What we have been up to in Gr. 3D!

We have been so busy in Grade 3 that February as come and gone so quickly!  Before we know it, it will soon be Spring.  It is amazing how quickly the time passes.  Over the last few weeks, Mother Nature has really given us a blast of Canadian Winter temperatures and snowfalls.

In Math, the students have been busy learning all about Polygons, Quadrilaterals and learning how to describe and compare 2D figures.  We are learning to describe 2D figures by their vertices (how many), by their sides (how many, length) and their angles (how many, right angles, acute angles (smaller than a right angle), obtuse angles (larger than a right angle).  We are also learning about 3D shapes and learning how to describe them by their angles, edges and vertices.  In addition to Geometry, the students will also continue to practice adding and subtracting 2 and 3 digit numbers. Number Sense is always an important math strand to practice regularly at home through Dreambox, Prodigy, Mathletics and various card games, math practice sheets etc.  If you find that your child finishes their homework for the week quickly, these are additional ideas for continued practice.

In Language, the students have been working on Question Answer Responses (QAR).  We are thinking about thick (vs thin) questions using our QMatrix and recording Before Reading (BR), During Reading (DR) and After Reading (AR) questions.  We are then looking at our questions and asking ourselves if these questions can be found 'right there on the page', 'searching questions' which answers are found throughout the book or if these questions are 'think about it questions' that might not be in the text.  We also continue to think about the Author's Message in the stories we read.  In writing, we are beginning Narrative Writing and using the Shape Go Map to help plan our writing (Beginning - Problem, Characters, Setting and Middle - 4 Events, End - Solution).
Another focus has been looking at the theme of Hope in the stories we read.  We are asking ourselves why hope is important?  How do the characters bring hope to others?  How can we bring hope to others?  Why is it important to persevere and have a growth mindset?  How do the characters demonstrate GRIT, resilience?

Some of the books we read this past week were 'No Shoes Petra' and 'Brave Irene'.  Ask your child about the Author's Message in these stories.

Our Science Unit on Stable Structures continues and over the next few weeks, the students will be creating a Google Slides presentation by choosing and researching on man-made structure and one structure found in nature and then sharing it out with their classmates.  We will also be looking at how forces such as wind act on structures.  Sometimes forces such as wind can be helpful (windmills) and sometimes they can be harmful (wind storms can be destructive).

In Religion, we continue our Lenten Journey and will be learning about Holy Week.  We have written our Lenten Promises and have been looking for kindness in our world.  The students have been learning that when we experience and witness kindness we are getting a visit from Jesus.  Be sure to scroll through our Twitter Feed on the Blog to see some of the beautiful recounts of "I had a visit from Jesus when..."

Reminder:  Our next and final skating excursion to Minto is this Wednesday at 10:00 am.  Thank you to all of our wonderful and helpful volunteers.  You have all been amazing and I know the children have thoroughly enjoyed each skating trip.

I wish everyone a wonderful start to the month of March!

Lenten Blessings,

Mrs. Caluori