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What's Happening in Third Grade?
Math
We will begin wrapping up our study of multiplication and division. We have practiced different strategies for solving multiplication and division problems, and have looked at the connections between multiplication and division. Through the rest of year we will continue both in and outside of class, to work on multiplication facts from multiples of 0 to 11.
We will then begin our study of geometry. We will work with angles, and polygons. The third graders will practice describing and classifying triangles and quadrilaterals based on their angles and line segments. We will also work on measuring objects, and on how to find the perimeter and the area of a polygon.
Science
We have begun our unit on oceans. We will discuss oceans as ever changing bodies of water as students learn about the ocean's currents, salinity, and other aspects of oceans. Students will also learn about the ocean floor and the different zones within the ocean. Each third grader will also do research on a specific underwater animal, and learn how to organize information into a paragraph. Students will be taking what we have learned about the ocean to create a movie. Students are finding and creating pictures to illustrate what we are learning, and are recording dialogue to explain what is in the pictures. We will visit the New England Aquarium together on May 1.
After oceans, we will begin our final science unit on whales. We will study what makes a whale a mammal and not a fish. We will see how whales have adapted to their ocean environment, specifically looking at how they eat, keep warm, and communicate. As a final assessment, students will create their own marine mammals, using the information we’ve learned about whales to create an animal that will survive in the ocean environment.
As part of the whale unit, students will also be writing a five paragraph essay about whales. We will learn how to write a contrast paragraph, contrasting both whales and fish in one paragraph, and baleen and toothed whales in another paragraph. The third body paragraph will be a research paragraph, where each student will research a specific whale species. Students will also practice writing opening and closing paragraphs.
Language Arts and Social Studies
What makes someone an important person? We will discuss this big question in the context of reading a biography of Benjamin Franklin. As we learn about the life and time of Benjamin Franklin we will see what made him an important person. We will also apply this idea to today, and discuss who important people are today.
In the context of reading about Benjamin Franklin, we will also learn how to read a book and share what we've read in a literature group. Students will learn the different roles in a literature group, so that they then are able to have meaningful conversations with their classmates about what they have read. This will help us prepare for our next reading unit, where students will read a book with a literature group. Each group will read a different book, and together they will be able to discuss what they have read.
In writing, students will continue their work on paragraph writing. They will practice writing a paragraph with a topic sentence, reasons and supporting details, and a closing sentence. We will practice this using a variety of writing prompts. We will then move on to writing informative paragraphs in conjunction with science.
At the end of the year, we will study about our great state Massachusetts. We will practice reading a map, and practice using a key, scale, and cardinal directions. We will look at the geography of the state, looking at major water ways and land forms. We will also learn about different regions and major cities within the state, and what they are known for. |
Hebrew and Holidays
Pesach is a big event in third grade. Students are very excited to perform the Pesach play. Through this play the kids learn the story and the vocabulary that goes with the Pesach story. In addition to the play, we will discuss other Pesach customs such as burning the chametz, the seder plate, and foods we eat on Pesach.
During our short break from major holidays, our Hebrew language study will return to reading short stories and working on our Hebrew fluency. We will read a few short stories. We will work on the order of the day, and students will have a chance to write their own stories about their days. We will be previewing new vocabulary through oral Hebrew, worksheets, writing, and games.
After Pesach, we have many holidays in a row: Yom Hashoah V’Ha’gvurah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day), Lag B’Omer, and Shavuot. The kids will learn the flag, symbols, anthem, capital, and languages of Israel. We will also create a timeline from our forefathers to modern day Israel.
Tefillot
Now that students are comfortable with Ashrei, we will begin focusing on other prayers. WE will spend time working on Mi Chamocha and the Amida. We will end the year working on Aleinu.
Torah
We have begun to study Parshat Toldot. We will meet Isaac and Rebecca and their two sons, Jacob and Esau. We will focus on the relationships within the family and the relationships with Hashem. This is a long, complicated story, and the students will ask deep questions, grapple with the texts and their own knowledge of the world, and their concepts of good and evil. We will continue this story through the end of the year.
The first week of school students began thinking of the journey through third grade and wrote their own Tefillat ha-Derekh (travelers’ prayer):
Tefillat ha-Derekh (A Prayer for Travel)
Through Third Grade
Written by Cohen Hillel Academy’s Third Grade 2011-2012
May it be your will, Lord our God and God of our ancestors, that You guide us comfortably through an awesome year in third grade and through troubles.
Bring us new friends, love, happiness, health, joy, fun, hope, safety, peace, and care.
Protect us from danger, bullies, injuries, trouble, bad report cards, and bad grades.
Bless friends, the class, us, homework, God, and the teachers.
We hope that when you look at us you see good, caring, loving, smart, non-bullying, amazing, respectful, happy, fun, intelligent, friendly students and children.
Blessed are You, God, who hears our prayer. |
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