SCIENCE & SOCIAL STUDIES
03/16/15: Grades are updated in PowerSchool for math/science/ss. For some reason all the science grades had disappeared sometime after progress reports. It's all fixed now so please take time today to check you child's grades. There are still a small few with missing assignments. Last week I wrote each child a note who had a missing assignment. I told them what assignment was missing and I attached another copy. There are still some of those that have not come back to me. If you see a missing assignment, please ask your child to check in their Hawk for another copy.
As of now, there should be one more social studies informal grade and around 3 more science grades by the end of the quarter. Also, in math, there will be a final quiz in fractions (just like the first fractions quiz) on Wednesday and the final unit test on Friday (Or I may move it to Wednesday next week depending on readiness..Mon is field trip, Tues is MAP). 03/03/15: Third grade students will be attending a field trip to the Schiele Museum on March 23, 2015. You may begin paying for the trip February 27 with payment deadline of February 13. The charge for the trip is $8.65 (your statement will reflect an amount of $9, which includes a transaction fee collected by hosting site, not JV Washam or CMS). To pay for your child's field trip , go to the J.V. Washam website (http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/jvwashamES/Pages). Click on the “Online School Payments/OSP” link located on the left. On the Online School Payments page, you will find two links. 02/25/15: Next Friday, the students will take a solar system test that is mainly vocabulary. Attached is a study guide. Several of the students brought home science books today so I thought it may be a good time to email it to you.
02/06/15:
Today is the last day we will be working on the state projects in social studies. We start a new unit in science on Monday about the sun, moon, planets. Attached is what the sample final draft looks like. It has a title page. These projects can be worked on at home and are due next Thursday the 12th.
01/23/15: State Project: So far, I've introduced the first 2 pages of the students state reports. I'm sorry there has been some confusion about whether this is a home or school project. The students will spend their social studies block each day (45-50 min) working on this. Despite the fact that kids want to add pages such as "sports" or "the flag" to their book, the page topics are specific to match the curriculum objectives. They don't have quite the freedom they have in writing.
Attached I've created 3 pages for you (and the kids) to use as examples. They are pretty basic so if your child is doing more on each page or going above and beyond the requirements, that's great. --Page 1 is about LOCATION and must have information about latitude/longitude and bordering states. It also must have the lat/long lines drawn on a map. The map can be drawn or printed. All information must be in a child's handwriting. (Not information printed from a website and glued onto the page). --Page 2 is about REGIONS and must use a non-fiction text feature other than a map to illustrate information about the regions of their state. (I used a table and pictures.) --Page 3 is about HISTORICAL NARRATIVES and can include an example of a short story or state song. I also added graphics of state symbols on this page. --Page 4 is about languages/food. I have not created this example, yet. --Page 5 is about Traditions --Page 6 is about physical characteristics of the state --Page 7 is about Government (who is the Governor, Senators, House members, etc.) If all 7 pages are complete, then students may add additional pages to show areas of interest about their state. I would expect all students to be finished with the first 2 pages by the end of the day on Monday. You can help by asking your child what they accomplished on their book in class each day. EXAMPLE and GRADING RUBRIC are below. 1/20/15: Students will start their state reports today in social studies. This instead of a test. I'm attaching the rubric on which they will be graded so you can have an idea of the requirements. It will be in a book format but if your child wishes to do a PowerPoint or type it at home, that is welcome! (no tri-fold boards please :)
1/6/15: In social studies, students have been working on civic responsibilities (political, economic and social). They learned about the 3 branches of gov't today and we will build on knowledge of gov't this week. Please review the "Change Project" guidelines with your child. Tomorrow their sample display board is due (this is a piece of paper with a plan for display written on it). Most are finished, but just in case I wanted to let you know. Also, you may start to send in the display boards. (large tri-fold boards) Remember this project is due next Wed. with a plan for presentations in class next Thursday. This Friday, Mrs. Bralley and I will question the students to see if that date needs modifying. They are free to work on this at home, too. I sent home a "BYOT" (Bring your own technology) letter today. Once signed, your child can bring their own device and connect to our safe server to help with researching their topic. If your child does not have a device, I have ipads and computers here so it's ok. Please help them gather materials about their project for their presentation. This is very much like last years cultural project, but highlights the theme of change in our society. 12/5/14: In social studies we are beginning our unit on Civics and Government. Students will study the structure and function of local government and how citizens contribute to their communities. 11/4/14: In science, we are building on our knowledge of bones. (Muscles and skin are in weeks to come.) We took pictures of the students jumping rope while their partner takes notes on how the bones, muscles, and joints are working together to create movement. We will be building skeletons tomorrow. If anyone has a hanging skeleton I could borrow for this unit (3D one), I'd love to use it. There will not be a unit test this time. The students will be creating an educational brochure about the human body as their culminating activity. Today we set up an experiment testing what happens to bones soaked in vinegar. It will be fun to see if our hypothesis are correct! 10/27/14: We are starting a new unit on structures and systems. We will be discussing the muscular and skeletal systems along with learning about skin and dissecting owl pellets! It should be great fun! Please save all of your paper towel rolls. We need as many as we can get to create bones/muscles. Below is a Sign-Up Genius with supplies needed for our unit. If you can help out, that would be wonderful!**The hooks are just for my homeroom class.** www.SignUpGenius.com/go/508094FABA829A13-supplies/ 10/20/14: Today in science we experimented with the effects of hot vs. cold water on food coloring. We got to watch the difference in dispersement based on water temperature. There is science homework tonight. I was able to obtain more science books so almost everyone in both blocks have books now. phew!!There will be a science test on Wednesday of this week. Here is a link to a Jeopardy game that will REALLY HELP while studying for this test ;) jeopardylabs.com/play/matter1449.
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