Fall Fun 2012

Well, Hurricane Sandy sure did make our week crazy...but as usual, we got a TON accomplished! 

Not only did we finish our final drafts of our candy bar commercials, we ALL finished our state brochures, and most of the kids finished publishing their Ella drafts.  We also had a wonderful morning exploring the circumference, diameter, heigh and weight of pumpkins, and all the fun a pumpkin can bring to math!  Thanks to the parents who joined us for that activity!!

We walked to raise money for needy families in our county, too!  We did this with our kindergarten buddy class...it was really very heartwarming to watch the third graders take care of their buddies!  They chatted, told stories, and played hand games as they walked the mile for the homeless. 

And before we had our Fall Festival party, we had one of the best class discussions we've had so far...we prepared for the election on Tuesday.  The kids read two different articles (on a fourth/fifth grade reading level) about Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.  Then we looked for favorable characteristics for each of the two candidates. Regardless of which candidate each student wants to win, they had to search for facts that would make either one of them a good president. This was a very mature way of looking at the candidates and I was very impressed.  Then we had a lesson on the electoral college and discussed popular vote vs. the electoral college vote.  Third grade is a tad young to understand it all, but we put the map up on the screen and worked with the electoral college numbers quite a bit...they seemed to understand why California, Texas, Florida, and New York are such important states for a candidates to win. It was a tough lesson on Fall Festival Party day and the kids were SO into it!  I was thrilled!

Our Fall Festival Party was wonderful!  Our room parents set up three stations where the kids decorated mini pumpkins, played bingo, and ate yummy food!  Then I shared ONE MORE Cinderella tale...a Halloween themed version! Thanks to our fantastic room parents, Mrs. Filburn and Mrs. Canaday, and to all of the parents that were able to send in donations or help at the party!

And now...the kids have ANOTHER four day weekend...and I get them for only three days to get mountains of things done!!  :-(  But on a much happier note...we got the COW back!  WOO HOO!  I can't wait to put it back into play next week!!

And for your viewing pleasure, I put together a slide show of all the pictures I took over the past three days...enjoy the pix...click on the words "Fall Fun 2012" below! 

Have a wonderful LONG weekend.  I'll see your kids on Wednesday!

Fall Fun 2012