Transpiration!

1st grade students experienced xylem vessels and stomata up close and personal yesterday.  As part of our work about the water cycle, we placed fresh celery into beakers full of red or blue water.  The water traveled through the celery because of the process of transpiration.  In transpiration, water is carried through plants in tubes called xylem vessels and then finally exits the plant through tiny holes in the leaves called stomata.  Students were able to actually pull the dyed xylem vessels out of the celery.  The stomata were also easy to see with a hand lens.

First Grade AFS Post Office is Open!

The First Grade post office is officially open in the Lower School!  Buy some stamps and mail a letter today!      
                     

A lot of great learning, planning and preparation has gone into this special annual activity. First Grade read several books about the post office and learned about how the mail system worked.  We created two large blue mailboxes with special signs, set up distribution envelopes for each Lower School Class, and designed some amazing Hero Edition stamps to be sold. 

We learned about the different postal service jobs that need to be done like selling stamps, collecting, stamping, sorting and delivering. Then we created assignments so that each student will get to a chance to do three different jobs. You will find details on how to buy stamps and mail letters along with more details and pictures of our process below. The post office will run until Spring Break. 

To buy stamps:

Stamps can be purchased for .10 each by students, teachers and family members Monday through Friday from 8:10-8:30am in the First Grade Classroom.  Our 23 Hero Edition stamps come from the original drawings each student made of their Hero during our Hero Study.

To mail a letter: 

Place your letter with one of our stamps taped or glued on, in one of our two blue mail boxes located at he library and in the lobby area. Make sure your letter has the name of the person you are sending it to along with their classroom. Don’t forget your name and return address either! All letters must have a stamp and complete address or they will be returned - just like a real world post office!

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Mail Delivery: 

First Grade will pick up the mail at each mailbox, take it to back to the "mail room" and then date stamp, cancel and sort each letter. Then we'll deliver letters after 2pm each day to each classroom!

                                                                                                                                                                          

  

                                                                

Our Learning Process:

We had several meetings where we read books about the post office and special stories about letter writing. Then we learned about the different steps of mail delivery and looked at some of the special tools we would be using like date stamps, canceling stamps and even a "Return to Sender" stamp.

We practiced our letter writing and how to address envelopes. Then we painted our mailboxes, learned about what makes a good sign and planned what to put on our own signs.  Out last step was putting up large delivery envelopes on the door of each Lower School classroom. 

We've had a lot of stamp customers and have been busy delivering letters!  

                                                 

p.s.   The money we collect from stamp selling will go to a good cause!  First Grade will meet to brainstorm an organization we will donate to. 

The Winter Olympics comes to First Grade!

In honor of the Sochi Winter Olympics, First Grade participated in their very own Winter Olympic games today in P.E. with Mr. C and Jeff! 

They divided up into teams and competed in indoor versions of skiing, bobsled, the luge and the biathlon. See what our Olympians were up to today!

Love Letters from the 1st Grade

In art class, the first graders viewed images of the Love Letter mural series created by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. We discussed why an artist would write a message of love to the community and how we felt when we read the messages.

Some images from the Love Letter mural series:

The first graders then got to work dreaming up their love letter messages, complete with drawings in their sketchbooks. Their creativity and kind words were phenomenal!

In the next art class, the first graders worked collaboratively. Each first grade artist designed individual letters that, when combined, spelled out some of the messages that were written in the class before.

We couldn't wait to see the final product! To celebrate both Valentine's Day and Random Acts of Kindness Week (click here to learn more: http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/), the first graders hung their love letter messages in the hallways of AFS. They were also thrilled to help deliver some of their love letter messages to faculty, staff and other students around school. 

By completing Random Acts of Kindness, students learn empathy, service and how to celebrate giving to others. We loved seeing the joyful reaction of the community and seeing our artwork and writing making a positive impact on those around us! 

Some of the 1st Grade Love Letters:

Hold hands forever and ever!

When I paint with you, my imagination soars!

You warm my heart.

You are my best friend.

Jump high.

Delvering love letters to faculty mailboxes.

Here comes the love dove.

You're awesome.

You are my friend.