Sorting to Trash To learn more about natural resources, we sorted trash items into groups that were determined by the class. We discovered that we had a lot of plastic and paper products. This lead to a discussion about where all of this trash goes and how we can reduce the amount of trash we need. Also, we created a chart showing the item, the material used to make it, and the natural resource it came from. Then we started researching about trash and natural resources to gain a better understanding of the need to conserve. Sorting Objects to Learn about Natural Resources We sorted a variety of objects into groups based on the material it was made from, (glass, paper, plastic, metal, and cotton). The kiddos recorded their results and created a chart showing the object, material made of, and the resource it came from. We discussed how some of the resources are extracted from the earth. Finding the Area of Our Desks I challenged my mathematicians to find the area of their desk using sticky notes of various sizes. The kiddos quickly realized they didn't have enough sticky notes to cover the entire desk, so they had to figure out a way to determine the area. Then each group presented their solution and explained their process. I was impressed that every group used a reasonable strategy, and most of the groups discovered you could multiply the number of squares in a row times the number of squares in a column. This is a big understanding for area, but I wanted the kiddos to discover this on their own so they will develop a conceptual understanding. We don't teach the formula for area in 3rd grade, but students should understand you can calculate area buy multiplying using an array. More Work Finding Area Identifying Useful Properties from Natural Resources We sorted items into groups based on the material used to make it, and then observed & recorded the properties that make it useful. There were lots of good discussions among these scientists about the properties they noticed. We even felt some real cotton that came right from the plant. Many of the kiddos were surprised to feel seeds inside it. Solving a 3 Act Task on Area We watched a short video of a floor that was beginning to be covered with squares, (blue 100s piece from base 10 blocks). We all wanted to know how many squares would cover the floor and decided we needed to know how many in a row and how many in a column. Then students were off to solve the problem. Some of our mathematicians made a real life model of the floor! Great thinking! Mini-book Clubs Students chose a person to read about to form a literacy group. Each group read several books about their person and discussed their thinking about the person. When students talk about their reading, it leads to deeper thinking and better understanding. It can be hard to determine the big ideas about a biography, so it helps to talk and look for text evidence with other readers. Finding the Area of a Composite Figure Investigating Weathering Science Day Fun Exploring Force and Motion More Science Day Fun-Investigating the Force of Gravity with Parachutes
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November 2019
Mrs. Swyers3rd Grade Teacher |