We have begun our Biography Unit this week. This project brings together SO many different LA indicators...reading for information, collecting information, organizing information, writing an essay, and presenting the information to name a few!! It also brings in some Social Studies indicators...studying important people who have had a positive impact on our communities/ our society. This was modeled this past week using Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The kids will be able to pick an important person who has influenced our nation in a positive way. I asked Mrs. Wright to pull all the biographies of U. S. Presidents and First Ladies...but many kids would like to branch out. I am fine with that as long as they can explain how their famous person has impacted our society positively. This unit culminates with a Wax Museum...where your child will take on the likes of their famous person and "come to life" to tell you about themselves. This Wax Museum is tentatively scheduled for the third week in February. It is a morning performance that you won't want to miss...I promise to narrow down the date in a week or two. The good news is...all of the work is done IN SCHOOL!!! (with the exception of finding something to wear that appropriately represents their important person.) More details to follow.
CLASSROOM NEED: for this project kids will be using 3" x 5" file cards...if you are out and about this weekend and see a pack, pick it up and have your child bring them on Tuesday...your generosity is much appreciated!
And while I'm at it...we are running low on Kleenex and hand sanitizer....so any and all donations are helpful...thank you.
In Math this week the kids have been working with statistics...analyzing line plots, calculating the mean, median, mode, and range of the data. As I corrected homework with the kids today, I was aware that many of the kids are still confused about how the mean, median, mode and range relate to a line plot. We will be working with line plots next week to make sure all connections have been made!!
While I was gone the kids talked alot about the different jobs at the local government level and about taxes during Social Studies. We will spend a little time wrapping up this social studies unit next week, and then we will head into a REALLY fun science unit called Chemical Tests. (Side note: there will not be a Science grade this term on the report card. We only have three science units, so we didn't use one in Term 2...just FYI.)
Our word study units have been inconsistent lately due to inconsistent schedules...and although next week is another FOUR day week for the kids, we WILL have word study. HOWEVER...it will look a little different. We spend the second half of third grade focusing particularly on greek and latin roots. We use packets where the kids will do separate pieces each night...and at the end of the week they will be tested on the meaning, as well as the spelling, of the words. For these packets the kids will have the same words...they are always able to add "Challenge Words" to their lists, but for the most part, they will have the words that match each greek or latin root. I know this sounds confusing, so if after week one you are still confused, please feel free to contact me...but I have a feeling once you see the packets you'll figure it all out! ;-)
I hope you all have a great weekend...my husband is doing very well...it is a lot of work, but he's very determined, and so glad to be out of the pain he was in with the bad hip. Thanks for understanding my absence, and your patience with me as I "whip them back into shape"!!
