Thanks for a GREAT year!

Thank you ALL for a fabulous year in third grade!

(And don't be a stranger when you pass by us in the hallway on your way to 4th grade!)

On the Road: Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages

We had the opportunity this spring to visit Rock of Ages in Graniteville, Vermont, to see geology in our own backyard!  While at the quarry, we watched a video of the history of granite quarrying in Vermont as well as the improvements over time in the granite carving/polishing processes.  We were taken on a guided tour of the quarry where we had the opportunity to ask questions and relate it back to our learning in geology.  We also had an opportunity to try out granite sandblasting to create our own keepsake AND saw granite workers in action in the factory.

Thanks to our chaperones for helping to make this trip possible.

Sailing Away on Lake Champlain!

On June 3rd & 4th, third graders had the opportunity to visit the Community Sailing Center on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, for a "Floating Classroom" program.  On shore, students were engaged in ecology lessons learning how humans impact the ecology of Lake Champlain through a variety of hands-on activities.  On the water, students boarded keelboats and learned the ropes of sailing on Lake Champlain, acting as crew to help tack the boat and even taking a turn as skipper.



Sailing 2014

Many thanks to Larry Thomson, RES guest teacher, for introducing our students to the geography of Lake Champlain, shared nautical maps, and even a crash course in sailing prior to our field trip experience!

A Day on the Green

On Wednesday, we had the privilege of visiting Cedar Knoll Country Club in Hinesburg to try out our newly learned golf skills.  Many thanks to the Vermont Golf Association who generously donated funds to help us bring The First Tee program to RES, to Mr. G. for teaching us the skills of the sport, to Cedar Knoll for welcoming us, and to all the families who contributed to our Walk-a-Thon!  We hope to continue this program in future years....

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!

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.

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!

Dress Rehearsal

Tomorrow morning at 9:00 am, we'll be sharing our show, "Character Matters", with the RES community with our final dress rehearsal. This would be an excellent opportunity to see the show if you're unable to make our evening performance!

Thursday, April 17: call time for actors is at 5:15. They should proceed to their classroom in order to prepare for the show. Families & friends may take a seat in the gym.

Following the show will be the FOCUS Third Grade Family Potluck!

And...a tease for you too...




Hope to see you there!

Sneak Peek!

Third graders are working hard to memorize lines and learn songs for our team play: Character Matters!



Last week, we went "off-script" for the first time and today we took our show into the gym to start working on the staging!

We are hoping to organize the set tomorrow (April 10) after school. Please let us know if you're able to help out! We hope to have all the costume pieces ready by April 11, too.

3rd Grade Pot Luck

THIRD GRADE POT LUCK!

Thursday, April 17^th, 2014

Immediately Following Grade 3 Play!

RES Cafeteria

Last Name A – F Once Upon a Time Appetizers*

Last Name G - O  The Story Unfolds Main Course*

Last Name P – Z  The Sweet Ending Dessert*

 

Join the third grade community for a meal!!!  Enjoy your child’s friends and their family in an informal and fun setting!  Dinner and play--what could be better?!

 

We have also created a sign up genius to get a feel for how many people are planning on attending and who is bringing what. This will help us to ensure we have enough drinks and plates!  If you have a minute, please click below to let us know of your plans! And to provide everyone with entertainment, feel free to name your dish after a fairy tale :)

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/805084FABAD292-resthird2

 

* If you have a favorite pot luck item, feel free to vary from this. It is just a guideline so we do not end up with 50 desserts! 

Student-Led Conference Feedback

Please help us improve the student-led conference experience in the future with this simple survey. If nothing is displayed below, you may also access the survey here: Conference Feedback

A Flynn Performance: At Nightfall

Today, we had the opportunity to watch Sursaut Dance Company perform their piece, "At Nightfall." The story told throughout the performance is about a man named Auguste who never allows himself to take a break from his job as a shoemaker, making him grumpy and stressed. One day, on his way home from work he accidentally discovers an enchanted water forest populated by wild and fantastical creatures. Their playful whimsy and utter beauty inspire a remarkable transformation, as Auguste learns to appreciate the wonders of the world around him.



Our classes were also lucky enough to participate in a companion workshop offered by the Flynn Theater performing artists. Heather & Stacy came to RES last week and shared with us ways that dancers use their bodies and movement in order to help tell the story. As one student remarked, "the workshop helped me to communicate with the dancers" throughout the performance. Read more about this opportunity on Mrs. Rankin's Enrichment Blog.

Thank you to Mrs. Rankin for arranging both of these wonderful opportunities for us, to the Flynn Theater for coming to RES and helping us to understand the performance on a new level and to all of you, families, for supporting Enrichment opportunities at RES.

This Week's News ~ March 24

This week's news in Third Grade:

3rd grade newsletter Mar. 24

March 17 Newsletter

Check out what's happening this week in 3rd Grade!



3rd grade newsletter Mar. 17

Save the Date: Upcoming Events in Third Grade

As springtime approaches, we know that family calendars quickly fill up as well.  Please take note of the following dates as they are all important events for your Third Grader!  More information about each of these events will be posted to the blog and sent home as it approaches.  Permission slips, payment and field trip volunteers will also be coming along shortly!

 



March 6: RES Science Fair

March 21: Half-Day for Students

March 25: Flynn Theater Field Trip ~ At Nightfall (morning)

March 26: RES Family Wellness Night

 

April 10:  Shelburne Farms Field Trip ~ Join the Flock (all day)

April 17: Third Grade Team Play & FOCUS Family Potluck

 

May 14: 3rd & 4th Grade Art Night & Sprint Concert

May 23: 3rd & 4th Grade Track Meet (Rain Date 5/28)

May 29: Field Trip to Rock of Ages, Barre (all day)

 

June 3: Ankerson & 1/2 Darby to Community Sailing Center (morning)

June 4: Ayer & 1/2 Darby to Community Sailing Center (morning)

June 6: Move-Up Day (afternoon)

June 9: RES Field Day (Rain Date 6/10)

June 11: Cedar Knoll Golf Trip

June 17: Last Day of Third Grade

 

 

RES Family Science Fair-What's the Benefit for Students?

Darcie Rankin has announced the annual RES Family Science Fair!  All students have already brought home an information sheet and sign-up.  As a third grade team, we encourage all students to take this opportunity to explore an area of science that really interests them!

In recognizing the work that this can mean for families, we are offering an incentive to students.  All students who enter the science fair and present their project on Thursday, March 6th, will be exempt from ALL HOMEWORK the following week!!  That includes reading, FASTT Math, etc.

Not only will your child have a week free from homework, but they will have the unique opportunity to explore an area of scientific interest, gaining skills in communicating this wonderful learning to the community.

Science in Antarctica!

Yesterday, third graders has the opportunity to participate in a webinar presented by Time for Kids with David Bjerklie (a TFK writer), Peter West (a scientist with the National Science Foundation) and Jean Pennycook (a penguin researcher).

We learned some fascinating information through the webinar...check it out:

• Antarctica is a continent located at the South Pole and is the size of the United States and Mexico combined!


• 98% of the continent is covered by ice, some of it is 3 miles thick!  Scientists have recently discovered that there are rivers and lakes under all of the sheets of ice on the continent.


• It is 3 times higher than any other continent.


• Antarctica is a desert, receiving less than 8 inches of precipitation each year.


• It is the coldest place on earth.  The mean temperature is -76˚F; the coldest temperature ever recorded was -128.6˚F.


• Yesterday, January 23, the temperature at McMurdo Station was 30˚F.  (It was 8˚F in Richmond, VT!)


• Mount Erebus is an active volcano on the continent.

While watching the webinar, we kept notes on our Wows! and Wonders...

[caption id="attachment_209" align="aligncenter" width="584"] Third graders gathered to watch the webinar LIVE! from Antarctica.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_212" align="aligncenter" width="584"] We were shocked to learn that Antarctica was warmer than Richmond, VT![/caption]

Thank you Time for Kids and edWeb for this fantastic opportunity!

Check out the Time for Kids Antarctica website for more information.  Miss Darby's friend, Sheryl, has lived on Antarctica supporting the scientists researching on the continent.  You can find her story here.  You can also explore the Twitter chat where classrooms just like ours all asked questions of the scientists in the webinar by following #edwebchat.

Listen Carefully as Third Graders Try to Convince You!

Students in Mrs. Ankerson's class have also been working on writing speeches in order to persuade or convince. Topics ranged from making a change, like having soccer goals for the playground or bringing in more box tops for our school, to appreciating people who make a difference in our lives. Click on a topic below to hear their speeches.

Soccer Goals       Soccer Goals4       Soccer Goals3       Playground Equipment

Lunch in Classroom       Eating Lunch Outside       Box Tops

Appreciating our Bus Driver       Appreciating Mrs. Redford        Appreciating June Banks

Soccer Goals2       playground equipment2       More equipment on Playground

Appreciating June Banks2

Students in Mrs. Ayer's class have been working for the last month on writing speeches. They explored a variety of topics before settling on one to publish.  Their topics range from getting different drinks in the cafeteria to trying to negotiate a later bedtime.  Click on a topic below to hear their speeches.  Have they convinced you?

Chocolate Milk                     Computers for Live Y'ers             Chocolate Milk 2                    A Later Bedtime                We Need More Sleds                               No Pledge in School     Longer Recess                     Places That are Noteworthy in London                                 No Chores on Monday and Tuesday                  More Percy Jackson Books  More Equipment on the Playground in the Winter          Lemonade in the Cafeteria                 More Equipment on the Playground Every Season                 Family Dinners Together        I Need a German Shepard

Groups of students in Miss Darby's class read articles, looked at advertisements and watched videos about the pros and cons of chocolate milk.  Then, they collaboratively wrote speeches to convince Mrs. Kent and Mr. Berry to offer chocolate milk in the RES Cafe.  What do you think?

Chocolate Milk is Good For You    Chocolate Milk Makes Happy Kids                      Chocolate Milk in Schools       Chocolate Milk is Good Good Good                                       It Doesn't Make a Difference             Super News for Kids