Category Archives: 3rd Grade

Third Grade News: March 12, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: March 10, 2010

Important Info!

There is no school Monday, March 15th.

Book Report Characters are due on Wednesday, March 17th.

The Use/Reuse Project turned out very nicely!  We enjoyed listening to all the presentations in class.

The Spring Gala and Auction is March 20th.  Come and bid on different items to help fund raise!

Religion

After talking about the different parts of the Mass, Chapter 18 focuses on celebrating Penance and Reconciliation.  Students will understand that we make the choice to love God and that he is our forgiving Father.  As a part of our Lenten activities, we will be attending Stations of the Cross on March 19th at 2pm.  

Reading

After finishing our classroom novel, we will be switching back to our readers.  This week we will read “Lon Po Po” which is the Chinese version of “Little Red Riding Hood.”  Students will make judgements about characters and evaluate the decisions characters make.  We will also review skills such as  summarizing and deciphering context clues.   

Language Arts

 We are reviewing compound words and how to use apostrophes to show ownership.  We also will be revisiting synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms.  As we continue to write, students are focusing on subject/verb agreement and how to expand on their ideas.  

Math

After learning basic division facts and rules, we will practice dividing by more challenging numbers such as 3,4,6 and 7.  Keep up with the multiplication flashcards!  We will be studying the different ways to divide and taking a hands on approach to word problems.  Multiplication/division flashcards should be reviewed every night.

 Social Studies

 In Chapter 7 we are learning about the history of St. Augustine and it’s founders.  Students will  compare people, places, and events in communities within the United States.  We will be locating regions explored by Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain and compare the two explorers.  Expect a Chapter 7 Test near the end of the week, check assignment notebooks for exact date.

Science   

Continuing with our Earth Science Unit, we will be comparing different types of soil and identifying the materials in it.  Students will also learn how to recognize the different layers that soil forms.  Nearing the end of Chapter 8, we will be discussing how pollution affects plants and the different types of pollution.     

 

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Third Grade News: March 5, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: March 5, 2010

Important Info

With the completion of Terra Nova, we will be getting back into our usual routine!  Social Studies Use/Reuse projects are due this week.  Students will have the opportunity to share their creations with the class and their advertisements. 

Wednesday, March 10 we have a School Mass at 9am.  We will also partake in Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 12 at 2 pm.  We welcome those who can join us. 

There is no school on March 15th.

Religion

In Chapter 17, “We Worship at Mass”, students will describe how we gather to praise God in the Introductory Rites.  We will also talk about how we can listen to God’s word and receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. 

Reading

Both classrooms will continue reading their novels this week.  Room 111 is reading The Whipping Boy, while Room 112 reads Ramona.  Please make sure your child is keeping up with the reading and completing the book guide as assigned.    

Language Arts  

Students will continue to review syllables and how to divide words containing prefixes and suffixes.  We will also revisit short and long vowel sounds.  In spelling,  students will study words that have silent letters and r controlled vowels.  Homophones will also be revisited, words that sound the same, but have different spellings.  This week, we will also be taking some time to focus on writing.  Students will have the opportunity to complete some writing assignments in school, while reviewing basic sentence structure (subjects/ verbs).  

Math      

 After completing division concepts, in Chapter 10, there will be a test on Tuesday or Wednesday (3/9 or 3/10).  Look in students’ assignment notebooks for  exact test date early in the week.  We will be moving into Chapter 11, where students will learn how to use a table to solve division problems.  Students will also learn how to show the relationship between multiplication and division using fact families.  Keep up with those multiplication facts and now, division facts!    

Social Studies

Students will be presenting their Use/Reuse projects to the class this week.  We will also be moving into Chapter 7, “Communities and Their Histories.”  Students will learn about the accomplishments of  Christopher Columbus, Hernando de Soto, Juan Ponce de Leon, Jacques Carter, and Samuel de Champlain.  Identifying cause and effect relationships will be worked on through out this chapter.

Science     

Continuing with our Earth Science Unit, we will move into Chapter 8, “Conserving Resources.”  Students will identify common resources and recognize the differences between renewable, reusable, and nonrenewable resources. 

Room 111

Student of the Week was Emily Rausch!  She made a wonderful poster complete with family pictures and colorful drawings.  The class enjoyed learn more about Emily and some of her favorite things, such as chocolate ice cream with sprinkles. Yum!  Expect a Whipping Boy Test on  Friday (3/12), look in assignment notebooks for exact date early in the week.  Use/Reuse Projects are due on Thursday, March 11.  Relgion Chapter 17 Test will be Friday March 12th.  

Room 112

  Our student of the week was Danielle Dahill.  She made a great poster, displaying different pictures of family.  The March Poem is due on the 22nd. 

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Third Grade News: February 26, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: February 24, 2010

Important Info!

 Next week, will be devoted primarily to our Terra Nova Testing.  Since this is a new experience for the third graders please reassure them at home that although we expect their best effort, they should not be worried.  Please make sure that your child gets to bed early, has a GOOD breakfast, and brings a fruit or vegetables for snack time.  This week, the children have been practicing for the tests using practice booklets.  Please go over these booklets that we are sending home today (2/26).  Each child needs two number 2 pencils and a silent reading book to keep at their desk.  We do have some extra pencils here at school. 

Wednesday, March 3rd students will meet in church for 8:00 Mass.  

Friday, March 5th we will be attending Stations of the Cross at 2p.m.  You are welcome to join us.  

Tuesday, March 9th  students’  Social Studies “Use and Reuse” projects are due.       

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Third Grade News: February 19, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: February 24, 2010

Important Information!

We enjoyed meeting everyone for conferences and we’re delighted that so many people were able to come for the classes’ biographies.  Don’t forget President Mobiles are due Wednesday, February 24th.   

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, February 23rd is a dress down/pajama day hosted by Student Council.   

This week we continue to practice for the Terra Nova.  Please review the practice booklets with your children.   

Next week will be our last Stress Relief class.  Hopefully students will use these helpful tips for relaxation.

Religion

In Chapter 16 students will examine how we actively participate at Mass.  We will also discuss how Jesus gave us the Eucharist at the Last Supper,along with how Mass is a sacrifice as well as a meal.  We are also discussing Ash Wednesday and the Lenten Season.  On Wednesday, we all received ashes during Mass.  Every Friday, at 2pm, during Lent we will be attending Stations of the Cross.  If you are available at that time feel free to join us.

Reading

There will be a Unit Test on Tuesday, February 23rd.   Both classes are going to begin reading novels. 

Language Arts

Students will be identifying frequent spelling patters for the /j/ and /s/ sounds.   They will also be learning  and using silent letters e,gh, and nb.  In Phonics, we are reviewing syllables and how to divide words containing prefixes and suffixes. 

Math

 Next week, we will be working on division, especially dividing by 5 and 10.  We will also be working on word problems involving division.  As we discussed at conferences, everyone needs to know their multiplication facts backwards and forwards!!

Social Studies

We are looking forward to seeing every one’s Presidential Mobile on Wednesday, February 24th.  We will be concluding Chapter 6, with a Test on Thursday, February 25th.  

Science

We will continue to look at how our Earth has changed over a long time due to erosion and weathering, and changed quickly by the erupting volcanoes and earthquakes. (Did you feel our earthquake last week?)  We anticipate the Chapter 7 Test to be on Friday, February 26hth.   

 

  

  

 

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Third Grade News: February 5, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: February 3, 2010

Important Info

Don’t forget, Biography Book Reports are February 8th, and we would love it if you could come!  Room 112 will be presenting at 8:30 in the morning, and Room 111 will present at 1:30 in the afternoon.  This is also the Erin Potts dress down day; students are encouraged to wear lime green or white clothing.  

We have 8am Mass on February 10th, meet in the church. 

Thursday, February 11th are parent teacher conferences, there is no school. No school February 12th and 15th in honor of Presidents Day.

We will have a small Valentine’s Day Party on February 10th students may bring in Valentine cards for each of  their classmates.  Please have your child sign the valentines but do not put any names on the  envelope. 

Children enjoyed their first session with Valerie Bowers learning some stress reduction and self massage techniques.  If you’re lucky, yourchild will share some of these ideas with you!

Religion 

We are talking about the sacraments of initiation, reconciliation, and service. Our class attended Adoration this past Monday.  Wednesday, the children had their throats blessed in honor of St. Blaise Day.  We will also be listening to Fr. Dennis Koopman on Tuesday, February 9th.  Father is conducting the Parish Mission, and he will talk about different vocations.   We will attending Mass and receiving ashes on Feb. 17th for Ash Wednesday.  Starting Friday, Feb. 19th, the entire school will be attending Stations of the Cross at 2pm.  Parents are always welcome to attend.

Reading   

We will be working on generalizations, using bar graphs, figurative language, and reviewing cause and effect as well as suffixes.  The stories we will be reading are The “Big Blue Whale” and “JJ’s Big Day.”  That will complete the first Unit in our second book.  The unit test will follow.

Language Arts

Students will be learning about prefixes and reviewing suffixes, base words, and endings.  Compound words and syllables will be reviewed as well.   In Unit 7 we will identifying different kinds of adjectives and learning about synonyms.  There will be a possible Unit Test Feb. 18th or 19th.   In spelling students will be learning about homographs which are words that have the same spelling, but different meanings and pronunciations.  We will also be working on the o, j, and s sounds and spelling patterns.

Math

Children are learning all about probability in Chapter 7.  We will be conducting probability experiments in class.  Prepare for the Chapter 7 Test on Wednesday, Feb. 10th.  Starting February 16th we will be working on division concepts.  Please help your child master all multiplication facts before we begin division.

Social Studies

In the next couple of weeks we will be continuing with our study of different communities as well as learning about Daniel Boon,  Harriett Tubman, and the Underground Railroad. Possible Chapter 6 test on Feb. 19th.   We will also be focusing on Presidents Day, students will have a Presidential Mobile Project due Feb. 24th.     

 Science

Children had a wonderful time in Science Lab “making” sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks.  Please ask your child how they accomplished this.  In Chapter 7, “Forces that Shape Land,” we will be learning what  landforms are and how they change.

 

Room 111

Sarah Schultz was Student of the Week .  We enjoyed learning about her family and looking at the different pictures on her poster.  Sarah told us how she loves to eat brownies and that, in the future,  she would like to be a Kindergarten Teacher. 

Room 112

Student of the Week was Michael Fanta.  Michael brought in a wonderful poster filled with super family pictures.  He also shared with us his award winning Pinewood Derby car and his fabulous collection of flattened pennies.  

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Third Grade: January 30, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: January 28, 2010

Important Info!

Catholic Schools’ Week  begins on Sunday, January 31st with 9:30am Mass.  Open House follows Mass, 10:30 – 12:30.  Come see the hard work students have completed!    Students will also participate in a book trade on February 4th.  So, look around your houses and find a book you would like to trade and bring it to school on Thursday.  

All students will be presenting their biography report on Monday, February 8th.  Children have the opportunity to dress up or bring in props to represent their person. 

Religion

Chapter 13 introduces the ways the Church celebrates the sacraments.  Students will learn the sacraments of Christian initiation, healing, and service to others.

Reading

  This week we will be reading “Cactus Hotel”.  Students will review cause and effect relationships and how to identify a sequence of events.  We will also identify the suffixes -y, -ly, and -able and recognize how they change word meaning.  Vocabulary words this week are discovered, insects, remains, ribs, tough, and treat.

Phonics

In Unit 6, students will work with prefixes, base words, suffixes, and endings.  We will also review syllables and compound words.

Language Arts

The end of Unit 6 reviews suffixes along with contractions.  There will be a Unit 6 Tests on Wednesday, February 3rd.  Unit 7 begins with the different types of adjectives.

Spelling 

Students will be working with the long i spelling patterns and the different spelling patterns that can make the /k/ sound. 

Math

Chapter 7 introduces probability.  Students will decide if an event is possible, impossible, likely, unlikely, or certain.  They will also be conducting probability experiments and organizing their results in a table.  Don’t forget, keep practicing those multiplication facts!! 

Social Studies

Chapter 6 begins to describe how individuals, events, and ideas changed a community over time.  We will also identify how people on a community adapt to or modify the physical envirnoment.  The skills for include drawing conclusions, conflict resolutions, and identifying main ideas.

Science

Continuing with our Earth Science Unit, students will be learning about landforms and how they change.

 

 Room 111

Our Student of the Week was Charlie Pujol.  He made a great poster, and we enjoyed learning about his hobbies. There will be Phonics Unit 5 Test and a Religion Chapter 12 Test on Tuesday, Feb. 2nd.  ScienceChapter 6 Test will be on Monday, February 1st. 

Room 112

Students of the Week was Abby Hurley.  She painted a wonderful poster filled with photos of family and friends. 

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Third Grade: Janurary 22, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: January 25, 2010

Important Information!

Beginning third quarter, we have established the frog behavior program that the students were using in second grade.  Students will receive a weekly behavior chart which will be coming home weekly for you to sign and discuss.  These charts need to be returned the first day of the following week.  Children who managed to keep 10 of their frogs during the week will have the opportunity to participate in “Frog Friday”.  

*Report cards will be going home Monday, January 25th.  Conferences will be February 11th.

Remember, Catholic Schools’ Week begins with 9:30 Mass Sunday, 1/31 and Open House following 10:30 – 12:30.  

We’d like to give you a heads up that you will be invited to attend your child’s biography book report presentation on February 8th.  Children will have the opportunity to dress up or bring props to the presentation as well as completing a written book report.

Religion

Students will be learning about the different vocations within the Church.  They’ll realize that God calls each of us to serve him in a particular way. 

Reading

We will be reading “In My Family” and learning about author’s purpose and point of view.  Purposes include informing, persuading, or entertaining; sometimes there is a combination of purposes.   Author’s point of view is how he/she feels about the situation.  We will review sequences and figuative language.   There will be a quiz on Friday, January 29th.

Phonics

We continue to work on vowel digraphs and pairs.  We are also reviwing that the number of vowel sounds is the number of syllables in a word.  Students will also be learning about dipthongs which are two letters blended together to make one vowel sound.

Language

Students will continue their work with irregular verbs.  We will also learn about forms of the verb be along with the use of main verbs and helping verbs.

Spelling

We will be focusing on the five long i spelling patterns along with the tricky /ea/ spelling pattern. 

Math

We’re continuing in Chapter 6 and will be working on how to use and make pictographs, bargraphs, and graphs with ordered pairs. The hardest concept in this chapter is the differences between range, mean, median, and mode.  There will be a math test on Friday, January 29th. 

Social Studies

We’re talking about our natural resources and how to conserve and recycle.   Social Studies Test is anticipated on Monday, 2/1.

Science

Last week  started our Earth Science Unit.  Students are learning what minerals and rocks are and the different types of rocks form within the rock cycle.  Hopefully, students will be ready for the Chapter 6 Science Test at the end of the week.  

 

Room 111

We will have a Chapter 12 Religion Test on Friday, 1/29.  There will be a Simple Solutions Quiz on Tuesday, 1/26. 

Room 112

 Eva Rapp was our Mass Reporter.  She told us that Fr. Watkins talked about Jesus’ first miracle, changing water into wine and also the tragedy in Haiti.  Religion Chapter 12 Test will be on Wednesday, 1/27.  

 

 

 

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Third Grade News: January 15, 2010

By Erin Thomas | Published: January 13, 2010

 

FYI

There is NO SCHOOL on January 18th, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Please remember to return permission slips for the Stress Relief three part program by 1/19.   Catholic Schools’ Week is around the corner, please save the date (1/31) to attend the 9:30 Mass and Open House following.  We’ve started third quarter and have high hopes for all students! 

Religion

Students will be learning about the different vocations within the Church.  They’ll realize that God calls each of us to serve him in a particular way. 

Phonics

We continue to work on vowel digraphs and pairs.  We are also starting to relate at the number of vowel sounds to the number of syllables in a word.

Language

During Unit 6 students will be working with irregular verbs and their spelling patterns.

Spelling

Students will review how to separate words for easier spelling and working with the different spelling patterns for /s/ which are s, ss, ce, ci, and cy.  We will also review homophones, especially there/their/they’re,  your/you’re,  its/it’s,  and contractions.

Math

Even though we had our test this past week, please keep reviewing the multiplcation facts at home, practice makes perfect!  Chapter 6, “Graph and Analyze Data”, starts out showing how to collect and organize data using a tally chart. We will then explore how to use range, median,  mode, and mean.  

Social Studies

Chapter 5 talks about different environments in communities across our country.   Students will describe variations in the physical environment, including climate, landforms, and natural resources.   We will continue to work on drawing conclusions after reading the material presented.

Science

Nest week well start our Earth Science Unit.  We will be learning what mineral and rocks are and the different types of rocks.  Students will also be making fossils in Science Lab.

Tuesday, Jan. 12th Mrs. Klimczak, a certified professional organizer came to St. Cletus to help our children become better organized.  January is a traditional organizational month and we were excited to learn all the useful tips in order to get ourselves organized!

  

Learning Centers

Students now have the opportunity to work in learning centers reviewing concepts and skills.  These cooperative small groups engage in activities and games beneficial to their learning.

Room 111

The Student of the Week this week was Dylan Hughes.  We enjoyed learning about Dylan’s family and some of his favorite hobbies.  Don’t forget book reports are due on Friday, January 22nd! 

Room 112

Kevin Clarke was our Mass Reporter this week.  Pranika Kumaran was our Student of the Week.  We enjoyed her beautiful poster of family pictures and decorated with flowers.     

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