Welcome to Third Grade!

11/01/09

Third grade is continuing to work on our service project.  We are still collecting coats, jackets, and sweaters for the needy.  The children have made posters to advertise and we will continue collecting until Thanksgiving.  We have already donated many items.

We are also collecting Capri Sun juice pouches to be recycled.  We have already earned over $70 and will decide what to do with the money in the spring.

RELIGION:

We will be reading about a saint each day.

The circle of care lesson mandated by the diocese will be taught this month.  The third grade lesson is on bullying, we address this topic in general many other times throughout the year. If you would like more information on this lesson, please go to the following link: http://www.catholicnh.org/child-safety/training/circles-of-care-1/

After Thanksgiving we will be starting lessons on advent.

MATH:

We will continue to work on addition and subtraction.  Please continue to practice facts, especially subtraction, it does make a difference.  We will finish working on working with time and money and have a test.  We will begin to work on multiplication concepts.

READING:

We are working on strengthening comprehension skills.  Fiction and non-fiction works are being read using a variety of genres.  Trying to have the children prove answers using parts of the story will strengthen their understanding.   Using graphics with each story will guide them in summarizing and remembering details.

We will be working with leveled readers in small groups at school.  Your child will be given a Christmas chapter book to read and we will work on a book report at school in December.

Some people have had trouble with ordering on line from Scholastic. 

Please try this:

Go to www.scholastic.com

From the top pull down the parents tab

On the right choose Book Club Orders (new)

On the right under Parent Sign In

User Name:  stbenedictacademy

Password:  thirdgrade

Do not use any capital letters

LANGUAGE ARTS:

The children were extremely excited about getting a letter from their pen-pal.  This promoted many creative details to be included in their second letter which is being sent out.

We are learning about nouns, common and proper, singular, plural, and possessive.  We will continue to work on writing paragraphs on various topics using the writing skills we acquire.

SOCIAL STUDIES;

Map skills will continue to practice intermediate directions and map scales.  We are working with Native American culture and where it came from.  Your child has an individual chosen project.  We have already completed all research in the school computer lab, your child needs to finish this project at home.  It will be due on November 12^th.  They will need to present it to the class which will be part of their grade.

Please remember that helping your child means guiding and suggesting and not doing.

We will finish with Native American culture and begin learning about our countries beginning communities.  For this unit your child will receive a small paper back book. This book has many wonderful pictures, maps and charts as well as updated well written information.   It is important that your child know where this book is and return it to school when the unit is finished.

SCIENCE;

In science we will be looking at the Moon, Sun and the Earth.  We will study the size and position of these entities in the universe and how they work together.  We will be doing investigations and observations of the night sky- so expect your student will need to slip outdoors in the dark to see the phase of the moon and its position in the sky a few times late in the month.  We will be talking about space travel and ending with the fun and exciting "Marshmallow Space Suit" project which tests student's knowledge of the parts and functions of Space Suits worn for space travel.

Any questions or suggestions please feel free to stop in or call.

Thank You,

Kathleen Johnston

Math takes practice, try these sites for fun!

A+ Math
This site has plenty of activities and games to help beginning to intermediate math students improve their skills. Flash cards, concentration games, more.

AAA Math
Designed for grades K-8, this comprehensive math resource contains hundreds of pages of basic math skills and randomly-created interactive practice activities.

Ask Dr. Math
This is a huge resource of answers to math questions for elementary to college students. If you have a question not covered, you can ask Dr. Math!

Brain Bashers
Includes an interesting collection of math, logic, and language puzzles, games, and illusions, seperated into easy, medium and hard categories.

Brain Teasers
Brain Teasers presents a weekly word problem for 3 grade ranges; answers are given the following week. A section with past 'teasers' is also available.

CoolMath.com
Have fun while practicing your math through lots of cool games, activities, and animated demonstrations. Includes coloring pages for young kids, and helpful sections for teachers and parents.

Education 4 Kids
The math section of this site includes flashcards, math games and drills. Also includes sections which deal with time and money.

Escape from Knab
You've won a one-way ticket to the Planet Knab, but once you're there, you find that it isn't what you thought it would be. Get a good job, make wise financial decisions, and save enough to pay for the next rocket ship to Earth, or you might just be stuck on Knab forever!

Figure This!
Which shape holds the most popcorn? Can you combine the stamps to make $1.77? These are just a couple of the problems you can ponder in this attractively designed collection of real-world math challenges. Updated regularly; includes resources for parents.

The Fruit Game
Can you be the one who takes the last pieces of fruit from the table? Play this tricky game and find out if you have what it takes to beat the computer! Be sure to read the instructions, and good luck! (You'll need it!)

Funbrain
Math games for all ages. Games include Math Baseball, Power Football, Change Maker, Fresh Baked Fractions, Line Jumper, and Shape Surveyor.

Math.com
Math.com offers a lot for everyone. Students can find homework help, puzzles, online calculators, and more... teachers can take advantage of lesson plans, classroom resources, and career resources... there's even a section for parents with lots of helpful information.

Math Advantage
Math activities and games for grades K-8. Some of the games require that you have the Shockwave plug-in.

Math Goodies
Lessons and exercises for a variety of math subjects. Includes calculators, puzzles, and MathChat message boards where you can ask questions and share ideas.

Math in Daily Life
Shows how math is used everyday through examples dealing with savings and credit, population growth, cooking, and other common situations.

MathStories.com
Includes over 1,000 math word problems for grades 1 through 6, plus instructions on how you can use numbers to do magic.

PlaneMath Activities
Airplanes and flight are the subjects of this high-flying math site. Solve word problems, learn how kites stay up in the air, watch Shockwave animations to learn about people like Amelia Earhart, and even design your own airplane.

Prongo.com
In the mood for a fun collection of games that might just teach you something at the same time? Practice your math skills in games like Lemonade Larry and Batter's Up Baseball. Also includes age-specific games like checkers, connect the dots, matching, word and maze games.

Rick's Math Web
Pre-kindergarden to high school students looking for a better understanding of math will find over 4,750 problems to help them improve their skills. Problems can be printed in worksheet form and tips and tricks are included for each area of study.