Grade 3 Library Classes: Book Trailer Mentor "Texts" #TCRWP #resvt #cesuvt #vted

This is a guest post from our teacher librarian, Beth Redford.

One mentor "text:" The Terrible Two book trailer  professionally produced by Abrams Books

As part of their current unit on persuasive writing, third graders will be writing book trailers to convince their classmates to read the books they recommend. A book trailer is like a movie trailer: it's a short video advertisement that tells an audience a little about a book. The third grade scholars have been watching book trailers made by professionals who work for book publishing companies, and also book trailers made by other students around the country. These book trailers will be their mentor "texts," examples they can refer back to, when they start to write their own. The third graders have already come up with some great lists of things to include (and avoid) based on these mentor texts.

We can't wait to see the book trailers written by our own scholars!

 The links below will take you to some of the other book trailers we have been watching in library class. We hope you enjoy them with your families.

 Diary of a Wimpy Kid Cabin Fever - made by students in Florida

http://www.booktrailersforreaders.com/Cabin+Fever+Student+Book+Trailer

 Charlotte’s Web - made by students in Florida

http://www.booktrailersforreaders.com/Charlotte%27s+Web

 More student made book trailers as examples

http://www.booktrailersforreaders.com/Home+Student+Book+Trailers

 I Don’t Want to Be A Frog professionally produced book trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vdHUr7TwH0

The Terrible Two professionally produced book trailer

http://youtu.be/simJG3Omyvw

The Dark by Lemony Snicket professionally produced book trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGva3mF5Ojk

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made professionally produced book trailer

http://youtu.be/ch6eXUoe-RY

The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School professionally produced book trailer

http://youtu.be/RZrT-MGu7X0

Electricity Up Close

Earlier this month, we were lucky to have folks from the Vermont Electric Cooperative join us to help kick off our new Electricity unit in Science.  They shared with us the different ways that electricity is created for us to use, how we use it, and how the lineworkers stay safe while working on the lines in the aftermath of big storms.  In fact, several of us saw these lineworks firsthand last month in the days after the big snowstorm!



 

How does electricity get to us?

Learning about renewable and nonrenewable sources of energy.

 

Trying out the safety harnesses that lineworkers wear to work on the lines...it is HEAVY!

Thank you to the VEC for taking time from your busy schedules to share your work with us!

Snow Motion, Week 1

On Friday, third graders had the opportunity to ski and/or ride at Cochrans Ski Area for the first time.  After getting the basics from the lodge, skiers headed out to the Mighty Mite to show off their skills before being grouped with other skiers/riders and a volunteer to head out to the big hill via the T-bar.



Other students wrestled with their ski boots for the first time (those bindings are TRICKY!) and then made their way out to Mr. G to try their hand at skating with one and then both skis before making their way to a mini-hill to try out these skills downhill.  Eventually, most students made their way to the Mighty Mite where they were able to continue practicing skills on the rope tow.  We'll keep building these skills when we return to Cochran's later this winter.



 

One of the most important skill our new skier and riders learned (and we'll keep reinforcing in the weeks to come!) is not only how to fall safely, but also how to get back up on your skis!!



 

By the end of the day, even though we were tired, we were exhilarated to learn a new skills and smiles were abundant!



 

THANK YOU, Mr. G & Cochrans Ski Area for allowing us this opportunity and to all the parent volunteers who helped to make this program possible.  We'll see you on the mountain...

Exploring Squishy Circuits!

As we dive into our Electricity unit in our classrooms, Mrs. Rankin is helping us to explore in new and creative ways during Enrichment class.  Last week, we built on our knowledge of circuits by exploring with Squishy Circuits!  Using conductive and insulating dough, we explored various ways to create circuits to light LEDs, run fans or even small motors!  Exciting times...and a great start to our new unit of learning!

 

Thank you to all of our dough-making volunteers!  We're still looking for volunteers to make more dough to add to our classroom makerspaces, please let your child's teacher know if you willing to make an easy batch.  We'll provide you with an easy-to-follow recipe!

Dough Needed for Squishy Circuits!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Image from www.sciencebuddies.org[/caption]

 

Starting this week, third graders are beginning an exploration of electricity as one of our science units during Theme time.  Earlier this year, we received a grant from UVM's Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering to bolster this unit with a makerspace and corresponding activities.  One such activity is "Squishy Circuits."  In order for this to happen, we need YOUR help to make conductive and insulating dough from an easy-to-follow recipe.  Please sign up on the Sign-Up Genius link or leave us a comment and we'll be sure to get the recipe to you quickly.

 

Big Bad Bob...Another Storytelling Adventure! #tcrwp

Just prior to our holiday vacation, 3rd graders were treated to yet another story by our very talented Superintendent John Alberghini!  This time, he shared with us the much anticipated story of a bull frog he once met and named "Big Bad Bob."  

And a huge THANK YOU to our Principal Michael Berry for capturing this story on video for us to watch again and again!

Authors' Breakfast & Guest Readers

On Tuesday, December 23rd, 3rd graders celebrated their hard work as information writers with an author's breakfast. Family members and other guests stopped by to enjoy the 3rd graders' information books about animals. Titles ranged from Similarities and Differences Between Lemurs and Monkeys, to What's Special About a Koala, and Getting Ready for a Guinea Pig, or Dogs Helping People in Need--and much, much more!



 

 

After the author celebration scholars enjoyed stories read by special guests. Family members, teachers, and other educators came into classroom to share their favorite children's books. It was a great way to celebrate literary accomplishments!