T.W.A.S.

T.W.A.S.
April 11-April 21

It seems like every week is packed so full that it is hard to get the students to complete the blog - so once again this is being updated by Ms. Rutland.  The year seems to be flying by so quickly - it will be June before we know it!

In Language Arts we've been working on colour poems, focusing on similes, metaphors, and descriptive writing.  Using the book "Hailstones and Halibut Bones" as a model, students selected their favourite colour, then identified how that colour would sound, smell, taste, be experienced etc.  They wrote and edited their poems, then mounted them on painted backgrounds.  A couple are below - but the rest will be on display on our bulletin board.  Stop by when you get a chance!

In Math, we continue working on number operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) through daily math and problem solving.  We have also begun working on the concept of measurement, focusing on "time" initially.  We made pendulum timers and will be working on clock skills.

The students were very excited to learn about the new Science topics we are beginning.  Building structures and testing designs will take us to the end of the year.  We introduced the topic with a building challenge to build the tallest structure they could in 5 minutes.  Students quickly saw the importance of a stable base for their structure and explored a variety of materials to see which would work best.

In Social Studies we finished our tactile maps of India and Ukraine and have been discussing what public services are and the importance they play on people's quality of life.  We also began identifying the difference between "quick questions" and "thinking questions" when we examine different photographs.  Ask your child what types of questions they came up with for the photo below!

Finally, we were able to take advantage of some truly amazing weather the last couple of weeks! We've taken gym outside for soccer almost every day, done some watercolour sketching, and enjoyed reading and writing outdoors.  Hopefully we can continue this over the next couple of months!

Pendulum timer!

For Earth Day, we looked at this picture and asked questions about it.  Student questions included "why is there so much junk?" and "did they have a flood, tornado, or tsunami?" and "how many fish die everyday?" and "does the government care about what the people are doing in and putting in the water?""

Ukrainian Festival!

Thanks to Mr. Grant for providing us with the link for the upcoming Ukrainian Festival in Calgary!  Ukraine is one of the four countries we are studying in Social Studies, so if anyone is interested in checking out more about Ukrainian culture - here is your opportunity!
Enjoy!

http://www.calgaryukrainianfestival.ca/?page_id=99

Ms. Rutland

The Rock Cycle

Curriculum Letter

Elboya School

Grade 3 Curriculum Letter #2

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.”

Socrates

Welcome to the second term of Grade 3! Here is a preview of some of the things your child will be studying in the next few months. We have highlighted the major units of focus in each of the core subjects. For information about the secondary subjects, please refer to the programs of studies available online at http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/program.aspx

The Grade 3 classes will continue to explore the inquiry question “How does the environment shape our lives?”  Our inquiry question will guide our studies throughout the year as we explore the role that the environment plays on how different cultures meet the needs of their communities.  This overarching question draws from the topics in both the Science and Social Studies curriculums. We encourage parents to explore their class’s blog for weekly summaries.  Ms. Rutland’s can be found at: rutlandgrade3.blogspot.com and Ms. Hardacre’s is at: hardacregrade3.blogspot.com

Language Arts – Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure, and Descriptive Writing

Reading

Reading is a daily activity.  We continue to visit the library once per week and students are encouraged to select books at an appropriate level for them. We are currently reading the novel “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane” by Kate DiCamillo as a class.  This novel provides opportunities for rich discussions around the topics of emotions, change, and quality of life.  When reading, students are encouraged to demonstrate their comprehension by making predictions, asking questions, making inferences, connecting the text to their own experiences and summarizing.  Students will be participating in book clubs this term, where small groups will be reading the same novel and have discussions and activities that they will complete.

Writing

Writing is also a daily activity.  This term students will be participating in journal writing, poetry, fiction and non-fiction writing.  In Grade 3 we are focusing on editing for spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.  We will be exploring the writing process. We will focus on finding juicy words, using a variety of sentence styles, and considering our audience in creative writing.  This term we will focus on poetry and descriptive writing, then move into fiction and story-writing in the last term.

Math – Number Sense and Measurement

Throughout the year improving speed, accuracy and confidence with basic addition and subtraction facts; multi-digit addition and subtraction with and without regrouping; and problem solving will continue to be a focus.  Students will begin working with multiplication and division facts and relating those to addition and subtraction. In the spring we will explore measurement, geometry, and data analysis.  These concepts will be developed through problem solving and students will continue to work on their Problem of the Week assignment.  

Science – Rocks and Minerals and Building Things

Students kicked off their Rocks and Minerals unit with a trip to the Glenbow Museum to explore geodes and gems.  In this unit, students become mini geologist and study the defining properties of rocks and minerals.  They will be comparing various samples, categorizing samples based on their properties, learn about the rock cycle and how rocks and minerals are used in every-day life.  In the spring we will be building with a variety of materials as well as testing various materials and designs.  In this unit, students learn that materials and designs are related to purpose.  They will explore concepts of design by becoming architects themselves.  This unit lends itself to problem solving and reinforces the importance of the scientific process.

Social Studies –Communities in the World

In Social Studies, students in Grade 3 will continue to explore the diverse countries of Peru, India, Tunisia, and Ukraine.  Students will inquire into how the geographic characteristics and economic factors shape communities in other parts of the world through a variety of individual and group projects. In the final term students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of Canada’s roles and responsibilities in global citizenship in relation to those communities.  Throughout the year, students will be encouraged to engage in relevant current affairs through discussions of local and global issues.

Physical Education and Health

Grade 3 students continue to further develop ball handling skills through basketball and handball variation games.  Next we will be moving into badminton and table tennis.  In the spring, students will be taking swimming lessons!

In Health, the curriculum is organized into wellness choices, relationship choices, and life learning choices.  Students will continue to be encouraged to set personal goals, make positive choices, and solve conflicts using appropriate strategies.

French as a Second Language and Music

Each Grade 3 class will receive one period of FSL/week.  For Ms. Rutland’s class, Mr. Bard will be the French teacher and Ms. Hardacre’s FSL teacher will be Mlle. Plesu.  Mr. Irwin provides one period of music instruction/week to each class. 

We thank you for your continued support and invite you to speak with us if you have any further questions.

Mandy Rutland and Lydia Hardacre

Grade 3 Teachers

Elboya School

t | 403-777-7760 (ext. 2006 for Ms. Rutland; ext. 2007 for Ms. Hardacre)

f | 403-777-7769

mlrutland@cbe.ab.ca        lghardarce@cbe.ab.ca

T.W.A.S. # 16

TWAS # 16

March 1-11

This week was extraordinary!  In Social Studies we made a tactile map of Tunisia.  The three regions are the coastal region, mountain region, and desert region.  We used dry moss for the coastal region because it is dry there, but they can still grow olives, grapes, oranges, and other crops.  For the mountain region we used drywall paste, and for the desert region, we glued sand to our maps.  We learned that every 3-4 years there is a drought and water is hard to get there.

Last week we made flip maps of Peru.  These were tricky to make but they looked good at the end!  There are 3 regions in Peru – the coastal plains, the mountain region, and the rain forest region.  Peru’s indigenous people live in the rain forest region. 

In Math, we started learning about fractions on pie day.  Fractions we saw were ½, ¼, and 1/8. We have been working on a “Dream house Array” using multiplication.  We started learning about multiplication last week and will continue to use games and pictures to learn the multiplication facts from 1-5 (Grade 3 curriculum) and above for students who are ready.

We started working on our book reviews in Language Arts.  We looked at some examples of book reviews written by students and made a plan for our own reviews.   We will be sharing our reviews with the school next week.

In Science, we went outside to look for sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks, and igneous rocks.  There were lots of rocks in the rock garden, but fewer now that we took some home!

Last week we made our own crystals using salt and boiling water.  We are watching them continue to grow this week.

For gym this week we have been doing lots of different skipping outside. 

In Buddies, we went on a scavenger hunt looking for rhyming words on green shamrocks.  We also painted shamrocks using blue and yellow paint mixed together to make green.

TWAS #15

T.W.A.S. #15

This week at school in math we did multiplication and learned about subitizing.  Subitizing is when you don’t count and [just look at the group of objects and know how many]. In social studies we are learning about governments in Ukraine, Tunisia, Peru and India. In science were doing centers for rocks and minerals. In gym were learning about badminton were also learning how to rally and serve. In book clubs we have a book that we have to read it with a group and then discuss the book. We also have to ask questions.

By A. and D.

Teacher Input:

We began “Book Clubs” this week and are very excited about it!  Students selected their top 3 picks for a book they would like to read and then Ms. Hardacre and I sorted them into groups between 2-5.  The books were somewhat sorted into levels and the students in a group all have a similar reading level.  Students were provided with a Bingo Sheet with different comprehension skills they can work on as they read their book, along with a bookmark containing discussion questions that they can use.  Before reading, groups can discuss what they read last time (summarize), ask any questions or make predictions about what they will be reading.  Students also may sketch something they were able to visualize while reading, and/or make connections to their books.  As Ms. Hardacre and I circulate through the groups we are enjoying the rich discussion and oral reading with are able to observe from the students.

The students were very excited to see the beginning of “multiplication” and division this week.  Key concepts for students to understand are the concept of skip counting, repeated addition, and “groups of”.  Students in grade 3 need to have memorized multiplication facts up to 5, so we will be working on that in class and students can practice that at home. 

Students have continued learning about rocks and minerals while studying the different kinds of rocks, minerals, and fossils in centers.  Two good resources online include: learnalberta - Online Reference Centre -  PowerKnowledge Earth; AND google search: “kids love to learn” – Grade 3 – Science – Rocks and Minerals.    

T.W.A.S. #14

T.W.A.S. #14
Feb 2- 5

This was another busy week in Grade 3 - so Ms. Rutland is updating the blog.  We started our shortened week with a field trip to the Glenbow Museum.  Both classes had an opportunity to participate in the "Geodes to Gems" Program which fit in with our Rocks and Minerals Science Unit. We also took a guided tour of several of the other exhibits.  Top it off with a quick trip to City Hall for lunch - and it was a jam packed day of learning!
In Social Studies we explored what countries are ranked the "happiest" by their citizens.  We watched a video on YouTube (the 25 Happiest Countries in the World) and picked out the common indicators that led people to feel happy.  Students will be creating a Wordle with these next week (watch for those!)
In Math we continue to work on addition and subtraction of 3 digit numbers using problem solving and games.  The Estimation Jar continues to be a hit - with one of the largest totals to date (that was a lot of tiny beads to count)!
We had a kick off assembly for Jump Rope for Heart and a team-building activity with toilet paper outfits.  Throw in a Family Dance on Thursday and we'd all agree February is off to a great start!

Things we learned about rocks and minerals:

·      The hardest mineral in the world is a diamond.  Only another diamond will cut it.  Diamonds are used for tools.

·      The streak test is done on a piece of porcelain tile and it shows a mineral’s true colour. 

·      All colours of Calcite have a white streak test.

·      The oldest rock is older than dinosaurs

·      Some minerals glow in the dark with black light.  The black light gives the energy to the rock and they glow to release that energy (because they can’t move).  There is a specific kind of mineral in the rock to help it grow.

·      Geodes are hollowed out rocks with crystals inside of it

·      Halitite is salt

·      Animal that lived in the ocean is now extinct. It’s shell is a special kind of rock.

·      Minerals and rocks are all shapes and colours and textures

·      Digger ants uncover gold in Egypt.

·      Geologist study rocks and minerals

·      Rocks are made of many different minerals

·      Your finger nail can be harder than a mineral

·      All months have a birthstone

·      3 types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metaphoric

·      Our toothpaste contains the mineral Flourite

·      Quartz is a mineral