3rd Grade MP3 Campus
Monthly Progress
Monthly Progress
Math
Activities: This month we wrapped up our first big idea which was using data to solve problems. We explored bar graphs, data tables, and several other representations of data, decided on how to create a graph that would accurately display a given set of data, and collected data on car color in the parking lot and made either a digital or paper graph with a small group. Students continued to work on solving mashup math problems which are elementary level algebra problem sets, the class has gotten very good at finding where to start and how to work through the different challenges. Our new unit centers on various aspects of place value. We have tackled how to represent a number in standard form, word form, expanded form, and we have solved several different riddles and problems that required us to use the knowledge of unit conversion as well as place value to figure out numbers. We also have been perfecting our number line skills to help us model when a number gets rounded up or down.
Teacher Tip: Estimation is a skill that adults use on a daily basis, model your thinking out loud for your student when you are choosing a leftover container or deciding whether you should fill up on gas today or tomorrow. Invite them to estimate and then follow up with the answer for everyday tasks like how long the dog food will last at the current rate of consumption or how long will it take to complete their math page for the day. ***Don't forget about your personalized learning path on iReady, the goal is to spend 15 minutes 3 times a week to help close any gaps your student might have as well as presenting grade level material and/or challenges.***
Teacher Info: Mrs. Kurashige, skurashige@meridian.wednet.edu
Writing
Topics: planning with a b-m-e chart, character chart, theme, indenting paragraphs, hooks, strong titles, temporal words and phrases, descriptive language, dialogue, dialogue punctuation, dialogue tags, strong endings, Narrative Writing Checklist, revising with a story checklist, editing with standard editing marks, spelling strategies
Activities: Students planned their stories (personal narratives) using a beginning-middle-end chart. Each day, we explore an element of personal narrative writing (e.g., hooks, catchy titles, dialogue, transitional words, temporal phrases, strong endings) and work to apply it to our own story. After students complete drafting, they join a Revise Conference where they read their story to a small group. During the Revise Conference, the students get written feedback on what the group members "loved about their piece" and what they would like to "add or change". The students then celebrate and make changes. At this point, most students are wrapping up drafting and many are already using their Revise Conference notes to revise their drafts. Students also enjoyed scoring my story with our Narrative Writing Checklist. They gave me solid feedback and are now using the checklist to improve their stories. We also take time to talk about spelling strategies and students are becoming comfortable using our Word Walls and their personal dictionaries.
Teacher Tip: I hope you will ask your student to share with you the standard editing marks that they have been using in class including how to show that a letter needs to be capitalized, missing punctuation, or that a word has been misspelled.
Teacher Info: Mrs. Giesen, jgiesen@meridian.wednet.edu
Social Studies
Topics: Maps/regions, Midwest and Southeast Regions
Activities: Many of our Flat Stanleys are on the move, but we are waiting for pictures and updates. (There is still time if you haven't sent an address yet.) In the meantime, our class has been diving into informational lessons on the Midwest and Southeast. We've explored each region’s climate, economy, natural resources, landmarks, and local foods. For two days, we focused on landmarks, using task cards featuring 15 landmarks from each region. Students read about each landmark, answered a comprehension question, then scanned a QR code to see the location, making learning more engaging. These visuals helped the students better understand and compare these regions to the Pacific Northwest. Locations visited included the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, the Henry Ford Museum and the Gateway Arch in the Midwest to the Great Smoky Mountains, the Everglades, the Kennedy Space Center and Mammoth Caves in the Southeast. Our studies also highlighted major geographical features like the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Gulf of Mexico. Through these activities, students learned about different types of borders and the unique landforms found across the country. We also discussed how location and weather impact daily life—like tornado drills in the Midwest. We also discussed specific plant and animal life unique to the region. For example, alligators found in the Southeast. Before closing out our study of each region, we played a USA Bingo game in order to become more acquainted with the states and their locations.
Teacher Tip: A fun addition to learning about the regions has been the discussions about foods often associated with them. For example, we discussed how the Midwest is known for "All American" foods such as hamburgers, corn on the cob, Chicago Hot Dogs, deep dish pizza and BBQ pork sandwiches while the Southeast is better known for their biscuits and gravy, Southern BBQ, shrimp and grits, jambalaya and even alligator meat. Since we aren't able to add taste testing in our classroom, perhaps you can consider a Midwest or Southeast theme night for dinner. Send a picture if you decide to give it a try!
Teacher Info: Mrs. Elgersma, gelgersma@meridian.wednet.edu
Technology
Topics: Keyboarding and Google Sheets
Activities: This month we were able to apply our technology skills to help support the important learning happening in math!
The majority of the month was spent on Google Sheets. After a quick review, students were able to learn how to create data tables with labels and gridlines. Next, they learned how to turn these tables into pie charts and bar graphs which they personalized by changing font style, colors, and adding titles. The students were able to use data gathered in math class to create graphs and later, evaluated those graphs with the help of Mrs. Kurashige.
Our final assessment was creating a table and graphing using data from Annie's Fruit Snacks!
Reflection Questions: What happens to your graph when you include the total in the range?
Teacher Info: Mrs. Montgomery, rmontgomery@meridian.wednet.edu
Art
Topics: Elements of Art: Value, Texture, Form, Line, & Shape; Principles of Design: Balance, Emphasis, Pattern, & Rhythm; Techniques: Clay & 3D art
Activities: What a fun month we’ve had celebrating Hispanic Heritage! We listened to author Naibe Reynoso read her bilingual book, How to Fold a Taco. We spent several days splatter painting tortillas, ripping up paper “ground beef,” shredding “lettuce” and painting patterns on our plates. Students finally put together their 3D tacos and they have been decorating our classroom all month! Next, we listened to traditional mariachi music and drew & decorated our own sombreros. Students created tints of color by adding white to make their paint colors “pop” on their sombreros. They used buttons, pompoms, and sequins to decorate and these beauties have also been on display in our classroom. Next, we learned about the Supermoon that occurred on October 17th and about the phases of the moon. We looked at images from NASA and a video illustrating why the moon’s shape appears to change throughout the month. (Although now we know it doesn’t really change shape!) Students created their own moon phases and painted them with glow-in-the-dark puffy paint (glow glue mixed with shaving cream) to emphasize the part of the moon that is lit during each phase. (Of course, we couldn’t resist also giving them black puffy paint for the dark side!) Our finial project of the month was looking at Yayoi Kusama’s famous dotted pumpkins. We looked at her outdoor sculptures as well as her infinity rooms and read, Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity by by Sarah Suzuki. Students were in awe of her work! We used clay to create our own pumpkins and will finish the month painting them and giving them a pattern of large and small dots.
Reflection Questions: Ask your student to tell you about our very own infinity room!
Teacher Info: Mrs. Warnock, swarnock@meridian.wednet.edu
