December 7 - 11 Computer Science Education Week (Hour of Code)
December 11 All School Meeting and Spirit Day
December 21 - January 1 Winter Break
Homework Due by Thursday, December 4th
1. Read for at least 20 minutes every night.
2. Complete Reading Response letter (New Homework Rubric)
3. Complete at least 30 minutes of math practice.*
*Suggested IXL skills for 3rd grade math practice:
V.1 - V.3 Geometry
D.7 Subtraction
*Suggested 4th grade math practice:
Multiplying by multiples of ten: Kahn Academy Lesson Link
Area of squares and rectangles: IXL P.21
Review number sense: IXL A.1 A.2 A.3 and A.5
Multiplication facts up to 12: IXL D.2
Upcoming Out and Abouts
We will use our Out & About time this month for Science Labs! Level 2 students will be exploring geology, earthquakes and engineering. This week, we will focus on the question: What is Earth made of and how does it change over time? Student will use different materials to explore how tectonic plates interact and make predictions about what happens when they do. They will also read Native American myths about geologic phenomena like earthquakes and volcanos.
Volunteer Opportunities
Breakfast Donations - Fruit and cereal/bagels needed for this week.
Math Notes (Written by the 3rd grade mathematicians)
We made up these dances to show symmetry. Mirror symmetry means if one person puts their right hand up, the person on the other side puts their left hand up. Some of our dance moves are symmetrical and some are asymmetrical. Rotational symmetry is like a tilt-a-whirl; when you spin around, every person looks the same. It was fun to learn math by moving around and being able to come up with your own dances!
Weekly Review
Last week, Erin led a variety of science activities about rocks and fossils! We also read a book by Susan Goodman called On This Spot: An Expedition Back Through Time to start thinking about history much older than the Native Americans we've been focused on much of this year. Each page of the book takes the reader further back in time, to about 540 million years ago! The Plovers also watched and really enjoyed this funny science video about fossils: Fossil Rock Anthem.
As we wrap up our story of the NW Coast Native Americans, our village has a few major decisions to make. Last week, immigrants from the Oregon Trail arrived and began building houses in the forest surrounding our coastal village. Our chief, Evergreen, decided they would be allowed to stay and instructed her villagers to stay away from their homes. The Plovers learned about how traders and settlers carried diseases, like measles and smallpox, which sickened and killed many Native Americans. They also watched a few small clips about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving from a PBS documentary called We Shall Remain. Then, 2 children from the new settlement came to our village to ask for food and medicine! The tribe hasn't decided yet if and how they might help these new neighbors.
Communication
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. Parents and students can e-mail me at [email protected]. You can also leave a voice message on the class phone or come into the classroom before/after school.