Third Grade Updates
See what happened in Third Grade this month.
Back to School!
We have had a terrific start to third grade! We have been impressed by how quickly the students have learned new and challenging routines such as switching classes, managing materials and book boxes, getting to know classmates and teachers, and all of the new responsibilities of third grade. Thank you for the support you are providing us at home.
Here’s what is happening in our third grade classrooms:
Math
We are wrapping up our first math unit. In this first unit, students were introduced to routines that support mathematical thinking and learning throughout the school year. Students built on their knowledge of two- and three-digit numbers and explored how those understandings extend to four-digit numbers. Students continued to build meaning for addition and subtraction through problem solving and an exploration of the properties of addition. All classes have begun guided math “centers,” which gives teachers the opportunity to work with small groups and individual students on a regular basis. During our second math unit, the students will begin to explore the ideas of multiplication and division by solving real-world problems that involve composing and decomposing units into groups. They will represent multiple group problems using a variety of visual representations such as arrays, equal group pictures, and number lines. Multiplication and division concepts are taught together to develop students’ understandings of the inverse relationship between multiplication and division. Students will also explore patterns involving multiplication and division relationships to build fact fluency as well as the properties that apply to multiplication.
Language Arts
We are learning and practicing various literacy routines, like independent reading, buddy reading, and listening to reading so the students are engaged in various meaningful activities while the teacher meets with reading groups. We’re eager to start our guided reading groups soon. In all classes, teachers have been working on building a community of readers and writers. Students learned the routines of writing workshop and understand how they benefit from and contribute to their community. They have and will continue to develop important skills and understandings, such as deciding the tools they need when working independently, gathering ideas, choosing writing pieces to develop further, and receiving and providing feedback.
AAP Math & Language Arts
In AAP we are are taking a dive into our first grammar program, called Grammar Island, wherein we learn about the eight parts of the English language. The program covers grammar, composition, and poetry at more challenging levels than are typically found in comparable texts. Students have also worked on introductory lessons on the nine critical and creative thinking skills. In Math, students have been building on their knowledge of two- and three-digit numbers and exploring how those understandings extend to four-digit numbers. Students will continue to build meaning for addition and subtraction through problem solving and exploration of the identity and commutative properties of addition. These concepts are reinforced as students apply their strategies to working with money. Our next unit will be on Multiplication and Division. In this unit, students will begin to explore the ideas of multiplication and division. They will represent multiplication and division problems and develop understandings of the inverse relationship between multiplication and division.
Social Studies
We started off the year talking about Civics which included laws vs. rules, rights vs. responsibilities, the government and diversity. We will then learn about geography in social studies including the features of maps and globes, compass directions and how to name and locate the continents and oceans. We’ll be exploring geography all year as we study different ancient civilizations.
Science
We’re excited to have received our ladybug larva. We are beginning to watch them grow and change as we learn about life cycles of all living things. For this unit, we ask students to become ecologists and will engage in a unit-long Project Based Learning activity as they work in teams to design an exhibit that features ladybugs for the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s O. Orkin Insect Zoo. This unit will engage our students in investigations and observations that will provide them with a basic understanding of the systems, order, and organization of the natural world. Science process skills will be utilized to strengthen the students’ development of how to think scientifically. These lessons allow the students to investigate adaptations that allow animals to respond to their life needs. They will also learn about the relationships among organisms in food chains. The children will discover how ecosystems support many plants and animals.
Important October Upcoming Dates
14th – Columbus Day – Student Holiday
15th - Field Trip to the Children’s Science Center
22nd - Vision and Hearing Screening for 3rd graders
25th – Bingo Night
Have a Great Day!
Debbie Clinage
3rd Grade Teacher