Weekly News: May 6-10

Greetings Parents,

We had a great short week this past week, we finished up our MAP testing and have been working hard in class. Next week will be busy as we finish up one reading/writing unit and begin Poetry.

Here are some photos from the week.

Reading This week students will finish up their presentations and share their research and learning with the class. We will begin our Poetry Unit on Wednesday! Share a favorite poem with your child!

Writing Students will finish up their presentations and prepare to present to the class. We will begin our new poetry Unit on Wednesday!

Math Students will identify equivalent fractions and construct visual representations of equivalent fractions.

Science Students will continue to investigate Balanced Forces. We will also be talking about civil engineers and learn how civil engineers apply the science of balanced forces to large-scale projects such as bridges.

Save the date: On Tuesday, June 11th  from 8:15-9:15 a.m., Grade Three will host a Poetry Parent Share. We look forward to seeing you then!

Monday will be a Day 6

Week of May 6th. Please complete 2 activities and bring in to share on Friday, May 10th.

Math: Practice your addition and subtraction facts. How many addition or subtraction question can you solve in two minutes?	Language Arts: Write a letter to a fellow student or friend that is leaving. Perhaps write about a memory you have of them.	Language Arts: Write a poem about your favorite season. Think of why you like it so much? What feelings does that season make you feel?
Math: Find the area for a rectangle that is 14 feet long and 7 feet wide.	Earth and Space: Build some paper airplanes. Try some different designs. Share with the class which airplane worked the best and why?	Other:  Play a game with your family. Talk about how teamwork and sharing makes the game more enjoyable.

Remember: Reading is just what we do. It is expected each night.

Weekly News - 29th - 3rd

Dear Parents,

Earth Week was a great success! We had some excellent discussions about how we can help protect our earth and the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling. Students enjoyed creating their own reusable bags and making a pledge to help the earth. Here are some photos from the week.

Reminders:

There is no school on Wednesday, May 1st as it is labour day.

Students will be taking the math portion of the MAPs test in the morning on Tuesday, April 30. Please make sure that they get a good sleep on Monday night and arrive to school on time.

Save the date: On June 11th from 8:15-9:15a.m., Grade Three will host a Poetry Parent Share. We look forward to seeing you then!

This week begins on a Day 2.

Reading This week students will be comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between the two planets that they researched. This will be followed by a summative culminating activity. The activity will provide students with different choices for how they want to synthesize and present their research to the grade.

Writing Students will be learning how to write a compare and contrast paragraph. They will turn their planet brainframes into a paragraph which describes the similarities and differences between their planets.

Math Students will practice placing fractions between 0 and 1 on a number line. They will also practice putting fractions greater than one on a number line. Here is a blog with ideas to help students with their fact fluency practice at home. Check out the link !

Science Students will continue to investigate the forces acting on the Maglev train. They will look into how the Maglev can stay up even when gravity is pulling it down.

Week of April 29th. Please complete 2 activities and bring in to share on Friday, May 3rd.

Math: Use fractions when cooking. Draw or take pictures of the fractions in you used. For example, if you were sharing food, what fraction did you use? If you helped to bake and used the measuring cup, what fraction did you use?	Language Arts: Have your family read a poem, then read a few pages of a fiction text you have been reading. Compare and contrast how they are similar and different.	Language Arts: Write a letter to someone explaining the importance of Earth Week and looking after our earth.
Math: Practice elapsed time. Solve this problem: Mr. Morefield wakes up at 6:05 a.m. He walked to ISKL. It takes him 27 minutes to walk to school. He then eats his breakfast at school for 31 minutes. What time is it when he is finished with breakfast?	Earth and Space: Have a look at the stars. Take a picture of them using a phone or tablet. Next, magnify that picture. What do you notice? What are the differences between the two pictures? Write down your observations and compare and contrast the two pictures.	Other: Help your family make a meal. Try to make a family favorite or one that is a family recipe. (See math task for the next step.)

Remember: Reading is just what we do. It is expected each night.

Weekly News April 22nd - 26th

Dear Parents,

We had a fantastic week of learning in Grade 3 this past week! Students were busy researching their planets, and explored the meaning of the denominator and numerator in a fraction. Here are some photos from the week.

This week is Earth Week. Students will be taking part in activities during morning meeting throughout the week and there will be an assembly on Tuesday afternoon to celebrate Earth Week. Students are invited to wear green or blue on this day.

Get Out in Nature Challenge for Families

We invite all students and families to participate in our Earth Week Get Out Into Nature Challenge! It’s easy. Find a way to spend time in nature with your family during the week and on the weekend. Research shows spending time in nature is great for your physical and mental health and overall well being. Need ideas how to get to nature in KL? Visit one of the city’s many parks, go for a family hike/walk, go to FRIM, or visit a garden. Children are naturally curious and love being outdoors so let your child take the lead…and enjoy!

Lake Gardens

FRIM

Students have been commenting on other Grade 3 blogs and would love if you could comment on their blogs too. I’m sure they would be more than happy to show you how.

Reminder: Students will be taking the literacy portion of the MAPs test in the morning on Friday, April 26. Please make sure they get a good night sleep on Thursday night and arrive to school on time.

Save the date: On June 11th from 8:15-9:15a.m, Grade Three will host a poetry celebration and end of year gathering. We look forward to seeing you then!

This week begins on: Day 5

Reading Students will begin research on a second planet this week. By the end of this week, they will have learned a significant amount about one inner planet and one outer planet. They will continue to engage in discussions with others to help further synthasize information.

Writing Students will continue to develop their note taking skills and will experiment with different forms of notetaking

Math Students will continue to practice partitioning shapes into equal parts. They will explain a unit fraction as part of a whole. They will represent/show different fractions and explain their representation.

Science Students will be looking into what makes the train fall and the concept of gravity. They will participate in experiments and make observations in order to develop and share their ideas.

Week of April 22nd. Please complete 2 activities and bring in to share on Friday, April 26.

Math: Show  ¾  in 4 different ways.	Language arts: Write a blog post about Earth week: What did you do during Earth Week? What do you plan to do going forward? Why is Earth Week important?	Language arts: Conduct research about something in our solar system other than a planet: dwarf planets, moons, International Space Station, comets, asteroids, etc.  Write down your notes in the home learning journal.
Math: Practice your division and multiplication facts (online,flashcards, games) Note to parents: It is important that continued consistent practice of both multiplication and division continues at home.	Earth and Space: Take two objects of two different weights. Lift them up to the same height and then drop them at the same time. What do you notice? Try other objects. Write your thoughts down in your journal.	Other: Draw/design your own made-up solar system. Does it have one star or two? How many planets? What do they look like? What else might been in your solar system? (asteroids, moons, comets, etc)

Remember: Reading is just what we do. It is expected each night.

Math Unit - Fractions

Dear Parents,

We are starting our new Unit 6 in Math: Representing and comparing fractions.

Memorization is NOT a goal in the case of vocabulary words and multiplication facts. We encourage you to discuss the ideas and concepts through hands-on activities and conversations (in the home language) about how we use math in our daily lives. 

We encourage to make connections and have conversations in your home language to help understand the concept.

In this unit students will: 

• Develop an understanding of fractions, beginning with unit fractions. 
• View fractions in general as being built out of unit fractions, and they use fractions along with visual fraction models to represent parts of a whole. 
• Understand that the size of a fractional part is relative to the size of the whole. For example, 1/2 of the paint in a small bucket could be less paint than 1/3 of the paint in a larger bucket, but 1/3 of a ribbon is longer than 1/5 of the same ribbon because when the ribbon is divided into 3 equal parts, the parts are longer than when the ribbon is divided into 5 equal parts. Students are able to use fractions to represent numbers equal to, less than, and greater than one. 
• Solve problems that involve comparing fractions by using visual fraction models and strategies based on noticing equal numerators or denominators. 
• Recognize that the numerator is the top number (term) of a fraction and that it represents the number of equal-sized parts of a set or whole; recognize that the denominator is the bottom number (term) of a fraction and that it represents the total number of equal-sized parts or the total number of objects of the set.
• Explain the concept that the larger the denominator, the smaller the size of the piece.
• Compare common fractions with like denominators and tell why one fraction is greater than, less than, or equal to the other.
• Represent halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, eighths, tenths , and twelfths using various fraction models.

VOCABULARY:

Visual Mathematics Online Dictionary: This resource includes definitions, pictures, examples, and related words for mathematical vocabulary. 

Unit Key Vocabulary: (link to cards)

• Denominator: the bottom number in a fraction. It tells how many equal parts the set or whole has been divided into
• Equivalent Fractions: two or more fractions that name the same amount
• Fraction: a number that names part of a whole or part of a group
• Greatest: the largest in a group
• Least: the smallest in a group
• Number Line: a line with equally spaced tick marks named by numbers
• Numerator: the top number in a fraction. It tells how many of the equal parts of the whole or group are being considered
• Order: arrangement according to size, amount, or value

ACTIVITIES AT HOME:

• Go on a fraction hunt! Look for household items that are divided into equal parts (fractions of a whole and fractions of a set). Record the fractions.
• Roll number cubes to make fractions. Draw pictures of the fractions you make. Place the fractions you've made in order on a number line.
• Identify fractions at meal times. For example, you ate 1/2 of an apple, 3/4 stalk of celery, 1 whole tuna sandwich, and 2/3 of a glass of milk.
• Practice making equivalent fractions.
• Plot fractions on a number line.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

Matching Fractions: basic fractions

Equivalent Fractions: finding equivalent fractions

Equivalent Fractions: finding equivalent fractions using area models (you need to enable Adobe flash to work)

Khan Academy: 3rd Grade Math topics

Happy learning!

The Grade 3 Team

Weekly News 15th - 19th April

Dear Parents,

Students were very eager to get started on researching their first planet this past week. They practiced looking for important information, synthesizing what they found across a variety of texts, and sharing with their group.

Students also picked a topic that they are interested in for their upcoming passion projects. Be sure to ask them about what they plan to learn about. Here are some photos from the week.

This next week we will be starting our final math unit on fractions.

This week begins on Day 8.

Reading/ Writing This week students will continue with their combined reading and writing unit. They will conduct research on a planet across a variety of texts and digital materials, synthesize the important information about their subtopics, and record it in their own words. Students will share their finding with the group. You can find out more about this unit, including vocabulary and resources by clicking HERE.

Math Our final math unit of the school year will be on fractions. This week, students will develop an understanding of fractions, beginning with unit fractions. They will view fractions in general as being built out of unit fractions, and they use fractions along with visual fraction models to represent parts of a whole. They will also think about and look for examples of fractions and their usage in their daily lives. To learn more about this unit, click HERE.

Science This week students will conduct investigations and gather evidence about gravity, a second non-touching force. They will make chain reactions that involve magnetic force, gravity and touching forces. They will make a physical model and explain their thinking.

Week of April 15-19th. Please complete 2 activities to share on Friday, April 19.

Math: How are fractions used in everyday life? Make a list of times when you would use fractions.	Language arts: Write a blog post about something that you have done or something that has happened to you recently.	Language arts: Research information about the Sun. Pick one or two subtopics. Use at least 2 different books or websites to conduct your research. Write down important notes for each subtopic in your home learning journal.
Math: * Practice your division and multiplication facts: online, flashcards, game, etc. *It is important that all third graders have a quick strategy for solving multiplication problems within 100 by the end of grade 3!	Science: Draw a model in your home learning journal that shows a force moving an object without the object being touched. Be sure to use expert words when labeling your drawing.	Other: Passion Project: What are you passionate about? What problem do you want to solve? What are you interested in learning about? Go solve it, learn about it, be passionate, and share your learning with the class on Friday!

Remember: Reading is just what we do. It is expected each night.

Weekly News 8th - 12th April

Dear Parents,

Students had lots of questions and were very eager to begin our new Balancing Forces Unit. The tuning in activities helped to generate wonderings and build excitement. Students also learned a lot and enjoyed the activities related to our Inclusive Schools week. Here are some photos from the week.

This coming week will be another busy and exciting week of learning. There will be new reading and writing units beginning this week. And students will start to work on new Passion Projects beginning Friday!

This week begins on: Day 3

Reading/ Writing This week students will begin a combined reading and writing unit where they will conduct research on a planet that they are interested in learning about. They will use a variety of texts and digital materials, synthesize the important information about their subtopics, and record it in their own words. Students will work together in research groups. You can find out more about this unit, including vocabulary and resources by clicking HERE.

Math We will begin to work on the concept of perimeter, including solving for unknown sides. We will also explore the relationship between perimeter and area (for example, if a rectangle has an area of 12 sq. cm, what are possible side lengths and then calculate the perimeter).

Science Students will conduct experiments, make observations and read about what constitutes evidence of a force acting on an object; discover that a force acts between two objects; and gain initial experience with setting a purpose for investigating and with constructing explanations.

Weeks of April 8th. Please complete 2 activities to share on Friday, April 12.

Math: Find the perimeter of three different books in your house. Sketch them in your notebook and label or use photos.	Language arts: Think of your favorite fairytale. Think about what would happen next. Write the sequel in your home learning journal... For example: The Gingerbread Man 2: Gingerbreads Revenge	Language arts: Research information about a  topic you are interested in. Write down important notes in your home learning journal. Also, make a word bank (glossary) of expert words.
Math: Practice your division and multiplication facts. --online --flashcards --game	Science: Make your own Observation table in your home learning journal. Be sure to include columns for: Object 1, Object 2, Observations, and Push/Pull .  Then conduct simple observations of forces around you and record your noticings.	Other: What are two things you will do this week to help the environment?

Remember: Reading is just what we do. It is expected each night.