Geography and Culture

We have been doing some very exciting work during social studies.  We started by looking at a number of different photographs of Native American groups.  We also looked at a map which showed where each group was located in North America.  As a group, students worked to figure out which group each picture belonged to.  There were interesting conversations as students wondered how the shelter of a Nation in Arizona would be different from a Nation in Florida.  Students were excited to look at the answer keys and see if they correctly matched the picture to the group.  Third graders will then work to become an expert on one Native American group.  They will take notes about this group in order to understand how geography affects culture.  

Habitat Projects on Scratch

I sent home Friday Folders earlier this week. In the Friday Folder you should have found an assessment from a science and programming project the third graders completed in January. Each third grader researched a Biome and then designed an animal with certain behavioral and structural characteristics that would allow the animal to survive specifically in the Biome they researched. 

I am excited to share the Scratch Projects with you here. This link will allow you to see and test out how each animal gets food and protects itself. I hope you enjoy exploring different Biomes and the animals that live there!   

Bingo - From the Bear Cub Connection

Bingo Night, Grades 3-5

BC March 15; HC March 17

"Calling" all third, fourth and fifth graders and their special adults! Bingo Night is back on both campuses and you need to register to join the fun.

The Lower School Bingo Night is a Parent Association sponsored event for students in grades 3, 4 and 5 and their parents or adult friends and you're invited! Each child may invite one adult guest. Please, no younger siblings.

Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 must register to attend and we invite all the adults to play along with their kids. Pizza, salad and vegetables will be served. A great time will be had by all and, of course, there will be prizes! Please consider volunteering for this fun event. We need help with set up (5:30-6:00pm), during bingo (6:00-7:30pm) and clean up (7:30-8:00pm).

The Blake Campus Bingo Night (grades 3-5) is on Tuesday, March 15 from 6:00-7:30pm in the BC Dining Room.  Click here to register.

The Highcroft Campus Bingo Night (grades 3-5) is on Thursday, March 17 from 6:00-7:30pm in the HC Dining Room.  Click here to register.

Don't delay, sign up today! Questions? Please contact BC Bingo Night Coordinator Amy Saldanha (amy.saldanha@gmail.com) or HC Bingo Night Coordinators Sally Stewart (stewart2816@gmail.com) or Deb Altschuler (daltschuler@fredlaw.com).

Map Time!

Valentine's Day, Geography, Book Clubs, and Biomes

We will celebrate Valentine’s Day in our classroom on February 11th.  Homework is to make a box or bag to collect Valentines. Students can also make Valentines for their classmates if they choose to do so.  If they choose to bring Valentines for their classmates, they need to bring one in for everyone.

We are in the middle of another round of book clubs!  After hearing about eight different books, students selected a few books they would be interested in reading and groups of 4-5 were formed based on their interest.  Students have specific pages they need to read before each meeting.  It is essential children stay on pace so they can participate in the discussions and I am impressed by how responsible they are with their reading.  Book club preparation is part of their homework.  In addition to reading the designated pages, children are responsible for answering questions to bring to each book club discussion.  These questions give us a starting place for our book club discussions and allow us to insure that third graders are monitoring their comprehension as they read.

One of the essential questions that guides our year-long work in social studies is:  How do a region’s geography, climate and natural resources affect the way people live and work?  We will start investigating this question by learning about the geography, climate and natural resources in three different regions in America.  We have been doing some work with maps and atlases.  Third graders worked in partnerships to look at rainfall, climate, and temperature maps. We will then look specifically at different Native American groups and how they adapted to their environment.  

As a conclusion to our study of biomes, third graders completed a piece of informational writing about the biome they researched. These pieces of writing were compiled into a class book about biomes.  Third graders loved reading their classmates' writing. It is an impressive collection of information. I hope you have a chance to look at the "Biome Book" that came home today.