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April 27: The Statue of Liberty, Book Clubs and Fractions — Oh My!

Dear Third Grade Families,

Another week has gone by, and there’s still so much to learn and do before June! We have rescheduled our Brooklyn Bridge trips for May (which are listed towards the bottom of this section), which is very exciting, and we are also headed to Ellis Island at the end of the month. We look forward to exploring some of our community members’ family members, who stopped at Ellis Island on their way to America.

Math:

This week, we delved into fractions, specifically looking at how to create whole numbers when the denominator is the same. Connections were made to a part-whole bar model, because fractions are broken into equal groups — just like you would see in division! As well, we investigated equivalent fractions, learning the coveted fraction phrase: what you do on the top must be done on the bottom. In this, third graders recognized that ½ and 2/4 equal the same amount, because you multiply both the denominator AND numerator by two. The same could be said for 6/12, 4/8 and 3/6 where you multiply the denominator and numerator by 6, 4 and 3 (respectively).

At the end of the week, each student created his or her own fraction pizza! Students were able to choose whichever (dairy) toppings they would like for their pizza. They then added all the toppings together and created fractions from that whole number. For instance, one student created a pizza that had a total of 15 toppings, and the break down was 3/15 mushroom, 6/15 pineapple, 1/15 olive, 4/15 broccoli and 1/15 tomato.

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Pizza Fractions!

Pizza Fractions!

 

Reading:

Last week, we started our new book club groups. Students are reading a variety of favorite texts that talk about exploring something or someplace new, understanding oneself better, standing up for what’s right, as well as creating something new. In these groups, students are focusing on how to communicate clearly with a group. They are working together to talk deeper about their books, be it with open questions, finding important sections in each chapter or putting themselves in a character’s shoes. Currently, one aspect we are working on developing more is instead of saying the question outloud, or someone answering quickly, and then moving right onto the next question, we’re having students question one another or ask the rich question of “why?” Having the ability to answer more deeply is one area we are cultivating.

Another area of reading students are working on in reading is investigating a text to gain information. This is happening with their biography books, which directly integrates with our writing unit. We began this unit, on Monday, by just taking the time to read our biography, each student could learn more about his or her historically important person. By the end of the week, they had six simpler questions to answer about basic information on their topic. Next week, they will begin to research in their book looking for more in depth or pointed information.

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Book Clubs

Book Clubs

Social Studies:

The Statue of Liberty is a symbol that third graders can easily identify. As mentioned last week, they can describe what she looks like very closely. While we talked about her features, and what each symbolizes, last week, we delved into a read aloud this week describing how students and children worked hard to donate to the continued construction of the Statue of Liberty’s pedestal. We have been reading the book Lily and Miss Liberty, which is about a girl named Lily who comes up with an idea for how to raise money for the statue. Her mother is against the idea because, as an immigrant, she believes that the donated money should go directly TO immigrants, not to a statue representing immigrants. Throughout the next six weeks, we look forward to learning more about immigrant opinions about the Statue of Liberty, and life in NYC, during the late 1800s!

Dates to Remember:

  • Thursday, May 3 → Lag B’Omer
  • Friday, May 4 → Kesher Day (Special Person Day)
  • Friday, May 11 → Brooklyn Bridge Trip for the purple group
  • Thursday, May 17 → Brooklyn Bridge Trip for the orange group
  • Monday May 21 → Shavout (no school)
  • Wednesday, May 23 → Ellis Island Trip for the orange group
  • Monday, May 28 → Memorial Day (no school)
  • Wednesday, May 31 → Ellis Island Trip for the purple group

Shabbat Shalom!
Hilary

 

Hebrew with Ilana

 

Judaic Studies with Aliza

This week in Judaics, the third grade learned more of Avraham and Sarah’s story, including the exciting event of the birth of Isaac! In addition, we also had a brachot bee. The class did very well! Next week, we turn our attention to learning the later brachot of the Amidah. Shabbat Shalom!