Probability and Graphing

We have been busy making bar graphs and pictographs and learning about probability!!!  We have surveyed the class with different questions, such as "What is your favorite sport?"  Then we used the survey results to make graphs. 
Once we learned about probabilty spinners, the class then created spinners!  Below are spinners made by the class and the graphs showing results of 20 spins with the spinner.  Then the class wrote their results using probability vocabulary (certain, more likely, less likely, equally likely, and impossible).

For additional practice:
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/math-prob.html
http://jmathpage.com/JIMSProbabilitypage.html

Black History Month Research Project

We have busy in class researching a famous black history person for Black History Month!  The class read information about a person and then wrote 3 paragraphs about that person's life (early years, adult years, and interesting facts).  The class then decorated a Pringles cans to represent their person.  The class did an amazing job!!  Come see these projects at Open House in March! 

Third Grade Musical

Third Grade did such a great job performing the Third Grade Musical!!  I'm so glad that so many family members were able to see the awesome production!!   I am so proud of all their hard work!  Below are a few pictures of the show. 





Weathering experiments

We have been studying weathering in science.  Weathering is the process by which rock is worn down and broken apart.  This then creates soil.  We searched through soil and found that soil contains many different materials, such as rocks, sticks, and sand.  Today, we looked at a gobbstopper and how water changes the gobbstopper.  Then we dropped water onto sugar cubes.  The cubes are like rocks and when we put water on them, we saw the sugar cube start to break apart.  This breaking apart is weathering.  Check out the pictures below for what we did during our experiments!!

Links to study more about weathering:
http://www.kidsgeo.com/geology-for-kids/0060-weathering.php
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/earth/the-dynamic-earth/weathering-erosion-article/
http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_weathering.html

Fraction Fun!

We have been studying fractions.  We have identified fractions, compared fractions, and we have created fractions. 

One game you can do at home is to use dominoes to play fraction war.  You need at least two people to play the game. 
1. Divide the dominoes among the players.
2.  Put the dominoes face down.
3.  Each player will then turn one of their dominoes.
4.  Look at the dominoes to see who has the largest fraction.
5.  Whoever has the largest fraction keeps all the dominoes!
6.  The game continues until one person has all the dominoes.

Websites to practice fractions!
http://www.aaamath.com/grade3.htm#topic109
http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/mrsthonus/math.cfm?subpage=150593

Below are pictures of fraction posters we made and some students playing fraction games. 

Figurative Language Practice

Happy New Year!  Our first week back from the winter break was a busy week!  In writing, we practiced four types of figurative language. 
First we discussed alliteration.  Alliteration is when you write a sentence using words that start with the same letter or the same letter sound.  For example: Dad did a dance downtown.
On Tuesday, we discussed onomatopoeias.  Onomatopoeias are sound words such as boom, crash, and honk. 
On Wednesday, we discussed idioms.  Idioms are phrases that mean something.  They know that I often say "don't spill the beans" if we read a book that they have read before.  The class knows that when I say that then I mean don't spoil the ending to the book. 
On Thursday, we discussed similes.  Similes are when you compare to different things.  For example, I am as crazy as a fox. 

See the projects some of the students in the class did to show figurative language.

This is an idiom book for the idiom "hold your horses."

This idiom "hold your horses" means to slow down.

This is an example of alliteration.

This is another example of alliteration.

  
 

This is the idiom "sly fox."




This is the meaning of the idiom "sly fox."



This is an example of a comic strip filled with onomatopoeias.

This is an example of an onomatopoeia poster.

Arctic Animals and Adaptations

This will be my last post before the new year! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday break!

We have been reading and learning about different Arctic and Antarctic animals and their adaptations. Adaptations are physical and behaviors that the animals have developed to help them survice in their environment. 

We have made Arctic animals with facts about their animals.  Below are some pictures of some made by the class! 

For more information about animals and their adaptations, please see the following links.
http://library.thinkquest.org/3500/
http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/climate/adaptations/index.cfm