First Grade News

It may be cold outside, but learning is keeping us warm inside the first-grade classrooms! We are excited about our upcoming trip on February 11 to the Civic Center to see a production of Leo Lionni’s work presented by the Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. They will present three of Lionni’s award winning children’s stories (Swimmy, Inch by Inch, and Frederick) using puppetry. The children will use this unique opportunity to discuss good character traits and implement comprehension strategies learned this year. Before the program, the classes will read the selected stories. They will ask questions about the text, monitor and clarify information read, and infer the meaning of the text. The students will study the illustrations of the books to learn more about Lionni’s style and technique. Also, predictions will be made about the program. After the program, the children will evaluate the productions based on how well the performers matched the meaning of the text, and if they found it to be entertaining. Finally, the children will summarize the stories including the main idea and details. Leo Lionni’s work is a masterpiece of visual art combined with descriptive language. His work incorporates entertainment with the deeper meanings of responsibility and respect. The classes are very appreciative to the PTA for their financial support. The first-graders will remember this experience for a long time to come.