Poole

Homework

Reading Response Journal

Homework Activities

Week of April 13, 2009

 

Monday – This week we are learning about Frederick Douglass and his contributions to our country.  Tonight you should review the following website:

 

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/doughtml/timeline.html

 

This is a timeline of the events throughout his life.  Read through the events and write down the five most “life-changing” experiences that you feel occurred in his life time.  Be sure the events listed are in chronological order and written in an organized manner.

                       

Tuesday – Complete an assignment on www.myskillstutor.com.  Follow these directions carefully to ensure you are completing the correct activity:

 

1.                  Click on Reading Comprehension C

2.                  Next, click on U.S. Government

3.                  Then click on Democracy in Action Part 1

4.                  Complete the Democracy in Action Part 1 assignment.

 

Wednesday – This week we are learning about poetry.  With the help of an adult, go to the website http://www.gigglepoetry.com and read through some silly poems.  Copy a poem in your response journal (or print it) by writing the title, author, and poem.  Then answer these questions:

 

1.                  What is the author’s purpose?  (Persuade, Inform, or Entertain)

2.                  What is the meaning or overall main idea of the poem?

3.                  Does it rhyme?  If so, can you provide some examples?

4.                  Are there any comparisons (similes or metaphors) or figurative language used in the poem?  Please write down examples.

5.                  Why did this poem appeal to you?  Did you enjoy it?  Why or why not?

 

Thursday – Tonight you will review world maps.  In your journal, draw a picture of a world map.  Include all 7 continents and 4 oceans.  Color each continent a different color and be sure to label it correctly.  You must also properly label all oceans. 

Neat insulator activity

Here is a website to study insulators:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/activities/keeping_warm.shtml

Science

 

Hello Parents!

We are going to begin our new science unit “Heat and Energy” on Monday, March 16, 2009.  I have numerous exciting experiments and activities planned pertaining to this unit.  We have some of the materials at school, but we could use the following items:

-         anything plastic

-         foam

-         cloth

-         wool

-         fake fur

-         felt

-         rubber

-         styrofoam (veggie trays, packages, etc.)

-         cardboard

-         aluminum cans

-         copper

If you are able to send in any items, it would be greatly appreciated!  We need them by Friday, March 27, 2009.

We will have a unit assessment at the closing of this unit.  Check your child’s agenda for an exact day of the assessment at a later date.

March

Upcoming Events:

3/3 – Early Release 12:20 p.m.

3/5 – PTA Meeting 7:00 p.m.

3/7 – Relay for Life Silent Auction

3/8 – Daylight Saving begins

3/12 – End of 3^rd Nine Weeks

3/13 – Picture Day

3/16 – 3/20 – Spring Book Fair

3/16 – Science Night 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

3/19 – Report Cards distributed

3/23 – 3/27 – Music Man Musical by Kincaid Chorus

3/30 – Character Education Luncheon

 

 

News and Notes:

A special huge thank you to the Dawson Family!  They donated an entire case of copy paper for our classroom!!!  They also donated more Clorox Wipes!  We appreciate your sincere kindness.  Thank you also to the Keller family for donating paper to our classroom.  J

Congratulations to William K.  He was selected as our classroom writing fair winner!!  His entry will complete with the other third grade classrooms.  Good Luck William!

Congrats. to Mandy M.  She was chosen Character Education Winner for Tolerance.  Way to go Mandy!

 

Curriculum:

 

Language Arts:  We will complete our unit on Persuasive Writing.  This week students will work on their final persuasive piece of writing.  We will finish up our unit on fictional literature and learn more about the mystery genre of text.  After we complete this unit, we will begin learning about narrative text.  Students will also work on narrative pieces of writing along with this unit.  We have many exciting stories that we will read.  Look in the Homework Response Journals for the book titles.

 

Math:  Students will finish up our measurement unit by the second week in March.  After that we will begin a new unit on multiplication and division.  This unit will consist of multiplying and dividing 3 digits by 1 digit.  If your child still does not know his/her facts, it is imperative they do so in order to be more successful with this unit.

 

Social Studies:  We will complete our unit on landforms in the next couple of weeks.  Students really enjoyed learning about the different bodies of water while using play-dough.  After our landform unit is finished we will learn about Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson. 

 

Science – Students will finish up presenting their habitat projects.  The fourth week in March, I have reserved a special habitat box from the Department of Natural Resources.  This box will be loaned to our classroom for two weeks.  After we view the different items inside the “box” we will have a unit assessment.  This assessment will take place the last week of March.  We will  begin a new Heat and Energy unit.

 

News and Notes:

 

I enjoyed meeting with everyone during conference week!  I am encouraged by your positive feedback and appreciate your comments. J 

 

Bring in your box top labels!!!

 

Please come out to Heritage Night.  Our very own Briti will be presenting at this fun filled learning event.

 

I will send home class list of student names for Valentine’s Day.  Please make sure you fill out a Valentine for each student if you wish to participate.  We will exchange on Feb. 13.

 

Upcoming Events:

 

2/2/09:  Groundhog Day

 

2/12/09:  Heritage Night

 

2/13/09:  Box top labels due!

 

2/14/09:  Valentine’s Day

 

2/16/09:  President’s Day.  This is a STUDENT holiday.

 

2/20/09:  Cougar Pride Day

 

Our Current Studies

 

Math:  Students will begin working with measurement this month.  We will explore the metric and customary units of linear measurement. 

 

Students will have a decimal quiz in my math class on February 3, 2009.

 

Social Studies:  We are working on map skills.  Please review with your child the meaning of the word “boundary”.  What is a boundary and how can we apply this when reading a map?

 

Science:  We are currently studying the Habitats of Georgia.  Help your child identify the different regions of

Georgia

; Mountains,

Piedmont

, and Coastal Plains.  Find out what kinds of plants and animal inhabit the different regions.

 

Language Arts:  Students are learning about the art of persuasion!  They are doing so well with this unit.  Our writing workshop will consist of persuasive writing pieces.   We will continue to study fictional text.  Students will complete a character analysis project in the classroom later this month.

 

 

Way to Go!

 

Congratulations to Sierra V.  as she was selected our character education winner for resilience!!  Way to go Sierra.

 

Also congratulations to Sarah S. because she was the winner of the Honoring Heroes contest for second/third graders at Kincaid.  Great job Sarah!

 

Briti N. won the Reflections contest and her project will move on to the next region. 

 

Great job to all three students! J

Reminders

Please remember to return the conference form ASAP!

Please also return the in-house trip permission form too!

January

Important Dates:

Jan. 6 - Students return to school

Jan. 16 - Cougar Pride Day

Jan. 20 - Magnet In-House Field Trip at Kincaid

Curriculum:

Math - Students will begin a new unit in math.  This month we will focus on fractions and decimals.  Look for a parent letter reviewing this unit in your child's binder.

Language Arts - We will also begin a new unit in Lang. Arts.  This month students will work on fictional texts including realistic, historical, etc.  We will focus on plot, setting, and character analysis in January.

Social Studies - Students will continue learning about economics with an emphasis on natural, human, and capital resources.  We will learn about Cesar Chavez this month.  Students will take a unit assessment on January 21.

Grammar - Students will continue with linking and helping verbs.  We will begin studying adjectives mid-month.

Science - We will conduct numerous experiments on magnets later this month and then begin habitats.  A science parent letter will go home with your child when we begin this unit.

 

News and Notes:

 

Congratulations to Collin P. as he was selected the charc. ed. winner for Compassion.

 

Welcome new student Mila H. to our class.  We are delighted to have you here.

December

Welcome new student Mila!  We are so lucky to have you in our class!

This week we will finish up our soil uint and take an assessment on Friday.  We will play a review game in class on Thursday to help us prepare for the test.  In econonmics we will continue with opportunity costs, benefits, consumers, and producers.  We will take a spelling test this Friday.  Students started their biography reports this week.

December 1

 

 

Important December Dates for this week:

December 4:      PTA Meeting 7:00 (Chorus Performance)   

December 5:       Spelling Bee

December 6:       

Holiday

Store

 

 

Language Arts: We will continue learning about informational text with a concentration on biographies.  We will study the components of writing biographies and begin our biography writing next week.

Spelling: Spelling Unit 10:  almost, live, page, got, earth.  We will have a test on Friday.

Social Studies:  ECONOMICS!!!  Students will participate in numerous economic activities until the Winter Holidays.  This week we will learn about needs, wants, goods, and services.  Students will complete a phonebook scavenger hunt over the different goods and services produced locally.  To further enhance our study in economics, students will investigate and analyze advertisements.  We will also compare facts and opinions stated in the advertisements.  This is one of my favorite units to teach.  I hope your child learns something new and truly enjoys it as well. 

Science: We will continue our unit on SOIL.  This week we will investigate weathering and erosion.   

Reading

: Students will work with guided reading groups this week.

Don’t forget to bring in a phonebook on Wednesday!

Grammar:  What is the difference between a strong and weak verb?  Students will participate in a short skit to help answer the question?

November 17

Important November Dates for this week:

November 17th:      Character Ed. Luncheon

November 21st:       Cougar Pride Day

November 24th - 28th:       Thanksgiving Holidays

Language Arts: Did you know 90% of reading adults read is for information?  This kind of reading is called informational text.  This week in class students will locate, identify, and illustrate different features found in non fiction books such as glossary, index, close-ups, etc.

We will also create our very own Thanksgiving Day Poems.  Happy Turkey!

Spelling: Spelling Unit 9:  four, head, above, kind, began.  We will have a test on Friday.

Grammar:What is a suffix?  Students will learn about the suffixes er, est, ly, less, and ful.  See if you can quickly come up with with some more.

Social Studies:  Students will read short guided reading books over Susan B. Anthony in guided reading groups this week.

Science: We will begin our new unit over SOIL!  If your child wants to do a little "digging" please allow them to search for a few items found underground. 

Reading: Students will work with guided read groups this week.

Congratulations to Sarah S.  She is the character Ed. winner for citizenship.  Way to go Sarah!!