Here is our favorite new song to help us learn more about capacity. These days you can hear "When a cup fills up..." echoing in the room!

Blog Bonus: (Due Tuesday!)
What do you think "Capa- City" looks like? Draw a picture using objects that are cups, pints, quarts, and gallons to build your image of what the city looks like.

Population 45 gallons? What about the cups, pints, and quarts?!?!!?

Animal Research Web Site

Now Featuring...

We will now be featuring student authors on our class blog. Each week 2 students will work together each day to summarize the important things that we do. During class time on Friday they will be in charge of writing the blog post. I will post what they wanted to say after the school day on Friday. They will also have the chance to create a Blog Bonus for the other students to do that is related to what we are learning! I am really excited to pass this opportunity on to them! Here we go!

Blog Notebook To Record What Happens Each Day

An Example of Our Daily Log Written By This Weeks Publishers

Now Featuring: Camille and Annie's Week in Review!

Camille and Annie working on the blog post!

Math: 

We've been doing great in geometry! In math we have learned about solids vocabulary. We have reviewed the names of solids and compared the differences between cubes and rectangular prisms. We are getting ready to do a test next Tuesday (Good luck! Have good grades!). Today Ms. Pair quizzed us on the features and names of different shapes on the Promethean board. We also did a practice on geometric shapes.

Reading:

In reading we have read different Folktale genres. We read legends and myths. We focused on what it means to write a good summary. We have been filling out a graphic organizer for each genre that we read to help us understand it better.We also read the fable, The Grasshopper and the Ant, and learned about the features of a fable. Today we wrote the summary of The Grasshopper and the Ant with a partner and then we picked the best summary out of a choice of three summaries.

Writing:

Last week we made a timeline for a story where we experienced an force of nature like flood, drought, thunderstorm, etc. We are in the process of turning the timeline into the first draft.

IB:

We have learned about floods, droughts and landslides. We have learned that droughts happen a lot where we live. Today we learned about earthquakes. We explored a new website about earthquakes from National Geographic. We got to see new pictures. We even learned that there have been a total of 28 earthquakes recorded in the last 24 hours!

Here are the science links I showed the class today

Earthquakes for kids- Earthquakes in the last 24 hours

National Geographic website from lesson today

BLOG BONUS:

Use what you learned last unit about expressive language to write a poem about:

- hurricanes

- floods

- droughts

- landslides

- earthquakes

Getting ready to complete our THIRD unit!!

In math we have been working on paired numbers in a table, patterns on number lines, and function (in and out) machines. We have also started to discuss multiplication this week and we learned a new game that can help us practice our doubles (2s facts)

In writing we have been trying our hand out in writing different forms of poetry. This week we took a personal narrative that we published and are using a Plot Structure Map to turn it into a narrative poem. We have also used Douglas Florian as a mentor poet to help us write some poetry!

We have been working hard studying about the differences between expressive and expository type languages and when we use them. We have completed research about a planet and can tell you all about the sun and its role!

To finish up our unit we will be taking our planet research and be turning it into a poem using what we have learned about types of poetry and author's craft.

We focused on writing similes this unit and how they can add imagery into our poetry. We learned that a SIMILE compares 2 objects using like or as and the two objects are often not alike.

BLOG BONUS!!
1. Go to STEMscopes.
2. Log in using the USERNAME: pair3 and the PASSWORD: pair3
3. Complete an online activity that you have not had the chance to complete yet.
4. On the blog post 2 things you learned and 1 simile about an object in space.
                             Example: I learned that Mercury is the first planet. (fact)
                                            I learned that the sun is the reason we have the water cycle. (fact)
                                            Mars is as tiny as a crumb fit for a mouse! (simile)

Don't get BLINDED!!!

Parents-

We have started our third unit. Our new central idea is: The need to share information leads to many forms of communication. We are learning about how communication has evolved. We even got to investigate old cell phones and telephones that Ms. Pair brought in! We have also been learning about the difference between expressive and expository language. We are also learning about space and poetry in the unit.

In reading we are working on learning about the different types of poetry. So far we have investigated different poems and talked about what we notice. I am also very excited to announce that as a class we are just ONE Bluebonnet book away from being able to all vote on our favorite book in the spring!!

In math we have been focusing on identifying patterns in a table and extending tables.


BLOG BONUS:

Option 1:
- Research about an object in space. It can be the sun, planets, stars, comets, asteroids, etc. Come to school with 5 facts and 2 questions about what you researched.

Option 2: 
- Bring in a poem that you read this weekend. Please write down WHY you liked the poem and WHAT you noticed the author did in the poem. (rhyming, rhythm, tell a story, etc)

Option 3:
- Solve the following problem. Bring in your work on a table to get credit. You must have your answer circled. Ms. Pair needed to get gas in her car before going on vacation. Every 3 gallons, it costs her $2.00. How much money will she spend on gas if she buys 15, 30 and 36 gallons of gas?

Best unit EVER!!

Math-
Since we posted last we have been working on rounding 2 and 3 digit numbers. We have learned many different strategies to use to round numbers.

We have been learning how to tell time. Ask us about quarter past, quarter till, and half past, we can tell you all about it! When telling time, you take care of your baby first which is your hour hand.

This week we learned about reading a thermometer. A thermometer measures the amount of thermal energy.

Reading-
In reading we have been working on identifying cause and effect. We have been focusing on expository text. We have been using the headings to help us determine the main idea of a section of text.

Writing-
We have been researching topics related to our unit. We have been working on putting our research into paragraphs by using a hamburger outline.

Unit-
We have done a roller coaster investigation (in the video above) to learn about gravity. Gravity is a force that pulls you down to the Earth.
We learned about different forms of energy. We use mechanical energy to start cars, mechanical energy is the energy of motion. We learned about light energy and that it helps us see. Like light bulbs and the sun give out light.

Coming Soon!!!

Angry Birds summative investigation!!

BLOG BONUS:
1. Reflect on one day this weekend.
2. Make a timeline of what you did at certain times. You will need to include the time digitally, on a clock (with the hands), and a picture of what you did at that time or a sentence.
3. You must have AT LEAST 4 events on the timeline

Coming to the end of our first unit!

Blog Bonus:

1. Follow the directions below to get to the correct website. You will be using the PBS website that you looked at with Ms. Gardner for your last library lesson on advertisements.

2. After following the directions explore the website, play the advertisement games, etc.

3. To complete the BLOG BONUS you must post on the blog one thing that you learned from exploring the PBS website!

1. Go the the CHE Library Website and click the like that is second under the picture. The link says Library Links and Calendar.

Click the link that the arrow is pointing to. The link says Links For Students.

Scroll down until you get close to the bottom of the page. You will click the link that the arrow is pointing to. The name of the link is 3rd Grade Media Literacy.

Better late than never!

We are a little late getting our blog post out, but late is better than never! We have been really busy in our classroom this last week!

In Math
- We have learned about a part, part, whole chart and using it to help us determine addition or subtraction in problem solving
- We have been using place value to help us add numbers
- We learned about using "hairy money'. It is a strategy where coins get hairs based on their values. Each hair has the value of 5, pennies are bald!!

In Reading:
- We have been learning to use our schema to help us make inferences in the text. We learned that our schema is our background knowledge.
- We have been inferring the meaning of new words by looking at the text clues and using our background knowledge.
- We started the novel "A Cricket in Times Square". We are using the novel to help us better understand our unit on economics.
- As a class our goal is to read 5 Bluebonnet books so we can all vote. So far we have read:
                                                 "Ten Rules....."
                                                 " Waiting for the Magic"- we are in the process of reading!

In writing
- We have been working on writing leads for our timeline stories. Today we got to do a fun activity called "Writing Musical Chairs".

BLOG BONUS!!
As a school, each class is learning about a university and making a project for the school. We researched North Carolina State University. We learned that you can go to school there to be an engineer. Ms. Pair's dad went to NC State and received an engineering degree!

Go to the website below to learn about a university of your choice. For the BLOG BONUS post on the blog the most interesting fact you learned and the school name.
http://campustours.com/

EX:
I learned that you can go to Texas State to be a teacher.
-EP

Second Class Reward

Please vote on your class reward and have a good weekend!

2 Weeks Down!!

This week was our first week to start homework! There is a post with an example on it that you can refer to as you need it! EVERY night will be reading for 20 minutes and responding...even if Ms. Pair has a sub! Math homework will start on Monday!

We have already earned a class reward and we are all "chillin" in our PJs as we write this post. We are well on our way to earning another class reward.

We are learning more about economic systems. We have learned what an entrepreneur is today. We watched a video about a caveman that made a baseball bat called a "fwat". We learned that entrepreneurs are people that have started a business that sells a product or service. We decided that Caine from Caine's Arcade is an entrepreneur. Next week we will be researching people like Mary Kay, John Deere, Sam Walton, Steve Jobs, etc.

In math we have been learning about place value and developing number sense. We can break apart number in the ten thousands and we can talk about the places values. We are really looking forward to learning about the hundred thousands place next week. We made a model of ten thousands together in the classroom, it is really neat!!


BLOG BONUS:
Make an advertisement for a good or a service of your choice. There is a picture example below. The advertisement must include:
1. Name of business
2. Picture of the good/service that you provide
3. The cost of the good/service
4. Where the business is located

You can choose to create business hours, website address, etc. You can get as creative as you want!

Example of Bonus!

First 2 Weeks of School Video

First 2 weeks of school

Example of Wonderings Homework for 9-4-13

This is a model of what your homework should look like tonight! It will be turned in tomorrow morning!

The first week of school has been going great! We have been working very hard already! We were able to spell the "TREMENDOUS" already for a class prize that we will vote on next week.

**PARENTS: Don't forget that OPEN HOUSE is Sept. 5th!

We have already started our first IB unit which is How We Organize Ourselves. We have learned the central idea and discussed all of the new words. The central idea is:

The exchange of goods and services drives economic systems within communities.

Our biggest learning has been that an economic system is a cycle of buying and selling goods and services. We watched a video called Caine's Arcade. You can watch the video of Caine by visiting www.cainesarcade.com. You can also see videos of other cardboard creations from children from other places around the world. We are really hoping that we also get to do the Global Cardboard Challenge on Oct. 6th.

Each BLOG post will have a "BLOG BONUS" to be completed over the weekend. When it is turned in on Monday you will receive a secret prize for completing the assignment. If you turn it in late, you will not be able to get a prize. In the coming month I will be teaching the class how to post a comment. Some of the assignments will need a comment posted.

BLOG BONUS!!!
** If you were to build a creation out of cardboard, like Caine, what would you build.
1. Tell me about it.
2. Draw a picture.
3. What resources would you need to make it?

Earth Forces and How We Are Affected!

This unit we have been learning about earth forces and how they effect the environment, community, landforms, and how we build our homes and civilizations. Here are some of the exciting things that we have learned over the past weeks:
1. Roli- That whenever volcanoes erupt they create new land!
2. Florence- We learned that hurricanes and volcanoes can cause tsunamis.
3. Ms. Pair- I learned that Chanh has experienced a volcano in Japan!
4. Emilie- That hurricanes can destroy home and people have to get on top of their cars to survive it.
5. Jonathan- Learning that floods cover homes with water.
6. Jaylen- When volcanoes erupt they make a lot of smoke.
7. Dylan- That sometimes plain can have a lot of wildfires because of droughts.
8. Brianna- I learned that volcanoes can cover you with ash and sometimes hot rock.
9. Sullivan- Volcanoes create new land or islands.

We have also spent time reading about different folktales. We learned that tall tales, legends, fairy tales, myths, and fables are examples of folktales.

We are going to be wrapping up our unit soon!

With being an IB school we like to emphasize the importance of reflecting on our learning and personal journeys here at school, in the community, and at home. Your BLOG BONUS is to reflect on your learning. I would like for you to choose some action to complete that is related to one of our units:

How We Organize Ourselves- Economics, goods, services, business, entrepreneurs, etc
How The World Works- gravity, forces, motion, forms of energy
How We Express Ourselves- poetry, the planets, the sun, and water cycle
Where We Are in Place and Time- earth forces, letter writing, landforms

Act on that action (which means DO IT!!) and then reflect on what it made you feel like, what it might of made someone else feel like, what you learned, what you are still wondering, etc.

Turn it in by Tuesday for a prize!

Update!!

We have been working very hard in class on our fourth unit. We have had a blast learning about different earth forces. We have discussed how they affect communities and environments, how they affect the land, and what we can do to stay safe if we encounter one of them!

We have also been working hard on geometry! We have had so much fun investigating solids and polygons!

Your blog bonus is to bring in a real life example of a solid that we have talked about in class to be displayed in the classroom. For example (you can't do this one!) I might bring a party hat for cone!

Thank you to those who came to science night, it was a blast!!

Coming to another end!

The semester is flying by! We had a successful week of CBA testing and we are all looking forward to getting back to normal classroom work next week!

IMPORTANT!!!!:
- Ms. Pair has already gone shopping for the holiday party. The money was due on Friday.
- The party will be Thursday at 1:30. Please come early and stay late to help with set up and clean up! If you signed up to volunteer I will contact you next week!
- CHElebrations are Thursday from 9-10am. It is come and go. Please come to see the hard work your child has accomplished this year!
- We will go to the Holiday Store Monday at 1pm to purchase gifts. Please send money with your child if you would like for them to buy any of the products.

BLOG BONUS!!!
- Research about your planet you have researched in class or another object in space that is interesting to you. Post on the blog 2 things you learned and 2 questions you have about the object in space you researched.

Blog Bonus

Study about a planet at home. Write a simile or a metaphor about the planet that you study about. Remember that a simile compares two unlike objects using like or as.  A metaphor compares 2 unlike objects. Post it on the the blog or bring it in on Monday.

Parents, please remember that our party money ($5) is due next Friday.

Next week we will be having testing on Tuesday- Friday. Please make sure your child is here and on time!

Welcome Back!

New Unit: How We Express Ourselves

Reminder: Life timeline is due Dec. 7th. This is a mandatory at home project. If it is not completed your child will not receive a grade.

Our new unit:
We are studying communication. We are learning about expressive language through poetry. We have studied imagery and humorous poems. We have learned how to write similes and metaphors.
We are learning about expository text through studying the water cycle and the sun.

We have also learned that communication evolves over time. We made a timeline of communication in the past to the present and we reflected on what might be invented in the future.

In math we are practicing multiplication. We learned a strategy of making array to help us solve problems in multiplication.

Blog Bonus!
Write and turn in or post to the blog 3 similes about what you do this weekend. Remember a simile compares 2 objects using the words "like" or "as".

Example: The car is as red as the cherry on top of my banana split!

Wrapping up another unit!

Reminder: Next week we will only have school Monday and Tuesday due to Thanks giving break. Be looking in your child's homework folder on Tuesday for a special assignment!!

Also, we are still in need of play doh donations!

This week...
In math we have started learning about multiplication. In multiplication we have a number of groups and a number in each group that is the same. We played a game in the classroom where we had to make groups with each other based off of the groups and number of groups that Ms. Pair called out.

In reading we have been reading expository text (nonfiction) and learning about cause and effect, fact and opinion, sequencing, and main idea.

In science we have been focusing on learning about the different parts of our summative project. We have spent a lot of time learning about levers in the classroom. We are going to be launching Angry Birds next week using a lever to see how force, motion and energy are all connected. Today we even played Angry Birds and discussed how our knowledge of force, motion, and energy helps us play the game!

Blog Bonus:
1. Cut out a picture from a magazine, newspaper, or you can draw your own.
2. Decide if the picture you found is the cause or the effect.
3. Draw the matching picture. For example, if the one you found is the cause, draw the effect. If the one you found is the effect, draw its cause.
4. Write down the cause and effect sentence that matches the pictures.
5. Use the information and examples below to help guide your thinking!

Matter and Energy

Science:
- We have learned about thermal energy, mechanical energy, sound energy, and light energy. We went to different stations to investigate how the forms of energy work and how they help us.

Reading-
- We have been reading non fiction books. We been practicing using non fiction features and learning how to read non fiction books.
- We have been using a book about energy to help us study non fiction.

Math-
- In math we learned to tell time. Our main focus has been telling time to the minute and identifying half past, quarter till, and quarter past.
***Quiz your child on time this weekend!!

**Coming up on Monday there are 2 important events:
1. Math tests on addition, subtraction, estimation are due signed and returned to Ms. Pair
2. Family reading night is on Monday.

**Donations-
1. We still need Styrofoam balls for our Angry Birds investigation



Blog Bonus:
1. Make a time schedule of what you did one day this weekend. Include what you did, the time you did it. The time must be recorded like a clock with the hour hand, minute hand, and the time digitally underneath.

2. Record down 2 examples of each form of energy that you find this weekend. Draw a picture for each example and label it. You will need to find 2 examples for thermal energy, light energy, sound energy, and mechanical energy.