April 14-18

I hope you were all able to enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasted!!!  This Kansas weather is crazy!!  Looks like this week will be chilly with nice temperatures returning next week. 

We are getting ready to begin 3rd Grade Science Fair Projects.  Our Science Fair is scheduled for Thursday, May 8th.  Today in your child's Take Home folder you will find several documents related to this project. 
        1.  There is sheet with a list of due dates.  We have broken the project up into parts so your child will only need to concentrate on one or two pieces of it at a time.
        2.  There is a parent letter that asks for you to sign it after you have had a chance to review the packet with your child.   This sheet also asks for your child to have chosen a Science Fair topic and purpose.  (This is due by Friday, April 18).
        3.  There is a packet of information that will help guide you through the expectation of each section of the project.  Please review the packet with your child and let me know if you have any questions.  The internet is a great resource to help come up with a topic.

The majority of the project will be done at home.  Your child is to come up with a topic and purpose that can be measured through experimentation.  The experiment will be done at home along with data collected and a conclusion being made.  For the final presentation, students will bring in each part typed up, with any titles, pictures and/or decorations they want to provide.  The students will put their entire project together on a display board AT SCHOOL.  Boards will be purchased through the school so the kids all have the same size.  I'll keep you posted on the cost, but it will be minimal.  I believe last year it was only $1.50 since we are able to get them at a discount when bulk ordering.

It's going to be a busy week of learning:
 3rd Grade Math State Assessments are this Wednesday and Thursday, April 16 and 17. 

Math- We will continue our study on area this week.  We will also start a program called Hands on Equations:  Making Algebra Child's Play.  It is a fantastic program that exposes kids to algebra using a hands on approach.  The kids always love it and are proud of themselves because they are actually solving algebraic equations.  The program is designed to complete 1-2 lessons per week.

Science-  We are finishing our study on life cycles and traits with our new species project.  We will begin to read and learn about ecosystems.

Spelling and Vocabulary-  Students should be learning their ecosystem vocabulary and will have their final test this Friday.
Vocabulary practice:  http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_15/Ecosystems_Vocabulary_ta57y.htm
Spelling City:  http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=17623174

Reading-  We are continuing our reading groups with our novels this week.  

Writing- We began drafting a press release of a new species last week.  We will finish our drafts this week, edit and revise before writing a final draft.

Have a wonderful week!

April 7-11

We began State Assessments this morning and the students did a great job staying focused throughout the test.  We will have one more reading test day, which is tomorrow.  If your child is not at school for the test, they will have the opportunity to take the 'make-up' test in the next couple of weeks.  We are scheduled to take the Math Assessments next week.

April 7 and 8--3rd grade Reading State Assessment
April 16 and 17-- 3rd grade Math State Assessment
Fri., Apr. 25-- No school- Staff Professional Development
Apr. 28- 30--3rd grade MAP testing
Apr. 28- May 2-- Science Week
Fri., May 2-- PTO "Spring Thing"
Fri., May 9--3rd Grade Science Fair
Wed., May 21--Field Day
Thurs., May 22-- Last Day of School

Science Week- 
If you have not had a chance to check the sign-up genius for 3rd Grade Science Week, here is the link for you to look at:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F084CA5AB2FA31-third2

Reading-
Students will continue reading through their group novels, while answering questions and practicing different reading strategies.

Science-
We will finish our study on life cycles, discuss adaptations and begin to learn about traits--inherited and learned.

Math-
The students are still learning about area this week.  We will dive deeper into understanding area of irregular shapes and comparing area to perimeter.  We will also make Area Animals and research any adaptations they have to live within their habitat. 

Spelling-
A new list will be coming home today in your child's Monday folder.  The words on this list are all about "ecosystems".  The final test will be on Friday, April 18th.  A link will be added for Spelling City.  Until then the kids can hop on this link to practice vocabulary:  http://www.classtools.net/mob/quiz_15/Ecosystems_Vocabulary_ta57y.htm

Writing-
Students have learned about a variety of animal adaptations, and will write a creative story about which "Power of Protection" they would choose to help protect themselves.

Have a wonderful week!