3rd Grade Newsletter
Third Grade Newsletter
Volume 7, Number 21 sadkins@pennoyerschool.org April 9, 2009
Hello Parents! This was a shortened week! Since Good Friday is tomorrow, the school is closed. However, remember that school WILL be in session on MondayJ. Earlier in the week on Tuesday, Pennoyer School had the gymnasium open to the public for voting. They utilized the playground blacktop as parking space for the public. We had indoor recess all day on Tuesday. It was funny because I don’t think that some of the kids knew about it and so when they looked outside and saw the cars they were shocked. They said things like, “What!? There are cars on our playground!” I got a kick out of it! So, except for all the fantastic learning (Yay!) not too many other exciting things happened this week. But here’s what’s been going on:
Reading ~ Our story this week was a nonfiction article called, A Carousel of Dreams. It was a good story to relate to the kids because the children in the story were around their age and it talked about carousels, which most kids are familiar with. We had a shortened week, so we were only able to have two days for our literacy centers instead of our usual three. When we were in our centers I had some good discussions with the students about fact and opinion, which is what our focus was for our reading. For some of the groups, I had them look through their book and find sentences from the story that are either a fact or an opinion. There were a lot of facts in this last story that we read! Also, it was funny, while we were talking in the reading corner; I had asked the students, “Wouldn’t it be cool to draw a design for a carousel!” And a lot of them said no! Instead, most of them thought it would be a better idea to design images for a roller coaster!
Language Arts ~ This week in grammar we focused on possessive pronouns. During our literacy centers, we worked on this at the back table in addition to understanding apostrophes. I placed some newspaper and construction paper at the back table and had the kids look through them finding words with apostrophes. When they found a word such as, “Chicago’s,” they had to use it in a sentence and tell me whether the apostrophe was showing that it was possessive or a contraction. All the kids seemed to really love this activity! Aside from this, during our writing time, we focused on getting our four square graphic organizer all filled out. I was really happy to see how many of the students were able to get all their ideas down on their paper and quickly too! I feel that because this is narrative writing, telling a story from a real life experience that happened to them, they are having an easier time filling out their four square. Not only was the four square done, but some students even had their rough draft completed! So, they seem to be doing well so far!
Math ~ Congratulations to Jessica for completing her timed multiplication test in 5 minutes!! Woo-hoo! Along with some other individuals, Jessica was super close each time and she finally got it! I am excited to see who will pass it next week! Just a few left! Also, even though most of the children have passed their timed multiplication test, make sure that your child is practicing their flashcards each and every night! It is important that they are able memorize their facts! Aside from this, this week we worked on multiplying three digits numbers. We did some fun activities so be sure to ask your child about the different things that we have done! Their chapter 21 test will take place on Tuesday next week.
Science ~ In science this week we finished up our chapter on Heat. We read through our last section in the science text book and we finished up our vocabulary. Today we watched a School House Rock video and I gave the students the chance to get started on their review questions. Next week the children will play their review game and take their science test on Heat on Thursday. We will also be going to Annetti’s Pizzeria just down the street! It will be a nice end to our Unit!
Social Studies ~ This week in social studies class we went back to the books. We have started Chapter 5,”A Community’s Geography.” The students learned the correct terminology to describe landforms and bodies of water. The students learned to classify landforms, including highlands and lowlands and to explain the significance of climate.
Other Areas of Interest:
- For our field trip to Annetti’s on Wednesday next week, the kids will be exposed to how a pizzeria is run, with an emphasis on heat. The kids will learn interesting facts about their rotating oven and hot boxes. The kids will then be able to make their own pizza! Kids will partner up to make a pizza for them to then eat. We teachers will supply juice boxes for everyone, and we will also provide a snack for the kids to eat in the lunchroom at 11:45, our usual lunchtime. Please do not send a lunch for your child that day.
- Next Friday, April 17 is our annual Family Pizza Lunch event. The third graders will be eating at 11:25, going outside for recess at 11:45. I hope to see many of you there!
That’s it for now! Despite the snow everywhere Monday morning, the weather is finally warming up. Hopefully for good! It looks like decent weather this weekend for Easter egg hunts! I hope you are able to enjoy the extra time with your families. We wish you all a wonderful weekend, happy Easter, and remember to keep your child reading!
Miss Sarah Wierzgac
Mrs. Sarah Adkins
