Johnny Appleseed Day!
On September 26th, the world celebrates Johnny APpleseed's birthday and we join them in room 104! Johnny appleseed is a famous tall tale that is passed down from generation to generation detailing the life of John chapman. Chapman was a famous planter and pioneer who traveled the country planting apple orchards, some of which were said to have fed the first people who arrived in the mid-west. His story has been told so many times that many have elaborated and exaggerated the events of his life, making him and his story a true tall tale.
because we have been studying different types of folktales this month, including tall tales, we read the story of johnny appleseed and participated in many other apple activities such as making apple hats and even creating a johnny appleseed replica of our very own!
because we have been studying different types of folktales this month, including tall tales, we read the story of johnny appleseed and participated in many other apple activities such as making apple hats and even creating a johnny appleseed replica of our very own!
Word Problems: On the Computer?!
Third grade students are currently studying the mathematical topics of division and multiplication. These two operations are often easy to understand especially when we use our equal grouping strategies. However, it can be quite difficult when given a word problem to decide whether to multiply or divide.
To avoid mixing our operations up, we have been discussing how multiplication and division are actually opposite of one another and students have been analyzing word problems to decide if they should multiply or divide. Third graders have reasoned that any problem breaking a number up is associated with division, while any problem that is asking for a total amount is most likely multiplication.
We practiced with mixed multiplication and division word problems all week and even completed practices on the computer to prepare us for our future math assessments!
To avoid mixing our operations up, we have been discussing how multiplication and division are actually opposite of one another and students have been analyzing word problems to decide if they should multiply or divide. Third graders have reasoned that any problem breaking a number up is associated with division, while any problem that is asking for a total amount is most likely multiplication.
We practiced with mixed multiplication and division word problems all week and even completed practices on the computer to prepare us for our future math assessments!
OH! The Places You'll Go!
This week, third grade students learned how to compose an informative writing- a type of writing where you explain or teach your audience about a certain topic. Our topic for this week was, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Third graders had a wonderful time describing their ideas of the perfect career for their grown up selves....we had a few models, an author, a zookeeper, a pastor and even a famous Youtuber! check out our writing!
During our first week of school, we spent a lot of time building our classroom community, learning about one another and we also spent a lot of time working together as a team with different classmates. These activities were extremely important to our learning because they forced us to work with new friends we may not have known and it also allowed us to practice compromising/working with other students and learning how to value their opinions.
STEM 1: The Toothpaste Lesson
During the toothpaste lesson we worked in groups of three and we actually got the opportunity to pick our partners. We were given a tube of toothpaste and a paper plate when Ms. Pennington, our senior II ECU Intern teacher, told us to squeeze all of the toothpaste out on to the paper plate! we were stunned! But, we followed her directions and squeezed every bit of toothpaste we could get out of our tube. THEN, she gave each one us a toothpick and told us we had to get the toothpaste back into the tube- well, it was impossible! the toothpaste was getting all over and even if we got a little back into the tube, it eventually fell out. We really couldn't figure out why we were completing this challenge until Ms. pennington told us. "words hurt and even though you apologize, you can't take them back. Just like the toothpaste, even though you tried your best to get it back into the tube, it won't work" we learned the importance of being kind and we also realized how much the simple things we say can affect someone.
STEM 2: Paper Chains
For this challenge, we had to work together with out table mates to create a paper chain! The problem was, we were only allowed to use a limited amount of materials: 2 pairs of scissors, one strip of tape and only four pieces of paper and oh by the way- we weren't given any instructions on how to make the paper chain! HOwever, after a few tries, each table seemed to figure out a method to make their project and we all ended up working together to create some pretty impressive paper chains!
STEM 3: Saving Sam
For this challenge, we had to save sam, the gummi worm! You see, sam got caught in the ocean (our desk) and he climbed on top of a buoy (plastic cup) in the ocean. The problem was, sam's life saver (gummi lifesaver) was caught under the buoy! As a team, we had to figure out how to get sam's lifesaver from out under the buoy and put it on sam, without letting sam fall into the ocean for fear that he might drown. The worst part about this challenge was that we were only allowed to use one paper clip to save sam! Don't worry though, we realized that by working together and using each other's ideas we could in fact, get the lifesaver on sam and save him from drowning!