Cold Weather Experiments

Our Cold Weather Experiement


Click on the link above to see one of our videos from this mornings cold weather experiments!

Experiment #2!

We had some fun with the cold weather this morning. We also tested out frozen bubbles. We only lasted about 7 minutes all bundled up, but it was fun while it lasted. If you get a chance tonight, test out some of these experiments. We didn't have enough time to get the water fully boiling, so we ended up with some water left over that didn't turn to steam.

*both of the videos should be set to private on youtube*

Ecosystems project

December really snuck up on me this year! We just finished a chapter in science about animals. We are moving on to a chapter about living things and their environments, which usually leads me to a project on ecosystems. It is my favorite project in 3rd grade, and I really wanted the chance to do it before I am done at St. Michael's.

I sent home the information today, but if you look it over and find that you have questions, please let me know. The project is due on Wednesday, December 18th. We will present the projects to the other classrooms on Thursday of that week. If the packet does not make it home, please let me know and I will send another copy.

I know that Christmas time gets a little busy and crazy at home, so we will be doing a lot of the research here at school. Feel free to do research at home if you'd like, but we will have time to start ideas and learn about our ecosystems here at school, too. Usually I assign a food web to be completed at home, but we will do that part here at school, as well. The 3rd graders took notes as I was discussing the project, so hopefully it all makes sense. Feel free to contact me if you need any help. I also discussed that parents can help, but I want the majority of the project to be completed by your student. They also need to write a 3-4 paragraph report. That report should reflect your child's writing ability. Thanks for your help and commitment at home to complete this project!

Have a great week and a wonderful Advent season.

A FEW REMINDERS AND DATES:

December 12th- Christmas Program 6:30pm in the GYM. Doors will open at 6:15pm. Children need to wear their Christmas best. NO JEANS!
December 18th-Ecosystem projects due
December 19th-Pizza and Ice Cream Party in our classroom
December 20th-Last day before Christmas break-my last day :-( Bowling party in the morning

We're done!!

As a celebration for finishing our North Dakota State Testing, we made our topographical maps today. The 3rd graders are busy making islands that have peninsulas, rivers, lakes, volcanoes, hills, mountains, valleys and plateaus. They are learning how to distinguish between plateaus, mountains and hills. They are messy and loving it!! Here are a few pictures from our day! Tomorrow we will paint them. I'll try to add some pictures of that fun, too.

A couple views of our final projects 

What a fun afternoon! We are all glad to be done with our testing. Just a few reminders. You will find the coupon for bracelets for Harvest Hoe Down in your family file folder sent home today (Thursday). 3rd grade will have a test on the Ten Commandments tomorrow. We also have a spelling test. We finished reviewing for our science test, but we won't have a lot of time at home to study. I am going to make it an open note test because I don't want to stretch it out to another week. I'd like to move on to something new next week. Hope to see you all at Harvest Hoe Down! 

Fall Fun(d) Fest Baskets

Please note a change to the date for turning in basket donations. I would like to have everything here by tomorrow (October 23rd) if possible. Our dates got a little mixed up with the Fun(d) Fest organizers and they would like them turned in as soon as possible. Thank you for understanding, and thank you to all those who have donated items to our basket!

North Dakota State Testing

Please remember that we are beginning our ND State Testing this week. We will have 5 different reading and language arts tests and 3 math tests. So far this morning the testing is going well! They are working hard and taking their time. We've almost finished 2 parts of our reading and language arts. We broke up our morning with a long break of free time and snack. 

Please remember to send 2 snacks each day. We need some extra energy to get us through these few days. We will still have a spelling test this week, just so we don't get off track too much for our school year. We will also have a short science test this week. Your child will come home with a ziploc bag of science cards to study. We may have a few short math lessons for homework as well, but I am planning on keeping the week pretty light for at home work. 

Don't forget that we have Harvest Hoe Down this Thursday in the school gym. Costumes are allowed, but please make sure they are appropriate and not too scary. It is a family event, so young children will be there, too. 

We are still taking donations for our Fall Fun(d) Fest basket. We have Candyland, Sequence for Kids, Farkle, a puzzle, hair beading set, jewelry making set, and Dominoes. We are looking for some other games, snacks or drinks to add to the collection. You can send items in until the end of this week. If you'd like to send a cash donation, feel free to do so by the end of the week as well. I will go shopping with that money this weekend. Thanks to all who have donated already! 

If you have any questions about what's going on in the classroom, please let me know. Have a great week. 

Fall Fun(d) Fest baskets

Thank you to everyone who has donated to our silent auction basket. Here is a quick update of the items we have so far:

hair beader
jewelry kit
puzzle
Candyland
Farkle
Sequence for Kids
dominoes



If you are looking for some other ideas, here are some choices:

cards
board games
Twister
snacks
juice
pop
art supplies
or cash donations ( I do love to go shopping!)

If you have any questions please let me know. Thanks!

Reminder

Please remember that conferences are coming up next week. If you are unsure of your time, please contact me through e-mail at jenny.steele@stmichaelsgf.com

Also, thank you to those of you who have donated items for the silent auction basket. Our theme is family game night/rainy day. I only have a few items so far, so please consider donating if you can. You do receive commitment points for the dollar amount you donate. Thank you!