THIRD GRADE CONTINUES TO WORK HARD! We are living up to our new school motto- Work hard, be kind, smile BIG!
DURING READING WORKSHOP, students have been focusing on narrative and expository nonfiction texts. They enjoyed learning about many important people in our Biography Unit. Third graders did a fabulous job with their Biography Reports and Presentations! We have also been diving into different nonfiction topics. We are learning all about the different text features and how they can help us better understand our topic. We have been identifying the main idea, finding the supporting details, and coming up with a theory for our books too. Students are working in partnerships and small groups to read nonfiction books, discuss them, and push their thinking about known and unknown topics. Did you know that the Empire State Building in New York City was the world’s tallest skyscraper for 41 years?
IN SOCIAL STUDIES, students have been exploring maps and globes, different types of maps, and geological features. The students enjoyed presenting their geological feature projects. We talked about how different features can have positive and negative effects on people, where they live, and the climate.
IN THEIR CURRENT WRITING UNIT, third graders worked hard to create two different 5 paragraph persuasive or opinion essays. First, students thought of a thesis statement they felt strongly about. They used a graphic organizer to develop 3 main ideas, with 3 supporting details and 3 personal examples for each. Students drafted these body paragraphs with transitional phrases to make their ideas flow. After that, they crafted an introduction and conclusion to complete the 5 paragraph essay. During the revising phase of the writing process, students added writer’s craft to make their personal examples more interesting. After editing with a partner, they were ready to publish! The unit’s culminating activity was a grade-wide celebration in which students were grouped with others who had similar thesis statements. Unfortunately, we were unable to answer the question - who really does have the best dog in the world?
THE THIRD GRADE MATHEMATICIANS, are finishing multiplication and division using different types of strategies including adding or subtraction groups, doubling, and breaking apart. We also learned about the order of operations and then started to make sense of and solve two-step number stories that involve the four operations. In addition, students have been working hard to build fact power. After Spring Break, we will be exploring fraction concepts.
IN SCIENCE… THIRD GRADERS will be investigating the second unit in science, Structures of Life. They will become excellent and precise scientists by observing the world around them, asking concrete questions, executing investigations, collecting and analyzing data, and concluding answers about the structures of life. This encompasses plant behavior, animal adaptations, and life cycles of different organisms.
THIRD GRADE ROARS WITH PRIDE!