The World Around Us

This unit has been really fun to teach. We have been teaching the first graders the similarities and differences between themselves, their communities and others in "The World Around Us."


I started talking about how each class member was a like and different. We made WE ME pages. Then we compared our homes. We made them and then saw how they were alike and different. 

Discovery Education

I found several great videos about the world around us on Discovery Streaming. (LOVE Discovery Streaming!)  


Now the fun starts! WE completed our FIRST research project. 

The students found it daunting at first. But with some encouragement they realized they could do it! ( I knew that all along!) 


I was amazed with how well they did! They worked so well together! I love how these kiddos always raise to the occasion. 

You can find that at my teachers pay teachers store! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-World-Around-Us-Research-Project


The next step was skypeing my friend's class in Columbia the students asked the same questions  to her class that we researched. The kids loved it and her class did a great job they even showed us how to salsa! - Digital PENPALS - is something that I have really grown to love and the kids do too! I learned about it at iste and figured why not!

                                                                              Skype


The last part was inviting in parents to talk about where they were from. I had three parents volunteer to come and speak plus I created an imovie about good ole Albuquerque. I even featured a 1st grade picture of me! (Not my best year!)

After we listened to each presentation we used a venn diagram to compare each place.