Dear Third Grade families,

This was a hard week for some students, as we went through a transition in the team. On Monday, we had a wonderful celebration for our associate, Alisa, with students showing her the ways in which they will miss her. She also read aloud two books that were about the importance of memory and imagination. We wish her luck as the fourth grade maternity leave replacement, and are thrilled that she is literally right next-door! A quick shout out to all of our wonderful chaperones on Wednesday’s trip to UrbanGlass! We appreciated your questions and support throughout. It was a fantastic trip, which will be included — in depth — for next week’s blog. As a LITTLE bit of a spoiler: we have a glass pet coming on Wednesday!

Social Studies:

We have continued to explore the Erie Canal. The process to build it took eight years, from 1817-1825. The digging started on July 4, 1817 in Rome, New York (who knew that there was another Rome??), led by De Witt Clinton. We found out that the location of the original Erie Canal was 15 miles north of the Great Central Trail (a 12-18 inch walking trail) the Iroquois Confederacy used as travel between villages and tribes. The natives understood the importance of connecting regions together to support communication and community. During the time they cleared the pristine, untouched forests of Central New York, two inventions were created to help laborers remove trees, and involved using a VERY large wheel and chains. The main issue for laborers came when they got to the Montezuma swamps. They found that the tools they were using with sink in the mud, and everything had to happen or be dug by hand. As you can imagine, being waist high in the muck of the swamp was not a favorite experience for the laborers. As well, a few different insects made the work that much harder and that much more dangerous. An assistant to the engineer, James Geddes, realized that the best way to take through the swamps was to dig in the winter instead of the summer. After putting an advertisement in the regional newspaper, in central New York, the women of the area knitted over 300 pairs of gloves for the laborers use as they were working in harsh winters. Men definitely appreciated this, and, through the support, pushed forward in completing the first 70 miles of the Erie canal. On October 22, 1819, the first section of the Erie canal, called the Middle Section, was open for use!

Math:

This week, we worked on multiplying bigger numbers and finding strategies to help us figure out how to get the product. And some of these numbers include 128×3, 87×4, and 325×5. Many of the strategies we used for one-digit times one-digit multiplication can be applied towards bigger multiplication equations. One strategy is breaking apart the bigger number, to make multiplying easier, and then adding the three products together. For instance, instead of 325×5, it would be: 300×5=1500; 20×5=100; 5×5=25; 1500+100+25=1625. Another strategy is repeated addition: 325+325+325+325+325. A third strategy is using a place value chart to help us with adding up, which has a similar feel to the break apart strategy.

A kind reminder to continue practicing multiplication facts with your student each night, to help with automaticity. This could be through:

• flash cards
• games (such as Multiplication Top It, which your student can tell you ALL about)
• online games (a recommended site is: http://www.multiplication.com/games/all-games )

Writing:

Today was our speech presentation day! Students were provided the opportunity to stand on a soap box to passionately speak about a person that everyone should know, or something that must be changed, and WHY. Students stood up proudly in front of the class to share their opinions, and persuade others to agree. There were many times someone said “I now want to do that!” or “I now want to go there!” because of a classmate’s speech. Some strong hooks Third Graders used were:

• Do you know Martine? If you said no, you should!
• I know what you’re thinking — this guy is right!
• Can I ask you a question? Yes or no: do you think we should have more specials?
• Less school would be better for EVERYONE (fist pump in the air)!
• Slime can calm you down in 10 seconds FLAT!
• 6 out of 10 people think we should have longer snack
• I believe this will make my class a better place
• Think about that!
• I felt refreshed [after my nap] — it was the BEST feeling yet!
• Just picture this …
• Do you agree with me?

Each student giving his or her speech can be found in the gallery!

Topics you can discuss with your student:

• What made working in the Montezuma swamps and marshes so difficult?
  • What where those insects?
• How does the song, “Low Bridge, Everybody Down” go?
  • Who is ‘Sal?’
  • Why are Albany and Buffalo mentioned?
  • Why do you think it says “15 miles?”
• What is a haiku? (specifically for the Orange Group)
  • How is it different than other forms of writing?
• How could you multiply 683 x 7?

Dates to remember:

• Wednesday, March 14 — Orange Group field trip to UrbanGlass
• Thursday, March 15 — NO SCHOOL! Parent-Teacher Conference Day from 8:00 am – 6:30 pm
• 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

Shabbat Shalom, everyone!
Hilary and Talia

Judaic Studies:

This week, third graders kicked off their Pesach unit with a review (and game) of the holiday Halachot and Minhagim (Laws and Traditions) we have learned this year. We added a list of Pesach customs to our game, and had a great time playing. We also began our Pesach project, which third graders will be bringing home to share with you on Seder night! They have been learning about unique rituals and customs from Jewish communities all over the world, including countries like India, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Afghanistan.

Shabbat shalom!

Aliza

Hebrew:

This week the third grade worked on the song Yesh Li Ach Katan (I Have A Little Brother). We talk about the family; What do they like and not like to do with their siblings or parents. Also the students practiced writing sentences using the verbs from the song. On Monday they will have quiz on the vocabulary. Hear is the link for the song:

Music: