Grade 1: Creating Owl-Some Bird Reports

Each year in Grade 1, students become immersed in a multidisciplinary bird unit that culminates into a final project known as the Bird Report. Throughout the school year, students learn about birds and the various challenges they face through first-hand experiences, including field trips to spend time with field guides and interactive lessons and projects in their science, art, Tinker Time, and core classes. 
Using what they observed and learned throughout the year, first graders took their discoveries to the next level by compiling their findings into a class book. According to Grade 1 Teacher Mr. Brice Keefer, “First graders began the Bird Report process by learning how to become an expert on a topic. To do this, they gained an understanding of how to research, utilized multiple sources such as books and articles, and gathered and organized information, which was eventually compiled into a class book about Eagles.” Taking what they learned from this exercise, the first graders showed agency by creating their own individual Bird Reports. To do this, students first selected a bird to study and read a book about them. From there, they began to write ‘dash facts’ (shortened bullet-style notes) about their bird’s habitat, diet, characteristics, and other fun facts, which eventually became the book chapters. According to Mr. Keefer, the students are eagerly awaiting to showcase their reports to fellow classmates this May. Keep up the great work, Grade 1 bird experts!


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Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.