L&L Farms- Math, Science, and Social Studies Chatter

Summer Math Practice

2011-06-09T11:26:00.001-07:00

The best thing you can do to prepare for next year is build your fact fluency. Visit this site to play different games all summer long. Put in just a little practice each day and you'll rock fourth grade! Be sure to try the sketch game. It's one of my favorites. It reminds me of Mario Brothers, but it's mixed in with math facts.

Social Studies: Immigration Info

2011-05-31T09:18:00.001-07:00

This week's focus will be immigration. The official definition of this word is the arrival of settlers in a new country for permanent living. We discussed what it means to immigrate, or be an immigrant today and we broke this definition down. We know that immigration basically means going to a new country to live there.

Today, our homework was to interview our family to find out where our family came to America from. This information will be used in our quiz on Friday. The quiz will differ from the normal format. We will be writing a letter. The following elements will be included in the letter: you are an immigrant to America, you are writing to a family member that is still in the old country, you must describe the immigration experience of arriving to Ellis or Angel Island, and you must include a picture with a caption. The picture should be a simple sketch that illustrates one of the details mentioned in the letter.

In order to get an idea of what the immigrant experience was like long ago, we did a little research online. Visit this link to explore Ellis Island and read diaries from real immigrants. You can also look at charts and graphs of immigrant data over time.

Last Newsletter

2011-05-31T05:15:00.000-07:00

Second Step
Now that our musical is over, we are hoping to devote more time to our poster project. Most groups have selected a topic and are beginning work on their rough draft. By the end of this week, all groups will have a topic.

Science
We are finishing our unit on light energy this week. We will play Jeopardy in class on Tuesday to review for our unit test on Wednesday. Later in the week, we will continue working with our mystery beads. We concluded that they change color when exposed to UV rays. This week we will continue to investigate the importance of protecting ourselves from these harmful rays. We will cover the beads with sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses to help us observe how these items can protect our skin.

Social Studies
We will begin a study of immigration in America this week. We will begin with a virtual tour of Ellis Island. The format this week will not consist of the daily questions. Instead, we will be doing various in class activities throughout the week to prepare for the quiz on Friday. Please check the blog periodically this week for updates, so you can be sure your child is prepared.

Math Workshop
As we wrap up the school year, we are reviewing our skills with the four basic operations: adding, subtracting, multiplication, and division. The students are practicing how to accurately and efficiently compute answers to real world problems. We are also continuing to develop our understandings and strategies of multiplication and division facts. Ask your child how multiplication and division are related? Your child will earn 3 success tickets if they write in their planner the multiplication and division fact family using the numbers 7, 8, and 56. It should be the two multiplication and two division facts using those four numbers. We will have a Math quiz on Tuesday. The students will solve problems, using their most efficient strategy, in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division story problems. They will have Homework Sheet #34 for the week. Due to the short week, the entire sheet will be checked in class on Friday.

Newsletter Info

2011-05-23T05:29:00.000-07:00

Second Step
We will continue working in small groups to create posters outlining some of our favorite lessons from the year. Completed posters will be presented to the class next week and then put on display in our "Character Counts Classroom Museum." Ask your child about their poster theme. They are excited to use the strategies they have learned this year for calming down, solving problems, and developing super sensible solutions.

Social Studies
Our journey through the regions of the United States reaches its finale this week with a look at the Northeast. We will study the land, climate, and notable landmarks in city's like Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other highlights of the region we'll discuss are the rocky soil, harsh winters, and lobster industry. The quiz will be on Thursday due to the short week. Please help your child adjust their study schedule accordingly.

Science
We will finish up our light energy unit this week with a last look at how light is absorbed, before we begin a review of all the things light can do (i.e. travel in a straight line until it strikes an object, reflect, refract, and absorb). Take a moment to look through your child's science notebook. Notice their growth as a scientist this year. Write an improvement you notice in their planner. If they put their planner in the basket so we can enjoy the note, they will win five tickets for sharing their work with you. We will not have a quiz this week, but the unit test will be next week. Look for specific info in your child's planner.

Math Workshop
We have been representing and describing numerical data using bar graphs and line plots. We have beeen interpreting what the numbers and symbols on a line plot mean. Please go to the link to read more about line plots and see an example. During class discussions, we have been using summaries such as: almost all, very few, half, or more than half to make true mathematical statements about our graphs. The students will have a quiz on Tuesday. The quiz will be on reading, interpreting and creating a line plot. Please refer to Unit 2, pages 21-35 in the Math Investigations workbook for studying. The students will have homework sheet #33 and will be checked in class on Thursday.

Newsletter Info

2011-05-17T06:18:00.000-07:00

Social Studies
Our journey around the United States brings us to the Midwest this week. We will study the gentle, rolling farmland that is popular in this region. We will also learn about the climate of the region, with its cold, snowy winters. Students will be introduced to the notable landmarks and attractions like the Great Lakes, Sear's Tower, and St. Louis Arch. The quiz will be Friday.

Science
We will have a quiz on Wednesday that will cover reflection and refraction. Later in the week, we will experiment with how light can be absorbed and how we see color. Students will experiment with compact discs and prisms to explore rainbows.

Math Workshop
We are continuing our studies of surveys and graphs. This week, we will dive into representing categorical data by using a picture or graph. The students are using data to compare groups. We are also learning the characteristics of bar graphs (i.e. title, x and y axis with labels, intervals, bars, a key, etc.). As we notice things about graphs, we are using a list of useful phrases to help us go deeper in our analysis. The list includes the following phrases: almost all, very few, half, less than half, or more than half. Please continue to look for real-world examples of bar-graphs and send them in for the class to share. Your child will earn 3 success tickets if they do so. So far, only one student out of 55 has brought in a graph to share.

Newsletter Info

2011-05-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

Scholarship Warning Reminder for parents to check Oncourse.

Field Trip
Our field trip to O2b is next Monday, May 16th. Please remember to send your child in their green Chets Creek t-shirt with a bag lunch. As we will be eating on site, everything in the lunch needs to be sent in disposable containers.

Musical
Please remind your child to study their lines, if they have a speaking part. All lines need to be memorized by this Friday, May 13th, in order for us to maintain our rehearsal schedule. Don't forget to return the costume info/donation form that went home last week. All t-shirt sizing info and donations are due to our Room Mom by tomorrow (Tuesday).

Second Step
This week's Anger Management lesson will focus on telling our angry feelings what to do when we need to make a complaint about something. People may be poor at getting their needs met because they don't speak up with complaints when it's necessary, or they speak up too aggressively and inappropriately. Complaints are often associated with angry behavior, but we will learn that if they are expressed appropriately (calmly and logically), they can be used to communicate important information to others.

Social Studies
Our journey around the United States will take us to the West Region which is further subdivided into two groups: Pacific and Mountain. This region is further divided because of its large size. Please help your child review the eleven states by looking over the daily questions, as well as the map. We will discuss several landmarks, including the Great Salt Lake and the Redwood Forest. The quiz will be Friday.

Science
Our study of light energy continues with a look at what light can do (besides reflect). We will investigate how light can refract, or bent, because it passes through objects at different speeds. Try putting a spoon in a glass of water. Observe how the handle appears broken, or bent, from the side view. Ask your child to explain this phenomenon to you. There will be no quiz this week due to Musical Rehearsals.

Math Workshop
In Math Workshop, we are continuing our studies into representing and describing data. The students are using data to compare groups, as well as reading and interpreting a bar graph. During class disucssions, we have been using summaries such as almost all, very few, half, or more than half. Ask your child about their "Places We Like to Eat" representations we have been working on in class. Please continue to look for real-world example of bar-graphs and send them in for the class to share. Your child will earn 3 success tickets if they do so. The math quiz on Tuesday will be a mixed review of objectives worked on during Calendar Math. The students will have Homework Sheet #31 to complete. It will be reviewed in class on Wednesday and Friday.

Newsletter Info

2011-05-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

Math Workshop
We are continuing our work in Surveys and Line Polts. In this unit, the students are collecting, representing, describing and interpreting data. They are also designing and carrying out their own data investigations in class. Ask your child about the data we have collected so far as a class. The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #30 and will be checked in class on Wednesday and Friday. The students will have a quiz on Tuesday. The quiz will be a mixed review of items we have covered during our calendar math time. Please note: We are offering a revision opportunity on last week's fraction assessment. Students who earned a 14 out of 20 or lower may revise their work to earn up to 15 out of 20 points. Revisions are due no later than Friday, May 6th. Late revisions will not be accepted. The assessments (with revision directions) were distributed to students who qualified for revisions on Thursday (April 28th) of last week. Please check the grade portal or talk with your child about their score to verify whether or not they qualify for revisions.

Second Step
This week we will continue with anger management as it relates to dealing with disappointment. We all feel disappointed at different times when things don't go our way or when situations do not work out as we expected them to. We will discuss how to anticipate and cope with feelings of disappointment.

Social Studies
Our tour of the United States continues with a visit to the Southwest. Students will map the 4 states in this region: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma. We will learn about the desert that covers much of the region, as well as major landmarks like the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. The quiz will be Friday.

Science
Our study of Light Energy continues with a more in depth look at how light travels. We will have a quiz on Wednesday where students will have to be able to explain how light travels, identify sources of light energy, and be familiar with our new light vocabulary words: reflect, refract, and absorb.

Newsletter Info

2011-04-26T07:41:00.000-07:00

Second Step
In our Anger Management unit we have concentrated on the importance of calming down so we can make logical decisions. Ask your child about their calming down technique. This week students will be presented with a problem and they will work in small groups to brainstorm solutions to the problem. They will test their ideas using the Super Sensible Solution Question Poster. Help them use these questions when working through problems with friends and family at home. When they are calm and think they have an idea to solve a problem, test it with these questions: Is it safe, How will it make others feel, Is it fair, and Is it possible? If they answer no to one or more, then they need to keep brainstorming.

Social Studies
We will use the basic map skills we acquired last week to begin a journey across the five regions of the United States, starting with the Southeast. We will learn about the states that make up this region, as well as some of the landforms and special features of this part of America. We will not be using the textbook, as it does not contain information on this standard. Instead, we have worked to create a folder that contains info on all five regions. These belong to the class and can be checked out, but students are asked to return them each day and not make any markings in them. We appreciate your support in keeping these pristine, so they can be utilized year after year without being reprinted. The quiz will be Friday.

Science
We will be starting a new unit on Light Energy this week. We will use the following questions to guide our initial investigations: What happens when light hits objects or travels through a different substance and What happens when light energy is absorbed? We will use flashlights and baby powder to observe how light travels (in a straight line until it strikes an object or travels from one medium to another). Later in the week, we will use flashlights and index cards to see what happens when light is blocked. There will be no science quiz this week.

Planner: Important messages that come up last minute or cannot fit in the newsletter are put on the board for your child to copy down each morning. If they consistently bring home a blank planner, please send us an email so we can encourage them to record these important notes that keep the whole team (us, your child, and you) on the right track and in the know. We do our best to monitor this, but we are unable to check 55 of them each day.

Heat Energy: Calling All Conductors!

2011-04-15T10:07:00.001-07:00

Heat Energy: Calling All Conductors!

In our study of heat transfer, we have begun to discuss conductors. And we're not talking about the people who drive trains! We're talking about materials that allow heat energy to move through them easily. Our spoon lab in class clearly showed that metal is a much better conductor than either wood or plastic. In fact, wood and plastic are actually very poor conductors of heat energy because they do not allow the heat energy to move through them easily. This is why the handles of your parents pots and pans are made of plastic or wood; it keeps the cook from burning their hand when they pick up the hot pot. They don't allow the heat from the metal part of the pan to reach your hand and hurt you.

If you did have a pan that was solid metal, including the handle, how would you pick it up? Potholder to the rescue!!! Potholders are made of cloth, which is another material that blocks heat energy. It is an example of an insulator. It traps the heat of the metal handle and keeps it close to the handle so it can't get to your hand. Can you think of other insulators...how about blankets, winter coats, feather comforters, and so on? All of these items trap the heat of your body and keep it from conducting to another object. This keeps you warm and cozy!

Can you think of other examples of conductors or insulators? Leave a comment! I want to hear what you think!

Heat Energy

2011-04-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

Excerpt from NSTA Sci Links:
Have you ever touched a hot pot? If you have, you know that heat energy can move from one object to another object, or from the pot to your hand. Heat energy also moves from one area to another area-for example, from a warm room to a cool room.

Heat energy always moves from a warmer object or area to a cooler object or area. If you hold an ice cube in your hand, heat energy moves from your hand to the ice and melts it. If you open a door on a cold winter day, heat energy moves from inside your warm house to the cold outdoors.

Heat energy moves in three different ways. They are conduction, convection, and radiation.

1. Conduction:
The movement of heat between objects that touch each other.
Example: Think of cooking vegetables in a pan. Heat energy moves from the hot metal to the vegetables.

Some materials allow heat to move through them more easily than others. We will learn more about these materials later this week.

2. Convection:
The movement of heat energy through liquids and gases in currents.
Example: Think of water heating up on a stove. As the water heats up, the particles at the bottom start moving faster and farther apart. The water at the bottom of the pot becomes lighter than the cooler water above it. The lighter, warmer water rises in the pot. The heavier water falls to the bottom of the pot. In this way, heat moves upward in the pot in currents. This movement in currents is called convection.

3. Radiation:
Heat energy that moves through space.
Example: Energy from the Sun travels to Earth by radiation. When the energy reaches Earth, it warms the Earth's surface. The heated surface then heats the air above it. If you sit near a fireplace or campfire, you feel heat coming from the burning logs. The heat reaches you by radiation.

2011-04-04T07:38:00.000-07:00

Social Studies
We will discuss popular clothing that was worn in Ancient Greece. We will also address the importance of their religion and temples, like the Parthenon, in their daily life. We will also introduce students the Olympics that the Ancient Greeks used to celebrate the king of their gods. There will be no quiz on Friday, due to FCAT prep and the pep rally.

Science
We will be addressing the concept of flow, or heat transfer, this week. Students need to be able to recognize that heat flows from hot objects to cold objects and that heat flow may cause materials to change temperature. We will investigate how heat energy moves using hot and cold water. There will be a brief quiz on Wednesday. Students will need to be able to infer the direction of heat flow by comparing temperatures of one object to that of another, as well as the three ways that heat is transferred: radiation, conduction, and convection. See blog and notebooks for additional info.

Second Step
A portion of our newsletter will now be used to keep you informed on the character education that your child is receiving each week; this way you can discuss and reinforce these concepts at home. This week we will continue to work at controlling our impulses so that we can solve problems better. The specific impulse we will be addressing is resisting the impulse to lie. It can be hard to overcome feelings of guilt and fear of getting into trouble. However, telling the truth is a way of taking responsibility for our actions. Being honest lets people know we are trustworthy.

Math Workshop
During this week in Math, we will be reviewing 3rd grade benchmarks areas. We will begin with Measurement Monday. The students will be working with rulers to take the measurement (in inches and centimeters) of different objects. The answers will include mixed fractions, with halves and fourths. On Tuesday, we will focus on multiplication and division strategies. The students will be given various story problems and will use their problem solving strategies to determine the correct equation that matches a story problem (also knowing multiplication and division are inverse) and solving various problems. On Wednesday, the students will practice area, perimeter and elapsed time. The students will be applying their knowledge of area (the space inside of a figure) and perimeter (the distance around a figure) to solve problems. On Thursday, we will focus on a review of fractions. The students will be working with finding equivalent fractions (for example 1/2 =3/6 or 3/4 = 6/8), identifying mixed and improper fractions from a picture given, and comparing fractions (greater than, less than, or equal to). Finally, on Friday, we will have a mixed review for the students. Please look for their work to come home each evening and ask your child to show you how they solved a few of the problems. The practice FCAT will not go in the gradebook, but was used as data to show us what areas we needed to focus on. This was a new test given this year, but historical data shows, those students who scored at least half correct, typically got a 3 or better on the FCAT. This week will be spent working on areas with room for improvement shown from the practice test. The homework sheet for this week will be Sheet #27, and will be checked on Wednesday and Friday.

Newsletter Info

2011-03-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

FCAT Info
Please look in your child's Tuesday Take Home Folder for information on FCAT dress up days that will begin the first Monday after spring break, as well as candy and snack donations and instructions for "the super secret surprise letters!"

Social Studies
There will be a change in our schedule due to the shortened week; we will have our weekly quiz on Thursday this week. We will continue with our study of ancient Greece. This week's focus will be on daily life in the city-state of Athens. We will learn about the role of wealthy men in the governmental system, as well as the role of women in caring the home and children. We will compare and contrast this with the roles of poor men and women in this ancient community. We will also briefly discuss contributions the ancient Greeks made with their alphabet and theater productions.

Science
Our focused study of heat energy is underway. So far we have discussed how scientists can measure how much heat energy an object has by using a thermometer to take the temperature of an object. We have practiced using this tool in the sun and shade, using Fahrenheit and Celsius. There will be a short quiz on Wednesday that reviews these skills. Meanwhile, we will be exploring how the temperature of a cup of tap water can be changed without the use of an appliance like a fridge or microwave. Essentially, we will work as a whole group to make a plan to change how much heat energy is in the cup of tap water, which will give us more practice using the F and C scales to measure temperature. Ask your child for updates as we work to develop and carry out our plan throughout the week.

Math Workshop
We are continuing our unit about fractions called Finding Fair Shares. In this unit, students investigate the meaning of fractions and the ways fractions can be represented. Our benchmark goals are: to divide a single whole or a quanity into equal parts and name those parts as fractions or mixed numbers, identify equivalent fractions, and to find combinations of fractions that are equal to one. Questions to ask your child:
* Is 2/3 equivalent to 3/2?
* How would you divide 7 brownies with 4 people equally?
* What is an equivalent fraction to 1/3?
There will be a Math quiz on Tuesday. You can review any completed pages in the Math Investigations Workbook (Unit 7)that have been completed. The homework sheet is #26 this week and will be checked on Thursday. In Tuesday Take-Home Folders, there will be a practice FCAT test the students completed. Please review this with your child carefully.

2011-03-14T05:14:00.000-07:00

Social Studies
Today kicks off our three week unit on our final ancient civilization: Greece! Unfortunately, due to the timing of FCAT, we will not be having a celebration at the conclusion of this unit. We will need to use that time to finish our math review. This week we will be focusing on the location of this ancient civilization in the Mediterranean Sea and how living on the sea helped them with trading. There will be a quiz on Friday.

Science
We have finished our introduction to the five basic forms of energy: light, heat, sound, electrical, and mechanical. Hopefully you have visited the blog to learn about the energy posters we have been working on at school. Students will need to know about all five forms, although their poster is only on one. In order to help students organize information about all five forms, they have been given a chart to organize their notes. We will glue it into our notebooks on Tuesday, so they can use it to study and review for Wednesday's quiz on the Sun's energy and the five basic energy forms. On Thursday we will dive into a concentrated series of labs on heat energy. If you have any thermometers with a Celsius scale that could be borrowed for the next two weeks, please send them in but be sure to label them with your name.

Math Workshop
We are continuing our unit about fractions called Finding Fair Shares. In this unit, students investigate the meaning of fractions and the ways fractions can be represented. Our benchmark goals are: to divide a single whole or a quanity into equal parts and name those parts as fractions or mixed numbers, identify equivalent fractions, and to find combinations of fractions that are equal to one. Ask your child about the Fraction Cookie game we will be playing later on in the week. Ask them what fraction combinations equal one whole. They will have a fractions quiz on Tuesday. Look over Unit 7 in their workbook (pages 1-17) and their fraction pieces to review. The students will have Homework Sheet #25 assigned for the week. Also, don't forget to keep logging into Number Worlds for some awesome games to play!

Energy Poster

2011-03-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

We are currently getting a grasp of the basic forms of energy. In order to better understand each of the 5 basic energy forms third graders need to know, we have divided up into groups and each group is taking charge of one of the energy forms. We are working in class to research and collect 3 examples that show how people use their assigned energy form. Each group is also providing a short explanation of how the energy form causes change or motion (i.e. does work). Groups can also earn points for neatness (museum quality work with no scribbles) and teamwork (everyone has to compromise and put in an effort). Parents, ask your child how their poster is going. Kids, teach your parents about your energy form.

When we present our posters next week, we will use a graphic organizer to take notes on all five energy forms (light, heat, sound, electrical, and mechanical), since we will need to be able to identify examples of all five forms on the quiz next Wednesday. The quiz will also focus on the importance of the light and heat energy that we get from the Sun. Studying the notes we took in class on the Sun is a great review. Doubt the energy of the Sun...just remember "The Atomic Penny Vaporizer" video we watched in class! It proves how powerful the Sun's energy can be!

Social Studies Research

2011-03-09T11:19:00.001-08:00

Many students have found this website to be very helpful and informative in their research of the Mayan people. Even if you are not choosing to do the extra credit project, you may still enjoy looking over this information. Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Energy is Everywhere!

2011-03-07T14:11:00.001-08:00

Energy is everywhere. You should now be able to recognize that energy is the ability to do work (as in causing motion or creating change, not homework!). We've looked around the playground and the classroom for things that move or create change a.k.a. energy sources. Have you looked around your home? Can you spot any examples of electrical, mechanical, heat, light, or sound energy? These are the 5 basic forms of energy that we will be focusing on this year as third graders. If you see some, leave a comment and tell us about them.

For some more information about energy, read the energy story! Keep in mind that this site contains more detailed information about many other types of energy than we will need to know about this year...but super scientists can zoom in on the key details and always love a little extra info!

2011-03-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Social Studies
Reminder! If your child is interested in participating in the extra credit presentation at this Friday's fiesta, we need to receive a note in the planner or via email by tomorrow (Tuesday, March 8th) so we can add them to the schedule. This week will conclude our study of the Maya people. We will discuss the contributions these people made in the arts, as well as in science and mathematics. Ask your child about their writing and number system. If you would like to donate food items for the fiesta, please contact us immediately. We will still have a quiz this week, with extra credit presentations and themed snacks to follow.

Science
Our energy unit is underway. We will spend much of the week investigating the following questions: What is energy? (something that can cause motion or change) What are the basic forms of energy? (heat, light, electrical, sound, and mechanical). We will begin an in class group poster activity. See the blog midweek for more details.

Math Workshop
We are continuing our unit about fractions called Finding Fair Shares. In this unit, students investigate the meaning of fractions and the ways fractions can be represented. Our benchmark goals are as follows: for the students to divide a single whole or a quanity into equal parts and name those parts as fractions or mixed numbers, identify equivalent fractions, and to find combinations of fractions that are equal to one. Take advantage of any natural opportunities to use fractions as they arise. You and your child can share and compare strategies for solving problems such as these: If a recipe calls for one half cap of an ingredient, pretend that the measuring cup that holds that amount is broken. Ask your child how else you can measure that amount. For example, 1/2 can also be represented as 1/4+1/4. You might check the answer by pouring those amounts into the one half cup measure to see whether they will equal the one half cup exactly. They will have a short fractions quiz on Tuesday. Look over Unit 7, pages 1-10 and their fraction pieces to review. The students will have Homework Sheet # 24 assigned for the week.

Newsletter Info

2011-02-28T05:15:00.000-08:00

Social Studies
A blue half sheet was sent home with your child today regarding an extra credit opportunity that is worth 5 pts. The sheet gives detailed information on the required 5 step process, as well as information on optional treats that can accompany the project. This is different than the thinking mats. The thinking mats are an in class art activity that we are working on as we finish our questions each day. Ask your child about their design. If you are a newsletter fan this week, tell your child to give Mrs. Z a high five at recess on Tuesday and say the code, "Responsibility!" This will earn them a success ticket.

Science
Our unit on Water will be coming to and end this week. The unit test will be Wednesday. Your child should bring their science notebook home on Monday and Tuesday night to prepare. Visiting the blog entries is also helpful. They need to be familiar with condensation, evaporation, how changes in energy (heat) can cause matter to change states, melting point of water, boiling point of water, freezing point of water, explaining data differences, importance of water, and the habits of good scientists (repeated trials, communications). We will play a round of Jeopardy in class on Tuesday to review at school, but reviewing their notes at home is also helpful. The test will contain multiple choice and short answer and will be worth 20 pts.

Pencil Sharpeners: Patterson Homeroom in Desperate Need
Donations of manual pencil sharpeners would be greatly appreciated!

Math Workshop
Our class is starting a new mathmatics unit about fractions called Finding Fair Shares. In this unit, students investigate the meaning of fractions and the ways fractions can be represented. One of our benchmark goals is for the students to divide a single whole or a quanity into equal parts and name those parts as fractions or mixed numbers. Take advantage of any natural opportunities to use fractions as they arise. You and your child can share and compare strategies for solving problems such as these: If you cut a whole pizza into 6 equal slices and ate 3 of the slices, what fraction of the pizza did you eat? If you want to share 10 cookies among 4 people, how can you share them equally? How much does each person get? The gas tank in our car holds 12 gallons, but right now it is only one fourth full. How many gallons of gas do we need to buy to fill up the tank? The students will have Homework Sheet # 23 assigned for the week. On Tuesday, they will have their February Calendar Math Quiz. It will consist of questions reading a calendar, knowing the difference between parallel and perpendicular lines, making a bar graph, and rounding numbers to different place values.

Science Help At Home

2011-02-28T05:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes parents express an interest in helping their child at home with science but just don't know where to begin. The way we teach science is a very hands-on and interactive approach. Although research definitely has it's place in science, the emphasis is more about being engaged in "doing" science and less on reading from the science text book. This approach is fantastic because it provides students with a meaningful experience at being a scientist. We realize that this approach can also be challenging when parents would like to help support their child in developing into a scientific thinker. We hope that this list of suggestions will help support your efforts at home when working on science.
1. Be familiar with your child's science standards. Visiting this link will help you understand what your child is expected to know at each grade level.
2. Go to the local library to check out some Outstanding Science Trade Books. Reading any science books, even if it is not the the current topic of study, will help your child become a more critical science thinker.
3. Conduct simple science experiments at home.
Home Experiments Link #1
Home Experiments Link #2
Home Experiment Link #3
4. Understand misconceptions in science so that you can help your child understand the concepts correcly.
5. Visit the science links provided on our blog. The Gizmos provides fantastic online simulations that power inquiry and understanding.
6. Always, show a positive attitude towards science even if it may not be your favorite subject.

Evaporation Explanation

2011-02-21T15:48:00.000-08:00

Family Connection: Want to help your child prepare for Wednesday's quiz? Take a moment to peruse their science notebook with them. They have notes on the processes of condensation and evaporation that they are proud of and eager to share with you! Look back at some of their previous note-taking ventures and compliment them at how they've grown and improved over the year. Then take a walk together to look for examples of condensation and evaporation. For example, you might find condensation on the windows of cars or homes. You might discover evaporation in action as you pass a clothesline full of drying laundry. Have your child record their findings by making a list or drawing a quick sketch. This will give them a point of reference for your follow up discussion back at the house. Encourage them to bring in these examples; they will have an opportunity to share them in class.

Here's the science scoop on evaporation. Over the past week, we've gotten the opportunity to see evaporation in action. We know that this process takes time, but can go faster with the help of a hair dryer. The hot temperature of the air coming from the dryer makes the liquid water gain heat energy very quickly, which helps it change to a gas more rapidly than normal.

We discussed that evaporation is kind of like the reverse process of condensation. In condensation, water vapor changes to liquid droplets. In evaporation, liquid changes to water vapor, once the liquid gains enough energy.

Newsletter Info

2011-02-21T15:45:00.000-08:00

Newsletter Info
Social Studies
A big thank you goes out to all the families who donated items for our Rome celebration and/or tried their hand at clothing design and adorned their child in togas. The students really enjoyed themselves and they all looked great. This week we will begin our three week study of the ancient Mayan civilization of Mexico. This week we will learn about the climate and geography of Mexico, then and now. We will also discuss ancient Mayan community life. There will be a quiz this Friday.

Science
Our study of evaporation continues this week with an extend lab called “The Broken Dryer.” Help hold your child accountable by asking them to explain the themes of this lab to you at home. (Attention: If you are reading this, open your child’s planner and write the following sentence on the 2/22/11 comment box: I am a newsletter fan!) We will have a quiz on Wednesday, which will focus on the processes of condensation and evaporation. It will also have several questions about the science tool we have been working with: the thermometer. Students should prepare by looking over their notes on condensation and evaporation, as well as the blog entries on these two topics.

Math Workshop
Our class is wrapping up our unit about geometry and measurement called Perimeter, Angles, and Area. During this unit, students measured length by using U.S. standard units (inches, feet, yards) and metric units (centimeters, meters). They investigated characteristics of triangle, rectangles, and other polygons. They used right angles as a reference to identify other angles as being greater than or less than 90 degrees. Students solved problems about perimeter (the length of the border of a figure) and area (the measure of how much flat space a figure covers). Please look for more information and activities about Perimeter, Angles, and Area that is being sent home with the newsletter. The unit assessment for the students is on Thursday, February 24th. We will be playing a fun, Jeopardy style review game on Wednesday. The homework sheet for the week is Sheet #22 and will be checked on Wednesday and Friday.

Condensation Connection and Phase Changes

2011-02-17T05:39:00.000-08:00

Where does condensation come from? Now, we know! It isn't magic. It isn't water leaking from inside the glass. It's the collection of water vapor from the air. When the water in the air cools down and loses energy, the particles are forced to change state, from a gas (water vapor) to a liquid (water).

When a substance, like water, changes from one state, or phase, of matter to another we say that it has undergone a change of state, or we say that it has undergone a change of phase. These changes of phase always occur with a change of heat. Heat, which is energy, either comes into the material during a change or out of the material during a change.

For example, when solid ice melts into liquid water heat is going into the solid as it melts. Although heat is being added to the ice, there will be no temperature change during the actual phase change. That will occur later.

An example of heat leaving a material is when liquid water freezes into solid ice. As heat leaves the liquid, it freezes. Again, there is no temperature change during the actual phase change.

Want to try your hand at changing the phases of water? Then, click on the link and try this cool phase changing game.

Newsletter Info

2011-02-15T07:16:00.000-08:00

Social Studies
We will finish our study of Ancient Rome this week with a look at daily life. We will learn about the homes, clothing, and food of these ancient people. There will be no quiz this week. Instead, we will celebrate our learning with a video on Rome and a Toga Celebration; this will take place on Friday. Students will also be served a Roman-inspired treat. If you are interested in contributing, please contact Mrs. Z via email. Remember, that students do not have to wear togas, but if they do, school clothes are required underneath. Encourage your child to take advantage of this fun opportunity to be creative and bring the past to life!

Science
The Create-a-Lab projects are graded and will be coming home in tomorrow's Tuesday Take Home Folders. Please review it with your child. A revision opportunity will be offered for students who scored a 16 or lower. Students may revise their work and resubmit it to earn up to a 17 out of 20. The deadline for resubmission is Friday, February 25th. Students who simply need to edit their work (or who left portions blank) may make adjustments, or rewrite portions, of the lab sheet needing correction on a separate sheet of paper. The corrections should be stapled to the original lab sheet and rubric. If the lab itself needs to be redone, this will need to be done at home due to time constraints, but students may conduct the lab alone; they do not need to redo it with their lab group.

Our water unit will continue this week with a focus on condensation. We will learn where it comes from and what it is (the process in which water vapor, a gas, in the air turns into liquid water). This will help us continue to learn about how water can change states when it is heated or cooled, a requirement for third graders. We will have another opportunity to do some research in the textbook for a grade. On Wednesday, we will have a quiz, which your child should have written in their planner last Thursday. Please check to see if they are taking the initiative to communicate with you and be more responsible. The quiz will focus on making simple charts, how data differences can be explained (class examples included: broken thermometer, user error, cup spills, variations in ice cube amount), and how water is used and its importance. To study, talk with your child about the charts we created last week in the "Accurate Temperature Data" Lab. You can also review the lesson one review in their take home folder this week.

Newsletter Info

2011-02-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

Science
Our new unit on Water has begun. Ask your child about the results of Super Ice Bowl I. In that exciting competition we learned what is required to change ice into water in the most efficient way possible. This week, we will become better acquainted with an important tool: the thermometer. We will practice taking the temperature of ice as it melts. This will enable us to practice the habits that good scientists use: chart making, taking accurate measurements, and recording observations. We will use the data from each group to make one large class chart, which will focus our discussion on the importance of similar data/explaining data discrepancies. We will also do some research in the textbook on the many uses of water; this will be a graded assignment where the textbook can be used as a guide. We will then move on to condensation and evaporation. Look for more info next week.

Note: Please be patient with us as we work to score the "Create-a-Lab" projects. Due to many student absences and the time required to complete the evaporation labs that students proposed, we are still finishing up the scoring rubrics.

Social Studies
Our study of ancient Rome continues with a more focused look at the intricacies of the Roman government system. We will learn about the voting practices and assembly system that was used. We will also learn about the highly organized system of roads and aqueducts that were utilized in this society for efficient transport of armies, goods, and water. There will be a quiz on Friday. Don't forget to start planning ahead for the Toga Celebration on Februrary 18th. Remember, costumes are optional, but if you choose to wear one, school clothes must be worn underneath.

Valentine's Day Ice Cream Social
Thanks so much for all your generous donations and support. Our party is going to be a great success! Please remember to send all items in by Friday, February 11th. Also, if your child plans to make cards, they must include one for all members of their homeroom class. We want to be sure everyone feels loved on this special day!

In our Math Investigation studies we have been focusing on polygons! The students know the attributes of a polygon (i.e. it has 3 or more straight, closed sides). We discussed and sorted examples and non-examples of polygons and we had a great time using Power Polygons! This week, the students will sort quadrilaterals according to a variety of criteria and we will discuss the properties of quadrilaterals. Ask your child the relationship between squares and rectangles. We will have a Math Quiz on Tuesday. Homework Sheet #20 will be checked in class on Wednesday and Friday.

Newsletter Info

2011-01-24T06:44:00.000-08:00

Social Studies
We will take a closer look at one of the world's early civilizations: Mesopotamia. We will learn about the farming practices of these people who lived in the land of two rivers. We will discuss how irrigation changed the landscape and helped the Sumerian people of southern Mesopotamia. Later in the week, we will look at how people were able to specialize and learn other skills because of the food surplus in the region. There will be a quiz Friday.

Science
Please see the blog for a detailed explanation of our "Create-a-Lab" activities. Our student led experiments are scheduled to finish Thursday. If all goes according to plan, we will play Jeopardy in class on Friday. We will then take the unit test on the properties of solids and liquids on Monday the 31st. If this changes, students will be asked to write a note in their planner on Thursday. Please look there for updates. Thank you for your patience as we take this opportunity to let them tinker with the scientific process.

Math Workshop
We are beginning Unit 4, which is called Perimeter, Angles, and Area. In this unit, we will develop ideas about the attributes of 2-dimensional (2-D) and 3-dimensional (3-D) shapes and help the students understand how these attributes determine their classification. They will also develop ideas about linear measurement (which includes perimeter), square measurement (area), the measurement of angles, and volume. This week the students will develop their ability to use measurement tools to accurately measure objects. They will learn that perimeter is the distance around the outside edges of a 2-dimensional figure and that it can be measured. The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #18 and will be checked in class on Wednesday and Friday. The students will have their January Calendar Math quiz on Tuesday.

Create-a-Lab Projects

2011-01-18T04:31:00.000-08:00

Over the next two weeks, our class will be embarking on a scientific adventure...the students will be designing and conducting their own experiments, focusing on the properties of liquids and solids. The students are very excited about this project! So far, students have brainstormed ideas as a whole group, before submitting their top three choices for review. Groups were then matched according to interest. Hopefully, your child shared their lab topic with you over the weekend. The labs will be conducted at school during class time, however, we will need parent support in collecting the materials. Each group has already made a list of supplies they need to begin collecting, so if you are interested in assisting us, please talk with your child about their specific needs. This week, we will work at school to finish up the planning stages of the lab. Students will be working in groups for a portion of the science workshop, each day. They will work together to develop a group lab sheet, which includes a lab title, guiding question, a list of materials, and a list of procedures they plan to follow to conduct the lab. Next week, groups will meet again to begin carrying out their lab plans. They will record their predictions, make observations, record results, and finish up with a final conclusion. Again, this will be done at school. This will be a graded assignment, and students will be presented with a rubric that will be used for evaluation later this week. How can you help? Ask them about their progress each day. Share in their excitement. Encourage them to do their best! And as always, if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to send us an email. We will be happy to address your concerns.

Newsletter Info

2011-01-10T12:38:00.001-08:00

Social Studies
Our focus will shift back in time to the world's earliest communities. We will learn about this prehistoric time before people learned to write. We will learn how early people lived, and we will discuss the similarities and differences between our civilization and theirs. We will also learn about the farming practices of these early people, as well as how these practices changed the land.

Science
We will spend the first part of the week learning about the scientific process in greater detail (i.e. how scientists gather evidence to prove their conclusions), so that we can spend the latter half of the week developing and carrying out our own student-designed experiments on solids and liquids. There will be a quiz on Wednesday, which will be a review of the properties and molecular configuration of solids, liquids, and gases. Your child's science notebook, which includes notes from class and lab sheets from experiments, is the best study tool for this quiz.

Math Workshop

Our class is wrapping up our work with the Math Investigations unit about patterns and functions called Stories, Tables, and Graphs. In this unit the students learn about situations that involve change and ways to mathematically describe and represent this change. They will use tables and graphs to represent how one quantity changes in relation to another quanitity. A family letter was sent home on Tuesday, January 4th that included the benchmark goals for this unit and examples of graphs and tables with example questions for each. The students will have the end of unit assessment on Friday.

Newsletter Info

2010-12-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

In Math Workshop, the students are using multiplication combinations to solve division problems and are working to understand the inverse relationship between the two operations. For example, a chocolate chip cookie has 5 chocolate chips in it. If there are 6 chocolate chip cookies, how many chips are there? The corresponding division situation would be: There are 30 chocolate chips. The chips have been shared equally among 6 cookies. How many chocolate chips does each cookie have? We will continue working with multiplication and division combinations throughout the week. Our end of unit assessment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 15th. Old homework sheets are a fantastic resource to review in preparation for the test. The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #16 and will be checked on Wednesday and Friday.

Social Studies
There will be a quiz Friday. If you plan to leave early for the holidays, please make sure to let us know so we can make plans for your child to take the quiz before you leave/after the break. Our focus this week will be producers and consumers. We will learn more about the people who specialize in providing us the goods and services that we want. Students will also be introduced to the concept of supply and demand.

Science
We will continue studying the properties of solids this week. Students will do some research in the textbook on the three phases of matter, and they will complete a research sheet/quiz using the book for assistance. This is not something they can study for in advance. We will also have an explore lab where we will learn how to use a balance to put objects in order according to their mass. We will end the week with a Bill Nye video on Matter, which will review all three phases of matter on an atomic level. Look in your child's science notebook for their diagram of the atoms in each phase. We will shift our focus to the properties of liquids and how they can be measured after the break.

Newsletter Info

2010-12-07T06:17:00.000-08:00

Social Studies
The focus of this week's discussion is making choices with our money. We will learn a little bit more about how businesses work to compete with one another, as well as how they generate their prices. Students will be introduced to the concepts of "opportunity cost" and "scarcity." We will also learn how businesses use ads to appeal to our emotions and generate sales. The quiz will be Friday.

Science
We begin our new unit on Matter this week. This unit will include an examinations of the following essential questions: How can we describe solids and liquids? and How can we measure solids and liquids? We will learn how to compare objects by properties such as size, shape, color, texture, and hardness. We will learn the difference between mass and volume, as we are introduced to new tools like the balance and the graduated cylinder. Please help us use correct terminology when you discuss mass and weight at home. Remember, that mass is the amount of matter in an object and weight is the measure of the pull of gravity on the amount of matter/mass in an object.

In Math Workshop, the students are understanding the inverse relationship between multiplication and division and using their knowledge to solve problems. For example, a robot has 4 hands. Each hand has 6 fingers. How many fingers does the robot have altogether? The students should recognize this is as a multiplication situation and use the equation 4x6 (4 groups of 6). They might then use skip-counting (6, 12, 18, and 24) to determine that the robots have 24 fingers. A similiar division story problem the students have worked with is as follows: Frogs usually have 4 legs. If there are 16 legs in the pond, how many frogs are there? The students should write the equation 16/4= and skip count by 4's to determine that there are 4 frogs in the pond. We will continue working with multiplication and division combinations throughout the week. Our unit will end next week and our end of unit assessment is scheduled for Wednesday, December 15th. Old homework sheets are a fantastic resource to review in preparation for the test. The homework sheet for this week is Sheet #15 and will be checked on Wednesday and Friday.

May The Force Be With You

2010-11-29T19:41:00.001-08:00

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!

Newsletter Info

2010-11-29T06:34:00.000-08:00

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.

Newsletter Info

2010-11-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

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.

Gravity Detectives

2010-11-14T16:38:00.000-08:00

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! :)

Multiplication Maniacs!

2010-11-05T07:46:00.002-07:00

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!

Newsletter Info

2010-11-01T05:45:00.000-07:00

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.

Newsletter Info

2010-10-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-14T15:36:00.001-07:00

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!

2010-10-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-05T06:39:00.001-07:00

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.

What Plants Need

2010-09-28T15:13:00.001-07:00

Are you looking forward to Plant Jeopardy on Friday? I know I am! I can't wait to see you show your stuff in a friendly plant battle. Here is a song to help you review the needs of a plant. Enjoy!

A Seed Needs

To the tune of "Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay"

I see you are a seed,
Tell me what do you need,
I need some soil to grow,
And then the sun to glow,
Water to make me wet,
Air for my leaves to get,
Space for my roots to spread,
Now I'm a plant.

Iram Khan

2010-09-28T15:10:00.001-07:00

Social Studies

This week we will learn about another Native American tribe of the United States: The Cherokee. We will learn about their lifestyle in the rolling hills of the southeastern part of our country. We will also learn about how the arrival of the Europeans eventually resulted in the forced movement of the tribe to Oklahoma in an event known as The Trail of Tears. Despite this horrific event, many elements of their culture remained intact. We will discuss how the Cherokee were able to pass on and learn about their family traditions; we will also be making connections to how we learn about our own family histories. The quiz will be Friday.

Science

The unit test on plants will take place next Monday, October 4^th. No study guide will be sent home, however, students are welcome to bring home their science notebook and/or green folder to study and prepare. We will play Plants Jeopardy in class on Friday to study and prepare together. Students will need to know the parts of plants, the functions of plant parts, the needs of plants, as well as how plants can be grouped.

Math Workshop

We will have our weekly math quiz tomorrow, which will cover elements of Calendar Math that have been discussed in August and September. In math workshop, we will continue working on story problems, however, this week subtraction strategies will be reintroduced and discussed.

Plant Experiments

2010-09-21T18:07:00.000-07:00

Our plant experiments are really coming along. As you know, we have four different experiments that are currently germinating in our classroom. Have you told your family about the progress of your plant? Have you told them which experiment is yours (light vs. dark, air vs. no air, Jell-o vs. soil vs. nothing, or water vs. orange juice)? It is so exciting to see some of our predictions coming true.

Perhaps our classroom experiments have gotten you more interested in performing other plant-based experiments of your own. If this is the case, then you are in luck. I have just the thing for you! Today you took home a username and password for a cool website called gizmos. I have already prepared an activity for you on this site that allows you to set up plant experiments all your own. So, pull out that yellow log in info sheet and get to it! Be sure to leave a comment about your experiment. You can even print the data and bring it in to share in class! Happy planting!

Newsletter Info

2010-09-21T05:20:00.001-07:00

Social Studies
This week’s lesson focuses on the Navajo, a Native American tribe that existed long ago and is still around today in parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. We will learn how these people adapted to their desert environment and learned to utilize the resources available there. We will also discuss the cultural traditions and religious ceremonies of the tribe. The quiz will be on Friday.

Science
There will be a quiz on Thursday. Students will need to know the structures (parts) of a plant, as well as their functions in helping the plant to live and grow. Students should study their notebooks and green packets to prepare; the blog is another great study tool. Take a peek into your child’s notebook and packets; are they using time wisely to complete their work?
The rest of the week will be spent conducting observations of our student generated plant experiments. Ask your child about their experiment. We will also begin discussing how plants are grouped (i.e. deciduous and coniferous), as well as how plants respond to changing seasons.

Math Workshop
There will be a math quiz on Tuesday, focusing on groups of 10, groups of 100, standard and expanded form, locating numbers on the 1,000 chart, ordering 3 digit numbers, and counting up and down the 1,000 chart by multiples of 10. These are all skills we have been working on for the past four weeks, so they should be very familiar to your child.

This week we will continue developing and practicing strategies for solving story problems and equations involving 3 digit numbers. We will also be learning a new game: Collections Match, which will reinforce this concept. If you would like to play a round with your child, encourage them to check out a deck of Collection Cards. Observe their strategies. Do they keep track of the steps in their strategy work? Are they accurate in their computations? Do they break the numbers apart efficiently (either by place value, multiples of 10 and 100, or combinations of 10 or 100)?

2010-09-13T16:46:00.001-07:00

Social Studies
Hopefully your child is falling into the routine of bringing home their blue social studies folder to prepare for Friday’s quiz. Please take the time to chat with them about the main ideas of this week’s lesson: Our Land and Resources. Encourage them to connect the main ideas to their own life or share stories from our class discussions. This practice helps students to gain understanding of the material; simply rereading it does not guarantee understanding. This week we will focus on the natural resources available in our environment, such as water, soil, air, and other living things. We will discuss specific examples of landforms and resources, from the Mississippi River to the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Science
Our focus on the functions of stems and roots continues this week as we experiment with gravity’s role in plant growth. For example, what would happen to a germinated plant if we hung it upside down? Would the roots grow up or curve around and grow down? Which way will the stem grow? Or, what if we planted a germinated plant in soil on its side…would the roots grow sideways? Check with your child at the end of the week to see what we’re observing in these student generated experiments. There will be a quiz next week on the parts of a plant and their functions. Look for more information in the student planner this week.

Math Workshop
Our first math homework quiz will be tomorrow (Tuesday), as previously mentioned in the student planner. It will cover the material from the first three homework sheets. Students were instructed to make corrections as we reviewed these sheets in class, in order to be sure these sheets could be used as study tools. These sheets can be filed at home or discarded after the quiz.
In math workshop, we will be continue working on place value with story problems that involve adding and subtracting two and three digit numbers and finding the number of 10s or 100s in a given sum. Students are encouraged to use the two strategies that are most comfortable for them (the first to solve, the second to double check). They are required to form an equation before attempting to solve the problem; they are also asked to label their solutions. Please help them to follow the same routine when assisting with homework.

Plant Songs

2010-09-13T16:37:00.001-07:00

Our standards say that as third graders we are to know the structures (parts) of a plant, as well as the function (job/role) of those structures. Here are two fun songs that can help you review some of the things we've been researching in class and recording on our Plant Structure and Function Chart.

Do You Know the Parts of Plants? Tune: Head, Shoulders, Knees, And Toes

Do you know the parts of plants,
Parts of plants?
Do you know the parts of plants,
Parts of plants?
All kinds of plants that grow and grow and grow.
Do you know the parts of plants,
Parts of plants?

The roots hold the plant in place,
Plant in place.
The roots hold the plant in place,
Plant in place.
The roots store food and water, too.
The roots hold the plant in place,
Plant in place.

The stem moves water up the plant,
Up the plant.
The stem moves water up the plant,
Up the plant.
The stem brings water to the leaves.
The stem moves water up the plant,
Up the plant.

The leaves soak up the sun,
Soak up the sun.
The leaves soak up the sun,
Soak up the sun.
The sun helps the plant to grow and grow and grow.
The leaves soak up the sun,
Soak up the sun.

The flower grows into a fruit,
Into a fruit.
The flower grows into a fruit,
Into a fruit.
Inside the fruit are little tiny seeds.
The flower grows into a fruit,
Into a fruit.

Parts of Plants Song (Tune: Muffin Man)

Oh, do you know the parts of plants,
The parts of plants, the parts of plants?
Do you know the parts of plants
That make them grow and grow?
The roots, they hold the plant in place,
The plant in place, the plant in place.
The roots they hold the plant in place
Soak up minerals and water, too.

The stem moves water up the plant,
Up the plant, up the plant.
The stem moves water up the plant
Brings water to the leaves.

The leaves soak up the rays of sun,
The rays of sun, the rays of sun.
The leaves soak up the rays of sun,
And help the plant make food.

The flower grows into a fruit,
Into a fruit, into a fruit.
The flower grows into a fruit,
Which holds the tiny seeds.

Now you know the parts of plants,
The parts of plants, the parts of plants,
Now you know the parts of plants,
That make them grow and grow.

Enjoy singing these for your family at home. Grab a hairbrush (microphone) and get singing!

2010-09-07T16:21:00.001-07:00

Social Studies
This week we will examine the geography of Earth's land and water. We will focus on three popular landforms: plains, plateaus, and hills. We will discuss how different landforms affect the communities near them. In addition, we will discuss the benefits of living near water (i.e. salt water or fresh water). The quiz will be on Friday of this week. Please encourage your child to take advantage of the opportunity to bring home their blue folder to study each night.

Science
We've spent the past week germinating (sprouting) bean seeds and researching how the four main parts of a plant (root, stem, leaf, and flower) each have a function (job) in helping the plant survive. Ask your child about their plant. How has it changed during the last week? What have they observed? Discuss the role of the leaves and roots in the survival of the plant. This week we will continue investigating the functions of the stem and flowers, while developing our own plant investigations.

Math Workshop
We will continue developing our knowledge of the Base Ten Number System up to 1,000, while learning to represent the structure of 3-digit numbers as being composed of 100s, 10s, and 1s (i.e. standard form to expanded form). We will work to develop our ability to solve addition problems by breaking numbers down (decomposing) and recombining them. Read the following situation to your child and discuss how they would go about finding a solution: Miss P and Miss Hoffmann are collecting books. Miss P has 68 books. Miss Hoffmann ahs 234 books. If they put their book collections together, how many books will they have in their combined collection?
The district benchmark will be administered (in lieu of the diagnostic) on Friday of this week.

Newsletter 8/30/2010

2010-08-30T15:58:00.001-07:00

Social Studies
Our study of communities continues this week with a look at different kinds of communities, namely urban (big cities) and rural (small community with lots of land and space). We will also introduce the concept of suburbs, as places that are close enough to big cities for people to work and play in, while allowing for people to live in less crowded conditions. We will have our first quiz on Friday of this week. Students will be responsible for material from last week, as well as this week. Your child may bring home their blue folder each night to study and prepare; encourage them to do so.
Science
Look for our graded quiz on lab safety and procedures to come home Tuesday in the Take Home Folder. Please sign and return it to school! This week we will continue working with plants as we explore the following essential question: What are seeds? We will continue working on our ability to make detailed observations utilizing our senses, as we examine soaked and unsoaked lima beans. We will review the parts of a seed and how they make a new plant, before finishing up the week by beginning an investigation into how bean seeds grow.

Math Workshop
Look for the yellow family letter in this week’s Take Home Folder. It has many great ideas for games and activities that can be done at home to reinforce the concepts from our current unit: Collections and Travel Stories. This week we will begin to build a class collection of 1,000 of the same thing to give students a concrete model of 1,000. Look in your child’s planner if you are interested in helping our collection grow. Over the next few days we will be working through word problems like this one: “Miss P was collecting coins. She had 230 so far. If she wanted to store them in bags of 10, how many bags would she need? What about bags of 100?” Try working through this problem, or make up similar ones. Observe their strategies. Are they utilizing their knowledge of the number of 10’s in 100 to help them solve the problem(s)? Do they use tools, like their 1,000 chart?

Plant Poem

2010-08-30T07:10:00.000-07:00

Today we made predictions about how bean seeds make a new plant. We discussed many different ideas. Then we read/sang with poem/song about plants. Here it is so you can enjoy it and think about it at home!

A Plant Will Grow
by Lauren Mayer

My plants are growing, from the seeds down in the ground
Soon they'll be showing how the plant world gets around
Just plant a seed, and when you're done
Give it air and water and lots of sun
And in a couple of weeks or so,
You know a plant will grow!

A seed sprouts a root, isn't that cute?

My plants are growing, from the roots and the seeds down in the ground
Soon they'll be showing how the plant world gets around
It grows some roots, which uncoil
To soak up nutrients from the soil
And in a couple of weeks or so,
You know a plant will grow!

Plants grow a stem, every one of them!

My plants are growing, from the stems to the roots from the seeds down in the ground
Soon they'll be showing how the plant world gets around
At first just a tiny stem is seen
You know it's growing 'cause it's green
And in a couple of weeks or so,
You know a plant will grow!

Look what the stem achieves - it's growing some leaves!

My plants are growing,
from the leaves to the stems to the roots from the seeds down in the ground
Soon they'll be showing how the plant world gets around
The leaves get bigger by the hour
Then it might grow fruit, it might grow a flower
And in a couple of weeks or so,
You know a plant will grow!

From the fruit or the flower
to the leaves
to the stem
to the roots
from the seeds down in the ground

And now you know - just how a plant will grow!

Newsletter Info

2010-08-24T10:09:00.000-07:00

Social Studies
Our focus this year will center around communities of long ago, as well as modern communities of today. This week we will begin with a look at the places that we live and call home. We will learn that the places we live are called communities and consist of a population of citizens. We will discuss how important it is to obey the laws of the community, in order to keep the citizens safe and avoid chaos.

Science
We will start off the year with a brief introduction into how scientists work safely in the lab. We will focus on how scientists make observations and inferences, as well as the types of tools that will be available for use in our lab this year. We will then dig right into our first unit of study on plants, with a nature walk and observation session. Students will have the opportunity to examine a plant of their choice with a hand lens, before formally recording their observations. We will learn to share and compare our data/observations in the name of scientific integrity (i.e. our data should match and if it doesn't we need to examine it closely to figure out why that's the case). We will finish the week with a look at our next essential question: What are seeds (and, how do bean seeds make a new bean plant)? Any and all donations of potting soil, dry lima beans, celery, and a sweet potato would be greatly appreciated!

Math
It is imperative that third graders have an understanding of how The Base Ten Number System works and how to accurately represent, identify, compare, and/or order numbers through the hundred thousands. Our work in this unit will focus on the following essential questions: How are numbers comprised in our Base Ten Number System? How can greater numbers be read and written? How can whole numbers be compared and ordered? To begin addressing these questions, students will be introduced to the 1,000 chart. This will help us as we begin to discuss how place value is represented. The catch is that not all the numbers will be filled in on these charts. As we play a game called Finding Numbers, students will need to use landmarks they are familiar with (multiples of ten and twenty-five work well) to help them locate the numbers called. If you are curious about your child's ability to locate numbers, have them bring their chart home over the weekend to play a few rounds as a family. You can even let them call the numbers and quiz you to see who is faster!

3rd Grade Rocks!!!

2010-08-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! It was so exciting to meet you all at Orientation on Friday. I am really looking forward to a wonderful year together in third grade. I can't wait to start our hard (but also super fun) work together down on the farm. I'm really looking forward to us all getting to know each other better.

Here is something that I spent time doing this summer that might help you get to know me better. I love traveling and going on adventures with friends. This summer I spent some time in California, and I was lucky enough to find some super scientific things there.

1. General Sherman
Maybe you're thinking that General Sherman is a person...you'd be wrong (that's what I thought at first, too)! General Sherman is a tree! So, why would people want to go see a tree? Because it's a special tree. Let me tell you some of the cool stuff I learned. General Sherman is the most massive tree on Earth. He is over 275 feet tall and is over 2,000 years old! He is a Giant Sequoia and is located in a national park where many other sequoias grow.
There were hundreds of people hiking around in the forest when I was there, so it was really hard to get a nice photo of myself in front of General Sherman, but here is a photo of me standing INSIDE another one of the sequoias nearby.

I also saw trees so huge that tunnels had been made in them so you could drive your car inside the trunk and out the other side. I could never imagine doing that with the trees we have around here. On the way out of the park, I also stopped near a tree that had fallen during a storm. It is called the Auto Log because you used to be able to drive your auto, or car, right onto it. Now it is decaying, so that would be too dangerous, but you can still pose for a picture.

2. The second super scientific thing I did was visit the La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles. Check out the link to learn more. They have a cool glass bubble where you can watch scientists work on piecing together some of the animal skeletons that have been found during excavations of the pits. Here is a cool photo that I took of some of the wolf skulls that have been found in the tar pits.
And here's how I compare to the height of a bear, which is good to know! If I had any plans to tell a bear who is boss, now I know that's not a good idea!

Well, those are just some of the things I did this summer. I can't wait to hear about all the cool things you did over the summer. Have you ever been to any of the places I described above? Do you ever want to go? If so, be sure to leave me a post, and of course, if you have questions about my adventures, I'd be happy to tell you more!

See you at school tomorrow. Go to bed early, and don't forget to eat a big, yummy breakfast. We are going to have an absolutely awesome time!

Go, Go Gravity Racers!!!

2010-05-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

Our new science unit on force and motion has inspired us to make our very own gravity powered racers! We are developing vehicles that can travel down a ramp, powered only by gravity. The vehicles must travel at least 100 cm to be up for consideration for the pizza party prize!

As we build our vehicles, we are noticing some design flaws in our blueprints. We are brainstorming with our partners and talking with other groups to figure out ways to reduce friction and drag (air resistance), so that our cars can travel a greater distance. Some of us have discovered that mass has an important role in how far our car will travel after it leaves the inclined plane (ramp).

Check out some of our scientists hard at work!

Leave a comment if you've had trouble with an element of your design. Tell about your solution.

We're learning all about cells...

2010-02-02T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hopefully, you read the newsletter with your parents this week. If you did, you learned that our new unit on cells is going to begin on Wednesday. I am so excited for this unit; cells are one of my favorite things to learn about. Some of you were a little confused when I mentioned cells in class today. I'm not talking about jail cells like the picture above. I'm talking about cells that are much, much smaller. We will have the opportunity to take a closer look at some at the end of the week, using a microscope. Between now and then, if you are wanting to do a little research on your own, take a look at this site. Also, if you scroll down to the bottom it links you to a really cool site called Cells Alive, where you can click on each part of the cell to learn about its function within the cell. As always, if you take a look, be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

2010-01-29T08:56:00.000-08:00

In calendar math, we have spent the entire month discussing various three dimensional shapes (space figures). We have made lists of their attributes and even acted as shape detectives to spot them out in the real world. If you're still struggling to understand these types of figures, take a look at these websites.

Space figures

3D

Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Energy Transformations

2009-12-03T08:09:00.001-08:00

Energy is the ability to do work. We learned that at MOSH on our field trip. We also learned that it cannot be created or destroyed. Over the next few days, we will be discussing the ways that energy can be transformed (changed) from one form to another. For instance, did you know that you observed a transformation of energy when you built your circuits last week? Well, it's true!

The battery contained energy in chemical form. It works like this. Inside the battery is a metal rod surrounded by a special paste inside a zinc casing. The rod has a chemical reaction with the paste and chemical energy is released. When you connect the wires in a closed circuit, the chemical energy is transformed to electrical energy (inside the battery) that flows through the wires and is transformed again into heat and light energy in the bulb.

Can you think of other examples of energy being transformed from one type to another? If you're having trouble thinking of some on your own, check out the "Energy Transformations" link under "Out of Sight Science Sites." It has a cool game where you can transform energy to power a robot, a city, or a farm. Enjoy!

P.S. If you thought the diagrams we drew in class of Series and Parallel Circuits were complicated, check out this diagram used to design the circuits in a motor.

P.P.S. Just click on the circuit diagram to zoom in and take a closer look. :)

Alternative Energy Sources

2009-12-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

When most of us think about how we would light up a light bulb, plugging it in or using a battery come to mind. Similarly, when asked how you would heat up water, many people would think of using a stove or possibly solar energy. Not many of us would think of a lemon or a peanut as a source of energy. BUT....they are! Here are some links to some fun experiments you can try at home to explore this concept. If you try them, make sure to write up a lab sheet (like the awesome one on the Jazz Standard wall that Emily made about the swinging cereal from the Bill Nye video) so we can share your scientific findings with the class.

Lemon Power!

Peanut Power!

Atoms are everywhere!?!

2009-11-05T22:33:00.000-08:00

Yes, atoms are everywhere! We have been learning about atoms in our discussions of static electricity. We have learned that atoms make up everything and are made up of small particles like protons, electrons, and neutrons. Normally atoms have a neutral charge, or no charge, but when an object experiences friction or even touches another object, an imbalance can occur. Once an object becomes charged, the static will bleed off to the ground or discharge in the form of a static shock! If you want to read more, check out this site. It's a great resource for information and even includes some cool labs you can try at home! If you try one, let me know! I would love to hear all about it.

Got Energy?

2009-10-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

Our new science unit on Energy begins tomorrow. I am sooooooooooo excited! Are you? There are a lot of exciting labs coming up. Tomorrow, we will look at some photos like this one...

Eeka freaka! What is happening to her hair? Why is it standing up like that? Write me back and let me know what you think.

The Best Song Ever!

2009-10-18T06:12:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the song we sang in class about the seasons. Practice it at home and sing it to your grandma, your little brother, and your pet gerbil. As you sing, think about the words. It explains the difference between summer and winter. You can show off what you know about the reason for seasons to your whole family!

P.S. If you think of some cool dance moves that act out the song, let me know. I'm still working on that. :)

Calling all Wall-E fans!

2009-09-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

I was doing a little surfing today (on the web...not in the ocean. I'm no good at the ocean kind. I just clutch the board screaming until I get thrown off.) and I came across an article I thought you might like. How many of you saw the movie Wall-E? I'm guessing most of you did. I don't know about you, but I thought it was pretty interesting to think about a time in the future when trash collecting robots like Wall-E would really exist. It sure would help make my list of chores shorter. Well, guess what?!? That time is here. That time is now. Check out this real life Wall-E. Be sure to scroll through the slideshow to see how the robot works.

Array Card Games

2009-09-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

I heard you're working on poetry with Mrs. Nash, so I thought I'd try to write you a math poem about your next opportunity to practice math facts and earn a superstar!
(Note: I tried my best.)

Play Multiplication Pairs over the next few days.
Bring a note to school and cause a superstar craze!
You can play other games like Count and Compare.
Playing them each once would keep it fair
There's Small Array, Big Array and Skipcounting too
You'll be counting so fast....blah, blah, blah, kangeroo!

Ok, so maybe the end of my poem wasn't so great, but you get the idea. Basically, you play the games and if you bring a note in your planner any day next week, you can earn a superstar! What's really cool is that you can earn one star each night; all you have to do is play one of the games every night. It's just that easy!

What's that? You forgot to take the rules home. Well, it doesn't matter. You can still play as long as you have your array cards. The rules are right here.

P.S. My favorite is Count & Compare (the one that's just like War). Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know!

Another Earth!?!?

2009-09-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Check out this link about another very Earth-like planet that was recently found.

Bring in a brief summary of the article in your own words for a superstar. Be sure to mention the main difference between this planet and our own (i.e. why we wouldn't want to vacation there), as well as what made this such a great discovery (hint: it has to do with the composition).

Attention Shuttle Commanders!

2009-09-07T13:24:00.001-07:00

Are you curious about the distance between each planet? Are you having a hard time comprehending the vastness, of the dimensions, of the universe? Then this take-home lab is for you...

This is your mission, should you choose to accept it. Obtain the following document. Read the directions carefully. Enjoy your journey through space!!! Don't forget to return your observation notes to mission control (our classroom). If you do so by Monday, September 14, you will be eligible for 5 super stars!!!

Hitting the books!

2009-09-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

It's good to hear that you're spending lots of time playing the multiplication games under "Really Cool Math Stuff." Don't forget to take a break from the games tonight, so you can study for your DOSS quiz tomorrow. You don't have the map from the book, but you can look at this map (it's very similar).

P.S. Click on the map and it will take you to a new page where it's a little bigger. You can even print it out and practice finding the distance between different cities in Florida. Using a map scale won't be a problem for you, since we've been practicing since the first day of school.

Welcome Back!

2009-08-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a fabulous first week back at school. It flew by so quickly. Now that all those diagnostics are out of the way, I can't wait to launch our exploration of space. I'm so excited about our alien tog gorbs (pen pals) that we will be writing to on Monday. I'm glad we took a critical look at our solar system diagrams; I'm sure we'll draw much better ones this time. Hopefully our planet mind trick will help us remember to put the planets in the right order. Just remember (My Very Enthusiastic Mother Just Served Us Nachos.) Thanks to Lalo, we'll never have trouble remembering the order again.

If you're still a little nervous about getting your diagram just right, or you're still a little confused about how the planets move on their orbital paths around the sun, then take a look at this diagram. It actually shows the planets in motion! How cool is that? You can also click on your favorite planet and explore it inside and out! This morning I went on a trip to the rocky core of Jupiter (483 million miles away), without ever leaving my living room!

I can't wait to see you again on Monday. You are a really great group of students. I know you're already hearing the music, and I can't wait to sing along with you this year! :)

Dog Days of Summer

2009-08-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

Well, it's happened once again. The time of year when school supplies begin creeping into giant display cases that eventually overtake the aisles. As a child this sent me into a complete sense of panic. Who would be my teacher? Would any of my friends be in my class? What if I didn't have time to eat my lunch because the line was too long? What if aliens invaded the school and took me away to live on planet Nebula? These were just some of my many concerns.

I was often torn between wishing away the days of summer, so I could get to my mid-August birthday party, and wishing my birthday would never come, so I could be trapped in an endless abyss of summer fun (swimming pools, ice cream cones, bike riding, ice cream cones, backyard camping, and more ice cream cones).
As an adult, I love school, but I'll let you in on a little secret. I still get a little sense of panic this time of year. I didn't want my worries to get out of hand, so I went into school to start getting things ready. Getting back into the swing of things was a great idea. Each moment I spend in our new classroom preparing for our first day of school, gets me a little more "jazzed" up for this year. I hope you spent plenty of time relaxing this summer because I have so many awesome things to share with you this year. I just can't wait for that first day back, and hopefully we'll even get a chance to say hello at Orientation Day. See you then!

Miss P