Monthly Archives: April 2017

April 28th

Mark your calendars! A field trip is coming up: With the help of JPO, we are able to take our 3rd graders to the John Ball Zoo on Wednesday, May 31st. This will tie in with our animal research, writing, and work in progress in both STEM and Art classes. A letter will be going home soon requesting $3 per student to cover remaining costs. I will be able to take 5 parent chaperones, without cost as well. If more parents wish to go, those parents will be able to meet us there and pay regular admission to the zoo. Let’s hope for great weather! 🙂

This past week we have been working on our animal research during Reading Workshop. We are comparing and contrasting two animals, looking for patterns, and growing big ideas about animals as a whole. Lot’s of great thinking has been going on, along with students reaching their reading goals!

In writing, we are continuing to use specific strategies that researchers use to draft our All About books. Soon, we will begin drafting a 2nd All About book on our current animal being researched.

In Science, we have been focused on the adaptations that animals have for survival. We have learned about the different behavioral and physical adaptations animals may have, and how these adaptations are important.

Our math unit has focused on finding area and perimeter of figures. It is easy to mix the two up and forget our “math magical word” of SQUARE in our area answers. When we work backwards and are given the perimeter and have to find the side lengths, or the area and have to find the possible side lengths, that has been tricky too. With further practice and review on Monday, I am hoping we will be prepared for an assessment on Tuesday.

We had an all-school assembly on Friday bringing our Autism Month activities to a close. Next Wednesday morning we have another assembly with Zeke the Wonder Dog from MSU. If students have MSU gear, they are welcome to wear it. Also, don’t forget, next Wednesday is our Cool School competition. Get out there and get some ice cream at Front Porch! 🙂 I hope to see you there!

Upcoming Dates:

MSTEP: May 9 (ELA) May 16 & 17 (Math)

Swimming: May 11–12:50-2:00

Jeffers Celebration Day: May 26

Memorial Day: May 29

Zoo field trip: May 31

1/2 Days: June 8th and 9th (9th is the last day of school)

April is Here!

We had a busy week that was filled with hands-on learning. We had a visitor from the John Ball Zoo who brought along a Mexican Porcupine, King Snake, and scorpion. We learned about the habitats required for these animals and how the zoo only takes in animals that have been injured, or that they have acquired from another zoo. For our science unit, we will be working with Mrs. Kipling and Mrs. Andrews in STEM and ART to create a zoo habitat for an animal that we are studying within our research groups in Reading Workshop. We will also be writing an All About information book on our specific animals.

Sheepshank Sam day was a huge hit! We learned a great deal about lumbering in Michigan during the 1800s. To see more photos of our zoo presentation and lumberjack day, have your child show you their Seesaw newsfeed.

In reading we are working on learning strategies to research animals in our research clubs. In writing, we are learning strategies to organize and elaborate an All About book. This first draft is an “all about” on any topic students feel like an expert on. The second “all about” will be on the animal being researched in our reading workshop groups.

We are about to end our mini-topic on Two-Dimensional Shapes. Our next mini-topic will be solving problems involving perimeter.

Reminder, we will have our first of 2 swimming lessons tomorrow, Tuesday, April 18th. We walk over to the Aquatic Center right after lunch recess. Please help your child remember to pack a suit and towel. Again, if there are any dads that can meet us there to help with the boys locker room, please let Mrs. Bulthuis know you are available.  Thank you!