Hello students and families!
December is off to a great start! Here is a look into our learning this week.
Math: We are done with our Big Dinner unit, and have started reviewing measurement to the nearest inch, half inch, and quarter inch. Students kicked off the unit by measuring different mustaches (to the nearest inch and half inch), and then posing for a goofy photo with their post-it mustaches (see above!). They also completed a Measurement Scavenger Hunt, where they estimated and found items in the classroom that would be about 1 inch, 6 inches, and 12 inches. We ended the week with guided M.A.T.H centers to help us practice different measurement skills.
Reading: This week, we started learning about the features of Informational or Non-Fiction Text. We added glossaries to our reading binders with the features, one of which is a glossary! We also did a hunt for nonfiction text features in actual books. Students did an awesome job of finding features like diagrams, captions, bold print, indexes, tables, headings, and subtitles. We cut and paste samples of each text feature. Then, we read a short passage about Thunderstorms, and used highlighters to identify the main idea and details.
Writing: Students are showing REAL writing stamina by sticking with their editing/revising and publishing of the small moment stories! We will wrap them up this week and then work on writing an informational text. We brainstormed topics we are experts on to start thinking about a good focus for our informational text.
To celebrate our hard work on the small moment stories, please join us for an Author's Celebration on Friday, December 18th at 8:20 (arrival) until 9:00AM. Reminders and more info coming soon!
Spelling: This week, we reviewed the v-e spelling pattern, or vowel-consonant-e. Third graders remembered learning about King E, who forces the vowel to say their name. This makes v-e words have one syllable. We also learned about the /z/ sound, as in nose and rose.
Social Studies: We started our social studies unit by examining timelines. We read a chart of important inventions, like lightbulbs, cell phones, and plastic. Then, we added five inventions to a timeline that spanned the years from 1850-2000. We also learned about a reading/social studies research project we will complete with a partner. We are taking notes on a specific Native American tribe and will make posters to display the important information.
Creative Arts and Sciences: Today, illustrator Kevin Hawkes will be visiting our school. We've read Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly and Library Lion (check it out here), and were very excited to learn about the illustrating process and more of his work.
I am so impressed with how quickly students got to work after the Thanksgiving break. December can be a difficult and overwhelming month, but we are off to an awesome start! We will be working on staying healthy, happy, and kind before our next vacation. Students will be working on filling our classroom bucket by showing "above and beyond" role model behavior.
Have a great weekend!
-Mrs. K
December is off to a great start! Here is a look into our learning this week.
Math: We are done with our Big Dinner unit, and have started reviewing measurement to the nearest inch, half inch, and quarter inch. Students kicked off the unit by measuring different mustaches (to the nearest inch and half inch), and then posing for a goofy photo with their post-it mustaches (see above!). They also completed a Measurement Scavenger Hunt, where they estimated and found items in the classroom that would be about 1 inch, 6 inches, and 12 inches. We ended the week with guided M.A.T.H centers to help us practice different measurement skills.
Reading: This week, we started learning about the features of Informational or Non-Fiction Text. We added glossaries to our reading binders with the features, one of which is a glossary! We also did a hunt for nonfiction text features in actual books. Students did an awesome job of finding features like diagrams, captions, bold print, indexes, tables, headings, and subtitles. We cut and paste samples of each text feature. Then, we read a short passage about Thunderstorms, and used highlighters to identify the main idea and details.
Writing: Students are showing REAL writing stamina by sticking with their editing/revising and publishing of the small moment stories! We will wrap them up this week and then work on writing an informational text. We brainstormed topics we are experts on to start thinking about a good focus for our informational text.
To celebrate our hard work on the small moment stories, please join us for an Author's Celebration on Friday, December 18th at 8:20 (arrival) until 9:00AM. Reminders and more info coming soon!
Spelling: This week, we reviewed the v-e spelling pattern, or vowel-consonant-e. Third graders remembered learning about King E, who forces the vowel to say their name. This makes v-e words have one syllable. We also learned about the /z/ sound, as in nose and rose.
Social Studies: We started our social studies unit by examining timelines. We read a chart of important inventions, like lightbulbs, cell phones, and plastic. Then, we added five inventions to a timeline that spanned the years from 1850-2000. We also learned about a reading/social studies research project we will complete with a partner. We are taking notes on a specific Native American tribe and will make posters to display the important information.
Creative Arts and Sciences: Today, illustrator Kevin Hawkes will be visiting our school. We've read Velma Gratch and the Way Cool Butterfly and Library Lion (check it out here), and were very excited to learn about the illustrating process and more of his work.
I am so impressed with how quickly students got to work after the Thanksgiving break. December can be a difficult and overwhelming month, but we are off to an awesome start! We will be working on staying healthy, happy, and kind before our next vacation. Students will be working on filling our classroom bucket by showing "above and beyond" role model behavior.
Have a great weekend!
-Mrs. K