Scientists in the Making...

I always love this time of year when the students get to partner up for researching projects.  The students really enjoy this time too!  They are always so eager to share the information that they learn and I just love their enthusiasm for learning.  We have been working on noticing when we learn new information during our comprehension lessons in our reading block.  I decided to take this a step farther and let the kids try this skill on their own and conduct their own penguin research. 

 The unit I am using for our nonfiction research on penguins.  Click on the picture to find this on teachers pay teachers.

 Before conducting any research, we read an emergent reader about penguins.  As a class, we also brainstormed all the facts that we already knew about penguins.

 The students were divided into researching groups.  Each group was given a nonfiction book on penguins.  They then were sent off with these nonfiction research journals to start conducting their research.  Students are using their daily 5 read to someone time to work with their buddy/researcher on reading their nonfiction books.  They are really focusing on reading the nonfiction features in their books because we have already learned that we can learn so much from the features that authors use in their teaching books.  Students are recording the facts they are learning in their nonfiction research journals.  After conducting their research and finding six facts about penguins, they will take their researching journals to computer class with them.  There, Mrs. Allee will work with them on publishing the information they learned into a class book on penguins.  This of course meets the following common core standard:  CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.  Afterwards, the students will get to share their published work with the class, as well as, the information they learned about penguins.

Here are some pictures of the class conducting their research.  I love how "into" this they get!

The 120th day is coming up.  First grade has definitely rocked it to the 120th day and we can't wait to celebrate.  The celebration will take place on March 6th.  Students are encouraged to dress like a "rock star" on this day.  Please no hair or face paint.  We'll be using the following unit to celebrate our way through the day.  Please be on the lookout for more information to go home about this exciting day!