Apples, Honey, Tadpoles and Oil Spills

Thanks to Marin and her family for bringing in apples and honey for our class to share.  She and Benji explained the significance of apples and honey to a traditional Rosh Hashanah celebration. Rosh Hashanah is the celebration for the Jewish new year. 

We also have some new visitors to the Lily pad.  Marin and her friend found some tadpoles at a creek up in Door County.  They brought them in so we can watch them change and morph.

During our writer's workshop, students each chose a story to work with, revise and eventually publish.  Ms. Miller taught students about crafting good leads that draw the reader in (or "hook" the reader.) We used leads crafted by some of our favorite authors for some of our favorite stories and examined what the author did to draw the reader into the story.  We noticed that some of the techniques writers use is to use dialogue, action or describe the setting to start the story.

Some of the learnings we got from mentor texts.

Students crafted several different leads for their story.

Students then learned a technique to work on getting their ideas down on the page.  They copied their favorite lead into a draft booklet and wrote "strong and fast" trying to get the details of the story on the page.  We had a visitor in our room during writing time who commented on the fact that at 10:30 she saw every single student busy in the writing process! WOW and it's only September!

Students then learned this week that authors not only think about and craft catchy leads, but that they also think long and hard about crafting strong endings.  We analyzed endings from our mentor texts and learned that writers write endings that include a message they want the reader to take with them; one that leaves the reader with a lasting impression. We noticed the writers used emotion, humor, specific actions, dialogue and set a tone. Ms. mack share a personal narrative of her own and the 3 endings she wrote for her narrative.  Writing partnerships discussed what they noticed in the endings she wrote and which one they thought she should use and why.

All the qualities we are trying to add to our personal narratives.

Oil Spill! Clean it Up!
You wouldn’t think that a bunch of third graders would be excited about cleaning; however, when it involves science, that’s another story! Our Lily Pad science lab conducted a simulation of cleaning up an oil spill with a small cup of sand covered in vegetable oil. Given some materials, tooth brushes, soap, water, straws, paper towel, and sponges, the partners made their plans and cooperated with one another to clean up all the oil in their sand. This group of young scientists was truly inspired by their compassion for the environment and what’s going on in the world around them. 

These students decide to use soap, water and a spoon.

This group used soap, water and a sponge

A straw, soap and a sponge? The scientist reported SUCCESS!

Here are some scientists discussing their plan for cleaning up the oil spill.

Students have been working hard in math, as well.  Students are working on problems that are at their "just right level". We will be working on problem solving for the next few weeks.  Our next unit of study will be graphing and data collection.

Reminder! Pancake Breakfast is on Monday, Oct. 3!

• Tuesday, Oct. 4 - Open House, 5:45 - 7:00
• Wednesday, Oct 12 - Farmer's Market
• Wednesday, Oct 19 - Marquette Mile
• Wednesday, Nov 2 - Picture Retake Day