Third Grade Had Some Visitors

Thank you to Molly for sharing her baby chicks and duck with the third grade classroom.  The students loved petting them.  Always a neat experience for the students to see!

April 28, 2016

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4-28-16

Reading/Language Arts

This week third grade is reading "Anything He Wants to Be." In this biography selection, students read about a blind man that climbed all seven summits in the world. In addition to this accomplishment, he was a skydiver, ran marathons, skied, scuba dives, and does long distance bike rides. The comprehension skill worked on fact and opinion and visualizing. The vocabulary strategy focused on word roots. Students studied words with -augh and -ough in phonics. The grammar skill had students using commas.

The take home folder contains the Lesson 27 weekly assessment that was taken last week.

Math

Students are studying fractions.  Students have learned that fractions name a part of the whole. We have identified equal shares and discussed unit fractions (1/4, 1/8, etc).  The class completed a fraction activity using a Hershey candy bar.. Students had to identify fractions based up the number of pieces. This was not only educational, but also fun to eat for the students?

Science

Students are learning about physical and chemical changes in matter. Students investigated how to separate mixtures.  

Spirit Day

Friday, April 29th is the last spirit day to bring a $1 to help raise funds for supplies for the Civics Club to paint the Cedar Street underpass. Third grade students may wear sweats, chew gum, bring electronics, and wear a hat.

Lap-A-Thon

Lap-a-thon has been moved to Monday, May 2nd due to weather.  Students may wear sweats and bring a water bottle on this day.  Due to students going to the high school to practice for the music program in the morning, third grade will be lapping from 1:30-2:30 PM.

Biography Book Report Projects

The biography book report projects are due Wednesday, May 4th.  Please return the book, the report form, and project to school on this date.  Students should also practice their presentation at home. Each students will be sharing his/her project with the class on the 4th, 5th, and 6th, Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to seeing the projects and hearing the presentations. 

Music Concert

The St. Malachy music program is on Wednesday, May 4th at 7 PM at Creston High School. Students need to arrive at the high school after 6:30 PM. Third grade students need to meet in the music room. Students are asked to wear mass clothing that is red, white, or blue. Each family is asked to donate one personal care item (toothpaste, deodorant, body wash, etc) that will be donated to a shelter.

Field Trip

There is a note in the take home folder that has information pertaining the third grade class field trip that is on Friday, May 20th. Third grade will be going to the Science Center of Iowa. Cost of the trip is $14.50 (which includes a $4.50 entry fee and a $10 charter bus fee). Students will also need to bring a sack lunch with a drink.  I am needing two adult chaperones for this trip.  These two adults will ride the bus and attend the Science Center free of charge.  I will take the first two parents that contact me.  Any other parents wanting to take part in the field trip will need to provide their own transportation and pay $5.50 at the Science Center.  Third grade and kindergarten/preschool classes are sharing the bus and space is limited.  The Science Center also has a limit on the number of "free" chaperones based upon the number of students in the class.

Important Dates

Friday, April 29th-Spirit Day ($1)
Monday, May 2nd-Lap-a-Thon

Wednesday, May 4th-Biography Book Report Projects Due

Wednesday, May 4th-1 Hour Early Out

Wednesday, May 4th-Spring Music Concert at Creston High School 7 PM

Wednesday, May 11th-1 Hour Early Out

Friday, May 13th-Spirit Day ($1)

Wednesday, May 18th-3rd and 8th Grade Mass

Wednesday, May 18th-1 Hour Early Out

Friday, May 20th-3rd Grade Class Field Trip to Science Center of Iowa

Wednesday, May 25th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, May 27th-Last Day of School

April 22, 2016

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmlachy.org

4-22-16

  

Science

Third grade will continue to learn about matter. Students will be investigating physical and chemical changes in matter.

Math

Third grade is learning about fractions. Students will identify, read, and write fractions as part of a whole and part of a group.

Reading/Language Arts

This week third grade read a nonfiction selection called "The Power of Magnets."  The comprehension skill covered cause/effect and summarizing.  Students reviewed homographs and homophones as a vocabulary strategy.  The grammar skill covered contractions. Students worked on double consonants in phonics.

Book Order

The last book order of the year is in your child's take home folder. This is a great opportunity to purchase books for summer reading. Books may be returned to school with cash or check (payable to Mrs. Burg) or submitted online at www.scholastic.com by using a credit card.  Orders are due by Friday, April 29th. 

Lap-A-Thon

The St. Malachy Lap-a-thon will take place on Thursday, April 28th. Pledge envelopes have been sent home with the students. Exact lapping times will be sent home with the students at a later date. Students my wear sweats on this day.  Students may also bring a water bottle to have while doing their laps. The class that raises the most money/pledges will receive a pizza party.

Spirit Days

There is a spirit day scheduled for this Thursday, April 21st and Friday, April 29th.  These will follow the same guidelines as last Friday.  Students may wear sweats, chew gum, have electronics, and wear a hat for $1.  Funds are being raised for the civics club to paint at the Cedar Street underpass.

Biography Book Report Project

Projects are due on Wednesday, May 4th.  Hopefully the students are enjoying the biography books they have picked out. I am excited to see the projects and see the student present their projects.

Important Dates

Friday, April 22nd- NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, April 27th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, April 28th-Lap-a-Thon

Friday, April 29th-Spirit Day

Friday, May 4th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, May 4th-Spring Concert

Wednesday, May 11th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, May 13th-Spirit Day

Wednesday, May 18th-3rd Grade and 7th Grade Mass

Wednesday, May 25th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Friday, May 27th-Last Day of School

Money Smart Week Piggy Banks

Creston High School FBLA members came to third grade to talk to the students about saving money. Students decorated piggy banks to participate in the Piggy Bank Pageant Pinterest activity.  The State Money Smart Week committee is offering $100 prize for the best decorated (they decide) and $100 prize for the piggy bank with the most "pins" or "likes." Here is the link for the pictures of the piggy banks.  Piggy banks from my room are labeled with a B and a number.
https://www.pinterest.com/joannekuster/2016-piggy-bank-pageant-creston/

Here are some pictures of the students decorating the piggy banks.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

3rd Grade News

4-14-16

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

Math

Third grade is finishing up the chapter on division.  Students have learned the divisors 0 through ten. Students have also worked on two step problem solving and order of operations (multiply and divide, add and subtract). The Chapter 7 math test will be on Tuesday, April 19th. A review sheet was sent home with each student today.

Reading/Language Arts

The test results from the lesson 26 weekly assessment from last week have been included in your child's take home folder.

Next week (April 18th-22nd), third grade will resume in in the reading series.

Science

Third grade has been completing the chapter review covering the topic of matter.  Students will complete a study guide on Friday.  We will check in class the following Monday.  The test will be on Tuesday, April 19th.

Mass

Third grade is in charge of the mass on Wednesday, April 20th.  Parts have been included in the take home folder this week.  Please have your child practice his/her part at home. There is a short reception the mass for all third grade parents/grandparents.

Third grade and seventh grade will also be leading the mass on Wednesday, May 18th.

Biography Book Report Project

A packet of information and biography book was sent home with your third grade student this past week.  The completed report form and project are due back to school on Wednesday, May 4th. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Spirit Days

There are Spirit Days now scheduled for Friday, April 15th, Thursday, April 21st, and Friday, April 29th.  In addition to wearing sweats for $1, students can also wear a hat, bring gum to chew, and have their electronics.  For one dollar students are able to do one, two, three, or all f our of these things. Electronics will only be allowed during certain parts of the day.  Work will come first. The Civic Club is raising money to buy supplies to paint a mural at the Cedar Street underpass.

Important Dates
Friday, April 15th-Spirit Day
Friday, April 15th-Mrs. Burg away from school at NGSS training
Wednesday, April 20th-3rd Grade Mass and Reception Following
Wednesday, April 20th-1 Hour Early Dismissal

Thursday, April 21st-Visit from Author Michelle Nelson-Schmidt
Thursday, April 21st-Spirit Day

Friday, April 22nd-No School

Wednesday, April 27th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, April 29th-Spirit Day
Wednesday, May 4th-Biography Book Report Project Due

April 7, 2016

3rd Grade News

nburg@crestonstmalachy.org

4-7-16

Science

Third grade grade continues to learn about matter in science.  Students made models of atoms to represent solids, liquids, and gases.  Students also learned about mass and volume.

Math

Students have learned the divisors of 0, 1, 2, 3, 5,  and 10.  Students are continuing to apply strategies to division problems. Please continue to pray the basic facts at home.

Reading/Language Arts

This week third grade read the nonfiction narrative "The Foot Race Across America." In this story Andy Payne's determination allows him to win a from from California to New York despite facing many adversities.  The comprehension skill covered main idea and supporting details.  Students also analyzed and evaluated.  The vocabulary strategy focused on -ion.  The grammar skill covered abbreviations.  Students worked on the final syllables of -ture, -tion, and -sion.

Please check the take home folders for the Unit 5 Benchmark tests.  Due to Iowa Assessments next week, third grade will not be moving ahead in the reading series.

Iowa Assessments

St. Malachy school students will be taking Iowa Assessments during the mornings of the week of April 11th. PTO will be providing healthy snacks each day.  Students need #2 pencils. Mechanical pencils are not allowed for the tests.  Students should eat a good breakfast each morning and get a good night's sleep.

Reading Incentive Program

Total minutes read for the month of March include 10,872.  This was the most for the entire six months of the program.  The most minutes read during the month were by Aubrie Mohr with 3,905 minutes total.

Josh Schaefer and Taryn Fredrickson met the goal in all six months of the program. Fernando Acuna and Molly Gennaro met the goal five out of the six months.  Way to go!

Pick Up Safety

(a note from Mrs. Simmons)

For the safety of our students please remember the following St. Malachy drop-off and pick-up rules:

*The area on Clark Street west of the building is available for parents use during drop-off and to pick-up.

*Drop-off and pick-up must occur on the north side of the street.

*This area is also used for parents who need to park their vehicle and enter the building during drop-off and pick-up times.

Our top priority is the safety of our students, as a reminder we are asking that parents please DO NOT use the crosswalk before or during the car line.  If you need to exit your car and retrieve your child during car line please park on the north side of Clark Street.

Important Dates

Friday, April 8th-Optional Sack Lunch Day
Monday, April 11th-Thursday, April 14th-Iowa Assessments
Wednesday, April 13th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Friday, April 15th-Mrs. Burg Away at NGSS Training
Wednesday, April 20th-3rd Grade Mass with Reception Afterwards
Wednesday, April 20th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Thursday, April 27th-Author Visit
Friday, April 22nd-No School
Wednesday, April 27th-1 Hour Early Dismissal
Thursday, April 28th-Lap-A-Thon
Friday, April 29th-Spirit Day