As we’ve continued our study of the solar system, first grade students have learned about the inner planets, with a heavy emphasis placed on planet Earth. First, to introduce the planets, students partner read yet another science vocabulary reader. Two of the subsequent comprehension strategies addressed included making comparisons and utilizing mnemonic devices. To help us remember the order of the planets, students have learned the phrase, “My very eager mother just served us noodles.” As we learn about each of the planets, students are researching and writing facts.
Focusing on Earth, students have completed many literacy related activities. This includes partner reading The Earth, Earth’s Water,and Introducing Planet Earth. With each text we addressed the reading strategy of connecting to prior knowledge in which readers think about what they already know about a topic before reading. In addition, we introduced the reading comprehension skills of identifying main ideas and details. We have learned that a main idea is the big idea of a book or what it is mostly about. Supporting details, on the other hand, tell the reader more about the main idea. Students also practiced distinguishing fact from opinion and determining cause and effect relationships.
Finally, through the books, we addressed phonetic skills and grammar. Students were asked to manipulate initial sounds, review long vowel “magic e” words, and recognize the -ight pattern. Students combined words to create compound words, located and categorized nouns as a person, place, or thing, and turned singular nouns into plural nouns. Tying in a brief math activity, we even introduced double digit addition without regrouping. We look forward to learning more about the outer planets this week.
