Dear Third Grade Families,

We had a wonderful time seeing so many of you last night, at Parent Teacher Conferences! Your students have made such strides in their work, specifically shouting out their progress in information writing from November to March, we were thrilled to share their endeavors with you.

Math

This week, in math, we tied our 2- or 3-digit by 1-digit multiplication unit together by figuring out that all of the strategies we learned (repeated addition, break apart method, using a place value mat or chart) were supports in learning cross-multiplication! Throughout these past three weeks, students were working on showing the steps they were taking in their mind to solve equations. Now, we’re able to use the quicker strategy of regrouping in a stacked equation.

For this method, we emphasized that students should not first add the regrouped number to the top digit — instead they need to multiply first and THEN add on. Knowing this strategy will help prepare them for Fourth Grade, where they multiply a 3- or 4-digit number by a 2- or 3- digit number.

Social Studies

Our in-class lessons about the Erie Canal came to a close this week, but it would be underwhelming to describe the students as interested in it’s construction. They were ENTHRALLED by the history of how it came to be, how and by who it was made, and how it affected each city or town that had a lock. Another thing we have learned and practiced over the past three weeks has been the famous song “Low Bridge, Everybody Down,” written by Thomas S Allen, in 1903. A fun fact about this song is that while it is about the experiences of a hoggee worker on the Erie Canal, it was never SUNG by workers on the Erie Canal (though the captains of the boats WERE known to shout “Low bridge — everybody down!”). Many of the grades have been hearing the Third Graders singing this song as we walk to each class. We cannot WAIT for June, where you will get to see and hear the song performed at our New York City Musical! Below are some youtube links of informational videos about the Erie Canal:

How Canals Work

What is the Erie Canal?

America’s Heritage: The Erie Canal (1957)

200 Years on the Erie Canal

Writing

This seems to have been the week of units coming to a close — we ALSO completed our persuasive speech writing unit. Last Friday, as noted, student stood in front of their peers, on a soapbox, and emphatically read their speeches to the class. They spoke with gusto and passion, persuading one another about why their topic was vital and important. Today, our final two students shared their speeches as well (the photos have been added to last week’s blog). While that was originally the final project, the idea changed after seeing the excitement and joy on each students’ face as they experienced the wonder of glass blowing. They were asked to write a persuasive letter that persuades the Third Grade Team and administrators that this is a trip which should be repeated every year. We could say it in teacher words, but why do that when we could just quote all of the students instead?

• “You NEED to go to the URBAN GLASS TRIP. If you don’t go, it will be really upsetting.”
• “You should never take future kids to the UrbanGlass place!!! JK! You should DEFINITELY take future kids to the UrbanGlass place.”
• “I think every year kids that are younger than us should be able to go and be amazed at that amazing things that they can do.”
• “You HAVE to keep this trip!”
• “My first reason it was awesome is that they let all the kids in the Orange Group blow a bubble through the pipe they used to hold the liquid glass … It was a really cool experience not just being able to touch the pipe but to use it is 10 times cooler!!!”
• “My first reason is that it’s so wondrous. ALL of us ask so many good questions. And they will also ask us good questions.”
• “I learned many things are made from glass. For example, bowls and cups.”
• “How you learn a lot is by them showing you how the glass is made and they tell you the steps for making it. Like when they taught us to keep spinning the thing [pipe] that you blow glass through. If you don’t [keep spinning the pipe,] then the glass will just drip off.”
• “You also learn about different types of tools and with them you can make extraordinary glass models.”
• “Another reason is the whole group gets to choose on one thing to make and it’s super cool to hold all the special tools.”
• “My best field trip I ever went on is the UrbanGlass tour!!!!! In UrbanGlass, you can make whatever you want and nothing is impossible.”
• “My third reason is that the people there are really nice!”
• “It is more than just a learning experience for the kids. It is also fun for the kids.”
• “They are nice, they listen to you.”
• “Safety is also very important and you need to wear goggles and please don’t touch the glass.” O
• “My first reason is that the artists make really cool glass sculptures. I really liked learned and seeing how they made the sculptures by blowing into their pipes.”
• “I learned that melted glass is 2200 degrees fahrenheit. It takes 12 hours to cool melted glass. If melted glass touches water, it will crack.”
• “You learn a lot, and you can go to your friends and say “I learned how to blow glass!”
• “I also think that since our class liked it a lot and got to do some pretty cool stuff then other classes might like it a lot too and if they hear about what we did they might want to go so that they can experience all the cool stuff that we experienced…”
• “My third reason is that kids don’t know actually how they shape class, they just think it’s made in a factory and that it can’t be shaped into almost anything.”
• “This trip was amazing, but one idea is that with gloves we would get to touch it or see it up close or keep some glass and be more involved because we were only able involved in the end. … So in the future, in science, we should learn about glass, like how to blow it or how to make it.”
• “UrbanGlass was so inspiring!”
• “They can blow glass isn’t bubbles — isn’t that cool?”
• “And I know when I went to Israel I saw a person blowing glass and kids were screaming ‘It’s impossible!’ and ‘oh my G-d!’ and ‘how does it work?!’ People should learn the impossible.”
• “They can make extremely detailed glass work, like how the ketchup turned out!”
• …“I even asked my mom if I could go there myself again because it was so much fun! And I am so excited to go there again!”
• “I have never had a field trip before where we got a new GLASS MATE. Our GLASS MATE is a glass hot dog. Having a GLASS MATE brings joy to our class, and I think other grades would feel the same.”
• “Oh, and …. Just by going on that trip I think I found out what I’m going to be when I grow up, I want to be a glassblower.”
• “When your future students go to UrbanGlass, I know that they are going to now learn that teamwork makes the dream work and teamwork can change the world.”

Did they convince you?

Conversation starters with your student:

• Erie Canal
  • What IS a “hoggee,’ and how does a hoggee connect to the Erie Canal?
    • Would you want to be a hoggee? They get paid $243 a week (or $12/week back in the 1820s)
  • How does a lock, on the canal, work?
  • Would you want to be a worker (digger) on the Erie Canal? Why or why not?
• Reading
  • Which character in the book is most like you? Why?
  • how did the main character’s action affect the story?
• Math
  • Have students add up the spare change you have in your pocket, or a piggy bank. Do they recognize the different coins and value per coin?
  • What strategy works best for you, when multiplying a 3-digit number by a 1-digit number?

Dates to Remember:

• Monday, March 19 — Parent-Teacher Conference from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
• Thursday, March 22 — Field Trip to the Brooklyn Bridge, from 9:30am to 1:30pm
• Friday, March 30 to Sunday, April 7 — NO SCHOOL for Passover
• Monday, April 8 — first day back to school!

We wish you all a restful Shabbat, and look forward to getting to talk with more parents on Monday night!

Shabbat Shalom,
Hilary and Talia

Judaics with Aliza

In Judaics this week, the third grade worked on our Pesach customs project. We learned about unique traditions from Jewish communities around the world and are compiling them into a book to take home and share with you at the Pesach Seder!

Shabbat Shalom,

Aliza