Check out Mrs. Beck's Decorated Pumpkins! October, 2006
Discovering Rocks and Minerals
2007 Incubating Eggs

Math:

In Math the third grade uses the Pennsylvania Mathematics Scott Foresman series. This series allows us to truly teach for understanding with our students while improving their problem solving skills. The content for this series is divided into the following chapters: Place Value and Money, Addition and subtraction Number Sense, Adding and Subtracting, Time, Data and Graphs, Multiplication Concepts and Facts, More Multiplication Facts, Division Concepts and Facts, Geometry and Measurement, Fractions and Measurement, Decimals and Measurement, Multiplying and Dividing Greater Numbers, Measurement and Probability.

The order in which we cover these chapters may vary.

Reading:

The Erie School District has adopted a new Reading Program called Four Blocks. The Four Blocks framework was developed by teachers who believe that to be successful in teaching ALL children to read and write, we have to do it ALL. Doing it all means incorporating daily the different approaches to beginning reading.

The Four Blocks - Guided Reading - Self Selected Reading - Writing - Working with Words - represent four different approaches to teaching children to read. Daily instruction in all Four Blocks provides numerous and varied opportunities for all children to learn to read and write. Doing all Four Blocks acknowledges that children do not all learn in the same way and provides substantial instruction to support whatever learning personality a child has.

The other big difference between children - their different literacy levels - is approached by using a variety of formats to make each block as multilevel as possible, providing additional support for children who struggle and additional challenges for children who catch on quickly.

Homework:

Students will be bringing home homework Monday through Thursday. Homework should take no longer than 30 minutes per night. If your child is spending more time than 30 minutes, please bring it to your teacher's attention. Mr. DeSanti's and Mrs. Beck's students should bring home a Refrigerator Homework Sheet the first day of every week. This is a guide so that all parents should be checking to make sure homework is being brought home and completed. this will alleviate your child saying they don't have homework! Mrs. Munz's students write homework assignments in a notebook daily. This should be read and signed daily. We would appreciate one hundred percent parent involvement. Together we can make a difference.

Social Studies: For social studies, the students will be learning about Communities. The student text is divided into six (6) units: Community and Geography; America's Early Communities; People Move from Place to Place; Community Government; Making Economic Choices; and Celebrating People and Cultures. Student will enjoy writing about communities and participating in hands-on projects.
   
Science: In science, the students will be learning about the Earth's surface and the Earth from space. These two areas will be taught both during self-selected reading and as individual science lessons. The third grade will also be learning about rocks and minerals by working with district modules.

Also in science, the students will be fascinated by the wonders of life. The process of hatching eggs can be a fun, hands-on learning experience. The program, In An Egg Shell...From Egg To Chick, will teach our students the anatomy of an avian egg, egg formation, bird embryo development, and the process of egg incubation. This program in intended to be a simple learning tool to accompany the hands-on experience of incubating and hatching eggs. Click here to see the babies!!!!!!!

Another fun hands-on program the students will experience is watching the tiny caterpillars turn into beautiful painted lady butterflies in their butterfly pavilion. First, their caterpillars will eat their food, growing to ten times their size. Next, they'll hang upside down and shed their skins to form chrysalids. Finally, the students will see them emerge as beautiful butterflies completing their metamorphosis.

Volcano Project

Room 201 Mrs. Beck jbeck@eriesd.org

Room 200 Mrs. Munz pmunz@eriesd.org

Room 204 Mr. DeSanti tdesanti@eriesd.org

 

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