On Friday, April 15th, we had our second day of robotics with Mr. Gaelen. We worked with a partner to build a car! Check out our teamwork and our cars!

We learned Bobby Darrin's "Splish Splash" during shared reading. This connects to our theme unit: we discussed that this person could have saved water by taking a shower instead of having a party in the bath. We used the song to look for digraphs, welded sounds, and blends! We also learned how to dance the twist and the swim.

We are getting stronger and stronger with our energizers. Students are beginning to lead! 

On Thursday, April 14th, we talked about how a small group of people can make big change. First grade at PS 516 is like a small drop of water. We may look small, but by getting second grade to help, and kindergarten to help, and Pre-K to help, and families to help, and teachers to help, we can do A LOT! Our ripples keep getting bigger and bigger!

On Tuesday, April 19th, we will present to the PTA. Students from 1-310 will tell the PTA why water is important, students from 1-308 will tell the PTA about the problem in Flint, Michigan, and 1-304 will tell the PTA our ideas for a solution. 1-304 wrote a manifesto to tell the PTA what we want to do to make a change. A manifesto is a statement of the things we want  in order to make change. 

First Grade’s Manifesto about the Water in Flint:
The problem in Flint is devastating and we want to support them!

• We want to raise money to send to the people of Flint, Michigan.
  
• We want to talk to the president, the governor of Michigan, and local legislators.
  
• We want everyone at Sunset Park Avenues to work together!
  

Will you help us? How can we work together?

Many students felt brave and wanted to present. Diana and Joel will present to the PTA for 1-304. Hong Ye and Athena will translate the presentation in Mandarin. Other students will have many opportunities to get involved by presenting to classes at PS 516, making signs, making art, writing letters, etc. Good luck Diana, Joel, Hong Ye, and Athena! We know you'll do great!

All three first grade classes voted for the organization that they want to support. By choosing just one, we can help in a big way. Once everyone voted, we had to figure out which organization received the most votes:

The Community Foundation of Greater Flint had the most votes from first grade! We will be figuring out ways to support this amazing organization!

On Tuesday, April 12th, parents and teachers had a SLT meeting to talk about things going on at Sunset Park Avenues. Zhi Xiang and Ms. Zhang presented to the SLT committee. On behalf of first grade, they requested time during the upcoming PTA meeting to talk with parents about how we want to help people get clean water. 

The next day, Zhi Xiang shared with the rest of the class:
"Last night, I and Ms. Zhang say the paper together. The parents and teachers say good job and have no questions for us."
Joel: How was it Zhi Xiang?
Zhi Xiang: Good.
Waseem: Did you tell the parents and teachers about if they didn’t have clean water?
Zhi Xiang: No, because New York City have clean water.
Joy: How did you feel when teachers and parents talk to you?
Zhi Xiang: Happy because they clapped and cheered.
Ms. Blevins: What did you learn from doing this?
Zhi Xiang: I learned to be brave.