Did you hear? We finished our all time favorite read aloud on Thursday. "Poppy" by Avi was a huge hit in Room 221. The kids were enthralled by the humor of Ereth (the porcupine) and the suspense of Mr. Ocax.
You should know that this book is just one in a series. The books are leveled S, so some third graders can read them independently, but all children will enjoy them as a read aloud. I promise that you will enjoy the books too if you choose to snuggle up to share them with your child. Perhaps you can read them all this summer! The titles are:
"Ragweed"
"Poppy & Rye"
"Ereth's Birthday"
"Poppy's Return"
"Poppy & Ereth"
Avi has written many other fabulous books (apart from the Poppy series). Some are perfect for 9 year olds, some are more suited to older readers. Check them out at your local bookstore or library. You can also check out Avi's website!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Electricity
Third grade scientists are having such fun as they explore electricity. They have made a motor run using just two wires and a battery. Ask your scientist how they got the motor to spin in the opposite direction...
Lighting a small bulb using only a battery and two copper wires was tricky. All students were able to make the bulb light, and the process helped us realize that the lightbulb and the battery have "critical contact points." These are points that must be connected in order to create a complete circuit.
The very bottom of the light bulb, (we call that the base terminal) must be touching (directly or through metal wire) the metal part of the top or base of the battery. This must be connected (directly or through metal wire) to the opposite end of the battery. The wire must be connecting with the metal side terminal.
Why is everything attached using so much metal? Your third grade scientists will let you know after our "Conductors and Insulators" lesson today!
Lighting a small bulb using only a battery and two copper wires was tricky. All students were able to make the bulb light, and the process helped us realize that the lightbulb and the battery have "critical contact points." These are points that must be connected in order to create a complete circuit.
The very bottom of the light bulb, (we call that the base terminal) must be touching (directly or through metal wire) the metal part of the top or base of the battery. This must be connected (directly or through metal wire) to the opposite end of the battery. The wire must be connecting with the metal side terminal.
Why is everything attached using so much metal? Your third grade scientists will let you know after our "Conductors and Insulators" lesson today!
Extra Help
I will be holding extra help sessions on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. For the last few weeks of school I will be reviewing a variety of concepts and strategies! Please let me know if your child will be attending.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Extra Help
Sorry for the short notice, but I will be holding extra help sessions on Thursday afternoon. This week we will review finding the area of shapes! I will also review anything individual children would like to go over. Please let me know if your child will be attending.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Special Presentation - Friday
This Friday, May 14th our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes will be treated to a unique and exciting view of our earth – from the inside out! EarthView, presented by Bridgewater State University, will be set up in the gym all day long.
The EarthView is a 22’ inflatable globe that allows students to walk inside the earth and see it from a totally different perspective. The Bridgewater State’s Department of Geography will offer a 20-minute presentation to each group. The EarthView is both a fascinating teaching tool and a delicate work of art. The outside is a hand-painted, large-scale map of the Earth's surface, showing biological communities, rivers, seas, landforms, continents, islands, oceans, and major cities. The inside reveals the positions of tectonic plate boundaries and ocean spreading centers, along with all of the detail visible from the outside. More information is available at [ http://www.bridgew.edu/EarthView/ ]http://www.bridgew.edu/EarthView/
****Please note:
**Shoes must be removed and socks must be worn while visiting the EarthView. Please advise your students. I will bring extra pairs of new socks for those that forget, but I won’t have enough for everyone!
The EarthView is a 22’ inflatable globe that allows students to walk inside the earth and see it from a totally different perspective. The Bridgewater State’s Department of Geography will offer a 20-minute presentation to each group. The EarthView is both a fascinating teaching tool and a delicate work of art. The outside is a hand-painted, large-scale map of the Earth's surface, showing biological communities, rivers, seas, landforms, continents, islands, oceans, and major cities. The inside reveals the positions of tectonic plate boundaries and ocean spreading centers, along with all of the detail visible from the outside. More information is available at [ http://www.bridgew.edu/EarthView/ ]http://www.bridgew.edu/EarthView/
****Please note:
**Shoes must be removed and socks must be worn while visiting the EarthView. Please advise your students. I will bring extra pairs of new socks for those that forget, but I won’t have enough for everyone!
Check These Out!
All children who love books and reading should check out these websites. They are filled with book reviews written by children as well as book suggestions and links to other cool sites. Check them out!
www.kidsreads.com
www.spaghettibookclub.org
www.kidsreads.com
www.spaghettibookclub.org
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Welcome Nicholas!
Room 221 welcomed a new student today! Nicholas is joining us from Colorado. The children were very welcoming and gracious. Ask your third grader about their new friend.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Math
You may have noticed that over the last several weeks we zipped through much of measurement and geometry. As you probably know, that's not my usual style of teaching. As the Math MCAS approaches quickly, I wanted the children to at least have familiarity with the third grade concepts in each topic. When we complete the MCAS for third grade, we will be revisiting the concepts we've breezed through and look at them more thoroughly. I'm looking forward to facilitating some fun, exploratory, hands-on learning experiences.
Fiction Writing
The most exciting Writing Workshop unit has begun. The children have been waiting for it all year. It's FICTION!
The children will be creating their own characters and will reflect on the internal and external characteristics of those characters. Third grade writers will learn the importance of making choices that make sense or are connected to the story they plan to write. For example, I might choose to make my character brave. I would make this decision because she gets lost in an amusement park, so bravery would be a good characteristic for her to have. By the end of the week you can ask your child about the character that they have created.
Starting next week, we will plan the plot of our stories using story mountains. We have learned during Reading Workshop that most stories have an initiating event (when the problem is introduced) a climax, and a conclusion. The children are using their story mountain to help them build action until it reaches a climax and finally a conclusion. This advance planning should help them to write a cohesive, logical and exciting story. Don't forget to ask your child to describe the plot of their story.
Happy writing! :o)Melanie
The children will be creating their own characters and will reflect on the internal and external characteristics of those characters. Third grade writers will learn the importance of making choices that make sense or are connected to the story they plan to write. For example, I might choose to make my character brave. I would make this decision because she gets lost in an amusement park, so bravery would be a good characteristic for her to have. By the end of the week you can ask your child about the character that they have created.
Starting next week, we will plan the plot of our stories using story mountains. We have learned during Reading Workshop that most stories have an initiating event (when the problem is introduced) a climax, and a conclusion. The children are using their story mountain to help them build action until it reaches a climax and finally a conclusion. This advance planning should help them to write a cohesive, logical and exciting story. Don't forget to ask your child to describe the plot of their story.
Happy writing! :o)Melanie
No "Extra Help" This Week
No worries! I will still help your child as much as they need during the school day, but due to MCAS I will give the kids time off before and after school. I will start up again next week. :o)
Math MCAS
As many of you know, the Math MCAS is this week. We will have a brief practice test on Monday. This is fairly short and simply gives the children an exposure to the experience.
The actual test will be administered on Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12 at
9:00am. The test is created to take about 60 minutes. Some children will be done sooner, and others will take longer. The test is untimed, so the children can take as long as they need.
I am asking all students to be in bed by 8:00 the nights before the test. Please help your children follow this guideline. In addition, all children should eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school each test day.
The room parents are using "classroom money" to purchase healthy snacks for the children. They will be invited to eat lightly when they get to school. After all children have completed the test, they will also be able to eat an "extra" snack and relax for a short time. The children will also get extra recess each test morning in order to run off any extra steam.
This week will look different in terms of homework. Written homework will only be assigned on Thursday. There will be no spelling words this week. In addition, there will only be one timed math quiz on Monday. Your children should continue to read (or be read to) for at least 20 minutes each night.
Most importantly, I do not want your children to feel stressed about MCAS. It is important that they know we believe they will do well. Please encourage them to work hard and do their best. However, also remind them that no matter how they do on MCAS, we know they are smart children!
Thanks for your cooperation. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
The actual test will be administered on Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12 at
9:00am. The test is created to take about 60 minutes. Some children will be done sooner, and others will take longer. The test is untimed, so the children can take as long as they need.
I am asking all students to be in bed by 8:00 the nights before the test. Please help your children follow this guideline. In addition, all children should eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school each test day.
The room parents are using "classroom money" to purchase healthy snacks for the children. They will be invited to eat lightly when they get to school. After all children have completed the test, they will also be able to eat an "extra" snack and relax for a short time. The children will also get extra recess each test morning in order to run off any extra steam.
This week will look different in terms of homework. Written homework will only be assigned on Thursday. There will be no spelling words this week. In addition, there will only be one timed math quiz on Monday. Your children should continue to read (or be read to) for at least 20 minutes each night.
Most importantly, I do not want your children to feel stressed about MCAS. It is important that they know we believe they will do well. Please encourage them to work hard and do their best. However, also remind them that no matter how they do on MCAS, we know they are smart children!
Thanks for your cooperation. Don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Extra Help
I will be holding extra help sessions on Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon. This week we will review finding the area of shapes! Please let me know if your child will be attending.
Matter
Everything around us is made up of matter. As an introduction to our unit on electricity, the children learned that matter:
*takes up space
*has weight
*can sink or float
*can be in different forms - solid, liquid, gas
*can change from one form to another - from solid to liquid, or from liquid to gas
*can be "sensed" - hear, smell, feel, taste, see
Ask your child to name some matter around you!
P.S. What does matter have to do with electricity? Matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are made up of electrons. The flow of electrons IS electricity!
*takes up space
*has weight
*can sink or float
*can be in different forms - solid, liquid, gas
*can change from one form to another - from solid to liquid, or from liquid to gas
*can be "sensed" - hear, smell, feel, taste, see
Ask your child to name some matter around you!
P.S. What does matter have to do with electricity? Matter is made up of atoms. Atoms are made up of electrons. The flow of electrons IS electricity!
Historical Tour of Needham
Thank you so much to Mrs. Martell for taking us on a fabulous tour of Needham! We saw in person so many sites that we have learned about. Check your child's folder for more information. We have included a list of sites you may want to visit with your family.
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