Wow!  It's hard to believe that it's almost Spring Break!  We are enjoying so many special events in Room 11.  Read Across America was celebrated by reading a variety of Dr. Seuss stories.  Students were surprised to learn that Dr. Seuss wrote about some very serious topics in his own humorous style.  Recently, we attended the CYT play Honk.  It was a hilarious adaptation of The Ugly Duckling.  We were also treated to a display of our own local talent at the BW Variety Show.  It was an amazing event!

Many third graders met us in Anza Borrego to complete their observations for the desert region of their "Earth Day Report."  Please join us again on Sunday, March 29th at 10:00 a.m. at William Heise Park to complete the final region, mountains.  Students will even be able to take home their own oak tree seedling!

We are looking forward to our next field trip.  On April 2nd, we will visit the Heritage of the Americas Museum at Cuyamaca College.  This is the only field trip where students may bring $1 or $2 spending money.  (This is a way to support the museum as they give the students free admission.  Items are reasonably priced, starting at 25 cents.)

Also, state testing will be here before we know it.  This year, third graders will only be testing Tuesdays through Thursdays before lunch on the weeks of April 27th and May 4th.  If possible, please try not to schedule doctor and dentist appointments during these times.

Thank you for all that you do to support our class!

8:50 Library/Computer

Recess

Reading Workshop 11:00 Music(biweekly)

       Social        Studies

As always, please refer to the homework calendar in the front pocket of your student's red folder.  Students have daily work in their green packets, daily math, and a weekly Wednesday writing assignment which varies depending on current class projects. 

Remember, there is also the weekly oral report.  This month and next, the book report may be any fiction book.  I have many books available to loan, so encourage your student to check our classroom library.  Please select the book by March 23rd so we can be sure that it is not too difficult.  (Check the blue cover sheet for due dates.  Please note that there will be no oral reports for the weeks of March 30th, April 27th, and May 4th.)

Continue working on the Earth Day reports.  Students should have the first fifteen entries completed because we have already visited three of the four areas: riparian area (Mission Trails); ocean (tidepools and  whale watching); desert (Anza Borrego.)  We completed one example in class, but they should work on the others at home.  Third grade teachers will meet families at William Heise County Park in Julian on March 29th at 10:00 a.m.  This should give students plenty of time to finish the final five entries by the due date, Earth Day, April 28th, so don't wait until the last minute.  (If your student is having trouble, please give me a call at 619-820-4431.)

Students recently finished studying division and looking at how it is related to subtraction and inversely to multiplication.  Students should continue to work on memorizing the basic multiplication facts, as this will help them to learn the basic facts in division.  We focus on fact families as we practice basic facts.  (Speaking of fact families... Students should continue practicing basic addition and subtraction facts, too!)

We are currently studying a unit on fractions and decimals.  Students will learn to name fractions and equivalent fractions.  They will also be introduced to adding and subtracting fractions.  They will learn decimal fractions to the hundredths and see how these are related to money.

Soon, we will begin a unit on multiplying numbers with 2, 3, and 4 digits.

We are finishing work in our physical science unit, Matter and Energy.  Students have been investigating sources of energy, where energy is stored, and what actions can be observed as energy is converted into light, heat, sound, and motion energy.  We also learned about the states of matter and measuring the mass of solids and volume of liquids.

We will soon begin our Structures of Life unit which focuses on structures that help plants and animals to survive in their unique habitats.  Scientific observations will also focus on animal behaviors that help them survive.  Students are looking forward to growing plants, raising silkworms, observing crayfish, dissecting squid, and hopefully hatching baby chicks.

Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, students from Room 11 learn social studies with Mrs. Harvey in Room 10.  They recently finished studying the Kumeyaay Indians of San Diego.  The study included the shelters, habitat, customs, history, art, beliefs, tools, clothing, food, and traditions of the Kumeyaay.

They are beginning a unit in their health books.

Third graders are very fortunate to have art lessons with artist and consultant Ms. Pat John.  We created Native American storyteller dolls, which were displayed in our classroom windows in January.  Next, we moved on to Africa, and with Ms. John's expert guidance we designed sangoma dolls from the Endebele people.  These are on display in our windows for B-W's Multicultural Fair (which was on February 6th) and in honor of African-American history month.

Our next lesson with Mrs. John is scheduled for Friday, March 20th.  It's a surprise, so you'll have to wait to see this project.  Thank you to the BW PTA and Foundation for your support of the arts!