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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Mrs. Cross' class becomes National Geographic Editors


We applied our skill of the week, generalization, to expository news text online.  In this National Geographic for Kids article, we generalized what we read.

Click this link for a larger version:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0D8zXvBt7ASMW5hV2hEVTd5Y2s

Monday, November 26, 2012

Country Projects


Sweden Project

For the next three weeks each third grade class will be learning about the customs and culture of another country.  The country our class will focus on is Sweden. As part of our multicultural unit, each student will be required to research and make a project about one aspect of the Sweden culture. 
All projects should be completed on a tri-fold presentation board.  These boards can be purchased at Staples, Office Depot, Parent-Teacher Store, and often at Wal-mart for around $3.00.  If you would like to cut the board in half, you may do so. (We may use the other half in the spring.) Each student must be able to give a 1 to 2 minute speech about their topic.  All speeches should be hand written by the student and on note cards.  Students may also want to refer to pictures or information on their presentation board during their speech. Parents are encouraged to work with their child in preparing both project and presentation information.  However, all handwriting must be completed by your child. **Information posted on their actual project board may be typed.
I will be looking for neat, informative, and creative presentations.  The students will be graded on their knowledge of their topic.  This will be worth two test grades in Social Studies.  All projects are due on Friday, December 14th.  This will give students at least two weeks to complete the project at home.  Please plan ahead and do not wait until the last minute.  If students finish their projects early, it will give them more time to practice their speeches at home.  Projects should be turned in on time! If a project is turned in late, there will be 15 points deducted for each day it is late. 
I will be posting resources online on Edmodo and our class website.  Students are also encouraged to check out books on Sweden and I will have some available in the classroom for their reference as well.  While they are researching on the internet, please supervise them closely.  I will post links that contain general travel information, but parents need to supervise this portion.
 I hope the students learn a lot of new information and enjoy completing their projects.  Thanks so much for your help!

Here are a few examples from last year's third graders:








Here are some websites about Sweden (please monitor your child on outside websites):

Visit Sweden Website  **Lots of information!
If you need additional help finding resources, please email Mrs. Cross.  We also have several books about Sweden in the classroom.  Your local library is also a great source!



Sweden Project Scoring Rubric

Assignment
Point Value
Speech:
Handwritten by the student.
Speech included correct punctuation/capitalization.
30
Presentation  board
Title is written clearly on the board.
Pictures are used and  labeled
The board is neat and creative.

30
Presentation to class on Dec.14th

20
Presentation to other third grade classes.
(Student is paying attention, well-behaved, and presents his/her project to the other students clearly.)
20

Total Grade for Assignment:

**Remember, this grade is doubled and counts as two test grades in Social Studies.


Thursday, November 22, 2012

November Updates: LOTS of pictures!


Our class took a wonderful field trip to Lost River Cave.  We had the opportunity to see blue holes, walk a nature trail, take a boat ride in an underground cave, and even mine for gemstones!


Our class made edible landform projects in science, dissected owl pellets, and brainstormed a newscast idea in groups.  It's been a busy month!



What's it like in third grade?  Follow us through one day to find out!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Reader's Theater: A Story, A Story








This is a Reader's Theater, where each student reads from a part.  It is similar to a play, but there is reading in the place of acting.  They did a wonderful job!

Amazon Photo Credit
Winner of the Caldecott Medal
"Once, all the stories in the world belonged to Nyame, the Sky God. He kept them in a box beside his throne. But Ananse, the Spider man, wanted them -- and caught three sly creatures to get them.
This story of how we got our own stories to tell is adapted from an African folktale." -Amazon Book Description


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Wednesday, September 26, 2012