In science this week, third graders continued to care for and observe their sprouting bean, corn, sunflower, and pea seeds. Our seeds have turned into mini plants and are now in our "hydrocare" planters! In addition to learning about the life cycle of plants, third graders began studying the life cycles and adaptations of different animals. Students discovered that animals can have a variety of adaptations, behavioral and/or physical, that help with their survival in the wild. We started things off with a look into the lives of camels. Students learned all about the physical adaptations of camels (3 eyelids, thick fur, wide feet, humps for fat storage, etc.) that help them survive in the harsh environment of the desert. Third graders then took this learning with them to the zoo! Students were tasked with comparing and contrasting different animal, focusing on traits like their adaptations, habitats, and diets. We were all happy for the opportunity to solidify understanding outside of the classroom… and had a great time doing so! See pictures from our adventures below! We also celebrated Earth day this week! Third graders took some time to learn about the holiday, specifically why it is so important. As a class, we discussed the phrase, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” and what it really means. After some research, students discovered different ways they can help reduce their impact on the planet and made a Google Slides presentation to detail their ideas. Next week, we will begin a new writing project centered on the question: Should recycling be required? It will be up to third graders to research the pros and cons that come with making recycling law, and each individual will be expected to form their own opinion on the subject. It was attitude week in third grade! Specifically, we focused on what strategies we can use to maintain positivity and how to problem-solve our way through tricky situations. This week in Reader's Workshop, we linked our attitude theme to tracking character change in fictional stories. To start things off, we read The Bad Seed. As a class, we discussed how the main character's attitude and disposition were impacted by events in his past and those around him. We then read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. We compared the main characters from both books, noting their similarities and differences. Students then discussed how a willingness to change impacted their overall dispositions... were their attitudes positive or negative? Next, we watched the Pixar Short, Boundin'. The video's theme song features the phrase "Bound and Rebound” and focuses on how to change a negative attitude into a positive one. After viewing the short, third graders went onto Google Classroom and shared with classmates what strategies they use to help maintain positivity. With those strategies in mind, students created Adobe Spark flyers that depict what positivity looks like to them. The flyers will be hanging in our classroom for the remainder of the year, feel free to check them out via your student’s MyCherryCreek. We also carved out some time to talk about how stress can have an impact on our overall mindset. Students were given an opportunity to share how they feel when under stress. In groups, third graders then brainstormed what tools and strategies they can implement to help themselves feel relaxed and calm. Some examples students came up with include: Meditation, yoga, listening to music, snuggling up with a good book, spending time with family, using a fidget/stress toy, getting active, and chilling out. The full plethora of strategies is now posted on our bulletin board in class for students to check-out when needed! Overall, this week served as a great opportunity to check-in with ourselves mentally and prepare to finish the school year strong. Our classroom community was made stronger via our activities in class, and I am so proud of students for taking on this week in stride. Below are some pictures from our Space SEM program with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. We did this earlier in the week! With the CMAS assessment (finally) in the backdrop, we are all looking forward to getting back into our usual classroom routines! Students did an amazing job taking on the test and should be proud of their hard work and effort. When we weren’t testing, third graders were finishing up their Geometry unit, tackling economics, and starting a new science unit!
Math this week was all about wrapping up our study of Geometry and preparing for our next unit. Third graders are now experts at identifying and classifying shapes, determining area and perimeter, and solving complex problems that involve 2D shapes. Moving forward, our next unit of study is Extending Multiplication and Fractions. We will continue solving multi-step multiplication/division problems and work with unit fractions. Third graders also embarked on their study of economics this week. So far, we’ve learned about concepts like: Goods & services, consumers & producers, interdependence, and supply & demand. We will continue with this into next week where we’ll target: Trade, scarcity, resources, income, and interest! Our new science unit, Structures of Life, has begun! Third graders will investigate the structures and behaviors of living things. We’ll be sprouting seeds, learning about animal habitats and adaptations, and even look into skeletal structures. The unit meshes perfectly with our upcoming field trip to the zoo… It will be full of exciting discoveries! Business:
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Mrs. Minatta is a third grade teacher at Cottonwood Creek Elementary. See and read all about what third graders are up to throughout the school year! Archives
March 2021
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