Select Page

Newsletter, October 10, 2016

Ms. Hahn’s Newsletter

October 10 2016

 

Reading

 

This past week the students learned about themes and character traits.  We will be coming back to these topics throughout the school year.  Next week the students will be learning how to explain the point of view of the character.  They will also be learning how to make connections to their reading.  The connections to be themselves, another book, or the world.

 

Most reading groups will be reading chapters 2-4 next week.  The students will writing a diary entry pretending to be John.  They will be using what they know about character traits and point of view for the diary entry.

 

Math

 

The students did an excellent job starting to learn about perimeter.  In third grade the students need to find the perimeter of a polygon with one measurement missing.  The students will also be measuring rectangular objects to the nearest ½ inch and finding the perimeter.  You can help at home by asking them to measure objects with a ruler.

Please remember to have your child play math games at home at least two times a week.  Please indicate your child played the math games above the spelling list under reminders.

 

Science and Social Studies

 

On Monday the students went out to the Prairie Smoke pond.  The students used nets to catch water creatures.  One group caught a tadpole and many groups found insects.  This was one of the last lessons we will do about wetlands.

 

We also began reading from our textbook, Illinois Our Home.  We will  be learning what makes a primary or secondary source of information.  The students will be asking to see a copy of their birth certificate or a primary source of their history.  The students will also be discussing their location on the planet, continent, country, region, state, county, and city.  We will then be talking about the different features of a map.  The map features will include scale, map key, legend, latitude, longitude, cardinal directions, and intermediate directions.

 

Writing

 

This past week the students explored different ways to come up with ideas for writing.  One strategy was the following:  think of a person who matters to you, list small moments, choose one, and write the whole story.  The other strategy was the following:  think of a place, that matters, map small moments, choose one, and write it.  We also discussed what to do when when a writer runs out of gas.  Next week the students will learn that writers sometimes pause to consider what’s going well in their writing and what they might try next to take their writing to the next level.  They will also learn that writers don’t wait to edit, they take a minute as they write to make sure their writing is a clear as possible for their readers.

 

Earthkeepers

 

Please help your child complete the Y key tasks on time.  Remind your child to work on the assignment to get it done by time.

 

October’s Green Challenge:  Eat Real

Did you know… According to the Food Corps Annual Report (2010-11), the average American elementary-age child receives only 3.4 hours of food education per year… less than the average amount of TV these children watch… PER DAY!  (And that TV imparts its own variety of food education in the form of commercials…)  It’s time to buck that trend.  Food gives us the sun energy that allows us to function.  It links us to our environment, upon which we are dependant for all varieties of food.  Whatever we choose to eat, food connects us to the ecosystem and to one of the most basic ecological realities of life on earth — the flow of energy through a food chain.  Food is also central to our social and cultural identities.  It links us to our ancestors and our heritage; it is central to our cultural and personal celebrations, and shared meals provide opportunities for families and friends to become closer.

 

The Green Challenge for October, Eat Real, is all about focusing on healthy, local, sustainably produced whole foods.  This topic connects to September’s challenge through the links to health and wellness; it connects to our Sustainable Schoolyard through the use of home (school)-grown food.  It is in line with our school’s vision because we will focus on sustainability, such as the lack of packaging, transportation and processing involved in Eating Real.  

 

The Eat Real Challenge kicks off with the assembly on Oct. 4, 8:15 am in the gym.  Parents are welcome to join us; we are excited to have guest speakers this month!  Another highlight of the month will be Farm to Table on Oct 12. The official Food Day is on Oct 24.  We will have events and curriculum for classes to participate in, including our PCCS Feed your Family Grocery Store experience.   For that, we are seeking Food Donations starting Oct 11.

 

There are tons of great resources and reading material out there for folks interested in food issues and eating real.  Here are just a couple:

  • http://www.foodday.org/ Learn about this national celebration of healthy, sustainable and affordable food, including a quiz, video and more!
  • http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/ is a blog about a family who pledges to go 100 days without processed foods — (there’s a tab on top for the original 100 days; also for a 10-day mini-challenge… you could sign up!)
  • https://eatingrules.com/october-unprocessed/ Take the challenge — go through the entire month of October without eating processed foods (or set your own goal!)

 

Upcoming Dates

 

Wednesday, October 12- Farm to Table Lunch

Monday, October 17- 2:00 Staff/Student soccer game

Wednesday, October 19- Early Release

Monday, October 31- 1:45 Halloween Party

Displaying 20161010_155237.jpg