Name Word Webs
Last Day of School Pictures
This is it! The last day of 3rd grade. I can’t believe how fast it has gone. What a privilege it has been to teach your child for the last 168 days! It’s been an amazing journey of growth and learning. Have a great summer!
Mini-Society Market Day
Market Day was a success! Students sold their amazing products to classmates, other 3rd graders, parents and grandparents. What wonderful little entrepreneurs we have! Today we calculated profit and discussed why some students earned more profit. We learned that bookmarks were a common item being sold during market. We had several unique bookmark makers, but there was a lot of competition. We also noticed that producers that had a lot of their product were more profitable because they didn’t run out quickly. Overall, students did a fabulous job and I am proud of their hard work and commitment!
Engineering and Forces and Motion
Students have been discovering forces and motion through building pendulums and peppermint racers during Science.
Students built pendulums using ping pong balls, straws, string, tape and a ruler during an experiment with gravity and physical forces such as a push or a soft puff of air. During this experiment, teams had to create a working pendulum and then experiment with different forces to see which forces had the biggest effect on the pendulum. Students discovered that because of gravity, the balls eventually slow down after a force was applied. They also discovered that if a force is continually applied, then the pendulum will continue to swing.
We also did an experiment where students had to use coffee stirrers, straws, craft sticks, tape, note cards and lifesaver mints to build a peppermint racer that would travel the furthest. Students worked in teams to build a blueprint of their design after manipulating their supplies. Then using their blueprint the built a racer. Groups had a test run to see if there were any modifications that needed to be made to their racer in order to be more successful. Each group placed their racer on a ramp and we measured the distance each racer went. Using the data collected, we will analyze which racers went a further distance and what modifications could be made to some.
Auction Items Needed
Third grade will be having a culminating activity for Mini-Society. We are in need of new or gently used items that would appeal to third graders. Please do NOT go out and buy any of these items. (Gently used toys, games, purses, bags, craft materials, and etc.) Look through your closets. We plan to auction these items off at our Mini-Society auction. Students will use the pretend money they earn throughout Mini-Society to purchase items at the auction.
If you have any items to donate please send them to school by Monday, May 11th.
Fairytales and iMovie
In shared reading our unit has focused on all the different types of folktales. Students learned about the different characteristics of different folktales from myths, fables, fairy tales, legends, and tall tales. As a culminating activity students were all paired with a partner to read a different version of of the Cinderella fairy tale. Students read versions from many different countries. We had everywhere from the Chinese Cinderella (Yeh Shen) to the Wild West Cinderella (Cindy Ellen). Students got to use the app iMovie on the iPads to create “book trailers” for their version of this famous fairy tale. Students did a fabulous job of identifying the major plot characteristics. Check out our students hard work, they will make you want to read the rest of the book!
http://youtu.be/A9s2hQT3bwk – Brayden and Caden
http://youtu.be/sCK49i4inIs – Chase and Logan
http://youtu.be/Znt0Cg2GKYM – Hunter and Danielle
http://youtu.be/4QUxHosNic4 – Elsa and Colby
http://youtu.be/s8XoHYr_ViY – Dusty and Freddy
http://youtu.be/tGaAHngk9GU – Junior and Addie
http://youtu.be/UEOecQWA9uE – Karissa and Ben
http://youtu.be/gmUyG6DXCp8 – Keegan and Ethan
http://youtu.be/WW0VeV2xa_8 – Maddie and Ephrum
http://youtu.be/KDZO4LgWb-0 – Preston and Nautami
Business Plan Part 3 Due May 6th
Part 3 of Market Business Plans will be due May 6th along with a prototype (example of the good). In class today, I modeled to students how to complete this plan. Please help your child record all the materials they used to produce their good (even if you did not have to go out and purchase these items). Your total will be more than seven dollars at the bottom of this sheet, because we are recording ALL materials. That would include scissors, glue, printer, and etc. We just ask that you do NOT spend more than seven dollars on items you have to purchase.
Don’t forget to mark May 13th on your calendar! This will be when we have our Market Day at 1:15. All parents and family members are invited!
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Economics Walking Field Trip
Students had a busy afternoon on their Economics Field Trip of Wamego. They toured Vanderbilt’s and learned about all the different aspects of operating a business. Brad, the general manager, discussed how they set prices for the items in the store and what happens when items have a low demand. He also shared how they use advertisement to bring in customers to the store. Students also learned that they sell different types of items at their different located based on the wants of the consumers. During the tour they connected their businesses operations to the students’ own business for Mini-Society.
At Community Health Ministries students learned about the wide variety of services they provide to those in need. They were given a tour of the facilities and how Community Health Ministries supports the whole person. They have everything from counseling services, food pantry, dental facility, to help with rent and utilities. Students were also told that these services are made available through donations, fundraisers, grants, and volunteers in our community.
The Bank of the Flint Hills told the students about all the different services they perform as a bank. Banks are just not for keeping your money safe. Students learned how when they put their money in the bank, the bank loans it out to others. Then, those individuals have to pay it back with interest. The bank loans money not only to individual people, but to businesses, too. They related these experiences back to the students own experience in setting up their businesses for Mini-Society.
A huge shut out to these local businesses for taking time out of their day to share with the third grade today!
Topeka Field Trip
Our trip to the Topeka was wonderful! The students did a great job being good listeners and were able to learn a great deal about the state capitol and the underground railroad at the John Ritchie House. Thank you to all the parents that came along, too!
Mini-Society Prototypes
Parents,
On Wednesday, May 6th your child will need to have a prototype of their product finished and at school. We will use this prototype to set prices and create ads to advertise. Your student does not have to have all of the products completed, but just one of them ready to bring to school.
Also please remember to have your child record their time spent working on their labor recording sheet as well as any “employees” they have assisting them. They also need to keep in mind the tools that they are using to create their product. Examples: glue, scissors, sewing machine, paper cutter, pencils, etc. We will discuss in class how these items are capital resources that they must “pay” to use. We will discuss the prices they pay to use each resource using Mini-Society money.
If you have any questions please let me know.
-Mrs. Hallberg
Having a Hoot in 3rd Grade 