Weekly Boost
This Week in First Grade
Week 23
Diphthong: Ow
Diphthong: Ow
Write words that include the letters "ow" on sticky notes or index cards, and read the words out loud to your child. Categorize the words by those that say the long O sound (e.g. "grow"), and those that make the "ow" sound (e.g. "owl").
Invite students to brainstorm words that include the diphthong "ow" in small groups on sticky notes or index cards. Then, read each word aloud. Categorize the words by those that make the long O sound (e.g. "grow"), and those that make the "ow" sound (e.g. "owl").
Vowel Diphthongs: OW
Worksheet
Vowel Diphthongs: OW
Children work on phonics and spelling skills as they learn about the diphthong OW in this vocabulary-building worksheet.
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
-OW Sounds Phonics: A Cow in the House
Worksheet
-OW Sounds Phonics: A Cow in the House
Children will work on their understanding of the -OW sound, and build vocabulary too, as they solve 14 clues to complete the crossword puzzle.
2nd grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
'Til the Cows Come Home: Phonics Practice
Worksheet
'Til the Cows Come Home: Phonics Practice
Children will identify the OW words that sound like cow in order to help a young bull find his way back to the barn.
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Fractions
Fractions
Cut out various shapes from paper and draw lines on the shapes to divide them into equal and not equal parts. Ask your child which shapes are divided into equal parts, and sort the shapes together.
Build a strong foundation with fractions by teaching students to differentiate between equal and not equal parts. Use paper cut-outs to model the concept. Have students sort shapes into 2 categories: those that are divided into equal parts, and those that are not divided into equal parts.
Divide the Shapes in Half
Worksheet
Divide the Shapes in Half
There's more than one way to divide these shapes! Introduce students to fractions by having them divide the shapes into equal parts and then color one half.
1st grade
Math
Worksheet
Share a Pizza
Lesson plan
Share a Pizza
Everyone loves pizza! Introduce the concept of fractions as equal shares in a familiar context. Use alone or with Halves as Equal Shares.
1st grade
Math
Lesson plan
Fraction Frenzy: 1/4
Worksheet
Fraction Frenzy: 1/4
Help your kid understand what one-fourth means with this introduction to fractions.
1st grade
Math
Worksheet
Nonfiction Books
Nonfiction Books
Keep reading plenty of nonfiction books at home. Encourage your child to draw and write about what they are learning in the nonfiction texts.
As students dive deeper into nonfiction books, allow them time to draw or write about new information they are learning. Students can share new information about a topic with their reading partners.
Reread It!
Worksheet
Reread It!
Nonfiction books are jam-packed with information, which is why it’s important to read them more than once! This worksheet encourages students to reread nonfiction, summarizing what they learned with pictures and words.
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Share Your Summary
Worksheet
Share Your Summary
After reading nonfiction books, encourage students to share what they’ve learned by writing letters to a family member. Students will use this letter template to share the name of the book and a detailed summary of what they learned.
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Summary to Speech
Worksheet
Summary to Speech
Engage students in reading by having them share about the nonfiction books they read. In this activity, students write a summary—in speech form!—of a book that they read. For added fun, have them give their speeches to a partner—or even the whole class!
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Informational Writing: Publishing
Informational Writing: Publishing
A great way to extend informational writing studies is to have your child create a nonfiction book about a topic. Get creative by creating a decorated cover and table of contents page as well.
Allow students time to revise and edit their informational writing before publishing their work. Provide a fancy cover to decorate and a table of contents page to include.
Animal Research
Lesson plan
Animal Research
Who doesn’t love learning about animals? Engage students in research as they write informational books about animals.
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
Make Your Cover Shine
Worksheet
Make Your Cover Shine
Make your writing shine with a cover that pops! After students have completed a piece of informational writing, it’s time for them to make engaging covers. This worksheet helps students include all of the key elements—title, picture, and the author's name
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Revise Your Informational Writing
Worksheet
Revise Your Informational Writing
After writing a draft of an informational piece, have students revise their writing with this handy checklist. Students will work to improve their sentences and add more details and descriptions that will take their writing to the next level.
1st grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
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