Today in class, we took a closer look at Newton's 3rd law (For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction), and we also got a chance to learn about the role of force in overcoming gravity. The greater the action, the greater the reaction, or as we saw firsthand, the more force that is used to launch the rocket, the greater the height the rocket can reach. Now, we could only generate so much force with our hands, but imagine if we had rigged up a system that would allow us to jump, or stomp, onto the launcher with our feet...I wonder how high/how far the rocket could have gone then! Well, a group of kids did try something sort of like that. Check out this link to see the results!
And while you're here...are you interested in earning five success tickets? If you are, then try one of these experiments at home and write up a lab report to share your results with your fellow scientists at school. Try throwing a ball while sitting on a skateboard. Identify the action and the reaction. Then, try throwing the ball a little harder. Record your observations. This is another lab that can illustrate how force can affect your ability to overcome gravity. And if you like that, then you can also try this paper rocket launcher, as well. Check out this site on the NASA page to get all the info. Remember to aim your rockets away from people and animals. Enjoy!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Newsletter Info
Social Studies
What do shells, cows, and whale teeth have in common? They were all once used as money, which is this week's discussion theme. We will learn all about how money is used to buy and sell goods, as well as how money can be earned and spent. We will learn to differentiate between wants and needs, as well as how a budget can help us use our money more wisely. In addition, we will discuss how money can be saved in a bank account. The quiz will be on Friday.
Science
This week we will finish our unit on The Sun & Gravity. The test will be Thursday. We will conclude the unit with some labs that review how gravity can be overcome, a tinkering lab involving rockets constructed out of various materials (emphasis: how greater force can help us overcome gravity more easily), and a round of Jeopardy (Wednesday) to review. Please encourage your child to bring home their science notebook. It contains all of their notes from class, as well as the lab sheets. These are great study tools for the unit test.
The students have been working on their multiples charts. They should have the multiples of 2 through 12 completed in their folders. They are to review and practice skip-counting by the multiples for a few minutes each evening. Learning the multiples is an important tool to understanding multiplication and division. In class, we are continuing identifying and learning multiplication combinations we don't know. We are practicing using multiplication combinations we do know to help us determine the product of more difficult combinations (clustering). For example, the students may not know the product of 9x4, but they can break it down into 5x4=20 and 4x4=16 to help them get the final product of 9x4=36. The students have also created multiplication cards in class to practice with at home. The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #13. The students are expected to bring this to class for review on Wednesday and Friday. They will also have a Math quiz on Tuesday.
What do shells, cows, and whale teeth have in common? They were all once used as money, which is this week's discussion theme. We will learn all about how money is used to buy and sell goods, as well as how money can be earned and spent. We will learn to differentiate between wants and needs, as well as how a budget can help us use our money more wisely. In addition, we will discuss how money can be saved in a bank account. The quiz will be on Friday.
Science
This week we will finish our unit on The Sun & Gravity. The test will be Thursday. We will conclude the unit with some labs that review how gravity can be overcome, a tinkering lab involving rockets constructed out of various materials (emphasis: how greater force can help us overcome gravity more easily), and a round of Jeopardy (Wednesday) to review. Please encourage your child to bring home their science notebook. It contains all of their notes from class, as well as the lab sheets. These are great study tools for the unit test.
The students have been working on their multiples charts. They should have the multiples of 2 through 12 completed in their folders. They are to review and practice skip-counting by the multiples for a few minutes each evening. Learning the multiples is an important tool to understanding multiplication and division. In class, we are continuing identifying and learning multiplication combinations we don't know. We are practicing using multiplication combinations we do know to help us determine the product of more difficult combinations (clustering). For example, the students may not know the product of 9x4, but they can break it down into 5x4=20 and 4x4=16 to help them get the final product of 9x4=36. The students have also created multiplication cards in class to practice with at home. The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #13. The students are expected to bring this to class for review on Wednesday and Friday. They will also have a Math quiz on Tuesday.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Newsletter Info
Social Studies
This week we will learn about our national government. We will focus on the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) and how all three parts work together to protect the rights of our country's citizens. Later in the week, we will also learn about the role of symbols in our country. For example, many Americans think of freedom when they see a bald eagle or American flag. There will be no social studies questions or quiz next week in celebration of Thanksgiving.
Science
We have finished the first part of our unit on the Sun and other stars in the solar system. This week, we will move on to the next concept: Gravity. Your child should already be comfortable discussing gravity as a force that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth. In third grade, we focus on the concept of defying, or overcoming, gravity. Take a gravity walk around your neighborhood or local park. Look around for examples of people defying, or overcoming, gravity. In class, we will explore that concept through several different labs. Next week, we will investigate how we can overcome the force of gravity to make a model rocket fly higher. In order to do this lab, we need to collect the following materials by Thursday of this week: Oblong balloons (small and large), fishing line, donut magnets, quart sized baggies, small plastic disposable water bottles (empty), straws, and modeling clay. Please contact Mrs. Z immediately via email if you are interested in helping out. Thanks in advance for your support!
We are continuing our studies on the relationship among skip counting, repeated addition, and multiplication. The students are beginning to understand that doubling (or halving) one factor in a multiplication expression doubles (or halves) the product. For example, 10 bags of apples with 3 apples in each bag would total 30 apples (3x10=30. The students can use this information to determine that 10 bags with 6 apples in each bag would total 60 apples (10x6=60). Using known multiplication combinations to determine the product of more difficult combinations is an important skill for the students to build their understanding. We also practiced skip counting around the classroom by various multiples. Have your child practice counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, 6's and 10's to reinforce this skill. The homework sheet for the week of November 15th-19th is Sheet #12, and will be checked Wednesday and Friday in class. We will also have our Tuesday Math Quiz. The quiz will focus on using multiplication combinations.
This week we will learn about our national government. We will focus on the three branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) and how all three parts work together to protect the rights of our country's citizens. Later in the week, we will also learn about the role of symbols in our country. For example, many Americans think of freedom when they see a bald eagle or American flag. There will be no social studies questions or quiz next week in celebration of Thanksgiving.
Science
We have finished the first part of our unit on the Sun and other stars in the solar system. This week, we will move on to the next concept: Gravity. Your child should already be comfortable discussing gravity as a force that pulls objects toward the center of the Earth. In third grade, we focus on the concept of defying, or overcoming, gravity. Take a gravity walk around your neighborhood or local park. Look around for examples of people defying, or overcoming, gravity. In class, we will explore that concept through several different labs. Next week, we will investigate how we can overcome the force of gravity to make a model rocket fly higher. In order to do this lab, we need to collect the following materials by Thursday of this week: Oblong balloons (small and large), fishing line, donut magnets, quart sized baggies, small plastic disposable water bottles (empty), straws, and modeling clay. Please contact Mrs. Z immediately via email if you are interested in helping out. Thanks in advance for your support!
We are continuing our studies on the relationship among skip counting, repeated addition, and multiplication. The students are beginning to understand that doubling (or halving) one factor in a multiplication expression doubles (or halves) the product. For example, 10 bags of apples with 3 apples in each bag would total 30 apples (3x10=30. The students can use this information to determine that 10 bags with 6 apples in each bag would total 60 apples (10x6=60). Using known multiplication combinations to determine the product of more difficult combinations is an important skill for the students to build their understanding. We also practiced skip counting around the classroom by various multiples. Have your child practice counting by 2's, 3's, 5's, 6's and 10's to reinforce this skill. The homework sheet for the week of November 15th-19th is Sheet #12, and will be checked Wednesday and Friday in class. We will also have our Tuesday Math Quiz. The quiz will focus on using multiplication combinations.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Gravity Detectives
Gravity is a force that is a mystery to many people. It's tough to understand because you can't see it.
We have learned that all matter has a force that pulls things toward its core, or center. The gravity of our planet is so strong that it keeps us from flying right off the Earth when we jump, swing, and play. This week, we will explore many different ways that we can overcome or defy gravity. But in the end, gravity wins! Listen to this song, to find out more.
Enjoy! :)
We have learned that all matter has a force that pulls things toward its core, or center. The gravity of our planet is so strong that it keeps us from flying right off the Earth when we jump, swing, and play. This week, we will explore many different ways that we can overcome or defy gravity. But in the end, gravity wins! Listen to this song, to find out more.
Enjoy! :)
Friday, November 5, 2010
Multiplication Maniacs!
As we dive in to our new unit on multiplication, we are becoming multiplication maniacs! Many students are brining home their multiple charts each night to practice and review. Our goal is to develop basic multiplication fact fluency from 0x0 through 12x12. Besides the charts, there is a cool gizmo online that makes practicing multiplication fun. Check out this link and look for the Critter Count gizmo. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Newsletter Info
Math
We are getting deeper into our Math studies on multiplication and division. The students are beginning to use and understand multiplication notation and solving multiplication problems in context. For example, Alan sees 6 cars. Each car has 4 wheels. How many wheels does Alan see? The students should recognize this is 6 groups of 4, which is 4+4+4+4+4+4 = 24 wheels. We will also practice finding the multiples of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 by skip counting and begin to understand the relationship among skip counting, repeated addition, and multiplication. Students can be practicing their skip counting at home to deepen their understanding! The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #11, and will be checked Wednesday and Friday in class. We will also have our Tuesday Math Quiz. This week it will focus on analyzing pictographs.
Social Studies
This week's theme will be our democratic government. We will discuss how citizens make decisions in local, state, and national government by voting in elections and going to town meetings. We will learn the role of local government in making laws and providing the services that we utilize each day in our community. We will also discuss how tax money is used to pay for services like buses, subways, trash collection, and running water.
Science
We will conclude our animal unit this week with our test and a writing assignment for our portfolios. Students will write a friendly letter from one animal to another describing adaptations animals utilize (ex. hibernation or migration) to survive changes in season. Later in the week, we will begin our new unit on stars and gravity. We will begin by examining the following guiding questions: Why does the Sun appear larger than other stars we observe? and How are stars different? It will be important for students to realize that the Sun is not the largest star. It only appears so large in size because of its close proximity to Earth.
We are getting deeper into our Math studies on multiplication and division. The students are beginning to use and understand multiplication notation and solving multiplication problems in context. For example, Alan sees 6 cars. Each car has 4 wheels. How many wheels does Alan see? The students should recognize this is 6 groups of 4, which is 4+4+4+4+4+4 = 24 wheels. We will also practice finding the multiples of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 10 by skip counting and begin to understand the relationship among skip counting, repeated addition, and multiplication. Students can be practicing their skip counting at home to deepen their understanding! The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #11, and will be checked Wednesday and Friday in class. We will also have our Tuesday Math Quiz. This week it will focus on analyzing pictographs.
Social Studies
This week's theme will be our democratic government. We will discuss how citizens make decisions in local, state, and national government by voting in elections and going to town meetings. We will learn the role of local government in making laws and providing the services that we utilize each day in our community. We will also discuss how tax money is used to pay for services like buses, subways, trash collection, and running water.
Science
We will conclude our animal unit this week with our test and a writing assignment for our portfolios. Students will write a friendly letter from one animal to another describing adaptations animals utilize (ex. hibernation or migration) to survive changes in season. Later in the week, we will begin our new unit on stars and gravity. We will begin by examining the following guiding questions: Why does the Sun appear larger than other stars we observe? and How are stars different? It will be important for students to realize that the Sun is not the largest star. It only appears so large in size because of its close proximity to Earth.
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