We’re Wild about Animals

This week kicked off our animal unit in science which includes classifying animals and finding similar and different traits among them. The students were excited to dive in and start exploring. The class formed groups, and had animal cards to categorize however they wanted.  Our part-time zoologists wrote their findings in their science journals making sure to keep outstanding notes. 

Many arranged them by habitat, their species, and a couple groups sorted them by their favorite animals or how they looked. The class had a great time finding different combinations and had wonderful scientific conversations about what classifies an animal as a mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, fish, vertebrate, or invertebrate.

 Working together to find different combinations

 

They sorted by species type.

They are so proud of their work!



Report Cards and FCAT Testing Reminders

Originally, report cards were supposed to go home today; however, they will not be given out until next Friday, April 19th.  DCPS feels that it would be better to hold them until after the first week of FCAT.  We were just informed of this information so we appreciate your flexibility and understanding.  The Award Ceremony will be on Thursday, April 25th from 2:15-3:15.

FCAT Testing will begin on Monday, April 15th.  Here are a few reminders to ensure that your child is prepared for this exciting week.  Your child should:

• get a good night's sleep each night.
• eat a healthy breakfast (Denny's Grand Slam Breakfast is not suggested as it sometimes can cause tummy discomfort). 
• come to school on time between 8:30 and 9:00.
• leave all digital items such as watches and/or cell phones at home if possible. A cell phone that rings could invalidate all tests. 

Parents: Please don't forget to encourage your child to do their best, remind them that you are proud of them and they are totally ready for this week. No worries! Also, if you haven't already, please send in a love note for your child for each day of the FCAT. (Monday and Tuesday will be the Reading FCAT, Wednesday and Thursday will be the Math FCAT). We will make sure that the students receive the love notes each morning.  

Thank you for your continued support. This is a very exciting week for us and we are already so proud of each student! :) 

Picture Day is Coming!

Next Friday, March 22nd is Spring Picture Day.  Students will be taking Individual Spring Pictures as well as class pictures.  If you are interested in purchasing a class picture, payments must be sent in by Friday, March 22nd.  The price for a class picture is $12.00. You can preview individual pictures before purchasing them. Don't forget to brush your hair and smile real BIG!

The Ruler Game Champions

Have you heard about The Ruler Game? The Ruler Game is a fun, web based game that helps students practice US Customary linear measurement, including fractional parts. Students were introduced to the game on Friday and practiced identifying wholes, halves, fourths, eighths, and sixteenths. Today, we held our Measurement March Madness Championship.  Students played against each other in brackets until there were four people left. The last four people competed by identifying measurements on The Ruler Game up to a sixteenth of an inch! Contestants had one minute to score as many points as possible.  Here are The Ruler Game Champions (or Measurement Queen and King).

The Ruler Game Champions!
Ruler Game King and Queen

We are so proud of all the students who participated and cheered each other on! Keep practicing at home! Leave us a comment with your best score. Don't forget to tell us what fraction you practiced. (Challenge yourself to work beyond wholes and halves. You can do it! ) 

Garden Time!

For years, Dr. Zenk, Nicole's mom, has graciously been donating her time and talents to oversee Chets Creek's school garden. She's definitely the resident expert on when to plant, what to plant, and when to harvest our garden's vegetables.  She helped the 5 Star Bakery plant radishes and two varieties of carrots about two weeks ago, and we are patiently waiting as our vegetables grow. 

This week, Dr. Zenk visited each third grade classroom for a garden show and tell. She introduced us to familiar vegetables like lettuce and broccoli, and to some unfamiliar vegetables like kohlrabi. The students were intrigued and had many questions for Dr. Zenk. We are so thankful that she shares her passion, time, and talent so we can have such an authentic learning resource!  We are certainly learning new things about plants every day.

 Kohlrabi

 

Photosynthesis

What do plants need to live and grow?

Plants need a lot of the same things that we need to live and grow. They need air, water, food, and space.   Many plants also need soil. However, unlike us, plants make their own food. This process is called photosynthesis.

What are the four parts of a plant?

The four main parts of a plant are the roots, stem, leaves, and flowers.  This week, we've taken a close look at the job of leaves, because leaves are the part of the plant where photosynthesis occurs.

What is photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis happens in the middle of leaves and require air, water, and sunlight to produce sugar. Carbon dioxide (air) is taken in through the tiny holes on the underside of a leaf. Sunlight is absorbed by the plant. Water travels in from the soil to the roots, up the stem, and into the leaf. From the three ingredients, the plant produces sugar (food) and oxygen. The oxygen leaves the plant through tiny holes in the underside of the leaf, and the sugar travels down the stem and throughout the plant to provide nutrients. 

What did we find so interesting about the process of photosynthesis?

Plants need carbon dioxide, a gas that we breathe out, in order to live and grow. On the other hand, we need oxygen, a gas that is given off by plants, in order to live and thrive. We now see the important and mutual relationship between the two.

To take a closer look at the process, you can find this diagram either in your on-line science textbook in Chapter 5, Lesson 1, or you can refer to your green science handout in your red homework folder.

Comparing Fractions

For the past few days, in math class, students have been working on comparing fractions. The students have come up with a list of several different ways to compare fractions. Today we played a game called Capture Fractions. The goal of the game is to compare the fractions. The player with the larger fraction "captures" both fractions.

This anchor chart shows several ways that we know in order to compare fractions.

Which of these fractions is bigger?
 Leave us a comment letting us know what strategy you used in determining your answer!