On November 15 and 18 the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department came to the 3rd and 4th grade classrooms. They came to teach us about New Hampshire wildlife. They taught us that animals need food, shelter, water and space. We also learned that New Hampshire has 3 main habitats: forests, fields, and wetlands. The classes did a lot of activities with the guest speakers. We played a game to see how the deer population is affected by their habitat. We sorted pictures of animals by their habitats. We played an animal guessing game where we needed to figure out what animal we were my asking yes or no questions. The speakers taught us about the importance of taking care of our planet. They showed us that there isn't a lot of space on Earth to grow crops. We also watched a short video about New Hampshire wildlife. The classes loved it and learned a lot!
By Ms. Armstrong's 3rd and 4th graders
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
It's Friday (well...sort of!)
I know, I know...it's not really Friday. But because we don't have school tomorrow or Friday, it sure feels like a Friday around here! For the past week the class has been busy! We have been researching New Hampshire forest animals to learn about their habitats and habits. The class then used what they learned we wrote postcards on the ipads from the perspective of the animals. The kids were very creative in their writing and learned a lot!
Last week we finished There's an Owl in teh Shower. The class was amazed to see how much they learned about spotted owls, their habitat, and the importance of conservation. This week we used the story to discuss and model retelling a story using the most important ideas. We weeded out big ideas from little details and then practiced this comprehension strategy with our own books.
In science we learned all about food webs. Students read about producers, consumers, herbivores, carnivores, and ominores. Today we created our own food web and saw how each animal relies on other animals. When one piece of the food web is eliminated, it affects all the other parts. Next week we will continue food webs by disecting owl pellets!
In the last blog post, I mentioned a trip to Scoutland Nature Preserve. Well, it turns out that it's deer hunting season. We feel that it would be unsafe to bring the group there, so we are researching other areas to complete a field study on forests. Please be on the look out for more information next week.
Here are some important dates to remember:
November 10-11: No school
November 17 and 21: Conferences...please call Ms. Sheehy in the office to schedule a conference time
November 18: Book orders due
November 23-25: Thanksgiving break
I hope you have a great extra long weekend!!
Last week we finished There's an Owl in teh Shower. The class was amazed to see how much they learned about spotted owls, their habitat, and the importance of conservation. This week we used the story to discuss and model retelling a story using the most important ideas. We weeded out big ideas from little details and then practiced this comprehension strategy with our own books.
In science we learned all about food webs. Students read about producers, consumers, herbivores, carnivores, and ominores. Today we created our own food web and saw how each animal relies on other animals. When one piece of the food web is eliminated, it affects all the other parts. Next week we will continue food webs by disecting owl pellets!
In the last blog post, I mentioned a trip to Scoutland Nature Preserve. Well, it turns out that it's deer hunting season. We feel that it would be unsafe to bring the group there, so we are researching other areas to complete a field study on forests. Please be on the look out for more information next week.
Here are some important dates to remember:
November 10-11: No school
November 17 and 21: Conferences...please call Ms. Sheehy in the office to schedule a conference time
November 18: Book orders due
November 23-25: Thanksgiving break
I hope you have a great extra long weekend!!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Where does the time go?
Wow! Has it really been almost a month since my last post? Yikes! I am so sorry for putting the blog on the back burner for so long. I promise to be better about updating!
We have been so busy for the past 3 weeks and the kids have been learning so much! After our trip to the Great Bay, we started a BIG unit on forests. We have been learning all about New Hampshire's most common habitat and are quickly becoming experts on deciduous forests. We have been spending time learning about the layers of the forest, plants and animals that live in each layer, and the importance of forests as habitats. Be sure to ask your child if he or she can name each layer and what animals live in each layer. Next we will focus on food webs and interdepedence. In a few weeks, the 3rd and 4th grades will be taking a trip to a forest near RGS (Scoutland). Here we will put our learning to use as students will get a chance to see the forest up close! This trip will be November 21 all day. Look for more information to be sent home in the coming days.
During Daily 5, students have been learning and practicing reading and writing skills every day. Last week the class was introduced to paragraph writing. They learned that good paragraphs have an introduction, 3 supporting details, and a conclusion. They practiced writing paragraphs today about their favorite season. Our read aloud book ties closely with the science topic. There's an Owl in the Shower, by Jean Craighead George is about a family who takes care of an orphaned spotted owl. The book touches on many ecology topics ranging from conservation to animal adaptations. It is a great springboard for discussions not only about reading strategies, but also the importance of forests. Ask your child what their favorite part has been!
Most students have also started a mini-research project on a New Hampshire forest animal. They are using the internet to research all about an animal. Students are also learning how to take notes on the most important information. Next week they will start writing reports to share what they have learned.
On another note, I would like to know how many people are reading the blog. If you have a chance, could you send me an email or post on the blog when you are reading it? Thanks! It is great feedback for me!
Here are some important upcoming dates:
November 3- picture retakes
November 10- no school, teacher workshop day
November 11- no school, Veteran's Day
November 18- book orders due (as always, orders can be made online at scholastic.com or sent to school...see blog post below for ordering instructions)
November 17 and 21- conference (please contact Ms. Sheehy in the office to sign up for a conference!)
November 23-25- no school, Thanksgiving holiday
I think that's it for now! Until next time...
We have been so busy for the past 3 weeks and the kids have been learning so much! After our trip to the Great Bay, we started a BIG unit on forests. We have been learning all about New Hampshire's most common habitat and are quickly becoming experts on deciduous forests. We have been spending time learning about the layers of the forest, plants and animals that live in each layer, and the importance of forests as habitats. Be sure to ask your child if he or she can name each layer and what animals live in each layer. Next we will focus on food webs and interdepedence. In a few weeks, the 3rd and 4th grades will be taking a trip to a forest near RGS (Scoutland). Here we will put our learning to use as students will get a chance to see the forest up close! This trip will be November 21 all day. Look for more information to be sent home in the coming days.
During Daily 5, students have been learning and practicing reading and writing skills every day. Last week the class was introduced to paragraph writing. They learned that good paragraphs have an introduction, 3 supporting details, and a conclusion. They practiced writing paragraphs today about their favorite season. Our read aloud book ties closely with the science topic. There's an Owl in the Shower, by Jean Craighead George is about a family who takes care of an orphaned spotted owl. The book touches on many ecology topics ranging from conservation to animal adaptations. It is a great springboard for discussions not only about reading strategies, but also the importance of forests. Ask your child what their favorite part has been!
Most students have also started a mini-research project on a New Hampshire forest animal. They are using the internet to research all about an animal. Students are also learning how to take notes on the most important information. Next week they will start writing reports to share what they have learned.
On another note, I would like to know how many people are reading the blog. If you have a chance, could you send me an email or post on the blog when you are reading it? Thanks! It is great feedback for me!
Here are some important upcoming dates:
November 3- picture retakes
November 10- no school, teacher workshop day
November 11- no school, Veteran's Day
November 18- book orders due (as always, orders can be made online at scholastic.com or sent to school...see blog post below for ordering instructions)
November 17 and 21- conference (please contact Ms. Sheehy in the office to sign up for a conference!)
November 23-25- no school, Thanksgiving holiday
I think that's it for now! Until next time...
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Down by the Bay...
We had a spectacular time at the Great Bay Discovery Center yesterday! The students were split into 5 groups to learn in different stations. They learned about how the Great Bay was an essential resource to both Native Americans and settlers. They saw lots of different animals native to the area, became archaeologists who learned about the past, explored a real gundalow, and walked through the estuary habitat. Here's what the class had to say about their trip...
"We sat on animal furs in a real wigwam." -Jacob
"I was surprised that Native Americans had lots of animals." -Neleah
"I learned that Labrador retrievers were used to retrieve ducks for hunters." -Angelina
"Hunters covered their canoes with hay for camouflage." -Meagan
"We went under the deck in the gungalow." -Ryan
"I found a pouch with bullets in it." -Rielly
"I liked the furs and tall grass." -Kendall
"I was surprised to see a blue heron." -Lianne
"I saw a bald eagle." -Eli
"I had fun on the gundalow." -Nicky
"I learned about the gundalow." -Caden
"Boy Native Americans went hunting and carried knives." -Owen
"I liked the animal furs." -Oscar
"I saw a snake!" -Aaliyah
"I liked the trail." -Trent
"There was a stuffed turkey." -Kaitlyn
"I like the footprints on the boardwalk." Caden
"I like crawling under the gundalow." -Aidan
"We saw where salt water and fresh water met." Angelina and Oscar
Just a few reminders before I go...
-There is no school October 7 and 10
-Book orders are due October 14
-Picture retakes are November 3
-NECAP testing will continue next week
Have a great long weekend!!!
"We sat on animal furs in a real wigwam." -Jacob
"I was surprised that Native Americans had lots of animals." -Neleah
"I learned that Labrador retrievers were used to retrieve ducks for hunters." -Angelina
"Hunters covered their canoes with hay for camouflage." -Meagan
"We went under the deck in the gungalow." -Ryan
"I found a pouch with bullets in it." -Rielly
"I liked the furs and tall grass." -Kendall
"I was surprised to see a blue heron." -Lianne
"I saw a bald eagle." -Eli
"I had fun on the gundalow." -Nicky
"I learned about the gundalow." -Caden
"Boy Native Americans went hunting and carried knives." -Owen
"I liked the animal furs." -Oscar
"I saw a snake!" -Aaliyah
"I liked the trail." -Trent
"There was a stuffed turkey." -Kaitlyn
"I like the footprints on the boardwalk." Caden
"I like crawling under the gundalow." -Aidan
"We saw where salt water and fresh water met." Angelina and Oscar
Just a few reminders before I go...
-There is no school October 7 and 10
-Book orders are due October 14
-Picture retakes are November 3
-NECAP testing will continue next week
Have a great long weekend!!!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Some need to know news...
Hello! Below you will find some important reminders and dates...feel free to email or call if you have any questions.
September 29- Picture day!
October 5- Field trip to Great Bay Discovery Center. Please get your permission slip to school ASAP. The cost of the trip is $6.50/student. We are still in need of 2 more chaperones.
October 3-12- NECAP testing. Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and a hearty breakfast, as we will be taking the New England Common Assessment Program on these days. All 3rd and 4th graders in NH will be taking this test in reading and math.
October 14- Scholastic orders due. A new book order went home today. Orders can be placed online at scholastic.com or can be sent in with your child. If you choose to do it online, the activation code for our class is J424Q.
Our school now has a Tumble Books account! Tumble Books is an online "library," containing hundreds of books that your child can listen to and read. There are comprehension questions, games, and actvities that accompany each book too! Students had fun exploring the site yesterday and many were interested in doing it at home. Just go to www.tumblebooks.com. Our username is rgs and the password is books.
September 29- Picture day!
October 5- Field trip to Great Bay Discovery Center. Please get your permission slip to school ASAP. The cost of the trip is $6.50/student. We are still in need of 2 more chaperones.
October 3-12- NECAP testing. Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and a hearty breakfast, as we will be taking the New England Common Assessment Program on these days. All 3rd and 4th graders in NH will be taking this test in reading and math.
October 14- Scholastic orders due. A new book order went home today. Orders can be placed online at scholastic.com or can be sent in with your child. If you choose to do it online, the activation code for our class is J424Q.
Our school now has a Tumble Books account! Tumble Books is an online "library," containing hundreds of books that your child can listen to and read. There are comprehension questions, games, and actvities that accompany each book too! Students had fun exploring the site yesterday and many were interested in doing it at home. Just go to www.tumblebooks.com. Our username is rgs and the password is books.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Welcome to our blog!
I am happy to present to you our new class blog! The purpose of this blog is to share what we've been up to in the classroom. There will be updates about what we've been doing, important information, and reminders. Be sure to check back often, as I will be updating our blog frequently!
This week the classroom has been abuzz with lots of learning!
During Daily 5, we have been building stamina while reading and writing and practicing comprehension strategies. Students have been enjoying reading to themselves, writing, and reading to a partner. Be sure to ask what books he and she have been reading! Each child completed a reading assessment and set reading goals. Last week we started our read aloud book Bunnicula by James Howe. See if your child remembers any of the main characters. Many students also wrote personal narrative stories. This first writing assignment gave us experience with the writing process of pre-writing, drafting, editing, revising, and publishing.
This week your child also wrote his or her first letter to a pen pal. This year the class will be writing to a class of 4th graders in Oregon (it just happens to be my old class...)! I always love pen pal projects; they are a great way to connect with other children while teaching the lost art of letter writing. Be sure to find out who your child is writing to!
We began social studies this week with a unit on geography. Students became "experts" on one continent and taught the rest of the class what they learned. We used the ipads to go deeper and discover more about each continent. By the end of the week, they should be able to name each continent, locate it on a map, and describe 3 facts about them.
Don't forget these important dates:
September 23, book orders due
September 29, picture day
October 5, field trip to Great Bay Discovery Center
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