MOERSCH MESSENGER:  First Grade at Highland Park Elementary    Nov 30, 2008

SCHOOL WORKER THANK YOU PARTY A SMASHING SUCCESS!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! for the wonderful treats which we served at the School Worker Thank You Party. The children enjoyed dipping pretzels in chocolate as their contribution to the refreshments---and tasting a few for themselves : ) . They enthusiastically decorated the staff lounge with certificates and banners.  The party was appreciated by the school workers and was a wonderful Action Step to complete this Unit of Inquiry.

OUR CURRENT PYP UNIT OF INQUIRY:  FAMILIES

Families is a popular Unit of Inquiry with the first graders because they know so much already, but they dive into learning new things about their families, too.  Have you had some interesting conversations during this study?

Organizing Theme:  Who We Are                    Central Idea:  People are members of families

Lines of Inquiry:

        Family membership    Family similiarities and differences           Family changes

BREAD TASTING PARTY

To honor the same and different eating habits and heritages of families, we will hold a Bread Tasting Party on Tuesday, December 9.  Please send bread that represents your family’s heritage or taste preference such as white, wheat, rye, pita, cornbread, tortilla, crepe or specialty rolls.  We will divide the samples into bite sizes for the children to sample, so you only need to send the equivalent of about 3 slices.  If the bread for your family has a special story, please tell your child the story so they can share it with the class.

FAMILY GAME EVENT AND AUTHOR PARTY

We will celebrate the end of the Family Unit with a Family Game Event and Author Party on Wednesday, Dec. 17 from 2-3:15 PM. The children will read the family narrative books we are publishing in Writers Workshop.  Games will follow!  Plan to bring your family’s favorite board or card game.  Mark your calendar now for this fun-filled event!

FAMILY UNIT’S CLASSROOM INQUIRIES AND AN ACTION STEP

Watch for details about our classroom inquiries.  We may need your assistance in researching the children’s questions.  Also, as an Action Step develops, we will keep you informed.

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FIELD TRIP

HPE’s first graders are going on a field trip to the Children’s Museum in St Paul on Thursday, December 18th.  We hope to leave about 9:30 and return by 12:15.  This is a district-sponsored field trip and the cost of the bus is covered by the district.  Our class needs some chaperones.  Are you available to join us?

OH, YES!  ANOTHER THANK YOU