Hahntown First Graders Experience the Thrill of the Olympics
WeatherDetectives in Action at Stewartsville Elementary orwin
Hahntown First Graders Experience the Thrill of the Olympics
First graders at Hahntown Elementary recently brought the excitement of the Winter Olympics to life in their classrooms and gym. Over several weeks, students explored Olympic history, learned about key events, and discovered the traits that make athletes successful— all while practicing important academic skills.
Through read-alouds, short videos, and lively class discussions, students gained a foundational understanding of events like bobsleigh, mogul skiing, and curling. They then applied that knowledge by participating in their own versions of the events during a full Olympic Day in the gym.
A major focus of the unit was character development. Students reflected on the positive traits of Olympians— such as perseverance, teamwork, and sportsmanship— and practiced applying them in school. Math skills were woven into the lessons as students tracked the medal counts of four countries, strengthening their counting, comparison, addition, and datahandling abilities.
Writing also played a role, with first graders completing opinion pieces about which Winter Olympic event they would choose to compete in and why. Guided supports like graphic organizers and sentence starters helped them connect their writing to what they learned.
The unit culminated in a highly anticipated Olympic Day, where students rotated through stations inspired by winter sports, including Snowball Toss, Knee Hockey, Luge, and Curling. As they played, students demonstrated the character traits they had studied— encouraging classmates, taking turns, and giving their personal best— making the experience both fun and meaningful.
WeatherDetectives in Action at Stewartsville Elementary orwin
NORWIN SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Kindergarten students in Mrs. B’ s class at Stewartsville Elementary have been diving into the fascinating world of weather! Over the past few weeks, they explored the seasons, clouds, rainy days, and even severe weather, bringing science to life through hands-on activities.
The students began by creating“ rain clouds in a cup” and designing their own cloud formations. The learning journey culminated in an exciting Weather Detectives Day, where students came dressed and ready to complete a series of weather-themed missions.
During the day, each budding detective created a“ pet cloud”— because every good detective needs a partner! They then headed outside to observe real weather conditions and
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practiced writing their very own weather reports. Back in the classroom, they read It“ Looked Like Spilled Milk”, a story about cloud shapes, and crafted their own cloud-inspired artwork.
The highlight of the day was the“ Be the Wind” activity. Students tested how different objects reacted to wind, experimenting with wooden blocks, plastic spoons, feathers, paper cups, and rocks. They discovered that while light objects could easily move, heavier items stayed put— even when everyone combined their efforts to create a“ strong wind”!
The day wrapped up with a celebration of their achievements. Each student received a Weather Detective Certificate, marking their success in becoming truly Weather Smart.