The Polar Express

This week, we have been reading and discussing The Polar Express.  This morning, we watched the film adaptation of the book. 

In this post, please tell me two similarities and two differences between the book and the movie.

Also, please tell me which version you liked more and why. 

Merry Christmas 304!

Snowmen at Night

Comparing and Contrasting

 
 
Please choose between two of the 'Night Before Christmas' books to compare and contrast.  In your comment, please find at least 3 similarities and 3 differences between the books.  Happy posting!

Three Branches of Government

Two Bad Ants Sequencing

This week, we have been working on the sequence of events in our reading.   Please write a summary of Two Bad Ants using your Graphic Organizer for help.   Please remember to use the transition words:  First, Next, Then, After that, and Finally.


Happy Posting!

U.S. Constitution

Today, we learned that our country was founded by a set of rules, laws, and rights that were written way back in 1787.  This rule of law was called the United States Constitution.

Here is our Constitution's Preamble (or introduction.)



We Declare our Independence!

This week we have been learning about Civics and our Government during Social Studies.  We are learning about the story of America and why we wanted our independence from England.  In this post, pretend you are a colonist writing a letter to King George of England.  What would you like to tell him?

Here are some video clips to refresh your memory about the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution.

"No More Kings"

"The Shot Heard 'Round the World" - Revolution

"Fireworks!" - Declaration of Independence

"Too Late to Apologize" - Declaration of Independence Music Video



Helping Hershey

Hello 304! Hershey's money skills are hopeless! You see, he wants to buy his new sister, Adelyn, a nice gift for Christmas. So he jumped up on Mr. D's counter and dropped his piggy bank on the floor. When it broke open, Hershey was able to collect the following money amounts:

 

 

 Hershey wants to buy Adelyn the book, What Dogs Want for Christmas.  It costs $3.50 cents.  Hershey thinks he has $3.62, so he will sneak to the store and buy the book. 

Is Hershey correct?  Why or why not?  Please explain and show your work.

Bully-Free at Discovery!

Special shout out to Ben Schumacher for putting together this amazing video for us!

Being Organized!

We all know how important it is to be organized.  It is also important to be organized when writing.  Make sure your Weird Animal Adventure story has a great beginning, solid middle, and a fantastic ending!

Money, Money, Money!

Thanksgiving is...

This Thursday, we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  In the post, please tell me what Thanksgiving means to you... in other words, what are you thankful for?

Adaptations

Today we have learned a lot about animal and plant adaptations within each ecosystem. Make sure to click on the adaptations links under the Science resources for more learning fun. You should also check back there for more resources for your upcoming Science test on Tuesday.

Deep thoughts

GoAnimate.com: Is there life out there? by degraffr

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Family Movie Night and Bully-Free @ Discovery

The Discovery PTO will host Discovery students and families for "Family Movie Night" on Friday, November 18th.  The fun begins at 7:00 pm. 

The main feature will be Gnomeo and Juliet. Make sure to make it for the previews as you might see the Bully-Free at Discovery videos!

Friendly Letter to a Book Character

Hello 304!  Please write a friendly letter to one of your fictional characters from your Read to Self books. 

You may want to include what you like about the character, your favorite part of the story, and anything else that you infer.

You should also ask two or three questions to the character in an attempt to get to know them better.

Please use correct spelling and punctuation.  Good luck and happy posting!

Ecosystems

Biomes

 

                               


                                       

Fun Inferring Song

Be sure to practice your inferring skills by going to the reading resources and playing some inferring games.

Rounding with Mario

Helping Hershey

Hello third graders!

My dog, Hershey, needs some serious science help!  He is going to take a food chain quiz this weekend and he still does not understand how a food chain works.   Would you please explain food chains to Hershey?

Try to include the following terms:  decomposer, consumer, producer, Sun, nutrients, herbivore, carnivore, omnivore, soil

Honoring our Veterans

 Hello 304!  On November 11th, we honor the brave men and women who have served or are actively serving in our nation's military.  For Veteran's Day, please write a letter of thanks to a Veteran that you know or have known.  If you do not personally know someone who has served in the military, please write Dear Veteran in your greeting.  Please include reasons why you are thankful for their service.

Diary of a....

304's Library project.  Diary of a .....

Food Chains and Food Webs

Pay attention to all of our vocabulary terms from our Food Chains and Food Webss lesson.  I think these videos are amazing!




303's song of choice, it sures gets you rocking out for science!

Story Elements

Throughout this week, we have read stories involving mathematical riddles like One Riddle, One Answer and One Grain of Rice.  We focused on identifying the elements of a story, then we compared and contrasted those elements.

In this post, please write a comment about a story you have read during Read to Self time.  In your comment, please include the key elements to a story.  These elements include: Title, Characters, Setting, Problem, and Solution.  As always, please use complete sentences when typing.  Happy Posting!

Self-Reflection

With your first quarter of third grade already in the books, I want you to take a moment to reflect on your first quarter progress. Please answer the following two questions in the comment section below.


What are you most proud of accomplishing during the first quarter of third grade and why?

What is something that you need to work on to get better at during the second quarter and why?

Vampire Bats

Going Batty

We have started our Bat study just in time for Halloween!  We have learned that many bats find their prey by using echo, echo, echo.... Echolocation!

Please write one batty fact in the comment section below.

Author's Purpose

Hello Readers!

  This week, we are working on determining author's purpose.  We know that authors write to either inform, entertain, or to persuade.   In your post, please write the book that have read, the author's purpose, and why you think that way.  As always, remember to use complete sentences.  Happy posting!

Comparing and Contrasting

This week, we have been reading all sorts of books about wolves.  We have also been working on our reading strategy of comparing and contrasting.  In this post, please compare and contrast Wolf! with Big, Bad Wolves at School. 

Find at least 2 similarities and 2 differences between the two books.  As always,  please use complete sentences. Happy posting!

This week, we have been reading all sorts of books about wolves.  We have also been working on our reading strategy of comparing and contrasting.  In this post, please compare and contrast Wolf! with Big, Bad Wolves at School. 

Find at least 2 similarities and 2 differences between the two books.  As always, please use complete sentences.               Happy posting!

Compare and Contrast

Perimeter, Perimeter

Sum it up!

This week we have been working on summarizing a story. In your post today, please summarize a story that you read during Read to Self time. Remember that summarizing is only telling the most important parts of a story.

You may want to include the main characters, the setting, and what happened in the beginning, middle, and end of the story.

If you have not finished a story this week, you can summarize our shared story, Zathura.


Please write in complete sentences when you summarize. Happy summarizing 304!

Instructing Hershey

Today, you will be taking your first Science test.  Hershey would also like to take the test, but he has been a bad dog!  He has not been studying, so he was hoping that you could teach him at least three things that he will need to know about from Chapter 1.  Thank you for explaining the science concepts to Hershey.  Let's keep Hershey out of the doghouse!


Happy teaching 304!

Questioning Activity

     Throughout this week, we have been asking questions before, during, and after reading. 

In this post, I would like you to choose one of your after reading questions from either the book, The Lotus Seed or Fly Away Home. 

• Please type your after reading question.
• Please attempt to answer your own question. 
• You also need to tell me if you found the answer in the Text or whether you used Inferring to answer.
• Use correct spelling and punctuation.

Happy Posting!

Subtraction Wars: Episode VII The Return of the 1 that was Taken Away

Subtracting Across Zeros

Today, we are working on subtracting across 0s.  Here are a few methods that we learned.  Those zeros are tricky, but we will figure them out with the help of South Dakota Jones.

Here is a video showing how to use the Square method.

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Story Elements

This week, we have been working on identifying the key elements to a fiction story.


The Elements to a Story that we have focused on this week include:

• Characters - the Who of a story
• Setting - the Where and When of a story
• Plot - the why and the how of a story

We also learned that most stories have a problem and a solution involved in the plot. 

In your post, please tell me:

1. what story you are reading
2. and describe at least 2 elements of your story

Remember to use complete sentences in your post.  Happy Posting 304!

What's the Big Idea?

Hello 304!  Last week, we focused on the reading strategy of main idea and supporting details.  In this post, I would like you to tell me about the book you read last week. 

In the post, please write down:

1. the book title
2. the book's main idea
3. at least 2 supporting details

Here is an example post:
I read Judy Moody was in a Mood.  It was about Judy having to create a Me Collage for her third grade class.  She hid a fake hand in the toilet to scare Stink for her Funniest thing ever.  She also was in the TP club.

As always, focus on starting each sentence with a capital letter and finishing a sentence with a punctuation mark.  Happy Posting!

Class Pets

304 is now officially a ZOO!  Not only do we have 24 wild third graders and a goofy teacher, but we now have a class flytrap named Jaws and a painted turtle named Canvas!  When you stop in, make sure to bring treats for the pets.

Tuning in to Interesting Words

Welcome 304 to your first blogging experience! This morning, we learned about a reading strategy to expand our vocabulary, called Tune in to Interesting Words. We found interesting words in our Read aloud, Flossie and the Fox, as well as our shared story, Dear Juno.

During your Read to Self time, I asked you to find at least 3 interesting words and record them into your Reading Notebook.

Please respond to this post by commenting what book you were reading and the list of interesting words you wrote down in your notebook.

I can't wait to see the amazing list of words that we come up with! Happy Posting!

304's Spelling Program

We will use spelling word lists that follow particular spelling patterns. On the right side, I have included some useful and fun sites to help you study spelling. SpellingCity.com is a particularly fun and engaging site where you can play games, practice, and actually take a test on the site. Just scroll down and click on the story name for the week.

In an attempt to conserve paper usage, students will be writing their new spelling words for the week in their planners. You will find them in Words of the Week box. Students are also given a paper copy of the words that they can choose to leave at school or take home to study.

You will always find the week's spelling words located on the right under spelling resources. Just click on This Week's Spelling Words.

Within the Daily 5 framework, students will be working on their spelling words and patterns during Word Work choice time.

We will have a spelling test every Friday. If you have any questions, please email or feel free to comment on this site.

304's Class Constitution

With the implementation of Responsive Classroom again this year, I have added a link to http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/. Here you can find information about the philosophy, approach, morning meeting, and rule creation. Yesterday, we were able to discuss and then create our own set of positive classroom rules. When you visit the classroom, you will see that all 24 students signed our Class Constitution. We love the last rule!

304's Class Constitution

1. Try your hardest.



2. Have self-control.



3. Be respectful.



4. Be quiet when others are talking or working.



5. Take care of your classroom and school.



6. Have FUN!

Meet the Teacher

Greg Heffley versus Nate Wright

Alright class, I would like your opinion on which series of books I should buy more of more my new class next year. Should I buy more Big Nate books or more Diary of a Wimpy Kid books? Please tell me which one you like more and why.

Have a fantastic summer!

Holes Characters

Which character in Holes is your favorite and why?

Which character in Holes is your least favorite and why?

Digging into a Good Book - Holes

Good morning 304! We have dug into our last book adventure for the year. I would like you to summarize what you have learned from the beginning of Holes so far. Remember, a summary is telling the main ideas of the story. Happy digging!

Which character are you most like?

Hello 304!

Now that we are officially hooked on the Mysterious Benedict Society, I wanted to ask you which of the main characters are you most like and why?

Are you most like Reynie?

Like Kate?

Like Sticky?

Like Constance?

I can't wait to read your responses! Happy Posting!

Rocking out in 304!

Hello Third Grade Rockers! The past few weeks, we have been learning about the 3 types of rocks. Can you tell me what the 3 types of rocks are named? Also, please tell me which type of rock is your favorite and why? Feel free to include an example of a cool rock as well. Happy Posting!

Literature Circle - Judy Moody Saves the World

Please write a post telling why other kids, both in the class and everywhere else, should read Judy Moody Saves the World. Remember to be persuasive, but don't give away too much of the plot. Happy Posting!

Literature Circle- The Secrets of Droon

Please write a post telling why other kids, both in the class and everywhere else, should read The Secrets of Droon- The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet. Remember to be persuasive, but don't give away too much of the plot. Happy Posting!

Literature Circle- The Chalk Box Kid

Please write a post telling why other kids, both in the class and everywhere else, should read The Chalk Box Kid. Remember to be persuasive, but don't give away too much of the plot. Happy Posting!

Literature Circle - Horrible Harry Moves Up to Third Grade

Please write a post telling why other kids, both in the class and everywhere else, should read Horrible Harry Moves up to Third Grade. Remember to be persuasive, but don't give away too much of the plot. Happy Posting!

Literature Circle - Blizzard of the Blue Moon

Please write a post telling why other kids, both in the class and everywhere else, should read Blizzard of the Blue Moon. Remember to be persuasive, but don't give away too much of the plot. Happy Posting!