Happy Friday, everyone! The magnet third graders are happy to report that we are finished with MSA's!!! It has taken us a couple of days to get back into our routine, but we have arrived and are ready to finish the year with a bang!!

WAX MUSEUM UPDATE
The students worked in the computer lab this week recording their research into a graphic organizer. We used a program called Inspirations to web our information...the kids did a great job! Many students returned their signed webs today. If you did not see your child's web, please look through their Take Home folder, sign it, and return it for Monday. They will need their webs to complete the next part of our project! Next week, we will be working on our rough drafts. These rough drafts will be written in first person, as if your child IS the important person.

FIELD TRIP ALERT!
On Monday, April 21st, our class will be going to Fountain Rock Nature Center for a program that will coincide with our next Science Unit...Populations. I can take a few parents on this trip, so if you're interested, please send me an email. The form should be coming home today or early next week. We will be at the Nature Center from 9:00-12:00, so the students will need to pack a lunch for our trip. More to come on this fun endeavor!

LONG DIVISION
We have been working on long division this week...we all started out at different places in our "long division journey", so we broke into different learning groups, and everyone seems to be plugging along. It is imperative to have quick recall of multiplication facts in order to long divide...so keep practicing those facts!!

Speaking of Math...do you know about our Family Game Night!? The Home & School Connection Store is coming to UES and bringing lots of fun games for families to play. Imagine...having fun and learning at the same time! :-) Please plan to come if your schedule allows...it's Tuesday, April 22nd from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. The teachers will be manning some of the different games...I'll be there!! If you do not have an RSVP paper...click on this link, print one out, and send it in to me! http://schools.fcps.org/ues/index.html Hope to see you there!

KING OF THE WIND
We are reading a wonderful novel written by Marguerite Henry titled King of the Wind. During this unit, we are using Literature Circles to discuss and explore all of the different elements of a story. We are also delving deep into the advanced vocabulary of this novel. We have SIX different Literature Circles going at once, and they are really doing a very mature job of discussing and sharing...I'm very proud of them! Each day a different student is responsible for being the "director" and leads the discussion group. I am consistently impressed with your children!

ECONOMY TEST
Heads up!! Next Friday, April 18th, the students will have an Economy test. They will be bringing home their Learning Logs on Monday to study the vocabulary. They will have to be able to identify the differences between natural, capital, and human resources, they will have to be able to show they understand supply and demand, and they will have to be able to identify the differences between facts and opinions. If they study their vocabulary, they will do just fine!

As always, if you have ANY questions, please feel free to email me karen.wills@fcps.org .
Have a wonderful weekend!