Newsletter Info

Science
This week, we will finish up our study of animals with a review of migration and hibernation. These are confusing concepts for students because there isn’t rule that covers an entire animal classification group. Check out the blog midweek for a fun website that reinforces the read alouds and discussions we’ve been having in class. On Friday we will play a round of Jeopardy that sums up the entire unit. The unit test on animals will be Monday of next week. The blog and science notebook are valuable study tools.

Social Studies
This week we will focus on the concept of being an active citizen and how volunteering in our community can make a difference. We will discuss several examples, including a group of students who worked with Habitat for Humanity to build ten houses in ten years! We will learn about our unique position as citizens in a country with so many rights and freedoms, as well as our responsibility to respect the limits of our rights. For example, although we have the right to free speech, it is against the law to yell “FIRE!” in a public place if there is no fire.

Animal Classification

Congratulations! Our posters are all done and ready to be presented to the class. We have been working so hard on researching the physical characteristics of each group, so we can identify which animals fit into each group. Maybe you have been so focused on your particular animal group, that you haven't had a chance to think about the others. If that's the case, then you should definitely check out this site. It has info on all the groups and when you're done reading up on the groups, you can play this game to see how much you've learned! It can really help you learn/review the main characteristics of each group.

The only group the site doesn't mention is arthropods, which are invertebrates (no backbone). You can test your knowledge of arthropods by clicking on the link. You can also learn the characteristics of insects, which are a type of arthropod.

Great news!

Our social studies book is now available online...no more aching backs from all those heavy backpacks!!! Check out this site (https://secure.eservices.eduplace.com/eservicesadmin/login.do?targeturl=/eservices/) and then just enter the following information:

username:ssguest3

password:grade3

Enjoy! This is a great way to doublecheck the answers on your blue sheets.

Sunshine Math

Are you excited for Sunshine Math?!? Have you decided whether you are going to be a mathlete or a cheerleader? Both of these jobs are an important part of making Sunshine Math successful. If you're not sure what to choose, then check out the Sunshine Math Rap on our old blog; maybe that will help you make your choice. Don't forget to turn in your yellow slip by Friday!

Newsletter Info

Social Studies

This week we will meet some of the first settlers who made their way to America. We will learn about the trading opportunities and religious freedoms that motivated many of the first settlers to make their initial voyage. We will discuss why the Spanish and Pilgrims wanted to come here and build settlements. Students will need to be able to explain the similarities between these two groups of settlers.

Math Workshop

Our weekly math quiz will be tomorrow. It will focus on addition and subtraction story problems, with three digit numbers. Students are welcome to bring home their 1,000 chart, workbook, and/or homework sheets to prepare. We have worked to develop strategies that are both efficient and comfortable for each one of us. Students will need to show an equation, strategy work, and a solution with a label to receive full credit. These are the same steps we follow in class each day.

In workshop time the rest of the week, we will continue working with story problems, however, we will move on to more challenging problems that involve solving for a missing part. We will encourage students to use their knowledge of the difference between the two numbers and 100 to assist them in reaching a solution. Peek over their shoulder when they’re doing their homework. Are they writing accurate equations that actually represent the situation? Are they stopping at multiples of 10 on the number line, or are they jumping by multiples of 10?

Science

Congratulations to all our Jeopardy players and winners; Friday’s game review was a lot of fun for everyone. We can’t wait to play again at the end of our next unit, which will focus on Animals. The essential questions that will focus our learning during this unit are as follows: In what ways can animals be grouped? How do animals respond to changing seasons? This week we will explore the similarities and differences among animals, leading students to see that animals can be grouped (just like plants). We will also address the misconception that while humans and animals are living things, humans are not animals.