Our specials schedule is changing, beginning next week.
Everything will just move ahead one day. (So library is now on Tuesdays, for example.)
Click the "Schedules" tab for all the details.
Friday, October 10, 2014
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
MATH: Measuring with Inches
We have been working hard on measuring with rulers this week. We've focused most of our time on measuring with inches.
Students have gone through a progression, starting with measuring a line to the nearest inch, then measuring a line to the nearest half-inch, and then measuring a line to the nearest quarter-inch, which is clearly the trickiest.
To help identify the quarter-inch "system" (which is tricky because it also involves all the whole-inch marks as well as the half-inch marks), we've been using the analogy of a cricket hopping by quarter-inches. Like this:
Then, when we go to measure a line to the nearest quarter-inch, we first see how many WHOLE inches we've passed, then look closely to the remaining quarter-inches:
We have to decide which quarter-inch mark the line comes closest to, and record the measurement correctly, which also takes some skill.
A relevant discussion we had today was the idea that sometimes your "answer" might change, depending on if you are asked to measure to the nearest whole, half, or quarter inch.
We've also been practicing measurement to the nearest whole centimeter, nearest half-centimeter, and nearest millimeter.
Please take some time at home to do some "real-life" measuring situations with inches and centimeters. Thanks!
Students have gone through a progression, starting with measuring a line to the nearest inch, then measuring a line to the nearest half-inch, and then measuring a line to the nearest quarter-inch, which is clearly the trickiest.
To help identify the quarter-inch "system" (which is tricky because it also involves all the whole-inch marks as well as the half-inch marks), we've been using the analogy of a cricket hopping by quarter-inches. Like this:
Then, when we go to measure a line to the nearest quarter-inch, we first see how many WHOLE inches we've passed, then look closely to the remaining quarter-inches: A relevant discussion we had today was the idea that sometimes your "answer" might change, depending on if you are asked to measure to the nearest whole, half, or quarter inch.
We've also been practicing measurement to the nearest whole centimeter, nearest half-centimeter, and nearest millimeter.
Please take some time at home to do some "real-life" measuring situations with inches and centimeters. Thanks!
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Social Studies Review
We are coming up on a Social Studies test this Thursday, covering Chapter 10 and 11. The main topics include the levels of government, public services, and city hall. It seems like there is a lot to know and remember, so we've been making several things in class to help us review.
Below, on the left is a "Levels of Government" matching game. On the right is a flap-book that describes the main responsibilities of the various departments of city hall.
We also made a simple map graphic to show the different types of public services that are common to communities. Then we added a few private services so we could remember the difference.
I also gave all students their log-in information for the TCI Social Studies website. It has our entire textbook and workbook on the site. I asked students to try exploring the site a bit before the test, focusing on Chapter 10 and 11.
You can click the image below to go to the log-in screen, or find the link in the right-hand sidebar as well.
On Wednesday, we'll review a bit more, and we'll explore the website for the city of Carmel, making connections to what we learned through our chapters. Here's the link if you want to get a head start!
Below, on the left is a "Levels of Government" matching game. On the right is a flap-book that describes the main responsibilities of the various departments of city hall.
We also made a simple map graphic to show the different types of public services that are common to communities. Then we added a few private services so we could remember the difference.
I also gave all students their log-in information for the TCI Social Studies website. It has our entire textbook and workbook on the site. I asked students to try exploring the site a bit before the test, focusing on Chapter 10 and 11.
You can click the image below to go to the log-in screen, or find the link in the right-hand sidebar as well.
On Wednesday, we'll review a bit more, and we'll explore the website for the city of Carmel, making connections to what we learned through our chapters. Here's the link if you want to get a head start!
Monday, October 6, 2014
SPELLING: List for Week of October 6th
This week's patterns:
-tch (Rule: use '-tch' at the end of short words with a short vowel sound)
-s- /z/ (Rule: 's' makes a /z/ sound when between two vowels)
v-c-e (Rule: the silent 'e' makes the vowel before it say its name)
Here is our list:
1. stretch
2. twitch
3. scratch
4. blotch
5. snake
6. whale
7. grime
8. drove
9. June
10. careful
11. those
12. refuse
13. suppose
14. wise
15. closed
16. risen
Watch Out Words
17. blue
18. blew
19. where
20. were
-tch (Rule: use '-tch' at the end of short words with a short vowel sound)
-s- /z/ (Rule: 's' makes a /z/ sound when between two vowels)
v-c-e (Rule: the silent 'e' makes the vowel before it say its name)
Here is our list:
1. stretch
2. twitch
3. scratch
4. blotch
5. snake
6. whale
7. grime
8. drove
9. June
10. careful
11. those
12. refuse
13. suppose
14. wise
15. closed
16. risen
Watch Out Words
17. blue
18. blew
19. where
20. were
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Field Trip to the Rock Quarry!
On Wednesday, the third grade took a field trip to the Martin Marietta rock quarry, where limestone is mined and processed. It was AWESOME! This trip will be a great anchor to students when we study rocks and minerals later this year. It was also fascinating to see a natural resource being utilized in such a dramatic way!
Here we are on the bus with our tour guide, Steve!
The bus drove down, down, down, deep into the quarry.
We watched the huge trucks unload their limestone into the crusher.
Here the conveyor belts bring up the crushed rock to the top of the quarry for washing and final processing.
And then the rock gets poured into huge piles, ready for their customers to load and transport.
Though not the main reason for the trip, it was so interesting to hear about the economics end of the operation, too. Did you know that 5 other companies (asphalt and concrete) have an operation on site at the quarry, to help lower transportation costs? Great tie-ins to some of our social studies content!
Our bus driver sure earned his money on this trip!
Here we are on the bus with our tour guide, Steve!
The bus drove down, down, down, deep into the quarry.
We passed the entrance to the mine. (We couldn't go inside though... not old enough.)
We watched the huge trucks unload their limestone into the crusher.
Here the conveyor belts bring up the crushed rock to the top of the quarry for washing and final processing.
And then the rock gets poured into huge piles, ready for their customers to load and transport.
Though not the main reason for the trip, it was so interesting to hear about the economics end of the operation, too. Did you know that 5 other companies (asphalt and concrete) have an operation on site at the quarry, to help lower transportation costs? Great tie-ins to some of our social studies content!
Our bus driver sure earned his money on this trip!
Friday, September 26, 2014
SPELLING: List for Week of September 29th
**Important Note**
The third grade team is making some adjustments to our spelling list, from this point forward. For the first unit of our Reach for Reading program, we used the program's spelling lists (the first four weeks of spelling). As a grade level, we think some changes, including the specific patterns and the order in which they are focused on, will better meet the needs of our students.
The spelling patterns that we will be using are based on the Orton Gillingham approach (or "OG"), and follow a specific sequence. We think this change will make more of a difference in students' everyday spelling. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!
This week's patterns:
-ck, -dge, and -ed (sounding like "ed," "d," or "t")
Here is our list:
1. track
2. slick
3. stock
4. fleck
5. struck
6. badge
7. sludge
8. lodge
9. bridge
10. fudge
11. rented
12. planted
13. filled
14. spelled
15. tossed
16. asked
Watch Out Words
17. where
18. were
19. when
20. went
The third grade team is making some adjustments to our spelling list, from this point forward. For the first unit of our Reach for Reading program, we used the program's spelling lists (the first four weeks of spelling). As a grade level, we think some changes, including the specific patterns and the order in which they are focused on, will better meet the needs of our students.
The spelling patterns that we will be using are based on the Orton Gillingham approach (or "OG"), and follow a specific sequence. We think this change will make more of a difference in students' everyday spelling. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks!
This week's patterns:
-ck, -dge, and -ed (sounding like "ed," "d," or "t")
Here is our list:
1. track
2. slick
3. stock
4. fleck
5. struck
6. badge
7. sludge
8. lodge
9. bridge
10. fudge
11. rented
12. planted
13. filled
14. spelled
15. tossed
16. asked
Watch Out Words
17. where
18. were
19. when
20. went
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
"Walk to School Day" on October 8th
Hey Parents and Students! Check out this message from our Patriots of Wellness team about the upcoming Walk to School Day...
Cherry Tree Families,
Wednesday, October 8th is International Walk
to School Day. The idea behind Walk to School Day is to have parents,
students, faculty and staff walk together with a purpose - to promote health,
safety, physical activity and concern for the environment. We believe
that International Walk to School Day will help to bring the Carmel community
together to help make walking a safe and enjoyable part of everyone's lives.
We would love to have as many families as possible
participate in this special day. Students and staff will be meeting at
the parking lot in front of Costa Azul (13190 Hazel Dell Parkway behind the
Hazel Dell Starbucks) at 7:30am. We will begin walking as a group up Hazel
Dell promptly at 7:35.
We hope you can join us!
The CTE Patriots of Wellness
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