Science Club- Catapults

This year, Mrs. Jackson and Ms. Chase have brought the best and brightest students from 3rd-5th grades to create a Science Club. Students learn about the scientific method, create and execute experiments, and use their reasoning skills to deduct the hows and whys of different topics.

In other words, they have a BLAST!

Their first project was to create a catapult. Students were given a wide variety of materials they could use: rubber bands, spoons, clothes pins, plastic cups, etc. Students were told what a catapult was, and what it does, but not given direct instruction on how to build one.

Let the creativity begin!!

Once they were built, the teams each got 3 launches. The catapult that launched a puff ball the farthest wins!

Team 1- They were the winners!!

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Team 2

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Team 3

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Team 4

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Great job, Science Club!

After the first round, students were encouraged to go back to the "drawing board" and see what they could do to improve their inventions. Mrs. Jackson and Ms. Chase encouraged open discussion on the hows and whys of what would make a better catapult.

Well done, teachers and students! Can't wait to see more!

Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King Jr.

Last month Mrs. Delk's class studied Nelson Mandela and Dr King. The kids did a wonderful job with their Bio poems and Venn Diagram.

"Fossil" rubbings

We are studying fossils this week and Mrs. Vaughn's class decided to create their own leaf rubbing "imprints". Great job, Mrs. Vaughn's class!

Tell me a story...

Our fabulous new teacher, Mrs. Wheeler, is acclimating herself to the 3rd grade team beautifully! She is part of the 2-teacher team of Jackson & Wheeler.
Mrs. Jackson is in charge of all things science and math, while Mrs. Wheeler covers all things literacy and integrated social studies.

Here's Mrs.Wheeler with her hubby.

For the past few weeks, 3rd grade has been studying the difference in the genres of fairy tales, fables, and trickster tales. (as per the Common Core standards and units we are following)
Mrs. Wheeler showed off her artistic and literary skills by making these fabulous anchor charts to help anchor student learning.

Ummm... can we say "Wicked cute?" When I saw them, I knew I had to share!
And here's another anchor chart for Accountable Talk during carpet time.

Wonderful job, Mrs. Wheeler! Keep up the good work!

Science Vocabulary- Living and Nonliving things

In the 3- Person teaching team, we are moving out of Unit 1's science study of matter, separation of mixtures, and scientific tools. This week is a preview of Unit 2 which is a study of living and nonliving things and their influence on each other. Here is the vocabulary power point that Delk, Chastain, and Vaughn's class are using this week.

Students made vocabulary flash cards today with definitions and picture representations for the words. They will be able to use the cards during the test, so don't lose them!

Third Grade Common Core Workbook

Extra teacher help for implementing Common Core? Yes please!

Next year is the first year that Common Core is implemented fully into our county. I refuse to stress! There are many sources for great ideas, but this is the one I choose to keep by my side.

Common Core is a hands-on, all subject inclusive way of teaching. This Third Grade Common Core Workbook covers English and math standards- the biggest areas tested.

Pretty sure this is going to be our 3rd grade team's Common Core bible next year. It's over 800 pages of happiness! :)

Remembering Dr. King

All last week, Clifton Hills has focused on the accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today we celebrated our first MLK Celebration. To see how it went, you can check out {THIS} post from General Delk's Army.

Here's what 3rd grade has been working on!

Delk- Bio Poem, pledge posters

 Chastain- Bio Poem, Nonfiction 4-square

 

Roach- MLK adjectives, KLW chart, Bio Poem

As an added bonus, here is the Power Point we used in class on Dr. King!