please call or contact me at farmer@bpsk12.org

School ID: PIN050
Password: H6JZ5D74

Reading Class Changes

Some of you may have received a letter stating that your child has been moved to another reading classroom. If so, know that your child is being placed in the classroom which will work on the skills that your child is ready to learn! All these changes are positive and in your child's best interest. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or your child's new reading teacher.

Fun On the Polar Express!

Here are some photos from the Polar Express trip the first grade made n December 21st. It was a fun day!

Building Our Reading Rocket

Here are some photos of Room 111 building our "Reading Rocket." This rocket will be a fun escape for any child looking for a relaxing, quiet place to read a book.