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Grade 3
Click here to see an overview of the curriculum of this grade.
Click here to view the School Handbook (general policies for grades K through 8)
Click here to see photos from 3rd Grade.
Classroom News - March 2010
From Mrs. Johnson
The birds are chirping, the snow is melting, and Grade Three is finished with the Terra Nova tests. It can only mean one thing: spring has almost sprung! We are very proud of the students for their hard work during testing week!
We continue to grow in our knowledge of Language Arts skills as we continue in our theme, “As We Grow.” We are reading about families who love and respect each other and people who help each other in times of need. It is easy to compare these fictional characters with the wonderful students in our class. Their participation in our various collections throughout the winter is to be commended. Thank you for all of your generous support!
The students have been learning about comparing and contrasting ideas. We finished our Read Aloud of The Wizard of Oz and then watched the movie. We created a Venn diagram to compare and contrast. Now the students are using that knowledge in writing a paragraph of comparison. Handwriting progresses on a daily basis. They are learning more and more capital letters in cursive. This skill, coupled with their mastery of all the lowercase letters in the alphabet, gives them the freedom to write any word they desire. The realization of that concept is awesome.
Spring is just around the corner, and flowers are not the only things that will be popping out everywhere. In Math the children are enjoying BrainPOP as a means of learning division. They work with fact families to show the relationships between multiplication and division. The students will learn to divide by two, five, and ten before moving on to other divisors. The Third Graders will divide and conquer!
In Religion the children continue to grow in their awareness of being part of a world-wide community of believers. We call this community Church. Various ministries performed by dedicated individuals are necessary to enhance the spiritual growth of each member. We are interdependent. The children will focus on the various vocations to which God calls us: married life, single life, or religious life. These discussions assist them in realizing their potential in any of these three callings. On March 19, the children will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The LCD projector and web sites such as Discovery Education and BrainPOP continue to enhance our learning of Science and Social Studies as we move into weather, the water cycle, and early communities. The students are so excited to have their own logins for Discovery Education.
Physical Education with Mrs. MacDonough
The third graders are having a great term in Physical Education. We have played many of the favorites such as Doctor Dodgeball and Keep the Trash out of my Yard. When we are able to get outside we enjoy playing Capture the Flag, Kickball, and Stuck in the Mud! At the beginning of each class, we do a series of stretches and either situps or jogging depending on whether we are in the hall or outside. We continue to keep focused on the fact that competition, while fun, is not the main focus of our class and that we are all here to have fun and learn the rules and skills needed to play the games, as well as the all important concept of teamwork!
Classroom News - October 2009
As the leaves start to change colors and fall off the trees, Third Grade continues to make progress in learning new skills and routines. Things like filling out our assignment books and turning in homework on a daily basis are becoming more manageable to the students. We've started our check system and continue to earn money for links, so we can buy goodies from our Class Store which is coming soon! Thank you to all the parents who have donated items to our store.
Language Arts
We are almost at the end of our first Language Arts Theme, and we will end our theme with Readers' Theater. The students have done a wonderful job in their Grammar groups learning the four types of sentences. Now we are working on having the students use their knowledge in all of their work. Please remind your child at home to use complete sentences in their homework.
At this point, the Third Graders are reviewing manuscript printing, and they are learning cursive writing. They are quite excited about writing with "adult script." It is fun teaching the children an important skill that will carry them through their entire lives.
Math
Math classes are packed with challenges for our Third Graders. They are working with place value into the hundred thousands place, comparing numbers, rounding them, and writing numbers in three forms: standard, expanded, and word form. Soon the children will be testing their skills in adding and subtracting whole numbers including carrying and borrowing. They add excitement to these lessons by the use of small chalkboards and dry erase boards. Math can be fun!
The students will soon be expanding upon their Geometry lessons by learning about congruent figures, similar figures, lines of symmetry, transformations, and problem solving with visual thinking.
Religion
In Religion the children are learning about the origin of the Catholic Church on the feast of Pentecost. Jesus chose His Apostles to carry on the work He had begun, and God expects us, as members of His Church to also continue to spread the Kingdom of God on Earth. The Third Graders are amazed at the wonders and miracles performed by Jesus who manifests His love for us in a myriad of ways.
Science
We have finished our first Science Chapter of Grade Three. After our current Social Studies Chapter, we will return to Science to learn about the materials of our Earth. We even have a special interactive SMARTBoard lesson planned to explore the make-up of soil. Thank you to all parents who have generously donated items for our Science labs.
Social Studies
Our first Chapter of Social Studies introduces the students to the three types of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. We have been discussing ways which people can work, play, and live in communities. Our culminating activity will be the creation of a Shrewsbury Brochure that highlights the ways we work, play, and help in Shrewsbury. Another concept we are working on is problem solving in our lives. Ask your child about Hibbing, Minnesota!
Music with Mrs. Johnson
The third graders at St. Mary School are learning the recorder. This rite of passage is treated with great importance as the children have learned to read, write and perform melodies using the notes G, A, B, and C. One of their favorites compositions is Dexter’s Dance and to be trendy, it “rocks! The third grade children will also perform at the Halloween Parade on the 31st and we hope to perform the Monster Mash too!
Physical Education with Mrs. MacDonough
The second, third, and fourth grade have continued where they left off last June in physical education. Although they have not lost their love of Capture the Flag and Doctor Dodgeball, they have enjoyed different activities involving teamwork and cooperation. We are hoping for a mild autumn and will begin to learn and utilize some of the foundations of basketball and will continue to work on fitness through our exercise stations.
Classroom News - September 2009
Welcome Back!
Welcome back to a new school year! Sr. Rosemarie and I are so pleased to be your partners this year in your child's education. We are off to a wonderful start learning routines, making new acquaintances, and earning links to earn our first classroom party.
Language Arts
In Language Arts, the students have finished the first two stories in our "School Days" theme. Through activities in small groups, they are building vocabulary and honing their comprehension skills; learning about proper grammar, mechanics, and usage; and adding to their repertoire of reading strategies. We have also written a descriptive paragraph and have learned to interview during Writing Workshop.
Handwriting
At this point, the Third Graders are reviewing manuscript printing, and soon they will begin learning cursive writing.
Math
The Third Graders are off on our journey through place value dealing with numbers into the hundred thousands place. It is quite a challenge for them to write six-digit numbers in standard form, expanded form, and word form. The children will be comparing numbers and putting them in chronological order. They have brainstormed the importance of numbers in our lives and have listed the various ways in which we use numbers in our day-to day lives. The students have also been exploring the realm of Geometry. We have discussed lines, line segments, rays, angles, and polygons. They will soon be introduced to solid shapes.
Religion
In Religion the class has been discussing the proof of God's love for us made manifest by sending His Son down on Earth to save us from our sins. The children are becoming aware that "we" are the Church. It is not a building, but rather Christ is the head and we are the members who constitute the Church.
Science
We are entering the realm of Physical Science in class. Through investigations and experimentation the Third Graders will be learning about the states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases), physical changes, and chemical changes. We are also enhancing our Science curriculum with the Science Studies Weekly publication.
Please take a look at our wish list for Science. We appreciate anything you can donate to our class for hands-on projects.
Social Studies
We have created Third Grade rules and will soon begin our Social Studies chapter in which we look at life in communities.
Notes
Finally, we will be opening our class store for the first time this quarter. The students will purchase items with class money. We appreciate any donations of non-food items you may have.
Classroom News - May (from last year)
Physical Education with Mrs. MacDonough
With just a few exceptions, the weather has continued to cooperate for outdoor physical education classes as we move into the heart of the spring. Many of the classes have caught spring fever and are always excited to be outside running around.
The second, third, and fourth graders continue to mature in their understanding of the games and are great at working and playing together as a class. Many of the students have learned and accepted the rules and importance of sportsmanship and implement them every week. They are hoping for good weather for the last few weeks and we are anticipating an exciting Field Day as well.
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