Scientific Observations

 

In our Organisms theme unit, we are learning to make accurate scientific drawings of the living and non-living things that we observe.  In class, we read Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking in Wild Places by Jim Arnosky and then went on a (brief) nature walk.  When we returned to class, we made our first scientific drawing and gave one another feedback.

Then, we watched this video: "The Story of Austin's Butterfly" to learn how to give critical feedback and, more importantly, how to use that feedback to improve the accuracy of our scientific drawings.



After the video, we returned to our drawings to make improvements.  We are certainly on the right track to making accurate, scientific drawings in third grade!

Living or Non-Living?

Our first theme unit this year is all about Organisms. This week, we began with a discussion (and picture sort) of living and non-living things.

Students worked in pairs and small groups to sort any number of things into these two groups including: a river, an egg, pupae, chrysalis, a hibernating bear, a leaf and much, much more. For each decision, students needed evidence to support their thinking. Together, we wrote a working definition of living things that we'll refer back todos the rest of the unit.

Open House Success

 

It was wonderful to see all of the families visiting our classrooms during Open House!  The excitement was bursting throughout the school as scholars shared all of their hard work during these first few weeks of school.  This work included the narrative stories and acrostic poems hanging in the hallways, their 3rd grade hopes & dreams, their writing journals, reading logs, and scientists' notebooks!

We also surveyed families to determine the best way for us to share 3rd grade curriculum information with you.  Overwhelmingly, families preferred we share this information via our blog and website.  However, we will be more than happy to have a conversation regarding curriculum as part of your child's parent-teacher conference later in October.

We continue to look forward to a terrific year "Growing, Moving, & Changing" together!

Reading Time!

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Summer Reading Challenge P.A.R.T.Y.

Today, our classes gathered to enjoy the summer-like weather AND, more importantly, to celebrate all of the summer reading we completed with a PARTY--Popsicles And Read To Yourself!

In June, on Move-Up Day, we challenged our future 3rd graders to try to read a variety of genres during the summer vacation and to keep track in a reading log. We've tallied all of the books read and will displaying the information at Open House on Wednesday, September 18th!

We're very proud of all the summer reading completed by all of our students!

Launching the Writer's Workshop

This week we launched the writer's workshop in our classrooms.  Scholars worked to decorate their writing journals in ways that represent themselves as writers.  Also, we dove into writing personal narratives using our summer artifacts.  We will continue to build our writing muscles throughout the coming months.

 

Make sure to check out your child's journal at Open House!

Our First Week Together as a Third Grade Team!

Enjoy the slideshow of our first week together.

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