Lessons & Assignments Thursday, April 28th

Language Arts - study spelling and vocab - We completed our DOL and cursive spelling page in class today.  We also took our reading test, and read for AR.  Tomorrow we will take our spelling and vocab tests on Spelling City.

Math - None - We reviewed in math today.  We took a quiz over addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  We also played "I have, who has" with addition.

Science - None - We read a book about light and color, and watched the Magic School Bus video on how to make a rainbow.

Social Studies - None - We continued working on our field trip presentations.  Most students were able to record their information today.

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, April 27th

Language Arts -  None - We completed our DOL in class today, and practiced our spelling and grammar online.  We reread our weekly story, and read a companion story about why we have day and night.  We worked in groups to answer comprehension questions with our partners.  Reminder - reading skills test tomorrow!

Math - None - We took our quarterly assessments today.

Science - None - We watched a Discovery Education video about light and color today.

Social Studies - None - We continued our work on our field trip presentations today.

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, April 26th

Language Arts - read passage - We completed our DOL and spelling in class today.  We listened to our story on the iPads, and practiced reading our passage for the week.  The students had to read a paragraph using the ChatterPix app to record themselves.  This was great fluency practice today!

Math - None - We took the chapter 11 test today.  I was very proud of the fantastic scores on today's tests.  Way to go 3rd grade!

Science - None - We discussed the difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque today.  The students used plastic wrap, wax paper, and aluminum foil to demonstrate each concept in their science journals, and then completed a picture sort.

Social Studies - None - We continued working on our field trip presentations.  I think everyone was able to add their pictures from the House of Mammals exhibit today, and tomorrow we will record our information about those first 4 pictures.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, April 25th

Language Arts - read passage - We completed our DOL and spelling page in class today.  We also played on online review game as a class for our grammar target this week.  We listened to our story on the iPads, and worked in small groups.  Mrs. Pratt's groups focused on phonics skills, and my groups read about African animals and practiced drawing conclusions.

Math - None - We reviewed chapter 11 today.  Our chapter 11 test will be tomorrow.

Science - None - We read about light and rainbows today.  We learned about the difference between translucent, transparent, and opaque.

Social Studies - None - We started on our field trip presentations today.  Students were provided with the presentation checklist and rubrics, and introduced to the 30 Hands app that they will use to create their presentations/speeches.

Lessons & Assignments Friday, April 22nd

3rd graders went to the Putnam Museum today for a field trip - no homework.

(Photos coming soon)

Reflection & Refraction

We wrote words on notecards today, then held them up to the mirror to see how the reflection changes it.  We also put pencils in a glass of water to see how refraction

 bent the light to make the pencil look broken.

Lessons & Assignments Thursday, April 21st

Language Arts - read passage - We completed our DOL and grammar page in class.  We also took a few minutes to practice our spelling words using the Spelling City app.  The students listened to our weekly story on the ipads, and answered their comprehension questions about the story.  Tonight's assignment is to read the passage, but this can be returned on Monday since we have a field trip tomorrow.

Math - None - We learned about shapes with the same area and different perimeters today.  We used the Doodle Buddy app on the iPads to sketch out and measure shapes.

Science - None - We read about light today, focusing on reflection and refraction.  We practiced writing words, then tracing the reflection we saw in the mirror.  We were surprised that the letters looked backwards!  We also put a pencil in a glass of water, and realized that refraction made it look like it was broken.

Social Studies - None - We used our social studies time for our Star of the Week presentation.

Reminder:  Field trip tomorrow - meet at the museum at 9:00, and bring a sack lunch.

Dress Up Day

Our class earned a dress-up day for a good behavior incentive.  

We chose to dress in our favorite sports gear today.

Conductors & Insulators

We have been learning about heat in science.  Today we continued our discussion of conductors and insulators.  I filled 3 trays with hot water, and put butter on a piece of wood, a sponge, and a metal lid.  The students recorded their observations at the beginning, and after 5 minutes.  We then had to determine which materials were conductors, and which ones were insulators.  Check out our results!

Beginning (metal)

After 5 minutes (metal)

Beginning (sponge)

After 5 minutes (sponge)

Beginning (wood)

After 5 minutes (wood)

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, April 20th

Language Arts- read passage - We completed our DOL, spelling, and grammar page in class today.  We reread our weekly story, and reviewed our vocabulary terms with our leveled readers.  My groups read our leveled readers together, and worked on comprehension activities. Mrs. Pratt's groups worked on phonics activities by building words.

Math - None - We completed lesson 11.9 today on shapes with the same perimeter and different area.  We used our ipads to compare and measure shapes.

Science - None - I did a science demonstration on conductors and insulators today using hot water and butter.

Social Studies - None - We did our Star of the Week presentation during our social studies time, and caught up on make-up work/corrections.

Reminder:  Wear sports gear tomorrow!

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, April 19th

Language Arts - read passage - We completed our DOL, spelling, and grammar page in class today.  We read our vocabulary story and reviewed our vocab terms for the week.  We also read our weekly story, Seven Spools of Thread, and discussed story elements.

Math - None - We learned how to find the area of combined rectangles today using the Distributive Property.  We also worked on an addition/subtraction review sheet.  Friends that were unable to finish it in class need to finish the review sheet for homework tonight.

Science - None - We started chapter 14 today on heat, light, and sound.  We read about heat today, and will do a lab activity tomorrow.

Social Studies - None - We had a classroom visitor during our social studies time today.

Classroom Visitor

Keegan's mom visited our classroom today to tell us about her job as a nurse.  The kids loved hearing about what she does at work, and really enjoyed sharing their own medical stories with her!  :)

Lessons & Assignments Monday, April 18th

Language Arts-  read passage, vocab packet - We started a new unit today.  New spelling/vocabulary lists were sent home.  Tests over these lists will be on April 29th.  A new reading passage was also sent home.  The test over that material will be on 4/28.  We completed our DOL, spelling, and grammar pages in class today.  We also introduced our new vocabulary words, and worked on our vocab packets.  If you were unable to finish the vocab packet in class, you can get to the slideshow by visiting my blog.

Math - None - We talked about solving problems with area by noticing and comparing patterns in data.

Science - None - We watched a video on heat, light, and temperature to introduce our new chapter today.  The students completed a video response sheet in class while watching.

Social Studies - None - Due to the Arbor Day presentation, we did not have time for social studies or review lessons today.

Arbor Day

To celebrate upcoming Arbor Day, the 3rd grade students were presented with shrubs to plant.  Planting and care instructions were sent home with students today.

Star of the Week

Keegan is our Star of the Week this week!

Vocabulary Slide Show

Click HERE for the vocabulary slide show for Seven Spools of Thread.  

The test over these terms will be on Friday, April 29th.

Lessons & Assignments Friday, April 15th

No homework - We had PARCC testing this morning, played some review games, and spent some extra time outside enjoying the beautiful weather and celebrating the end of PARCC week!

Lessons & Assignments Thursday, April 14th

No homework - We did not have regularly scheduled classes today due to PARCC testing.

Check out our treats from today!

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, April 13th

No homework - We did not have our regularly scheduled classes today due to PARCC testing.

Check out our treats from today!

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, April 12th

We didn't have regularly scheduled classes due to PARCC testing today.  

The students took ELA 1 and Math 1 today.

The students received encouraging notes and mints from Mrs. Wisdom's class this morning,

 and Goldfish crackers from me this afternoon.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, April 11th

Language Arts - None - We did an interview project today.  See the blog for more details.

Math - None - We learned about measuring area today.

Science - None - Mrs. Abbott did our SEL lesson during our science time today.

Social Studies - None - We did some extension activities with our Scholastic News article today.

Reminder:  PARCC testing starts tomorrow.  Pictures and/or money due tomorrow.

Homework Celebration

In preparation for the upcoming PARCC test, Miss Vegter and I have been sending home review sheets as homework.  We offered an incentive to students that completed all of the worksheets on time, and scored at least 80% on every single one.  The students that met these requirements got to have lunch with us today, and were provided a yummy treat!  Congratulations, and thanks for all of your hard work!

PARCC Week

We are kicking off PARCC week this week.  Although the testing doesn't officially start until tomorrow, we are getting pumped today!  Mrs. Wisdom's class is cheering us on, and left us a really cool Star Wars poster out in the hallway.  They also wrote us encouraging notes, and left treats on our desks this morning.  I also put out the first of the notes from parents this afternoon, along with a special treat from me.  Thanks for your support this week and always!

Interview Project

Today in language arts, we practiced interviewing adults in the building.  The students had to ask an adult questions, record his/her answers, and write a paragraph from that person's point-of-view using the information they gathered.  Then the students used the Chatterpix app on the iPads to create a video.  We had a great time with this project, and are very thankful for the adults that agreed to participate!

Lessons & Assignments Friday, April 8th

Language Arts - None - We took our 4th quarter assessment today, and gave our Earth Day speeches.

Math - None - We reviewed area and perimeter today by playing fun dice games!

Science - None - We took our chapter 13 test today.

Social Studies - None - We celebrated a friend's birthday during our social studies time today.

Area & Perimeter

We have been learning about how to determine the area and perimeter of shapes.  Today we used grid paper and dice to review these concepts.  Students had to work with a partner to roll the dice, then draw the shape.  For example, if they rolled a 2 and a 3, their shape would have a perimeter of 10 and an area of 6.  They were challenged to fill the grid paper without leaving any open spots.  We had so much fun, we didn't even realize we were learning!  :)

Ag in the Classroom

Mrs. Clodfelter visited our classroom yesterday to talk about growing vegetables.  She read a book to us, and talked about hydroponics.  The students had an opportunity to create a "garden in a glove" where they started germinating corn, pea, cucumber, radish, and carrot seeds.  We just love it when she visits!

Lessons & Assignments Thursday, April 7th

Language Arts - None - We worked on our informative writing assessment today.

Math - parcc practice worksheet - We learned about how to find the area of objects today.

Science - None - We had Ag in the Classroom today.

Social Studies - None - We read a Scholastic News article on bugs today.

Lessons & Assignments Wednesday, April 6th

Language Arts - None - We finished up our Earth Day posters, read for AR, and took a quarterly assessment.

Math - ws 35-36 - We completed lesson 11.3 today on finding an unknown side.  We used toothpicks today to create models, and find the unknown side lengths.

Science - None - We read about electromagnets and generators today.

Social Studies - None - We used our social studies time today to review multiplication facts.

Sorting with Magnets

We've been talking about magnets and electricity in science, and today we used magnets to help us sort objects.  The students had to sort paperclips and plastic beads by hand, and then again using a magnet.  The sort was timed, and our data was recorded in our science journals.

Lessons & Assignments Tuesday, April 5th

Language Arts - None - We practiced our Earth Day speeches today, and made posters with Earth Day tips.

Math - None - We finished lesson 11.2 on finding the perimeter of an object.

Science - None - We did a lab activity where we used magnets to sort objects.

Social Studies - None - We used our social studies time to catch up on corrections, recite our skip counting, and have our Star of the Week presentation.

Star of the Week

Ethan is our Star of the Week this week.

Lessons & Assignments Monday, April 4th

Language Arts - None - We started working on outlines for speeches on our Earth Day research.

Math - worksheet 29-30 - We started chapter 11 today on area and perimeter.  Lesson 11.1 focused on modeling perimeter.  We used grid paper, dot paper, and the GeoBoard app on the iPads to practice modeling perimeter.

Science - None - We read about magnets today, and how the opposite poles repel one another.

Social Studies - None - We played base 10 bingo today to review basic math skills.

Reminder:  March reading logs due tomorrow!