Functional Text Fun

In reading, we began looking at functional texts. Functional texts are texts we encounter in the world around us. They include recipes, fliers, how-to instructions, forms, advertisements, etc. While we were working on comprehending recipes we thought it'd be fun to follow one and make a tasty treat! We practiced reading the recipe carefully, measuring out ingredients, and following steps in order. Here's a few photos of when we made Halloween Zombie Chex Mix! 

Newsletter for the Week of Oct.17-21

3^rd Grade News

Issue 9                                                                                                                                               October 17, 2016

Last Thursday, students and teachers had fun participating in an Olympic Games and Greek food tasting party.  Thank you for your contributions to help make our day a success!

Please continue to encourage your child to read nightly at home. The more we read, the better we become at reading. Students may also get on their RAZ kids accounts and IXL.com (via Quick Links on the PES homepage) to practice reading and math skills. If your child forgets their login information, feel free to contact their reading or math teacher.

*Impact Aid forms sent home today must be returned by November 4th. 

           

IMPORTANT DATES: 

*October 17 -- End of 1^st Quarter

*October 20 -- Fall Picture Day

*October 24 -- Report Cards

*October 28 -- Fall Carnival

	REMINDERS
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday	Thursday Folders, Picture Day
Friday	Reading Test, Spelling Test

  

What are we working on in class?

Reading – Last week, we were working on finding the main idea and supporting details within a story. Students learned how to use the main idea and details to better understand what they are reading.

While we continue to practice main idea and details, this week students are also looking at nonfiction books and learning about their special text features.  Students are learning about:  table of contents, photographs and captions, glossary, index, bold and italic print, headings and more.  Students will also be learning about the difference between facts and opinions.

Math – During math this week, we will begin to study multiplication.  Students will see how multiplication is “repeated addition” and how it relates to “skip-counting.”  They will learn how to draw arrays as a simple way of showing the multiplication problem.

Science- This week, we are beginning a unit on matter.  In this unit, students will investigate and understand that objects are made of materials that can be described by their physical properties.  We’ll be learning the different states of matter and how matter can change states.

3rd Grade Olympics Day!

Our Olympic day was a huge success and we had tons of fun! In the morning, we made our olive wreath crowns. In ancient Greece, Olympic competitors would earn these crowns if they won an event. They did not have medals back then. We also finished our class banner to represent our Greek city-state of Rhodes. 

Once we were outside, we took our Olympic Oath and began our parade to see all the Greek city-states. After our parade, we began to take part in five Olympic events: javelin throw, relay race, long jump, 50 yard dash, and tug o' war. After a great competition, we earned our medals and enjoyed lunch in the courtyard. 

Later, we enjoyed a Greek tasting party. We sampled pita bread and butter, olives, feta cheese, grapes, and crackers. It was all very delicious. Thank you so much for your generous donations! 

Here we are before the Olympic Games with our olive wreath crowns representing the Greek city-state of Rhodes. 






Below, we are taking our Olympic oath before the parade begins. 

Scientific Method Unit!

Our first science unit is underway! We are having a great time learning about the scientific method and all the steps involved in conducting an experiment. We are even getting a chance to be scientists as we take part in several different experiments this week. Be sure to look at the science vocabulary for this unit located in the Science & Social Studies tabs. Students should know the steps in the scientific method as well as key vocabulary. 

HOMEWORK ANNOUNCEMENT!

Effective immediately, we will be changing our homework requirements.  Third graders will no longer have weekly literacy or math homework packets.  Instead, students will have nightly spelling homework (homework requirements vary by teacher) and students will still have to study for all tests and quizzes as needed. 

Since, formal math and reading homework is going to cease, it is our hope that this will allow time for students to read for enjoyment daily at home.  We realize that nothing makes a better reader than more time actively reading. 

If you are looking for ways for students to practice what they are learning at school, IXL and sumdog are great websites for students to use at home to practice math, and RAZkids is a great resource for reading practice.

Newsletter - Issue 3 Sept. 6

In case you missed it -- This week's newsletter Issue 3

What we're working on this week -- 9/6 to 9/9

September 6 

Reading - This past week we continued our study of story components, comprehension, silent reading and different types of questions.

This week we will begin reading, Anansi and the Talking Watermelon, as a class. While reading the story we will focus continue to focus on comprehension skills as they follow along with the class. Your child should be coming home with a copy of the story and vocabulary flashcards for this story (gorge, salivate, ponder, oddity, absurd, unison). The story should be kept in their folder and returned to school each day. A test on Anansi and the Talking Watermelon will be on Friday.

Grammar - We have been working on contractions and compound words for the past couple of weeks. Students have done a great job! Now we will be moving on to identifying homophones. There will be a Grammar Test on Friday covering contractions, compound words, and homophones.

Spelling - THERE WILL BE NO SPELLING THIS WEEK!

Math - We are working on rounding to the nearest ten, hundred, and thousand as well as comparing numbers.

Homework - Math and Literacy Packet due Friday!

Tests & Quizzes - Reading and Grammar Tests on Friday. Rounding Quiz on Thursday.