3rd Grade MP3 Campus

School Data is open on the 1st for parent reviews. These are due by the 5th. We hope the cut and paste grade level newsletter will be helpful to supplement your remote learning plan reviews. Thank you for submitting in a timely manner and if you need help, please reach out to your SLPC.

Topics: algebraic reasoning, addition and subtraction review, Winter iReady assessment, introduction to area, perimeter, multiplication

Activities: We started our month with a quick review of addition and subtraction skills that we worked to master during second grade and did a mini lesson about tying place value understanding to regrouping when adding or subtracting. Then we spent a day completing the winter session of the iReady diagnostic to show which skills have been gained during the first part of the year and areas that need further teaching/attention. During the second half of the month, we approached multiplication through exploring area. We used geoboards to create polygons and measure their area including finding and grouping partial squares to create additional units, then we looked at the area of letters and numbers on a traffic or train sign and challenged ourselves to create letters with very small areas and very large areas and found the area of our names using this style of letter. We closed out the month exploring rectangles that share a given area and looking at other shapes which similar areas. We noticed the differences in their perimeters and how they might be more or less useful for a given purpose. We also focused on labeling the type of unit used for all of our work with area and perimeter.

Teacher Tip: An important part of math is being able to discuss and explain your thinking. One way you can support your student is by using sentence stems. This set of stems from iReady is printable and a great way to help your student talk about their thinking with them or can be used as prompts to help them dive deeper into their learning.

Reminder: We are halfway through the school year which means you should be about halfway through your math curriculum. If you are struggling (or flying through) reach out to your SLPC or myself for support and to help formulate a plan.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Kurashige, skurashige@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: elements of a haiku, nonfiction topics, informational paragraphs, web plans

Activities: In this review period, we started off by wrapping up our haiku writing. Students used the classic elements of a haiku including nature imagery, 3 lines, 5-7-5 syllable patterns, and ending with a twist. They also took time to take the reading portion of the iReady in class. After the iReady, we kicked off our informational paragraph unit. Students generated a list of topics they know a lot about and then chose one topic to focus on. They have planned their paragraph with a web and are ready to start drafting. Our end goal is for each student to have a collection of paragraphs to share. We also took time this month to celebrate our completed haikus with a Gallery Walk. During the Gallery Walk, students read each other's haikus and then wrote compliments to the author of the haiku.

Teacher Tip: Now that we have wrapped up the winter iReady, you will find fresh instructional activities in the iReady app. Doing the instructional activities for 15 - 20 minutes a day is a great way to fill in learning gaps.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Giesen, jgiesen@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Northeast Region, State reports, region project

Activities: The semester wrapped up with a few different class activities: learning about and completing the Northeast section in the five regions book, researching and nearly completing state pennant projects and using teamwork to plan, create and present a regions poster. Due to the day missed for snow and also class time used for sharing some snow day stories, work on the regions projects is being wrapped up during the final week of the month. How fun to hear about and see their creative ideas for their posters. Time was also spent in class discussing the different geographical features in the state of California as we heard back from another Flat Stanley. My hope is that throughout "travels", students learned more about the five regions of the United States and the country they call "home".

Reflection question: Thank you, third graders, for a fabulous first semester. What a joy to "travel" and learn with you! It's exciting to hear you share about the puzzles, games and activities you're also doing at home to help you learn further details about our country. Continue using a US map to become more acquainted with the states and geographic features! Excellent work!

Teacher Info: Mrs. Elgersma, gelgersma@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Internet Research, Google Slides (including transitions and animations)

Activities: This month students worked hard to finish their internet research on a state and wrap up the Google Slide Show. Students worked diligently to research specific facts and provide pictures to add to their presentations. Once finished, each student was required to create an introduction and conclusion slide, and to create transitions/ animations to their presentation. Unfortunately we were unable to present in class, but students can present their projects at home. These state slide shows showcase the advanced skills of this 3rd grade class.

I have left the Google Classroom open so students can access apps and other projects to practice their skills during the next semester.

Teacher Info: Mrs. Montgomery, rmontgomery@meridian.wednet.edu

Topics: Elements of Art: Space, Texture, Line, Form, and Shape; Principles of Design: Balance & Unity

Activities: The snow that fell this month was perfectly timed with our winter art projects! First, we read Winter Sleep: A Hibernation Story by Sean Taylor, Alex Morss, and Cinyee Chiu, and Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal. Students looked at the different animals that burrow underground during the winter and chose their favorite to add to their own winter landscape. They showed some winter berries “over” the snow and a cozy burrowing animal “under” the ground and tied the two together with round red dots for berries and the animal’s cheeks. They used a toothbrush to splatter paint for added texture as well as lines on their animals to show the texture of fur. We finished off the semester drawing snowmen, adding shading to make them look round, and watercolor painting a colorful sky.

Reflection Questions: Thank you, 3rd-grade artists, for sharing your fabulous work at the Share Fair! It has been a pleasure to create art with you throughout the first semester!

Teacher Info: Mrs. Warnock, swarnock@meridian.wednet.edu