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. We already kicked off the unit with a study of animals over time, and will be transitioning to plant life next. We have officially begun our geometric unit of study! In this unit, students will calculate area and perimeter, represent fractions as parts of a whole, and classify two-dimensional shapes. It is a fun, all-encompassing unit. Third graders have been using tangrams, geoboards, and rulers as special tools to help work through complex problems! In social studies, we have been learning more about the Southwestern Region of the United States: Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Much of our discussion and learning has been centered on the culture of the Southwest, with a particular focus on the Mexican and Native American influences on the region. Next week, we'll be transitioning into learning about the West, which includes Colorado!
In reading and writing, our focus has been on folktales. Third graders have read and watched videos on: How the Tiger Got its Stripes, How the Koala Got a Stumpy Tail, How the Zebra Got its Stripes, The Fox and the Goat, and The Fox with No Tail. Students were tasked with identifying the characters, setting, problem/solution and moral/lesson in each of the stories. They also compared and contrasted their similarities and differences. Up next, we'll be learning more about myths and fairytales. Students will also begin a writing project centered on "unsolved mysteries." So much fun to come! We've also been learning all about figurative language in class. See below for pictures of students practicing their simile skills! Comments are closed.
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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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