Third Grade

Happy Spring!

Here's an update on what we are doing and what's coming up in 3rd grade:

Reading/Language Arts: So much has been packed into our time together in Language Arts. Our literacy center time is busy and productive.  Students have learned about, and read about the Iditarod, and took on a reading challenge.  We are beginning to discuss and study figurative language and poetry, and will hunt for examples in many types of writing and books this month. 
Math: While our diverse curriculum challenges us to work on number and word problems to solve multiplication, division, and fractions, we are also beginning a program to help memorize multiplication facts.  A letter is coming home to explain our Kicking It! program, along with some study guides.  This program is similar to Tae Kwon Do and students will earn colored ‘belts’ as they memorize facts and take timed tests.
Science We are finishing up our weather unit, as well as talking and writing about how water changes the Earth’s surface.  Next up in science is our force and motion unit!
Social Studies: In Social Studies we are about to begin learning about the history of the city of Milwaukie, and will soon move on to Portland!  Our upcoming field trips will reinforce our learning of our wonderful city and it’s past. Please look for bridge journals towards the end of the month.  This is part of both social studies and science, and should be done by students with the support of adults. 
Religion: 3 ^rd graders have learned how to make a slideshow with voice recordings while creating the Stations of the Cross for the school.  I learned so much making it too!  Special thanks to Mrs. Korte for creating and guiding us with this project.  Our conversations and work in class have been about how the stations relate to real life questions and problems, and how we can discuss and solve them.  We also learn
about people who live in other countries by following lessons created by CRS Rice
Bowl. 
*Please make sure you are aware of your
Child’s Religion Teacher of the Day date.

Upcoming.....
 
Our next mass is on Thursday, May 2.

May includes our fun field trips:

May 3 NW Children’s Theater with 2 ^nd grade
May 10 Pittock Mansion
May 29 Jetboat ride
Please let me know if you are interested in chaperoning the Children’s theater, or Pittock Mansion field trips.  I have all Jetboat chaperones.