A Chick is Born!

(Or directly link to the video on YouTube here.)

 

All of our third grade classes are currently watching the life cycle of a chicken occur before our eyes as our incubated eggs have been hatching this week!  We were able to capture this video of the 19th chick hatching...check it out!

Pollination Time

Last week our students were "busy bees" as they pollinated their plants using sticks with dead bees glued on them.  Our students are excited to see how the fruit grows on their plants.  Our seeds will hopefully be ready to harvest on the last full week of school.  Third graders will then be able to answer their inquiry question of how many seeds will be produced from one seed!

This Week's News

Be sure to read this week's newsletter...it has important updates about field trips (Track Meet this Friday) as well as end-of-the-year information.

Newsletter Week of May 19: 3rd grade newsletter May 19

Live Chick Cams!

Our classroom chicks are nearing the expected hatch date and we've set up webcams on our incubators (and we'll move them to the brooder area when our chicks move there, too).  Tuesday, May 20th is the expected hatch day...keep an eye on the cams for live coverage!

Mrs. Ankerson's chick-cam: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/chicken-hatch-cam

Mrs. Ayer's chick-cam:  Mrs. Ayer's Cam

Miss Darby's chick-cam: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/miss-darby-s-chick-cam

We're using a web application called "UStream" which also has a free mobile app on iOS and Android devices.  Look in the app store to download these apps to see the live action on the go!

(Image from Microsoft Office Clipart Gallery)

 

 

Third Grade Art Show

Last night, the halls of RES were filled with the "oohs" and "aahs" of exuberant art show attendees admiring the fantastic artwork thoughtfully created by third graders this year in art class. A giant thank you to Ms. Joanna Elliott for her instruction and guidance this year...

Digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Or, click here for a direct link to the slideshow.

Library Connections: Life Cycle Science Research with Third Grade

A guest post from our teacher librarian, Beth Redford.

life cycle partners with their science notebooks

Third grade scientists have been researching animal life cycles during their library classes. Last week they used PebbleGo online database and World Book Online to collect information for their science notebooks. This week they began working with partners to create Google Presentations like the example below.

This project has allowed them to practice their note taking skills as well as learn some great features in Google Apps like using template documents, sharing documents, and collaborating with other students to create a presentation together. Next week they will also have a chance to practice citing their sources.

The scholars have also been having some great conversations about similarities and differences in animal life cycles. Did you know that ferrets have live births and blue jays have egg births, but they both have about six young at a time? Why do you think that is?

 

A Visit to Shelburne Farms

On April 10th, we were fortunate enough to "Join the Flock" at Shelburne Farms on a field trip. While there, we had the opportunity to observe sheep and lambs up close,  learn how to card, felt and spin wool.  A few of us were able to help out with some farm chores in the chicken coop while others visited the sugar bush and helped haul in buckets of sap.

 

Customize a free digital slideshow

or, to see the slideshow click here.

Thank you to the parent chaperones and Shelburne Farms educators who helped make this day possible!