A Fantastic First Day! #resvt

Wow!  What a wonderful first day of school!  We had such a great first day together!  We met new and old friends, reminded each other of the school-wide expectations and started to get into the groove of third grade together!

New Friends are Waiting! #resvt

These third grade friends are anxiously awaiting meeting some new friends on the first day of school. We hope you're excited, too!




Shelly & Yoshi



Kermit & Freddie



Froggy

Starting a New Year!

Welcome to Third Grade! We're looking forward to a fantastic year filled with:

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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....

The First Tee Program at RES

Tomorrow our third graders will head to Cedar Knoll Country Club in Hinesburg.  This is the culmination of a new unit, test piloted by third graders, called the First Tee Program.  This is more than a curriculum to introduce the game of golf to students.  Its mission is "to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf." (http://www.thefirsttee.org)

Students are excited to be on a real course and practice their skills.  They will rotate through stations that involve putting, chipping, pitching, driving, and actually playing part of the 18th hole.  We want to thank the Vermont Golf Association for helping to cover 80% of the cost of the equipment, donations from families during the Walk-a-Thon and Cedar Country Club for hosting our students.  Brian Godfrey hopes to expand this program to more grades next year!  Check out the video and website for more information on this national program!

The First Tee Program


More Than a Game

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!

Library Connections - Fairy Tales with Third Grade

A guest post from our teacher librarian, Beth Redford.

 

As part of my work with third graders this year, I have been collaborating with their classroom teachers on their current writing unit. The scholars are writing fairy tales in their Writing Workshop. They began this unit by reading and listening to dozens of fairy tales, both in their classrooms and in the library. We held a day of special guest readers in the library (teachers, parents, and our principal). I had a chance to read my favorite fairy tale, Andersen's "The Wild Swans," to one class. I checked out dozens of the library's fairy tale books to the classrooms so students could have these mentor texts close at hand when they began writing their own.

 



 



 

Once the writing began, I helped students in their classrooms as they reread, revised, and added details to their own fairy tales. It has been a privilege to work with these talented writers as they learn and develop their skills! I can't wait to read the published stories. - Mrs. Redford

 



 



 



 

 

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! 

*New* Change of Dismissal Form

 

RES is implementing a new form for parents to use when their child will be riding home from school on a different bus to improve the safety for all students.  Copies of the form are being sent home with students today AND are available on our blog (see Family Communication page) and the RES website.  Thank you for your cooperation!

From the CESU Bus Garage:

The bus garage has asked that all Chittenden East schools write physical 911 addresses on bus passes to assist bus drivers in knowing where students are going. In order to make this process easier for the office, we are asking that parents use the attached form, which can also be found on the website, or on social media sites, or make sure to include this information on notes sent into school. We appreciate your assistance.

Bus Dismissal Form

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

RES Family Science Fair 2014

Congratulations to all the scholars and families at RES for a job well done!  We were impressed by the projects and how engaged the students were in sharing their work.  Those third graders who created an entry have now earned themselves a week off from homework next week!!  Hopefully even more scholars will be inspired to enter next year.

A huge thank you to Mrs. Rankin for sponsoring and setting up this awesome learning opportunity!!

 

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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.

February 10 Newsletter

3rd grade newsletter Feb. 10

Click on the link for a pdf version.

Teaching Division Through Literature

We have introduced division to third graders through literature!  In the book, "The Doorbell Rang" by Pat Hutchins, Ma bakes 12 cookies for her two children.  They are excited to share them among themselves.  Suddenly the doorbell rings and two more children enter.  Being gracious hosts, they decide to share them equally with their new guests.  Unfortunately, more guests keep arriving to share.  The best thing is when Grandma arrives with more cookies!

Students modeled the story in math using equations and drawing diagrams to represent them!  They even added onto the story thinking about what would happen if more kids or cookies entered the house.

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

 

 

Follow Boo!

This fall, third graders read a fiction story in Scholastic's Story Works magazine titled "Following Boo."  In this story, while a family vacations in Florida, brother and sister find a lost dog in the swamp behind their camp site AND uncover a "fountain of life."  At first, they think they should leave Boo behind so he can continue to drink from the fountain.  However, Nate remembers what his grandfather said about having lived a good, long life and being with his family and decides that maybe Boo would want to be a loving family, too.  So, they bring Boo home with them.

After reading this story, third graders were given an opportunity to participate in a contest for Scholastic, writing a paragraph to explain how Boo helps Nate heal from the loss of his grandfather.

Congratulations to the winner from our class...one of only 10 winners in the contest!

Check out the Scholastic Story Works website here: Story Works!

An Exciting Year to Come!

We hope all families enjoy the final days of vacation together!  Thursday morning we look forward to welcoming students (and a couple of hermit crabs) back into the classrooms. With the new year comes some exciting learning opportunities for third graders.  They will be learning all of their cursive letters, wrapping up persuasive speeches, jumping on Prairie Schooners to head west, writing fairy tales, exploring geology through stream tables and hands-on field trips, and producing a musical play!  Yes, we can't wait for the 2014 and wish you and your family a safe and Happy New Year!

Marie, Tonya, and Emily

Snowy Recess!

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After spending recess indoors for the last few days, we were delighted to get out and play in the snow today!

Words for Thirds

This morning, volunteers from the Beacon Light Grange in Richmond visited the RES Third Grade in support of The Dictionary Project and The Grange's "Words for Thirds" program.  Through the tireless efforts of the Grange’s network of more than 300,000 volunteers, America’s oldest rural and agriculture organization has presented third grade students across the nation with more than 100,000 dictionaries -- our RES third graders are the latest recipients.

A dictionary is one of the most powerful reference tools young children will be introduced to during
their schooling years. Its usefulness goes beyond just providing correct spellings, pronunciations,
and definitions. It is also a companion for solving problems that arise as children develop their
reading, writing, and creative thinking abilities.

The Grange, headquartered in Washington, D.C., partnered with The Dictionary Project, a 501(c)
(3) nonprofit organization, in 2002. The goal of the program is to assist third grade students to
complete the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing them
with their own personal dictionaries. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and
at home for yeas to come.  Nationwide, the Grange has provided more than 1.8 million dictionaries to students.

To learn more about the Grange's "Words for Thirds" program, please visit www.nationalgrange.org.
Thank you to the members of the Beacon Light Grange for this exciting program!

Hour of Code

Or: http://youtu.be/_6hDhD42kpg

This week, December 9-15, is Computer Science Education Week and Miss Darby's third grade participated in an "Hour of Code" to celebrate!  It's an opportunity for scholars to have the opportunity to try computer science for just one hour, the first step on a journey to learn more about how technology works and how to create software applications.  Several tutorials were available on the CS Education Week website: www.csedweek.org.

Check it out!!

Author's Celebration

Or: http://youtu.be/5tuCmIPgSuc

This morning, the library was abuzz as third grade authors shared their nonfiction books with families and friends, the culmination of writing workshop for the last two months. Student authors were immersed in nonfiction during reading workshop, learning the various parts of nonfiction books from mentor authors. In writing workshop, student authors researched information on an organism, and practiced organizing books using a table of contents, writing strong leads and making sure that each chapter was connected by the book's main idea. Again, authors returned to mentor texts to learn how the experts (real authors) tackled these tasks. As the publication date neared, authors worked to revise and edit their books, and to include text features (diagrams, maps, illustrations) to help their readers understand. Third grade authors were quite proud sharing their books! Thank you to the families, friends, and VIPs who took time to share our books with us today.

Tradition Shares

We are enjoying learning all about various traditions students and families have--from all times of year, friends, families, places, and more! Thanks for sharing!

[caption id="attachment_130" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Opening a gift from her brother on Christmas Eve.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_131" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Every year the family "Elf on a Shelf" comes back and does silly things.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_132" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Getting salt water Taffy in Ocean City, New Jersey every summer.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_133" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Going to Cape Cod with family every summer.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_134" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Making special family recipe Christmas cookies every year.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_138" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Elf on the Shelf--new this year![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_149" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tradition: Advent Calendar and Nativity story[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_151" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Nativity scene[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_150" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: A new Nutcracker every year[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_152" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Special birthday breakfast[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_153" align="alignnone" width="225"] Tradition: Waterbury River of Light Parade[/caption]