During math this week, third graders were focused on fact families, specifically how they are interconnected. We talked about how we can use fact families to help solve both division and multiplication problems. Third graders then transitioned to studying the language of multiplication and division word problems. We worked to determine key words that help the problem solver determine what the question is asking. Students then had the chance to create and solve word problems of their own! This proved to be a great system of practice and helped solidify how to break down complex word problems. In writer’s workshop, students have been busy researching endangered animals with a focus on how these creatures survive, why they’re endangered, and how people can help save them. Third graders all chose their own animals, learned the animals’ endangered classifications, and have been using online resources to learn all they can. Now that students have thoroughly researched, we will begin crafting reports on each animal. Eventually third graders will create web pages to educate others on conservation efforts! In reader’s workshop, our focus has been on developing deeper theories about characters based on the patterns we perceive. As a class, we discussed how theories are often like icebergs; it’s easy to see the top 10% but we need to look deeper to see the remaining 90%. Often, readers develop what we refer to as ‘surface level’ theories based on simple observations. To successfully dive deeper, readers must track patterns and truly know a character’s personality traits. Expert readers move beyond asking ‘what’ and transition into the ‘why’. This is very much a complex way of thinking, and we will keep practicing in the weeks to come. Finally, we began our Rocks & Mineral science unit! Third graders started things off by observing 4 different soil samples from different regions of the United States. Based on their observations of pebbles, gravel, sand, silt and humus, students worked in small groups to determine what region the soils matched with. In the weeks to come, we’ll be learning more about rock formation, erosion and deposition. Part of our focus this week has been on the Australian bushfires currently taking place. Third graders researched what bushfires are, how they impact the environment, and what has happened to Australia’s wildlife because of them. At the end of the week, third graders learned that over a billion animals have likely perished due to the fires. Students also learned about the effort wildlife conservation groups and everyday people are putting into saving Australia’s iconic animals. Next week, we’ll expand our learning to that of animal endangerment itself. Each third grader will then choose an animal to study as part of a research project. In reader’s workshop this week, we began our unit on character studies. Our mentor text, Winn Dixie, will serve as our guide to recognizing character traits and how fictional characters can change over time. So far, students are doing a great job noticing and reflecting on the character traits of Opal (Winn Dixie’s main character). We will continue working on this next week!
This week in math, our focus was on reviewing unit fractions, with an emphasis on vocabulary terms like: Numerator, denominator, equivalent, whole, and part. Next week, we will target fraction relationships with a focus on equivalency. Third graders worked with pattern blocks to solve equivalency puzzles, plotted fractions on a number line, and solved a few abstract problems. See one of our more challenging ones below. Question: How many little Post-Its will fit on the big Post-It pad? This week, our mathematical focus was on reviewing measurement concepts like mass, volume and length. Third graders also started work with unit fractions. As a whole group, students took on the estimation 180 task of determining how much pie was eaten from a tin. Those that felt comfortable even converted their fractions into percentages! We will continue working on measurement and parts of a whole concepts for the next couple of weeks. Feel free to check out our pie challenge below! In reader’s workshop this week, third graders worked to identify cause & effect non-fiction text structures. As a class, we read the article “The Search for Pirate Gold.” We learned about the sinking of the Whydah (a pirate ship from the 1700s) and one man’s journey to discovering its treasure nearly 300 years later. Third graders worked in small groups to identify cause & effect connections from the article, then presented them to the class. We also began new book clubs this week! Students are very excited to get things started and discuss their reading with one another. This week during writing time, third graders wrote paragraphs about their favorite winter break memories. Some chose to focus on favorite presents from the holidays, while others detailed fun trips to the mountains and even the beach. No matter what third graders chose to write about, it sounds like everyone had a fantastic time with family and friends! Many students have been discussing the ongoing Australian bushfires. Next week, we will be learning about and researching how wildfires have devastated the Australian region. We’ll be focused on the unfortunate impact the fires have had on Australia’s animal population. The current event will serve as a segue to our upcoming research project on endangered animals. |
Author
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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