ENTREPRENEURS, SCIENCE FAIR, AND SO MUCH MORE!!!

So...true to my word...here is our Entrepreneur unit...in pictures...click on the link below and enjoy!!

ENTREPRENEURS 2015

Now that I have that up...let me share some more of the fun things we have been doing while we're learning!

Right now we are the beginning of our Chemical Tests unit.  We started off the unit talking about different ways to observe objects...their physical characteristics...using our five (but in the classroom four) senses!  We did an activity where each group had to sort and categorize the objects and then we walked around the room to see if we could figure out which physical characteristic each group had used...talk about higher level thinking...wow!  Some kids really thought OUTSIDE THE BOX.

Once we had that all figured out...we moved onto the mystery chemical of the day...a white household powder.  We observed the physical properties of the powder and then mixed it with water to see if the physical properties changed...many observations were made...the kids had a lot of schema with this particular powder so our discussion was very eye opening. 

And now the real tests begin...the kids have been given FIVE mystery white powders and they will conduct many different tests on these powders to draw some conclusions.  They will continue to look at physical properties while learning about mixtures, solutions, suspensions...they will learn about how to test for starch, how to test for acidity, and with the testing and reading that the students will do, they will be able to make valid predictions as to the types of powder.  This is the kind of unit that when the kids come in to the classroom in the morning and see "Science" on the schedule, they cheer!

Let's talk SCIENCE FAIR...

Every third grade magnet student is required to do a Science Fair project.  This final project is due Thursday, March 19th...however, your child brought home a packet that divides up this project into very "doable" pieces, so that you and your child are not left scrambling the weekend prior!  The first part of the project is actually due TOMORROW...your child is supposed to have a filled out Science Fair form (it is yellow/orange) and they are to have written the title of their experiment and the question they will be answering.  All of this recording can be done in the packet or on the computer.  They can just print it out to show me, or if they use Google Drive, they can share the document with me.

I am happy to answer any and all questions, so do not hesitate to email me!

Last, but never least...we were fortunate to have a wonderful Multi-Cultural Fair at our school last week.  Thank you to the families that participated...we loved learning about so many different cultures!

I hope you are staying warm...they say a TWO HOUR delay tomorrow...but will reevaluate in the morning...we shall see!!

Happy Sunday!!

Well...I guess I blew the whole "maybe I will post every two weeks" idea...just know that when I'm absent on here, it's because I am working on other things for the classroom.  FOR INSTANCE...I have JURY DUTY tomorrow (and yes, my group # got called!!) so I worked for TWO hours on sub plans.  I like to leave detailed, well written plans because our days are already too short...I can't lose one just because I'm not there!!  Hopefully I will not be chosen for a jury and will return Tuesday...but that remains to be seen.

I hope all is well with your kids and your families...we are SUPER busy at my house, but all good.

Let me catch you up on what's been going on in our classroom!

So since the last time I blogged we received THIRTY Soaring with Pride stickers...and celebrated with Electronics Day...they LOVED it!!

Our class has had the GOLDEN DUSTPAN for awhile now...that is because our class does such a good job cleaning up after themselves...they're so responsible!!

I recently introduced the kids to the game DABBLE...its a game of words.  They loved it...which is awesome because they think they're just playing a game, and I KNOW they're using their brains!! (I'm embarassed to say these pictures are really old...I think this is a couple days before Winter Break and a lot of kids had already left for vacation...I am also happy to report the heat is working much better now so kids don't wear their coats all day!!)

And now we get to the biggest picture event of the year...(one of a few)...our ENTREPRENEUR UNIT.  I had planned to make a video on Animoto, but my subscription ran out and I can't renew it right now...so you'll have to settle for scrolling through a zillion pictures.  This unit was a ton of fun...they collaborated, they specialized, they learned the power of interdependence...and also learned a lot about supply, demand, and production.

MEANWHILE...I JUST WAITED AN HOUR FOR ALL THE PICTURES TO UPLOAD ONLY TO HAVE IT NOT WORK...so those pictures will come this week...I PROMISE...plus I have pictures of our science unit, Chemical Tests, in action.

We are also working on a novel right now and focusing on the concept of change...this book is fascinating, both in storyline and in author's craft...our discussions are amazing!!

In math we are everything fractions...on number lines, of a group, equivalency, etc...I am running three groups in order to differentiate for all of our different levels, but we are all immersed in fractions.

I am reading and grading lots of assignments on Google Classroom...so make sure you are checking that out every once in a while because those are grades that do not come home in a folder.

Make sure to send me a note if you have any questions...more pix to come later this week, but I MUST go to bed now!!

Goodnight.