Week in Review: February 23-27

In science, we are wrapping up our study of soil. We also had two special presentation this week, a Science in the Movies assembly sponsored by the PTA on Wednesday, and on Thursday, the third grade team Skyped with Mr. Jeffrey from Greenpath (a plastic recycling company in California) about plastic pollution. We will spend the next two weeks before spring break shifting to the study of economics for social studies to prepare for our Economics Fair.

In language arts, we are continuing to work on our Plastic Pollution alphabet informational book, as well as revising our best poems for a class poetry anthology. For reading, we are focusing on informational texts and learning strategies to help us with comprehension and summarizing these books.

We spent the week learning about perimeter and math and ended on Friday by just beginning to explore area. More of that to come next week!

I hope you all have a great weekend! Only two weeks until spring break!!

Week in Review: February 17-20

This short 4 day week was full of learning! We have finished up our biography unit this week and each student created a biography flip book on the famous person they have been reading about in their biography book clubs. We have two writing projects going on simultaneously, one is compiling our best poems into a class poetry anthology (more details to come!), and the other is writing a non-fiction alphabet book about the perils of plastic pollution.

Thanks again for sending in the soil samples over the last couple of weeks. Students got to examine them up close, and observe the different layers of soil that occur naturally in nature with our Soil Shakes experiment.

In math, we are continuing our study of 2D and 3D shapes and will begin area and perimeter next week. Highlights of math this week included: geometry scavenger hunt, successfully completing the "4 Triangle Challenge", and designing "Shapey" characters.

On Monday, all third graders will be taking a STAAR Ready reading assessment. This assessment is required by the district, and will give us teachers a good indicator of what reading skills we need to focus on for April's STAAR test. We will simulate an actual test taking day, so please make sure your child gets a good night's sleep and has a healthy breakfast. They should bring a snack and water bottle as always. Have a wonderful weekend!

Week in Review: February 9 - 13

In language arts, we spent Monday and Tuesday preparing for Wednesday's writing district assessment. Students had to answer multiple choice questions about revising and editing, and then write their own one page narrative. We walked through the writing process, from planning with a bubble map, to a rough draft, then revising and editing, and finally, a final copy of their best work. Students worked hard on Wednesday and I am confident they did their best!

We were only able to do two science experiments this week, but we learned a lot about how soil forms from these two activities. Students should have a clear understanding of weathering through wind, water, and other natural events such as earthquakes or landslides.

Students found the mass of two large rocks.

Finding the mass

Students then took turns banging the rocks together, to simulate earth's forces weathering the rocks.

More rock banging...goggles on for safety!

And yet more banging...this was a noisy morning!

On Thursday, we put some rocks and water in a jar...

and everyone had a turn to vigorously shake the jar, simulating water's effect on rocks.

We then filtered the water through a paper towel and this was the sediment left behind.

In math, we tested over multiplication and then moved into reviewing 2D and 3D shapes. We enjoyed some shape sorting and laptop games to do this reviewing. We will continue with geometry, as well as area and perimeter over the next two weeks.

And of course, we can't forget the highlight of the week....Friday's Valentine's Day party. Fun was had by all! A special thanks to our room parents, and all who donated supplies or volunteered to make it possible. Have a great three day weekend...no school on Monday!