December 1-5

Writing

We will focus on more expository writing this week.  We will explain a time when we were sick.  We will include facts and opinions in this type of nonfiction writing.  Our stories will go through the writing process including brainstorming, first draft, revise/edit, and a final product. Our stories will also include a clear beginning, middle, and end.   

Reading

This week we will continue to look through nonfiction texts but our focus will be on identifying the main idea. Students will understand the meaning of main idea and be able to identify it by looking at the facts and details in the story.   

Math

It’s going to be a long week as we start our new unit on measurement. We are beginning with a review of non-standard units of measurement before diving into inches, feet, yards, and centimeters. We will practice estimating lengths of classroom items and checking our work with a ruler. We will also practice with “broken” rulers, where we have to figure out the length of an item even if the ruler doesn’t start on zero.

Science

We continue with science this week with fun motion experiments.  We will be watching items spin, slide and roll.  We will discuss the force that causes these items to move and record the changes that occur as an item moves.  Then we will move on to magnets and learning how and why magnets move items.

For our fun experiments we need:

2 bottles of bubbles

5 tops- like the little plastic ones

5 pinwheels- the colorful little ones you blow to spin

5 pool noodles

​Thanks for helping us make science fun and engaging!

Reminders

November 24-28

Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 1

Science Fair Coaching 6:00pm

Wednesday, December 3

Early Release 12:45

PTA Spirit Night Out - Newks 5:00pm

November 17-21

Writing

Our Student Treasure class books are shipping off this week to be published!  It was so neat to see the kids get excited about this project.  They all were able to contribute in their own way to the Counterpane Fairy and give Teddy, our main character, a new adventure.  This week we will focus on bridging the nonfiction text features we’ve studied in reading to our very own writing.  We will complete a booklet on a topic we are knowledgeable about.  We will include things such as a diagram, table of contents, headings, and glossary.   It’s fun to find out all of the topics your kiddos know so much about!

Reading

We will learn all about synonyms (two words that have the same meaning) and antonyms (two words that have opposite meanings).  We will work on specific reading skills in reading groups to increase fluency, comprehension, accuracy, and vocabulary development.  

Math

We have one more week of addition and subtraction strategies! We will learn a few more subtraction strategies and practice distinguishing between addition and subtraction word problems. At the end of the week, we will review everything we’ve learned before an assessment on Friday.  

Science

This week we are moving back into science with increasing and decreasing energy.  Students will observe how vibrating objects produce sound energy and discuss how energy can be increased or decreased.  Students will investigate how heat energy can change a material’s state of matter, how light energy can change how an object appears, and how sound energy’s vibrations can change depending on the volume.  We’ll sing a fun science rock song called Energy and see how scientist experiment with sound and light!

Reminders

November 18

Last day to return Student Treasures (class book) order forms!!!

PTA Meeting /3rd Grade Program 7:00pm

November 19

Caraway Thanksgiving Meal at 11:33

PTA Reflection Awards 6:30pm

November 20

Science Fair Coaching 6:00pm

November 24-28

Thanksgiving Break

Monday, December 1

Science Fair Coaching 6:00pm

Wednesday, December 3

Early Release 12:45

PTA Spirit Night Out - Newks 5:00pm

November 10-14

November 10-14

Writing

This week we will continue our writing project called Student Treasures books.  These are class books that we will send off to have published and bound for you to purchase.  Our class book will be called The Counterpane Fairy.  Each child will write an additional chapter of the story. We will be working through the writing process and will also include an illustration page that goes with our writing.  We will choose a cover and title page illustration for our class book also.

Reading

We will continue learning about nonfiction text and graphic features this week. Students will be able to identify and comprehend the meanings of diagrams, bold print, captions, labels, etc as they look through nonfiction texts. Towards the end of the week, we will learn all about synonyms (two words that have the same meaning) and antonyms (two words that have opposite meanings).

Math

This week we are focusing on subtraction strategies. We will learn to break apart numbers, use a number line, and learn to use addition to check our work. At the end of the week, we will combine everything we’ve learned with some mixed problem solving. Students will practice reading the problem, choosing an appropriate strategy and then solving.  

Social Studies

We’re continuing in Social Studies with government services. Who pays for these services?  We all do and we will discuss that citizens pay taxes that are then used to pay for services. When we all contribute, we are able to accomplish some big projects that we could not do individually.  Students will learn that each citizen puts in a portion from their income, sales tax and property tax.  When these monies are all put together, the government can pay for government services.  The community can provide valuable services for all members of the community, services that include police and fire protection, libraries, schools, and parks.  Mapping our community will be fun as we explore why people choose to live in a certain area.  We’ll  identify the government services provided around us and discuss private businesses as well.  At the end of the week we will identify the leaders and their job title. Students will compare the roles of mayor, governor, and president.  

Reminders

November 13- Second Grade field trip to Inner Space Caverns