Position

We began our science lesson on position and motion with a quick, fun activity. To help students use position words to locate an object,  they used a privacy divider and cubes.  One student built a building with their cubes and then used position words to describe their building.  The other student attempted to copy the building using only their partner's directions. Finally,  the divider was removed and buildings compared.

On Tuesday,  we explored speed and motion. Each group was given a tape measure,  a stopwatch, and a wind-up toy. The toys were wound up,  let go,  and observed. As the toy was moving along, groups measured time and observed its motion ( did it travel in a straight, zig zag path). When the toy stopped, time and distance traveled were recorded.

Goin' On A Blog Hunt

I did not use Google Reader, so when I heard about Bloglovin I decided to shine it on. Something made me log in the other day and I have to say...I LOVE IT!!

As I was reading through my feed, I found a blog hunt hosted by Corkboard Connections.

Check it out to find great blogs to follow. Before you go, don't forget to follow be on Bloglovin'.

 

  Follow my blog with Bloglovin

National Geographic BioBlitz

Our class was honored to be a part of National Geographic's annual BioBlitz.

"A BioBlitz is a 24-hour event in which teams of volunteer scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible." - National Geographic website

This year's BioBlitz was held at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. The park had two separate inventories happening. Inventory is the collecting, analyzing, and recording of specimens seen. One on land and one in the swamp. The younger grades conducted inventories on land at specified plots and the older grades conducted their inventories in the swamp from boats.

In preparation for our inventory, we discussed and looked at creatures we might encounter. We also identified creatures and plants to avoid - water moccasins, cotton mouths, wasps, bees, alligators, poison ivy. Then, I modeled for the students how the inventory was to be completed. We would collect specimens by sorting through leaf litter, swooping nets through bushes, trees, and air, and log busting.

This was a fun, learning experience that they will never forget!!

Watch the video of our day.

If you live in the San Francisco area, be on the lookout...BioBlitz is coming your way in 2014. Golden Gate National Recreation Area will host next year's event. You can email bioblitz@ngs.org to receive updates and notification when registration is open. I highly recommend this event for your students!

BioBlitz 2013 - slideshow

If you would like to read short blog posts about others' experiences, check here.

If you would like to read about the discoveries made at Jean Lafitte, check here.

Friendship Fair

Charlotte's Web was our final novel of the year. The theme of the book is friendship, and every year 3rd grade has a Friendship Fair after reading the book. 

Before the big day, we dyed t-shirts to look like a web. Then, the students drew a spider in the web.

The first half of the day was spent rotating through indoor activities. Each teacher completed an activity with the students related to Charlotte's Web.

During "Fern's Friends," the students sequenced events from the story with their partner. Then, we played a "Who Said It" game as a class. I would read a quote and students would identify who said it.

In another classroom, students played "Templeton's Teasers" (Jeopardy).

Students enjoying "Barnyard Bingo."

"How Big Is It?"

The afternoon consisted of Charlotte's Web activities outdoors.

Students are weaving themselves through Charlotte's web in these pictures.

"Dud Egg Race"

"Lurvy's Tractor Pull"

"Don't Fall in The Trough"

After an exciting day, we relaxed with popsicles.

A HUGE THANK YOU to my team! This was my first year teaching 3rd grade and they made the transition smooth. I throughly enjoyed working with each one of you!!

Anti-Bullying and Zephyr's Baseball

Our local baseball team, the New Orleans Zephyrs, hosted an Anti-Bullying day.

Michael Lewis, New Orleans Saints player from 2001 to 2006, spoke to the students about the dangers of bullying and what to do if they are being bullied. He was very interactive with the children and made them feel special. 

Here he is pictured with some of our students.

After his speech, we watched the Zephyr's play a game.

 

Wrapping Up Testing

State testing is over and it's time to breathe a sigh of relief.

The first half of Friday the students rotated through centers.

Here, students are making butterfly cupcakes. They spread purple or pink icing onto the cupcake. Then, used 2 pretzels for the wings, 1 sour straw for the body, 1 Skittle for the head, and 2 Twizzlers for the antenea. 

 

At this station, they are making colorful eggs. First, strips of scrapbook paper were placed over an oval and cut to size. After gluing the scrapbook paper onto the first oval, a second oval was cut out and glued over the scrapbook paper to make a frame.

 

 

 

Symmetrical butterflies were made with the help of Ms. Gros. A paper was folded in half and students traced out half a butterfly's body with food coloring. The paper was carefully folded and pressed down so the food coloring would print onto the other side.

 

 

At another center, the students decorated spring trees. 

At the last center, students worked on a spring packet.

When the mess...I mean creativity...was cleared, we began reading the first chapter in Charlotte's Web.

For each chapter, the students will complete the following activities in their novel folder:

-  find vocabulary word used in the story and copy sentence or create your own sentence using word

-  summarize 

-  journal (2 to 4 critical thinking questions are provided and students choose one to answer)

-  homework questions

Students participated in academic relays the last half of the day.

Two classes competed in each relay. For one relay, the students had to pop a balloon to get the question contained inside. Once answered correctly, they raced back and tagged the next participant.

 

In the second relay, students had to give up a shoe. Each shoe contained a question. The students raced to find their shoe, correctly answer the question, and race back to tag the next child.