Celebrating Our Veterans

Veterans Day was celebrated on November 11. This year, we decided to honor our veterans by telling their stories. We wanted to know what it was like to have served our country. We were curious about training, daily schedules, and friends. We wondered about war. Read the following posts to hear more about our interviews with our Veteran friends.

Sebastian with Terry Tillery, US Marines

Skylar's grandfather, US Navy

Pumpkin Bells Are Ringing!

October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!

Enjoy this song about Halloween. For more songs about Halloween, visit the website

http://halloween.spike-jamie.com/songs.html

Pumpkin Bells
(to the tune of Jingle Bells)

Dashing through the streets in our costumes bright and gay

To each house we go laughing all the way

Halloween is here, making spirits bright

What fun it is to trick-or-treat

And sing pumpkin carols tonight!



Oh Pumpkin bells, Pumpkin bells

Ringing loud and clear

Oh what fun great pumpkin brings

When Halloween is here.

What are you hoping for in your Halloween basket? What is your favorite candy and why do you like it? What candy do you not like?

Our New Friends!

Check This Out! Our beautiful butterflies have finally hatched from their chrysalis and are now making their way to their new homes. Thank you for all of your interest and care to our insect friends.

Book Selections

Reading Response Question for the Week of September 19-23
Last week we ranked a book we read in class. This week, tell about one of your favorite books and why it's one you love to read. Be specific with your details about the book, and think about what other students might like to read that book, too!

Who Are You As A Reader?

Reading Response Question for the Week of September 12-16
As we begin our year together, I'd like to get to know you as a reader. Think about these questions and answer them in a post:

• Where do you enjoy reading at home?



• What is your all-time favorite book?



• What books are you interested in reading next?



• Think about your ending to this phrase.... "Reading is _______."

Welcome to Third Grade!

Your teachers are eagerly awaiting your arrival in just a few more days! We are excited about meeting you and your families at the Open House on Thursday, September 1 at 6:00. Don't forget to bring your school supplies with you!
How are you feeling about being a third grader? Do you have any questions about the upcoming year?

Capturing What Was Best About Third Grade

Response Question for the Week of June 6-10, 2011
It’s here! I can’t believe it, but our time together in third grade is coming to an end. We have only a few short days left, and you will soon be enjoying summer and getting ready to be fourth-graders. What are your best memories from this year? Use this blog to capture what was “best about third grade!”

Marvelous Medicine Anyone?

Reading Response Question for the Week of May 31-June 3
We have been enjoying George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl in class. Think about the reading strategies you have been using while we have been reading. Are you visualizing? Have you been making inferences about the characters? Are you asking questions? Is there anything we’ve read that is confusing and you need to have clarified? Are you making connections with this book? Select ONE of the reading strategies and talk about how you have used it while we have been reading.

Repaying a Wrong

Reading Response for the Week of May 2-May 6
We read the fable, Ananse’s Feast, in class last week. In the fable, Ananse tricks the turtle, Akye, and won’t let him have any of his food. Then Akye decides to repay Ananse for his trickery. He invites him to a meal and ends up not sharing his food at all.
Is Akye justified in repaying the trickery? Do you think Ananse deserved to be treated like that? Do you think in real life this would work? What experiences have you had with repaying a wrong with another wrong?

Dreaming Big

Reading Response Question for the Week of April 25-April 29
We have read many texts in class, both fictional and biographical, which explore the idea of following a dream. Sometimes in the texts, the characters had to overcome incredible odds in order to achieve something they dreamed. What lesson have you learned from one of these texts, and how will it help you to follow your dreams?

Homophones: Same Sound, Different Meaning, Different Spelling

http://www.missmaggie.org/scholastic/supermatch_eng_launcher.html

http://www.childu.com/sample_act/34lang_talents.html

http://pbskids.org/lions/videos/?pid=jlxn0UPSPVhu8rltZelQOprWACkv_V5W

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/recognising/homophones/quiz.shtml

http://www.all-about-homophones.com/homophone-machine.php?act=check&#machine-loc

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/quiz/homophones.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/recognising/homophones/game.shtml

http://www.ezschool.com/Games/Homophones.html

http://www.softschools.com/manage/themes/knowledgetest2

http://www.smarttutor.com/home/lessons/Vocabulary_Homophones_L2_V1_T4a.swf

Try Some Funny Reading- Comic Strips!

Reading Response for the Week of March 28-April 1 This week, we enjoyed going to Kellam High School to watch a musical entitled, “Annie” which was based on a comic strip written by Harold Gray. The comic strip was called “Little Orphan Annie” and it ran in newspapers for many years. It wasn’t until many years later that the musical, “Annie,” was written and performed. Comic strips are a fun way to enjoy reading. What are some of your favorites, and why do you like them?

How about Checking the Encyclopedia?

Reading Response Question for the Week of March 21-25
We have been discussing research in class and how different sources of information can be helpful when we want to find the answers to our questions. This week, think about a subject that interests you. What question did you have that could be answered with the encyclopedia? Use the online encyclopedia and find out the answer!

Explorers Test

Explorer Unit
Test: March 21, 2011 (Monday)
Objectives:
3.3
The student will study the exploration of the Americas by

a)
describing the accomplishments of Christopher Columbus, Juan Ponce de Léon, Jacques Cartier, and Christopher Newport;

b)
identifying reasons for exploring, the information gained, the results of the travels, and the impact of these travels on American Indians.
3.5
The student will develop map skills by

b)
using the equator and prime meridian to identify the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres;

c)
locating the countries of Spain, England, and France;

d)
locating the regions in the Americas explored by Christopher Columbus (San Salvador in the Bahamas), Juan Ponce de León (near St. Augustine, Florida), Jacques Cartier (near Québec, Canada), and Christopher Newport (Jamestown, Virginia)


How can I help my child study?

· Review flashcards that are going home on March 11.
· Review chart and information sheet that are accompanying the flashcards (on red paper).
· Read and discuss pages 16-21 in the Social Studies book.
· Discuss classwork that has been completed in class. It should be in the content section of your child’s binder.

For each explorer, your child should be able to answer the following questions:
1. What country sponsored the explorer?
2. Where did the explorer land?
3. What was the explorer’s motivation? What were they looking for?
4. What was the explorer successful in achieving?

(Look at the chart I am sending home. It has all this information organized and written out. Your child does not have to memorize the dates that the explorers sailed.)

I Need Some Info!

Reading Response Question for the Week of March 14-18
We have been looking at different types of information resources like dictionaries, thesauri, atlases, encyclopedias, and almanacs. Each of these resources is specific in the information it contains. Think of a subject you are interested in learning about. What are two questions you could ask about that subject? What resources would be best to use to find that information?

What Makes A Person Brave?

Reading Response Question for the Week of March 7- 11
We have read several stories in class lately (Brave Irene, Brave Harriet, and Flight) in which the main characters were described as brave. What does it mean to be brave? What have you or (someone you know) ever done that you would consider brave? Explain what it was and why you think it showed bravery.

Science Test- Practice Links

Your Science Test is on Wednesday. Here are some FUN practice links to help you get ready.

http://www.quia.com/cc/338580.html

http://www.quia.com/rr/37675.html

http://www.quia.com/fc/338580.html

http://www.quia.com/mc/338580.html

Who Would You Like To Learn About?

Reading Response Question for Week of February 28- March 4
Over the next week or two, we will be taking a look at some nonfictional books about famous people who did some amazing things in the past. If you could select a book to read about a famous person FROM THE PAST, who would you want to read about and why? What questions would you like to have answered?

Moon Watching

Dear Family,

Your child is studying a Science unit called Earth, Moon, and Sun. Each evening for the next month, he or she will be observing the moon each evening at approximately the same location. Have your child record the moon’s shape on the Moon Observations sheet. Shade in the circle so the white area looks like the moon’s appearance.

After a week of observations, ask your child to predict where the moon will be and what shape it will have before you go outside to look. Please compare the predictions with what you actually see.

There will be some evenings when you will not be able to see the moon. Discuss the reason it cannot be seen. If you are able to consult the internet, an almanac, a calendar, or a newspaper to find the moon phase for that day, please do so and record it on the Moon Observations sheet.

There is a great lunar calendar application at this website: http://www.fossweb.com/modules3-6/SunMoonandStars/index.html

The completed Moon Observations sheet is due on March 21, 2011.

Have fun!

We LOVE Books!

Reading Response Question for Week of February 14- 18
WE LOVE BOOKS! Everybody has a favorite book or two. What’s yours? Tell us why you love the books you do. Perhaps you can persuade a friend to read one of your favorites!

TV and Movie Summaries

Reading Response Question for Week of February 7-11
We have been talking about summarizing in class. Summarizing involves thinking about the the most important events in a story that lead to the problem getting solved. Summary writing is short and to the point!
Think of a favorite movie or TV show you have watched recently. Think about the characters, setting, and problem. How was the problem solved? In four sentences or less, tell us about your show or movie.

Ancient Mali Test- February 18, 2011

Welcome to Ancient Mali!


SOL Objectives:

3.2 - The student will study the early West African empire of Mali by describing its oral tradition (storytelling), government (kings), and economic development (trade).


3.4- The student will develop map skills by
a) West Africa
b) describing the physical and human characteristics of West Africa;
c) explaining how the people of West Africa adapted to and/or changed their environment to meet their needs.


3.7 The student will explain how producers in the ancient West African empire of Mali used natural resources, human resources, and capital resources in the production of goods and services.

Can you answer these questions?

1. Why was the empire of Mali so wealthy?
2. What do we know about the empire of Mali?
3. Why were storytellers so important in the empire of Mali?
4. Where was the empire of Mali located on maps?
5. What were the physical and human characteristics of West Africa?
6. How did the people of Mali adapt to and change their environment to meet their needs?
7. Did economic specialization and interdependence exist in the empire of Mali?

Essential Knowledge

• Africa was home to several great empires. One of the most prosperous was the empire of Mali. Mali is located in the western region of Africa.
• Many storytellers in Mali passed on traditions and stories from one generation to the next.
• The kings of Mali were rich and powerful men who controlled trade in West Africa. Mali became one of the largest and wealthiest empires in the region and was an important trade center.
• Mali lay across the trade routes between the sources of salt in the Sahara Desert and the gold region/mines of West Africa. For the people of the desert, salt was a natural resource. People used salt for their health and for preserving foods. Miners found gold in West Africa. Therefore, salt was traded for gold.
• Timbuktu was an important city in Mali. It had a famous university with a large library containing Greek and Roman books.
• The physical charateristics of Mali include: it is located in West Africa, it is near rivers (Niger River), with desert like conditions, and features gold mines.
• Three important human resources in Mali were farmers, miners, and traders.
• Salt was an important natural resource for the people in the desert. It was traded for gold.

Fun Review Websites:

http://www.quia.com/quiz/269843.html
http://www.quia.com/rr/36347.html
http://www.quia.com/ba/72747.html
http://www.quia.com/rr/118615.html
http://www.quia.com/sh/79459.html
http://www.quia.com/rr/152747.html

What else can you do to study:

• Flashcards (will go home February 8)
• Study class notes
• Read Social Studies textbook pages 12-15.

Rome-Test February 4, 2011

Ancient Rome
Test: February 4, 2011


Please be reviewing flashcards, study guide, and class notes.

Textbook pages to read for reinforcement:
Pages 8-9 “Ancient Rome”
Pages 10-11 “Great Ideas From Long Ago”
Pages 22-27
Pages 34-35


Websites to visit for practice:

http://www.quia.com/pop/37026.html?AP_rand=124024936&reason=0
http://chalk.richmond.edu/education/projects/webunits/greecerome/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/city_of_rome/
http://www.iq.poquoson.org/3socst/ancientrome/3ancientrome02tlm.htm


Thanks for everything you do!
The Third Grade Team

It's Time to Reflect

Reading Response Question for January 24-January 28
Now that we are about halfway through third grade, it’s time to reflect on what we have learned as readers. We have talked about all kinds of strategies like predicting, questioning, making connections, inferencing (using the author’s clues), rereading to clarify, and thinking about genre. What are some things you have learned this year that have helped you become a better reader? What are some goals that you still have as a reader?

Force and Motion: Simple Machines

Test Date: January 24, 2010

Force, Motion, and Energy
3.2 The student will investigate and understand simple machines and their uses. Key concepts include
a) types of simple machines (lever, screw, pulley, wheel and axle, inclined plane, and wedge);
b) how simple machines function;
c) compound machines (scissors, wheelbarrow, and bicycle); and
d) examples of simple and compound machines found in the school, home, and work environment.

What can you do to study?

- Review investigations from binders.

-Discuss investigations. Photos of each simple machine investigation are posted here on the blog sidebar.

- Check out the following websites:

www.msichicago.org/fileadmin/Activities/Games/simple_machines/

http://www.edheads.org/activities/simple-machines/

http://www.mos.org/sln/Leonardo/InventorsToolbox.html

http://atlantis.coe.uh.edu/archive/science/science_lessons/scienceles1/finalhome.htm

http://www.mikids.com/Smachines.htm

http://sln.fi.edu/qa97/spotlight3/spotlight3.html

- Review flashcards

Questions, Anyone?

Reading Response Question for the Week of January 10-14
We have been discussing “I wonder” questions while we read. Asking questions before, during, and after reading is a strategy that helps us keep our attention focused on the important details we are reading. We are able to think about what needs to be clarified and what might be important for us to know. When we have a question, we read more carefully in order to find the answers we need.
Using a book you are reading at home, jot down a question you had about the text. What made you ask that question?

Sideways Stories from Creeds School

Reading Response Question for Week of January 3-7

In class we are reading a fantasy fiction book called Sideways Stories from Wayside School which is a collection of stories about a wacky school and the weird things that happen there. The students and teachers have all sorts of strange adventures! Imagine if Creeds School were like that! Think of something weird and wacky that could happen here (it could be fantasy). What would it be?