Highlights of the Week; Nov 19-23

With the afternoon holiday for Thanksgiving yesterday it seems we have more things to do in less time.  The students worked diligently tidying up their folders, including their google folders.  Don't forget, all parents have access to their child's learning folders on the google drive.  Please let me know if you need help with this.

In literacy this week we continued our reorganization of the class library.  We still have more to do, but it is getting much better organized thankfully.  The boys and girls also worked on their persuasive writing skills.  They have been revising and editing their paragraphs they wrote a couple of weeks ago.  They are using the Six Traits of Writing protocols, and the writing process to revise and edit their work.  They will soon be able to compare their two paragraphs, and I am sure they will see much improvement.

In math this week the students continued their mental math  routine.  Today we did a learning activity connected to asking questions, and building understanding about a math concept.  The word "origin" is both a word about time, but also a word with a very specific meaning in math.  It is related to the coordinates of (0,0) on a graph or map.  The students made connections to the global positioning system (GPS) that we use to navigate.  This week we also found some time to write a short test to summarize where they are in grade 3 math expectations.  We also did some computational programming this week, working with the Blue Bots, small computerize gadgets.  The students are learning how to program, and about using coordinates to describe positioning.  Be sure to see the pictures of our Blue Bot Challenge.

Today we went on a field trip to the State Museum of History.  The tour guides were very helpful in helping the students build their understanding for our new unit of inquiry, Where We Are in Place and Time.  We learned about the stone age, the neolithic age, the bronze age, all the way to the science renaissance times of Amir Temur and Mirzo Ulugbek.  

I had the opportunity to go into their Art class this week and see the artists at work.  Ms. Lind begins each class with the students doing some sketching of still objects.  It builds their depth and use of shape, form, line and space. 

See the pictures of our week below!