Geography:
We spent the past couple weeks learning about Geography. We’ve learned that maps are made from a “bird’s eye view” or “aerial view”. We talked about how when we look at things, we see them one way, but when we look at a map, it looks different.
We read a book called, “Me On the Map” and learned about maps and globes. We learned that there are symbols on maps and globes in the Key to help us understand. Where we see green or brown, that is land, and where we see blue, we know that is water.
We also talked about how each person has a special place on the Map. Our Special place is our address. We each practiced writing and saying our addresses at school. There are 3 lines that help make up our address:
First and Last Name
House Number and Street Name
City, State, and Zip Code
Please have your first grader practice saying his/her address at home. I will be checking in with each child during the month of December see if they can remember all the parts of their home address (even the zip code).
Economics:
Before Thanksgiving Break we spent a portion of our day studying our first grade economics topics. We begin with a review of needs and wants. A need is something we can’t live with out, a want is something that makes life more fun.
We talked about different wants- things that we have asked for for our birthdays or things that were on our Christmas list.
The kids know that we have 5 needs:
food, water, shelter, clothes, air
Then I told the kids that I had some smarties and hershey kisses but not enough for everyone to have one of each. Everyone was able to choose one piece to have. After they had chosen, I had the kids raise their hands if they weren’t able to get their first choice candy. I used this example to explain the idea of scarcity to the kids, we talked about how there isn’t always enough of something for everyone to have it (or sometimes we don’t have enough money to buy everything we want).
I then shared how some of the kids had two pieces of candy that they really wanted, but they could only have one. We talked about how when you can’t have both, then you need to make a choice between the ones you like the best. I gave the kids the example of how I go shopping and see so many things at the store that I want, but I don’t have enough money to buy it all. So, we have to make choices!
I asked the kids what you could do if you ended up with a piece of candy that you didn’t want and they came up with the idea to trade. I had the kids who ended up with candy that wasn’t their first choice come to the middle of our circle and see if they could trade with each other. Some of them were able to and some were not. We discussed how trading is a great solution, but how it only works if the other person wants what you have to trade.
It was a fun activity that spurred a great discussion. There will be many moments of scarcity as the year continues at school. Be sure to point out if scarcity ever happens at home too!