This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• In math, we will continue to discuss using rounding to estimate sums and differences involving 3-digit numbers.  We will also continue learning about how to identify relationships (addition and/or subtraction) between number pairs in a table and ways to identify the pattern or rule for the related pairs of numbers.  
• We will also begin using our problem solving mat/graphic organizer to solve word problems involving the operations of addition and subtraction.  The problem solving mats (PSMs) will also help us to show/represent these problems using pictorial models, strip diagrams, and equations.  We will be using our problem solving mats to help us break down and organize our information from word problems to find solutions throughout the school year.  Although our focus right now will solely focus on the operations of addition and subtraction, our process will eventually include the operations of multiplication and division as well.
• In science, we will be focusing on different forms of energy and the important vocabulary and key concepts related to these specific forms of energy, beginning with sound energy.  We will be exploring the way vibrations cause sound.  We will also be exploring different ways to produce sound energy.

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• In math, we will be taking an addition and subtraction strategies computation assessment on Monday, November 1st.  This will be our first major math test grade for the second grading period.  We reviewed for the upcoming test last Friday in class using our “Math-or-Treating” activity.  The students’ review papers were sent home with them on Friday.  A good way to practice and prepare for this test at home is to give your child some addition and subtraction problems (involving two 3-digit numbers) to solve similar to the ones found on the review assignment.  When adding, the sums should not exceed 999 and when subtracting, the minuend (the first number in the subtraction problem) should be 999 or less.  Be sure to ask your child which of our three addition and subtraction strategies is their preferred strategy for solving up to this point. The preferred strategy might be different for each operation, and that is perfectly fine!
• Our first science test for the second grading period will be administered this Wednesday.  The district assessment will cover the ability of matter to sink or float and mixtures.  We will be reviewing for our upcoming test on Monday.  Towards the end of the week, we will begin our new unit on different forms of energy by discussing the role of energy in our world and the factors that can affect the energy in our world.  We will also be learning about specific forms of energy and the important vocabulary and key concepts related to these specific forms of energy, beginning with sound energy.

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• In math, we will be working on the subtraction of 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping.  We will be exploring and practicing the three strategies for subtraction - the base ten/pictorial model strategy, the place value disc/pictorial model strategy, and the decomposed/expanded form strategy.  Similar to what we did with the operation of addition, the students will be practicing and working to identify their “just right” strategy for subtraction as this will be the strategy they will be using as we complete the activities and assignments in our subtraction unit. 
• In science, we will wrap up our aluminum foil boat construction and testing and then focus on different mixtures of matter.  Our learning regarding mixtures of matter will focus on the creation of mixtures when two or more materials are combined and the ways the mixtures can be easily separated. 
• Red Ribbon Week is this week!  We will have a different theme/dress-up day each day of the week, beginning this Monday, October 25th.  Please see below for a complete list of the themes/dress-up days for this fun-filled week!

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• We will continue working on the addition of larger numbers this week in math.  The two strategies we will continue practicing in class will include the base ten/pictorial model strategy (with the related place value disc strategy) and the decomposed/expanded form strategy.  We will continue to help our students practice and identify their “just right” strategy for addition as this will be the strategy they will be using as we complete the activities and assignments in our addition unit.  Towards the end of the week, we will begin exploring and practicing the first of our two strategies for subtracting 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping, the base ten/pictorial model strategy.
• In science, we will continue to explore matter’s ability to sink or float by working in groups to build aluminum foil boats that will hold the greatest number of gram weights possible.  Throughout the construction phase, we will be discussing how and why the shape of the boats can help them to hold more mass. After the construction and testing of our aluminum foil boats is complete, we will be learning about mixtures of matter.  More specifically, we will recognize that mixtures are created when two or more materials are combined and they can be easily separated. 

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• We will be working on the addition of larger numbers this week in math.  Our specific math focus for this week will involve exploring and practicing different strategies for adding two 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping.  The two strategies we will be practicing in class will include the base ten/pictorial model strategy and the decomposed/expanded form strategy.  As we work through the two different strategies this week, we will be helping our students to identify their “just right” strategy for addition as this will be the strategy they will be using as we complete the activities and assignments in our addition unit.  Our students will be expected to use one of the two strategies shared in class in order to develop and demonstrate a greater conceptual understanding of the addition of larger numbers.   
• In science, we will begin the week by continuing to explore how to sort matter based on its ability to sink or float. We will work together to discuss and understand why some objects sink while others float when they are placed in water. 
• Grand Oaks will be holding its first ever Science Fair this school year!  Mrs.Heki, one of our 4th grade teachers, will be facilitating the plans for the Science Fair for our campus.  Our campus Science Fair will be held on December 14th, and the campus winners will go on to the district Science Fair in January.  Students may work independently or in a group of no more than three if they so choose.  Click on the link below to read the packet and learn more!  
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QkjW9RHWRtZDAG-VeIpmME6807bLVMfS2nm1SHdFPv0/edit?usp=sharing

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• We will be taking our third and final math test for this 1st Nine Weeks of school on Monday.  This final test will be a review assessment in that it will focus on the difference between the place value and value of digits in 4 and 5-digit numbers.  The upcoming assessment will be similar to our very first test in that it will cover many of the same place value vocabulary and concepts (place value, value, digit, standard form, expanded form, word form, expanded notation, compose, decompose) and how these vocabulary words can be used to describe larger numbers.  Because this is not a lengthy assessment and because it serves as a review-type test, we will have a brief review in class before beginning the test on Monday.
• Some of the ways you could help your child to prepare for the upcoming assessment would include giving him/her a 4 or 5-digit number and asking him/her to identify the place value and value of various digits in the numbers and asking him/her to write various 4 or 5-digit numbers in standard form, word form, expanded form, and expanded notation.  You could also ask your child to draw base-ten blocks to decompose and show numbers in different ways.  For example, 2,365 could be drawn with 2 thousands (cubes), 3 hundreds (flats), 6 tens (rods), and 5 ones (units), OR another way it could be shown would be with 2 thousands (cubes), 3 hundreds (flats), 5 tens (rods), and 15 ones (units).  You could also have your child use a place value chart to compose a number when he/she is given a certain number of thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones.  For example, ask your child to use a place value chart to compose the number that has 5 ten thousands, 3 thousands, 17 hundreds, 6 tens, and 4 ones.  Our goal is that your child will recognize the need to regroup the 17 hundreds as 1 additional thousand and 7 hundreds, thus resulting in the number 54,764.  Please reinforce the importance of using a place value chart and a base ten pictorial model to show the regrouping necessary to compose the numbers correctly.
• We will begin our unit on the addition of larger numbers this week in math.  Our specific math focus for this week will include exploring and practicing different strategies for adding two 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping.  The two strategies we will be practicing in class will include the base ten/pictorial model strategy and the decomposed/expanded form strategy.  As we work through the three different strategies this week, we will be helping our students to identify their “just right” strategy for addition as this will be the strategy they will be using as we complete the activities and assignments in our addition unit.  Our students will be expected to use one of the two strategies shared in class in order to develop and demonstrate a greater conceptual understanding of the addition of larger numbers.
• In science, we will be taking our district assessment on the states of matter and its different physical properties on Wednesday.  We will be reviewing for our upcoming test on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
• Once our district science assessment is completed, we will be spending a few additional days on sorting matter based on physical properties (more specifically, the ability of matter to sink or float).  We will also explore and recognize how mixtures are created when two or more materials are combined, and we will be able to identify different types of mixtures as those in which the two or more materials can be easily separated.
• Grand Oaks will be holding its first ever Science Fair this school year!  Mrs.Heki, one of our 4th grade teachers, will be facilitating the plans for the Science Fair for our campus.  Our campus Science Fair will be held in December (date TBD), and the campus winners will go on to the district Science Fair in January.  Students may work independently or in a group of no more than three if they so choose.  Click on the link below to read the packet and learn more!​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QkjW9RHWRtZDAG-VeIpmME6807bLVMfS2nm1SHdFPv0/edit?usp=sharing
• Just a reminder - we have Early Release at 12:50 this Friday, October 8th and Monday, October 11th is a student holiday!

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• We will be taking our Unit 1 district assessment in math this Wednesday and Thursday.  We will be completing half of the test on Wednesday and the second half on Thursday.  The upcoming assessment will be similar to our first test in that it will cover many of the same place value vocabulary and concepts (place value, value, digit, standard form, expanded form, word form, expanded notation, compose, decompose).  This week’s assessment will also include comparing and ordering numbers up to 100,000.  We will be reviewing for our upcoming unit assessment in class this Tuesday.  The review activity/assignment will be going home on Tuesday afternoon.  It will provide examples of questions the students will see on the upcoming test.  In addition to reviewing the activity/assignment coming home on Tuesday, some other ways you could help your child to prepare for the upcoming assessment would include giving him/her two 5-digit numbers and asking him/her to use the stacking and dot strategies we discussed in class to compare the numbers using the appropriate symbols (>, <, or =).  You could also give him/her four 5-digit numbers and have him/her use the stacking strategy and an ordering chart (“bookshelf”) to put the numbers in the correct order - either greatest to least (G→L) OR least to greatest (L→G).  
• Leading up to our test Wednesday and Thursday, we will be wrapping up our place value unit in math this week by discussing how to round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 using boundary numbers and midpoints.  We will also be practicing counting collections of coins and bills.  Although our upcoming district assessment will include a few questions related to these concepts, your child’s overall test grade will be based solely on the skills and concepts listed above in the first bullet.   
• In science, we will continue learning about the different ways to classify and sort matter based on its physical properties (color, size, texture, shape, hardness, taste, odor, mass, temperature, magnetism, etc.).  We will also be rotating around the classroom to get practice using various science tools to measure/test the different physical properties of matter (such as length, mass, temperature, magnetism, volume, etc.).

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• As a result of our unexpected day off last week, we will wrap up our Digital Citizenship Week this Monday.  See the dress-up day details below!
• Monday - Protect Your Treasure! (Dress up like a pirate)

• We will be wrapping up our place value unit in math this week by learning about strategies for comparing and ordering numbers through the ten thousands place.  We will also be discussing how to round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000 using boundary numbers and midpoints.  We will also be practicing counting collections of coins and bills.  

• In science, we will continue learning about the different ways to classify, sort, and measure matter based on its physical properties (color, size, texture, shape, hardness, taste, odor, mass, temperature, magnetism, etc.).  We will also be measuring and testing different physical properties of matter (such as length, mass, temperature, magnetism,etc.) in different stations around the classroom using various science tools. The students will be able to explain the correct ways to measure different physical properties of matter and the correct tools to use when measuring the various physical properties.
  

This week in 3rd grade Math and Science...

• Monday - Protect Your Identity! (Dress up like a secret agent)
• Tuesday - Protect Your Treasure! (Dress up like a pirate)
• Wednesday - Team Up and Be Kind! (Dress up in your favorite sports gear)
• Thursday - Highlight the Fake Information! (Dress up in neon)
• Friday - Cyber Hero Day! (Dress up like a superhero)

• We will be continuing our place value unit in math this week by learning about strategies for comparing and ordering numbers through the ten thousands place.  
• We will have our first 20-question assessment in math this Tuesday, September 14th.  The upcoming assessment will cover the place value vocabulary and concepts reviewed and studied so far this school year.  Our place value unit has largely been focused on the understanding of key math vocabulary (place value, value, digit, standard form, expanded form, word form, expanded notation, compose, decompose) and how these vocabulary words can be used to describe larger numbers.  We will be reviewing for our upcoming unit assessment in class this Monday.  Our review activity page will be going home with the students at the end of the day on Monday so you will be able to see (and reinforce and review) the types of problems that will be included on the test.
• Some of the ways you could help your child to prepare for the upcoming assessment would include giving him/her a 5-digit number and asking him/her to identify the place value and value of various digits in the numbers and asking him/her to write various 5-digit numbers in standard form, word form, expanded form, and expanded notation.  You could also ask your child to draw base-ten blocks to decompose and show numbers in different ways.  For example, 2,365 could be drawn with 2 thousands (cubes), 3 hundreds (flats), 6 tens (rods), and 5 ones (units), OR another way it could be shown would be with 2 thousands (cubes), 3 hundreds (flats), 5 tens (rods), and 15 ones (units).  You could also have your child use a place value chart to compose a number when he/she is given a certain number of thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones.  For example, ask your child to use a place value chart to compose the number that has 5 ten thousands, 3 thousands, 17 hundreds, 6 tens, and 4 ones.  Our goal is that your child will recognize the need to regroup the 17 hundreds as 1 additional thousand and 7 hundreds, thus resulting in the number 54,764.  Please reinforce the importance of using a place value chart and a base ten pictorial model to show the regrouping necessary to compose the numbers correctly.  We have been preaching that their “PVC is their BFF!”  We would really appreciate it if you could reiterate this as you are reviewing for the upcoming test! 
• In science, we will continue learning about the three states of matter and how they are different from each other.  Towards the end of the week, we will be learning about the different ways to classify, sort, and measure matter based on its physical properties (color, size, texture, shape, hardness, taste, odor, mass, temperature, magnetism, etc.).