Dear Third Grade Families,

Just like that, we are now in May! We’ve had adventures this past week, both literally and figuratively, as well as in the classroom and outside. Let’s explore just SOME of what we have done:

Social Studies

For homework, last week, students were asked to find out where their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were born. Then, each student placed a pushpin in each country represented by their family, in a large world map. We learned a few different things from this:

• Each student has at least one family member who immigrated
• Our class represents 6 of the 7 continents
  • Antarctica is not widely represented by our class
  • Oceania/Australia and Africa have the lowest representation with one student coming from those continents.
  • South America is next, with three pins, followed by North America with four
  • Asia has the next largest with 28 pins, with Israel and Russia having the greatest representation
  • Most 3rd Grade students have family members who lived in Europe — almost 60 pins!
• A majority of the pins in Europe are in Eastern and Northern Europe, with very few in some of the most well known countries —> England, France, Spain and Italy

After creating this map, we started talking about why people move. As a class, we looked at push/pull factors throughout the past four centuries. The students decided which of the following concepts would be push factors (something that PUSHES you out of your home or country), pull factors (things that PULL you or draw you into a new country), or both.

Reading  and Writing

Students have been finishing their biography reading to give them the first layer of understanding of their person. Over the next few weeks, students will be asked questions to help them delve deeper into who their important people are. They will be asked to take notes about their historical figures’

• Childhood
• Home life
• Education
• Greatest accomplishments
• Occupation(s)
• End of life (if applicable)
• Firsts/innovations
• Ability to change people’s perspectives
• Obstacles they overcame
• Appearance

These notes will support students in coming up with their own table of contents, as well as keep paragraphs or chapters organized by a single theme. This is an aspect of writing we have continuously worked to strengthen throughout the year.

Lag B’Omer

Yesterday, students divided into four teams to compete in our school’s version of field day! While on the field we might have been divided into red, yellow, green and blue teams, but when we came back together we returned to being our classroom community. Students competed in four different activities: a water relay, a hula hoop race, a hoppity ball race, and tug of war. We learned, and performed, cheers to impress the judges! After lunch, we were able to play a variety of games across our section of the field. They chose between soccer, Capture the Flag, football, tug of war, kickball, softball, as well at the opportunity to just play around.

After returning to the school, Third Graders walked a few blocks south to explore a new playground! Students were able to go on a slide, monkey bars, a spider web and fire poles. It was “epic” being able to be one of the first people to play on it.

Dates to Remember:

• 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 and Talia

Science with Sammi

The third grade scientists have continued their bridge exploration in science. This week, the students learned about beam and arch bridges. After watching a short video clip describing the forces that affect these two bridges, the scientists were given time to build and explore with blocks and card stock. Their objective was to test the effects of changes in distance and size of the supports and/or roadway on the bridge’s ability to hold various loads. They built some AMAZING, strong beam and arch bridges!