Schools out 1 hour early!!!

I know it only snowed for a total of 8 minutes today and now we have to leave school early, but here is a picture of all of us outside tasting the huge flakes of falling snow right before it stopped!!! Happy Holidays!

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Field Trip

We had a blast at the play today!!! We received tons of complements about our behavior and respectful nature. Our class rocks!!! Here are some pictures of us going to the play. I was not allowed to take pictures during the play...but at least I got some before!!!

On the bus about to leave.

Waiting patiently in the lobby before we entered the auditorium.

Waiting for the performance to begin. We had some pretty close seats!

Gazette Memo Dec. 14-18

The only homework this week is to study multiplication, read 20 minutes and complete reading log responses.

Winter Mug Exchange
On Friday, December 18th our class will be participating in a Winter Mug Exchange. I am asking that each student bring in one winter/holiday ceramic mug stuffed with small treats and wrapped in some type of plastic wrap. The students will exchange mugs with one of their peers. The mug (including all items inside) should cost no more than $5 and it should be able to be given to a boy or a girl.

The holiday time is when people greet one another with good cheer. During our mug exchange, we will be discussing why it is important to treat people with love, respect and kindness not only at the holiday time, but throughout the year.
I would like all children to be able to participate in the Winter Mug Exchange, so please try and turn in all mugs by Wednesday, December 16th. Let me know if I can assist you in any way.
We will also be having our multiplication sundae party plus a holiday movie. If you would like to donate toppings for our ice cream, that would be wonderful! Everyone has been working so hard on their multiplication!!! They all deserve this tremendous reward!
On that day, the students will also be allowed to wear their favorite pajamas and slippers (bedroom shoes). They may bring in a blanket or a pillow, but not both. I want them to be comfortable and have a special day. I’m looking forward to it!
Items to remember:
*Pajamas
*Slippers
*Holiday Mug
*Sundae Toppings

*Blanket or Pillow

Planet Productions

Here our pictures of the planet projects each group completed!!! They are very interesting and packed with lots of information. I'm not sure if you can read them, but if you click on the pictures, a larger image will come up. Enjoy!!!

Mercury

Venus

Earth

Mars

Jupiter

Saturn

Uranus

Neptune

Planets in our Solar System

Final Research Day!!!

Today was the last day to gather all the information for the planet group projects. I saw so many wonderful things. Not only were students using resources such as the internet, but they were also using books from the library to help answer some of their research questions. There was also lots teamwork throughout the entire room...way to go Super Space-ka-teers!!!!

Jimmy Dean...Spaced Out!!!

I saw this super funny commercial on television this weekend about our solar system. It is a You Tube video and if you'd like to watch, just click here.

Spelling Words Dec. 7-11

Study words here.

Prefix bi- and mis-
Character Words

1. bicycle
2. biweekly
3. bimonthly
4. bisect
5. bifocal
6. mistake
7. misunderstand
8. misbehave
9. misuse
10. mishandle
11. honesty
12. caring
13. open-minded
14. listener
15. thinker

Important Sundae Announcement!!!

Only 9 more days before our delish ice cream sundae multiplication party takes place. The suspense is killing me!!!! Keep up the hard work!

Gazette Memo Dec. 7-11

There are only two weeks left before we can get some much needed rest!! Our solar system studies are going extremely well. The students should be done with their group projects by Tuesday. They will be posted outside the classroom for ALL to see!!!

Please…please…please make sure field trip money is turned in. Our class might not be able to go since only half the class has paid.

The multiplication sundae party (December 18th) is drawing near. If you would like to help our class, we are in need of any toppings that would make our ice cream party “out of this world!” Those can be brought in at any time.

Thank you for being such wonderful parents!!! You are not only helping me out, but you are also a vital part to your child and their peers’ academics. We appreciate everything you do for us!

This week’s objectives:
*Math- Multi-digit addition and subtraction problem solving, patterns (numbers and shapes, growing and repeating), analyzing graphs, multiplication and division.
*Reading- prefix bi- (two) and mis- (not) before and during reading strategies for nonfiction, main idea and supporting details in nonfiction, summarizing
*Science –Making observations and use of appropriate technology to build an understanding of the earth, moon, sun system. Observing patterns of movement in the sky (sun, moon, stars) and identifying shadows and their changes throughout the day
*Writing- writing a research report on a planet. Focus on main idea, writing a topic sentence, and supporting the main idea with relevant details. Afterwards, writing a letter to Mr. Claus!

We Need Your Help!!!

Only half the class has paid their $10 to attend the field trip on Dec. 15th. Please send your money in SOOOOOON!!! I would love to have my entire class at the play. We finished reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever today. The spirit of the holidays was among all of us. We can't wait to see how the play compares to the book!!!

Astronomer Central

Here are internet links you can explore to help with your planet research:
Kids Astronomy
Astronomy for Kids
The Nine Planets
Star Child
Astronomy
Our Solar System
National Geographic
Planets and Moons
Journey into the Universe

Here are some easy crafts you can do at home:
Enchanted Learning

Out of This World Report

This just in...the class has been put in groups of 3-4 and they will be doing inquiry based research on a specific planet within the solar system. They will be working with their Solar System Study Buddies throughout the next few weeks as we explore all the marvelous objects in the sky. After they complete their research, they will be compiling the information by writing a few paragraphs summarizing what they found. I CAN'T WAIT!!! Please feel free to stop by and check out our final products which will be located outside the classroom sometime next week! Here is the class showing how thinkers can do research to find answers to their questions.

Gazette Memo Nov. 30-Dec. 4

I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing Fall break!!! I just want to remind you that the money for the field trip must be turned in by the 10th. If we do not get enough students going, our class will not be able to participate. Thank you so much for setting aside money for your child to participate in this fabulous adventure!

These are the following assessments for this week:
Tues.- Multiplication Test
Wed.- Main Idea and Summarizing Test
Fri.- Spelling, Multiplication, and Unit Math Test

There are only a few weeks until Winter break, so please keep your child motivated to work hard, reflect on areas they can improve on, and take risks to help achieve their goals.

This week’s objectives:
*Math- Multi-digit addition and subtraction problem solving, patterns (numbers and shapes, growing and repeating), creating number sentences to represent a problem, multiplication and division.
*Reading- comparison words (-er and –est), before and during reading strategies for nonfiction, main idea and supporting details in nonfiction, summarizing
*Science –Making observations and use of appropriate technology to build an understanding of the earth, moon, sun system. Observing patterns of movement in the sky (sun, moon, stars)*Writing- writing a research report on a planet. Focus on main idea, writing a topic sentence, and supporting the main idea with relevant details.

Spelling Nov. 30-Dec. 4

Study words here.

1. sleepier
2. sleepiest
3. madder
4. maddest
5. nicer
6. nicest
7. brighter
8. brightest
9. dumb
10. dumbest
11. phase
12. craters
13. lunar
14. eclipse
15. orbit

Important Sundae Announcement!!!

ONLY 16 MORE SCHOOL DAYS to learn ALL your multiplication facts! The more you know...the bigger your sundae will be!!! Keep studying!!! The party is December 15th!

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

On Tuesday, November 24th, we will be having a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Students are allowed to wear pajamas and baseball caps that day for school spirit day. Students were given a letter which asked them to bring a snack for that day (since that's what Charlie Brown and the crew did in the movie). Again, those students who did not earn enough signatures, will not be participating. I hope "everyone" can participate in the Winter Wonderland Party in December. It will be HUGE!!!

Gazette Memo Nov. 23-27

Since this is such a short week, there will be no homework!!! Over fall break, please make sure your child continues to study their multiplication!!! The party is just around the cornerJ

A Quick Snapshot in History
In 1620, a group of English people called the Pilgrims went to settle in North America. They were very religious people who set off to America in a ship called the Mayflower. They landed in a place they called Plymouth. Their first winter was harsh and many of them died due to cold and hunger. In the spring, the Pilgrims made friends with the Native Americans, who taught them to grow corn, beans and pumpkins. After their first harvest, the Pilgrims invited the Natives to a feast, which all of us remember as the Thanksgiving feast.

Holiday Craft Idea
Materials:
Paper bag, lunch bags, tape, scissors, scrap paper, white paper napkins, stapler
Instructions:
1. For the headband of each hat, cut a 25- by 5-inch strip from a paper grocery bag and fold it in thirds lengthwise. Wrap it around your child's head, overlap the ends by 2 inches, trim, and use tape to close the band.
2. To make each turkey leg, trim down a paper lunch bag so it stands 7 inches tall. Smooth the bag around your fist to shape it, then stuff it half full with balled-up scrap paper.
3. To make each bone, unfold two white paper napkins and crumple one napkin into a ball. Drape the second napkin over the ball and twist it to form the narrow part of the bone. Insert this end into the stuffed bag. Twist and tape the two parts to secure them.4. Staple the legs to the headband and use tape to cover the staple ends inside the band.

Important Sundae Announcement!!!

ONLY 21 MORE SCHOOL DAYS to learn ALL your multiplication facts! The more you know...the bigger your sundae will be!!! Keep studying!!! The party is December 15th!

Spelling Nov. 16-20

Homophones
Study words by clicking here.

1. maid
2. made
3. their
4. there
5. they're
6. two
7. too
8. to
9. wrung
10. rung
11. allowed
12. aloud
13. he'll
14. heel
15. heal

Gazette Memo Nov. 16-20

“Caps for a Cause” is now circulating around our school! Each student in 3rd grade will have a special assignment this year making sure we all help out in collecting caps and tabs. It is an amazing feeling showing others how we care for one another. I know it’s one more thing to collect and bring in, but the rewards are boundless.
We have just started a new theme in reading, INCREDIBLE STORIES, which are stories that are just too wild to believe!!! We had such a blast reading Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey. We found that Dav’s books are based off of his own pets and full of humor.
The class worked diligently on their letters to the farmer from a turkey’s point-of-view. The letters were so fun to read and their turkeys (with their faces on them) are hilarious!!! You must stop by soon to see them!

Here are the assessments that will be given this week:
Tuesday- Math Test (see below), Multiplication Test and Reading Quiz (Main Idea and
Summarizing)
Friday- Spelling test and Multiplication Test

This week’s objectives:
*Math- Multi-digit addition and subtraction problem solving, rounding, comparing and ordering numbers, multiplication/division, triangles, and angles.
*Reading- homophones, before and during reading strategies for nonfiction, main idea and supporting details in nonfiction, summarizing
*Social Studies- Difference in uses between maps and globes, finding a location, the physical features versus human features, and how people adapt or modify the environment to meet their needs.
*Writing- writing learning logs or friendly letters, to whom are you writing, for what purpose, and why did you decide to use the selected form of writing. Focus on commas in greetings and capital letters for proper nouns.

2nd Quarter Objectives

Here are the objectives I will be covering this quarter. If you want to get a head start on any of them with your son/daughter, this would be a HUGE help!!! There is a lot of work to do be done...but once we put our mind to it...the sky's the limit!!!

Math Objectives

Reading Objectives

Social Studies Objectives:
4.01 Distinguish between various types of maps and globes.
4.02 Use appropriate source maps to locate communities.
4.03 Use geographic terminology to describe and explain variations in the physical environment as communities.
4.04 Compare how people in different communities adapt to or modify the physical environment to meet their needs.

Science Objectives:
3.01 Observe that light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object and is reflected and/or absorbed.
3.02 Observe that objects in the sky have patterns of movement including:
Sun.
Moon.
Stars.
3.03 Using shadows, follow and record the apparent movement of the sun in the sky during the day.
3.04 Use appropriate tools to make observations of the moon.
3.05 Observe and record the change in the apparent shape of the moon from day to day over several months and describe the pattern of changes.
3.06 Observe that patterns of stars in the sky stay the same, although they appear to move across the sky nightly.

Gazette Memo Nov. 9-13

Maps, globes, continents…oh my! We are mapping out the world and looking more closely at map features, physical features, and human features. If you have any old maps you want to get rid of…WE WOULD LOVE TO USE THEM!!!

We are also on the hunt for magazines…they will help us with our next mapping project we will be working on in class.

Field trip forms and report cards went home last week. Please make sure both are returned as soon as possible. Parent Conference letters will go home on Tuesday.

Just a reminder…there will be NO SCHOOL on the 11th in honor of Veteran’s Day.

This week’s objectives:
*Math- Multi-digit addition and subtraction problem solving, rounding, comparing and ordering numbers, multiplication/division, triangles, and angles.
*Reading- abbreviations, before and during reading strategies for nonfiction, main idea and supporting details in nonfiction, fat questions (open ended) for nonfiction, and understanding nonfiction.
*Social Studies- Difference in uses between maps and globes, finding a location, the physical features versus human features, and how people adapt or modify the environment to meet their needs.
*Writing- writing learning logs or friendly letters, to whom are you writing, for what purpose, and why did you decide to use the selected form of writing. Focus on commas in greetings and capital letters for proper nouns.

Spelling Nov 9-13

Abbreviations...click here to study!

1. Dr.
2. Mr.
3. Mrs.
4. Ms.
5. NC
6. U.S.
7. Rd.
8. St.
9. Blvd.
10. Jan.
11. Feb.
12. Mar.
13. Apr.
14. Aug.
15. Sept.
16. Oct.
17. Nov.
18. Dec.
19. Hwy.
20. Ave.

Day 2 Human Body Projects

Another wonderful day of presentations...we have learned so much!!!

Gazette Memo Nov. 2-6

Congratulations students on finishing your FIRST quarter as a third grader!!!! Report cards will be sent home on Thursday parents so keep an eye out for them.
We will still be completing Human Body Project presentations.

Pumpkinfest was soooo much fun!!! I decided that our next party, Thanks for Being You, will be on Nov. 24 (the day before break). We will have a small mini-feast based off the book Stone Soup.

Our first field trip will be on December 15th. Permission slips will be going home soon because students will have to bring in money in order to attend. We will be seeing “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” based off the book by Barbara Robinson. I recently purchased the books for my entire class. If they would like to keep it, it will only cost them $2. Once the books come in, we will begin reading it to prepare for the performance.

This week’s objectives:

*Math- Multi-digit addition and subtraction problem solving, rounding, comparing and ordering numbers, multiplication/division, triangles, and angles.

*Reading- words that contain /oi/ and /ow/, before and during reading strategies for nonfiction, main idea and supporting details in nonfiction, fat questions (open ended) for nonfiction, and understanding nonfiction.

*Social Studies- Difference in uses between maps and globes, finding a location, the physical features versus human features, and how people adapt or modify the environment to meet their needs.

*Writing- writing learning logs or friendly letters, to whom are you writing, for what purpose, and why did you decide to use the selected form of writing. Focus on commas in greetings and capital letters for proper nouns.

Spelling Words Nov. 2-6

Study your spelling words here.

1. poison
2. rejoice
3. choice
4. shadow
5. window
6. swallow
7. narrow
8. appoint
9. spoil
10. tower
11. legend
12. globe
13. compass
14. sphere
15. border

Scholastic Books Online!!!

Dear Parents,

I have exciting news. You can now place your Scholastic Book Clubs orders online!

Browse all the great monthly Book Club selections at low prices and order online. Plus, our class earns a FREE book every time a parent orders online.

Here’s how it works:

Use the information below to access the Scholastic Book Clubs Web site.
Browse the titles with your child and place your order with your credit card.
Your order will come to me, and your credit card payment will go directly to Scholastic’s secure server. There’s no need to send money to school.
After I submit the entire class order to Scholastic, your order will be delivered to our classroom for your child to take home.

To get started, go to the Web address below and enter our class’s personalized user name and password in the sign-in fields on the right side of the page. Note: You do not need to create your own user name and password.

www.scholastic.com/bookclubs
User Name: MsBuchanansClass
Password: books

Ordering online is the most convenient way to use Scholastic Book Clubs. You can order anytime, right up until the online order due date. You’ll also get instant access to over 500 additional titles plus online-only specials and discounts.

And don’t forget: Every time a parent places an order online, we earn a FREE book for our classroom library!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Pumpkinfest 2009

Today we had tons of fun! After we took our Human Body Test this morning, which by the way...almost everyone received high scores, we had a packed agenda. We watched "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown," carved a pumpkin, played a few games (learned "left" and "right" super fast), watched the 2nd graders do their "IB" program (which will also be shown tonight during the PTA program) and ate all the orange edibles that were brought in by everyone.

(our pumpkin Jack)

It definitely was a day of celebration for those students who work so hard and persevere no matter what I expect of them. I hope to have the entire classes participation at the next party! Hard work = knowledge and knowledge = power!!! Here are some pictures of the class chowing down on all the orangies:

The First Human Body Projects...

I am soooooo proud of my class!!! These are the best projects I have seen in a long time. I can tell that everyone put a lot of work into them and really learned alot throughout the project. We started presentations today and I will post pictures as presentations are given!!! Spook-takular job class!