Newsletter 4/18/08

We had another busy week! It was fun getting back into our regular routine after AIMS testing.
In reading we began a wonderful fiction chapter book called Sarah Plain and Tall. This book compliments our environment unit because it compares the prairie and ocean environments! While reading this book, we answered comprehension questions, made predictions, compared the environments, and worked on base (root words).

We will be having the spelling test on Wednesday, so don't forget to study!
In math we are continuing our unit on multiplication and division. We are learning to use what we already know to answer more difficult problems. We are continuing to work on our math fact time tests every day!

We have been working hard on our cursive handwriting so we will be ready for fourth grade!

In science we created environments in terraniums. We planted different seeds and each table group got to choose "how" they planted the seeds. They were able to choose how they would plant the seeds and how much water they would give them. We are now watching to see if they made good choices! Each student was also able to choose an environment that they would become an "expert" on. We began learned that every environment has living and non-living things in it. Students then researched the living and non-living things in their environment.
I sent home a letter asking for help from home with the environment projects that we will be creating in class. Please let me know if you can help out. I have attached it below in case you have not read it yet!
Have a great weekend!

Environment Project Letter

On Monday we began a new science unit about environments. The term environment is defined as the objects, organisms, and conditions that influence an organism. We will be investigating the environmental factors which make up different areas on the Earth.

Over the next five weeks we will grow plants in terrarium environment and experiment with different environmental factors. As a class, we will brainstorm environmental factors that are present in different environments such as plants and animals.

In small groups, students will work together to become an expert on one environment. They will read books, observe pictures, and collect facts about a certain environment. Each group will be compiling information on: water, human effects, living and nonliving factors, consumers, decomposers, producers, and micro and macro organisms in their environment.

During the week of May 12th the small groups will use a large refrigerator box to create a 3-dimenstional display of their environment.As you can see, this is going to be a GREAT undertaking. We are going to need your help. At home students will need your help in collecting many items for their environment display.

Here is a list of items that students need to collect for their display:
-Books
-Pictures
-Magazines with pictures to cut out
-Photos
-Calendar page pictures
-Stuffed animals that would be in their environment
-Fabrics or craft supplies to make things for their environment
-Notes from the internet about their environment
-Anything that they think might be helpful in their environment display
-Notes from books or people about their environment-
Tempera Paint for the background

Help will also be needed in the classroom when students are putting their environments together. We will need at least 5 parents on each of these days and times.

Monday 1:00 – 3:00
Tuesday 10:00 – 11:30
Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00
Thursday 1:00 – 3:00
Friday 1:00 – 3:00

This learning experience has the opportunity of being unforgettable. Without help from all of you it will be very difficult to pull off! Please let us know which days you are available to help.

Thank you,
Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Sheber, and Miss Tracy