Families,

On this section of our web-page I will list any upcoming projects for first grade.  Some will be listed many months ahead of time.  This will give you an idea of what is required for the year.  Though many might want to start planning for these projects now, please wait for further information regarding each specific project.  All guidelines have not been established at this time.  I hope this is helpful.  Please e-mail me with any questions,  sshivler@thesummitprep.org

COMMUNITY AND MAP SKILLS:   None

ANIMAL CLASSIFICATIONS: During our study of each classification students will make an "Insect Collection."  Students will need to collect at least 5 different specimens (six legs-- no spiders)and attach to a presentation board.  Information on the board will need to include the name of insect, date collected, place collected, city & state located.  Students will present the collection in class while showing the presentation board.  Rubrics and more information will follow during the unit.  Due October 12, 2007.

The children will be asked to make a poster on an animal in one of the animal classifications.  I will try to "divide" the students into an equal number of kids in each animal group (so we don't have half the kids doing mammals or reptiles or such).  I will do my best to let the children have one of their top three choices.  We will begin our unit in September and make posters before Halloween.  They will use their posters for the oral presentation portion of the project.  We will complete as much work as possible on this project in class.  I may ask for your help in gathering information to be put on the poster (animal diet, size, color, habits, where it lives, etc) so students can simply copy the information onto their posters.

CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING/ Japan & Mexico:   None

PIZZA ECONOMICS:   None

LETTER WRITING/GEOGRAPHY:  Our goal is to receive postcards from as many states and countries as possible.  The places we receive postcards from will be graphed onto a chart of the USA.  We will keep track of all the locations postcards come from.  We try to accomplish this by writing a letter to family members or friends asking them to send our class a postcard from where they live. The letter the child writes will be in their own words and will be accompanied by a "form letter" written by me.  This form letter explains the project and gives directions as to what we are doing. The only thing that needs to be done at home is to write down addresses on the provided index cards (they will be sent home in a ziploc).  I ask that the addresses be written in correct form so your child can copy that information onto an envelope.  Please try to have addresses that are from as many different states as possible.  If you have friends in other places that might be willing to help out, that is great!  Some children had their grandparents ask their friends too!  It was an amazing project that went around the world!  We could also use some white business size envelopes for the project.  Each child will need 10 (or more).  (Begin in February and on-going after that)

SIMPLE MACHINES:  A scavenger hunt in your home for an example of each type of simple machine.   Students need to find an example of each type of simple machine around their house.  If a student is unable to find a specific example they may make one (like a pulley).  Students will return their items to school with labels stating what type of simple machine the item is.  Students will share these during group time and reinforce identification of the six types of simple machines and gears.  (February/March)

INVENTORS:  Students will be asked to choose an invention/inventor to research.  A visual and oral presentation will be a part of this project.  Students will gather information from the internet  or classroom books to answer the following:  name of inventor, name of invention, date of invention, reason it was invented, who uses the invention, how has the invention changed over the years.  Students will take this information and make a visual presentation and give an oral report.  The student must include a picture of the invention or a real life example.  The student can choose to dress-up as the inventor or to have a photograph.  The rubric will include assessments for voice quality/understanding and neatness/creativity of the visual project.  Rubrics and outlines will be sent home with the information the child gathered at school.  (March/April)

ANIMAL HABITATS:  Students will complete two in-class art/writing projects in class.  The first will be a 3-D desert sculpture made of foil and tissue paper with a written description of the type of cactus they have created.  The second will be a rainforest hidden animal chalk drawing and a written piece describing what animal they have drawn.  The writing will emphasize using adjectives to describe their artwork. (April/May)