January 29, 2015

We are continuing to learn about the various properties of matter as well as learning how to measure mass and volume. At the end of the last week we did a Root Beer Float experiment demonstrating the three states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. This week we did a lab to determine the mass of given objects and a lab to determine the volume of given objects. We will have a quiz about mass on Monday and a quiz about volume on Wednesday. These quizzes will be good review and practice for their test. We will be wrapping up our matter unit next week and will have our final test on this unit next Friday.

In Math we are continuing to work on finding Area and Perimeter. This week we have spent several days learning and understanding how to use the distributive property to calculate area. We are going to move on to determining the area of composite shapes and then will revisit distributive property more before our unit test. Next week we will have a Check My Progress quiz to demonstrate our knowledge of this unit so far. On Monday, February 8th we will have our unit test on Area and Perimeter.

During the month of February students will vote on what chapter books we will read for our read aloud time in honor of Black History Month. I have a few I have gotten from the library but they also had some input regarding some other influential figures they would like to read about so I will be looking for those books also. 

In each student's Friday Folder is a review sheet of the classroom expectations. Now that we have finished the first semester of third grade it is a good idea to touch base regarding these expectations as we move to the second semester. Please review these with your child and then sign and return the bottom portion.

Reminders:

• Please continue to practice multiplication facts, it makes calculating area easier for the students when they know their facts.
• Don't forget to practice vocabulary and spelling words at home.
• We have snack daily at school at the end of the day, I have many students saying before lunch and after recess that they are still hungry and want to eat their snack. Please make sure that students are eating a good healthy breakfast that will get them through the morning and that if they pack their lunch they have enough in their lunch that will get them through the afternoon until snack time.