Finishing Strong
5/26/2018
In third grade, students engaged in a yearlong study of Alaska through culture, economics, geography, government/civics, and history. During their visit with Mayor Berkowitz, students learned that millions of tourists travel to Alaska each year. They learned that tourism help Alaska's economy because it creates jobs and brings in money to the state. The students chose pictures and added some animated effects to create a video on iMovie that showcases their experiences in the state with a goal of persuading tourists to come to Alaska. In reading, the school year was concluded by a foundational nonfiction unit, Animal Research. This unit helped strengthen students' skills as nonfiction readers as well as build their research and collaboration skills. At its heart, this is a unit on research and on learning how to learn from reading. In the last part of the unit, they learned how to compare and contrast what they have learned about the animals they studied and also apply their newfound animal knowledge to solve real world problems.
Rough Draft Example: Look at how much knowledge they acquire from reading!
Final Product: Cross-synthesizing and summarizing what they learned from different non-fiction resources Say No to Summer Slide: Read this Summer!
While on summer break, some students lose some of the achievement gains during the school year especially in reading. To avoid summer slide, please remember the importance of consistent reading habits. Reading stamina is a developed skill and requires daily reading experience. Here are some book suggestions for rising fourth graders!
Hello Universe by Erin E. Kelly Who Ordered the Jumbo Shrimp? by J. Agee The Penderwicks in Spring by J. Birdsall Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom Aesop's Fables by Ann McGovern The Unlucky Lottery Winners of Classroom 13 by Honest Lee How to Avoid Extinction by Paul Acampora Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan Garvey’s Choice by Nikki Grimes Wedgie and Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White The Secret of the Old Clock by Nancy Drew #10 by Carolyn Keene Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume The Story of Dr. Dolittle by Hugh Lofting It’s Raining Pigs & Noodles by Jack Prelutsky Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lundgren Building a Sense of Pride
5/18/2018
As technology makes the world smaller by developing apps like Skype to make communication across continents possible, softwares like Rosetta Stone to make learning a new language with just a computer, and digital maps like Google Maps to see places virtually. This technological evolution also makes competition in the real world tougher. We need to prepare students to be globally competitive in this increasingly complex and evolving world. In third grade, students are encouraged to respect other people's beliefs, opinion, and culture. They experienced talking to other third graders in other states and country via Skype. The books read in class introduced them to different children with different socio-economic status. They were taught to write their opinion on things that matter to them. They were given a chance to listen to other kids' opinion and to how to give their feedback respectfully. All these things help them see the world, beyond our classroom walls. However, we don't just want them to be globally competitive. We also want them to be locally engaged.
The most important question asked by one of the students was "How can a third grader help the community?" Mayor responded eloquently, he explained to the kids that our city will become what they want it to be, depending on the choices they make. They can start by being kind to their friends and by not leaving trash on the street. The kids learned more about what comprised the local government and most of all, they learned that our mayor is just within reach. Third graders also went to Alaska Native Heritage Center to learn about the Alaskan people and culture. As important as it is to teacher students about other cultures, they also have to celebrate their own culture. Being Alaskan kids, learning about Alaskan culture does not only give them the opportunity to understand and celebrate where they live but it also gives them a cultural base that they can take with them as they grow up in a diverse country. Culture plays an important role in shaping our principles and beliefs. Hearing about Alaska's rich history, its different languages, and ways of living help us discover new things and realize Alaska's uniqueness. As these third graders learn to appreciate Alaska's beauty, its wilderness and rich culture, they have also begun to build a sense of pride.
Spring Trip
5/12/2018
PNA's spring trips take field trips to a whole new level. It is not just the usual zoo or museum kind of field trip. As students grow older, PNA kids get the opportunity of traveling farther from home, building independence and self-reliance in addition to exploring new places for an increasing amount of time. In third grade, students explored and spent the night in Talkeetna to learn more about the history, people, land, and beauty of Alaska. For this particular PBL unit, students aim to answer the question "How can we persuade tourists to come to Alaska, the last frontier?" This PBL unit is focused on the following standards-based contents and skills: HISTORY 3.9 Generate questions about multiple historical sources and their relationships to particular historical events and developments. HISTORY 3.7 Compare information provided by different historical sources about the past. GEO 3.4 Explain how culture influences the way people modify and adapt to their environments. SCIENCE NGSS 3-LS4-4 Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animal that live there may change. LITERACY.W.3.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
The following photos will show some of the learning activities that took place during the spring trip.
1. A visit to the museum to learn about history of Alaska, how people lived and adapted to the environment
2. A quest that gave students the opportunity to learn about the city of Talkeetna
3. A night at a tourist destination to experience the life of a tourist
4. A nature walk with a naturalist to learn about Alaska's biodiversity
5. An interview with a mountaineer, Todd Huston, a one-legged man who successfully climbed the summit of Denali.
And last, but not the least, third graders spend some time in one of the best playgrounds in Alaska. It is safe to say that the student bonding that occurs on spring trips enhances the learning experience thus making it unforgettable.
It's a Feast!
5/4/2018
As third grade completed another reading unit, these young readers have developed theories about characters and followed these theories, revising them for a more precise and meaningful ones. They have examined characters in relation to story structure, developing even more complex theories as they read with lens. They have thought comparatively about characters, paying attention to the lessons authors want readers to learn. This is no small feat. Through a feast, third graders celebrated what they have achieved. This recent unit, Character Studies, was anchored by a read-aloud text, Because of Winn Dixie, a powerful novel by Kate DiCamillo about a lonely who misses her mom who left her when she was three. She struggled with finding new friends and building a relationship with her dad. However, as she saved a dog, Winn Dixie, she started to expand her horizons and meet new friends in town. Opal has learned that as long as you can find friends and you have someone who understands you, there is always a way to be happy and to try something new. To celebrate the unit, the class reenacted the story's biggest turning point, Opal's party! Just like in the book, the class had egg salad sandwiches, mint as Littmus Lozenge, and a jar of pickles. The book has been a great part of our readers' journey that is worth a feast! In Science, third grade had their apple feast! Students carried out an investigation to determine the sweetness of different apple varieties. Apples, like all living things, inherit their characteristics from their parents. Although offspring have similar traits as their parents and siblings, they are not exactly the same. Did you know that there are over 2,000 varieties of apples, each with unique traits. Third graders learned that selection don't only happen to animals like breeding dogs. Selection can also be done with plants, as farmers choose the type of fruit or vegetable they want to grow. Now, you can ask any third grader the question: Why are some apples green and some red?
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Jessica GrahamMs. Graham graduated from the University of Alabama with a BS in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, and is currently working on her master's in reading. She enjoys hiking, traveling, arts & crafts, and playing the ukulele. Archives
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