3rd Grade
October 2022
Themes of the Month: Kindness and Speaking Up for What is Right.
Book of the Month: We are Water Protectors, by Carole Lindstrom
Click on the title for more information!
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Reading
In Reading…
We began our nonfiction reading unit learning about the differences between fiction and nonfiction. Students have now begun to read a variety of nonfiction books. Just like in our writing unit, we will take a look at various nonfiction text features and think about how they help us understand the information in our books. We will spend a majority of our reading unit thinking about and discussing the main idea of texts and how details support the main idea.
Please have your child read daily at home for at least 20 minutes.
Writing
In Writing…
We are beginning our informational writing unit. Students will brainstorm nonfiction topics that they know a lot about and choose a topic to write about. Students will study various nonfiction text features to include in their writing. Throughout the unit students will learn about nonfiction text structures. Students will begin by brainstorming, then drafting, revising and editing and finally publishing their writing.
Please have your child practice their writing skills at home by writing about the books they are reading.
Math
In Math…
Our multiplication unit has begun. We are discussing the importance of equal groups in multiplication. Students are beginning to understand the relationship between repeated addition and multiplication. Students will learn how they can use skip counting to help them solve multiplication equations. Our unit will also include division. Students will learn vocabulary specific to each operation and how to solve word problems for each operation.
Please have your child practice their multiplication fact cards daily.
STEM
In Science…
Students will continue learning about what a scientist does and how they use their five senses to learn about things. Students will use their 5 senses to observe different things, such as rocks, popcorn and apples. They will use science tools, such as hand lenses to look at objects more closely.
To support your child at home, talk about the 5 senses. Go on a listening walk outside to hear the different sounds around us!
In Technology…
In technology we are learning how to log into our chromebooks and use our G Suite accounts. We will also be learning how to create a slideshow using google slides.
In Social Studies…
Third graders are exploring the question: Why does geography matter? Geographic regions have unifying characteristics and can be studied using various tools. World communities can be located on globes and maps. Locations can be identified relative to the Equator and Prime Meridian (latitude, longitude)
In Social Emotional Learning (SEL) …
Students are learning the importance of developing a growth mindset. We have been discussing how to make an effective plan to practice our skills. Practice strengthens the pathways in our brain and helps us become better at new skills.
In Art…
Third graders will be learning about American artist, Grant Wood, most well known for his painting “American Gothic”. They will be creating a pumpkin patch landscape that includes foreground and background as well as contrast.
In Gym…
Students are participating in a variety of activities while performing various gross motor skills.
Resources for Parents
Questions to ask your child about reading:
Fiction:
What might happen next in the story?
What is the problem the character is having?
What lesson did the character learn?
Nonfiction:
What text features did you notice and how did they help you?
What new information did you learn?
What questions do you still have?
Websites to help practice skills we are learning:
xtramath.org
khanacademy.org
mathgames.com
grammaropolis.com
Important Dates
October 5
No School - Yom Kippur
October 10
No School - Italian Heritage/Indigenous People's Day
October 16 and 17
Picture Days
October 21
PS 230 Hoedown
October 31
Character Parade