Are and Perimeter

Third graders have been practicing their measuring skills. Lately, we've practiced measuring the area and perimeter of rectangles.

 Perimeter is the measure around a shape. We might measure the perimeter of a space if we want to put a fence around it.

Area is the measure of space inside a shape. We might measure the perimeter of a space if want to cover the space with a rug.

Today, third graders made a connection between arrays and area. To determine the area of a rectangle, you can multiply width x length similar to the way we multiply rows x columns in an array.

 Happy measuring!

History of Needham

Today we began sharing the story of Needham.

Ask your child what people lived on the land we call Needham for thousands of years before the Puritans came.

Ask your child why the Puritans left England in the 1600s.

Ask your child what river the Puritans traveled on as they moved towards Needham.

We'll tell more of the story tomorrow! :o)

Extra Help

Starting this week I will be holding extra help sessions on Tuesday mornings (7:50-8:20)and Thursday afternoons (2:35-3:05). In order to best meet the needs of each child I will be choosing a focus for each session. For example, this week there will be a focus on fractions. If your child needs or would like some extra practice in this area they are welcome to attend either or both days.

 I am happy to see as many children who are interested. I only ask that you notify me to let me know that your child is coming.

Just a reminder that I will be holding parent conferences today. I hope you are able to make it. Here's the schedule: 7:30 Keren 8:00 Jesse 8:30 Sabine 9:00 Abbie 9:30 Caitlyn 10:00 Sarah 10:30 Jonathan 11:00 Khameran 12:30 Eric 1:00 Zach 1:30 Reed 2:00 Louis 2:30 John If you were unable to schedule a conference yet, please email me at melanie_sullivan@needham.k12.ma.us. I look forward to seeing many of you! :o)

History of Needham

We are just beginning our new unit on the History of Needham! One big idea that I would like students to understand from this unit, is that things change over time. We will learn specifically how many things have changed in Needham over many years. To get us started, third grade historians started thinking about how they think things have changed. Children worked through a carousel brainstorm (moving in groups from station to station) to list changes they know about in jobs, children's lives, schools, houses and transportation. Talk to your children about the changes you have experienced. They'll be sure to tell you all about the changes that have taken place in Needham as we get going. :o)Melanie

The Genius Files

Our latest read aloud has been a HUGE hit! I am reading aloud "The Genius Files" by Dan Gutman. Room 221 listeners have loved the action and adventure packed into this fun book. One of the reasons I chose this book is because the characters drive across the country. We are able to follow their travels with Google Maps. We are also visiting some of the many interesting sights that they are visiting. You can follow along at home too! Go to Google Maps. Click on "Get Directions." For today, type in Burlingame, CA to Chico, CA. You can see the route our favorite characters took on the first leg of their trip! You can also visit interesting places with us. Yesterday we saw The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorobilia. (Would you have ever guessed there was such a place????) Today we visited The National Yo-Yo Museum. Check it out!

Spelling City

As you probably know, VocabularySpellingCity is a website that helps students learn their weekly spelling and vocabulary words while having fun at the same time. All 221 spellers have an assignment to complete that is due on May 4. I have sent home lists of their assigned words to assist them as they complete their assignments. Please help your child find time to get onto the computer to complete this assignment. If internet access is difficult for you, don't worry! I can print out the activities and kids can complete them on paper. Just let me know! Click here to access the site. The kids know how to log in. Happy spelling!

State Fair

Thank you so much for coming to the State Fair! The kids had so much fun presenting to you! Click here to see photographs of our performance.

From the Science Center

It's that time again! Science Center animals are looking to be temporarily adopted for the summer. Feel free to request more than animal, if you please!

Here's our list of summer adoptees:

Ring Neck Dove, Single Male
Ring Neck Dove, Pair of Females (Mom and Baby)
Hamster
Leopard Gecko
Anole Lizard (changes color!)
Mini Rex Rabbit
Degu (looks like an oversized gerbil)
Tarantula

We'll give you a cage, care instructions, and starter food supply.

To request an animal for adoption, contact Lisha Goldberg via First Class, or call the Science Center: 781 455-0475. Animals are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Multiplication Strategies

Do you remember learning to multiply larger numbers? You probably were told to "put down the four, carry the two." (Or something like that. Room 221 mathematicians learned some new strategies.

First, we learned that we can break one large array into two smaller arrays. Therefore, we can use multiplication facts we know (or will soon know...) to solve larger multiplication problems we don't know. For example, in order to multiply 19 x6, we can make two smaller arrays: 10 x 6 and 9 x 6. (See the array above.) If we find the product of each small array, we can add them together. That gives us the total (or the product) of the larger array. So, 10 x 6 = 60 and 9 x 6 = 54. Therefore, 19 x 6 = 114.

We can also use base ten blocks to help us solve multiplication problems with larger numbers. This time, we can solve 19 x 6 by building 19 with base ten blocks 6 times. (See the base ten blocks above.) All we have to do is count up the total of base ten blocks. That helps us solve the problem 19 x 6 = 114.

Challenge your third graders to solve some multiplication problems with you!

P.S. It is crucial for children to understand that when multiplying by a multiple of 10, they need only add a zero to the product of the first digits. For example, 70 x 4 = 280. ( 7 x 4 = 28 - put a zero at the end to make 280.)

Room 221 Gymnasts in Action

Room 221 gymnasts just completed a unit on gymnastics with Mr. Brenheiser. They each created a "sentence" that highlighted many of the techniques that they learned in class. Mrs. Butchart was kind enough to take pictures as we watched. She tried to get everyone. Check them out!

Making an Inference

Do you remember being asked to make inferences when you were in third grade reading groups? I do. And although I was considered a strong reader, I had no idea idea what an inference was.

In Room 221, we will begin to take the mystery out of inferences, because we make them every day. To make an inference you use your schema (background knowledge - the stuff that's already inside your head) plus the clues that you see (or hear) around you. For example, if I hear my dog scratching at the door, I can infer that he wants to go out.

Readers do the same thing with texts. They use their schema plus clues from the text or the illustrations. Readers can infer in three different ways:

1. Infer the meaning of an unknown word
2. Infer to make a prediction
3. Infer to deepen our understanding of what's happening in the text

Share the inferences you make as you read with your third grader!

Photos of Houses

In connection with our History of Needham unit (that will begin after April vacation), our art teacher, Mrs. Morgan, is starting a cool new architecture project with third grade artists. They will be drawing pictures of houses. Mrs. Morgan will provide pictures of historical houses in Needham, however, children can also choose to draw their own house. If your child is interested, please help them bring in a photograph of your home.

Thanks for your support!

**This is strictly a choice. It is not mandatory that children bring in pictures.