UOI: The "tuning in" activity for our new Unit of Inquiry was an Exploration Walk behind the school. The students were encouraged to discover their own natural curiosities by recording things they saw and heard on the walk. They also wrote down their own wonders/questions about the newly explored surroundings. These findings are displayed in the hallway between the Grade 3 classrooms.
UOI: As the week progressed, the children had a chance to contemplate exploration in a few different ways. They used their prior knowledge to think about explorations and answer a few key questions: Why do people explore? How has exploration changed over time? & What are the effects or consequences of exploration? Some children found this challenging if they had limited prior knowledge on exploration. However, the children will complete this same task at the end of the unit to compare their learning over time.
The students created their own mind maps to demonstrate their understanding of types of explorations. Here are a couple samples:
The students created their own mind maps to demonstrate their understanding of types of explorations. Here are a couple samples:
LITERACY: This week Ms. Noye instructed our writer's workshop. She gave the students some amazing examples of how to make "outstanding openings" for their narrative writing pieces. The students were given a chance to practice writing openings with a partner and individually. Over the next several weeks, they will work to craft a writing piece using the narrative plot structure.
Taking notes is a valuable skill that students will continue to refine over their years of schooling. The grade 3 students felt a real struggle and frustration note taking without teacher guidance or strategies. Once they realized this was intentional, they were both relieved and upset that I had let them suffer. However, they were given a Cornell form to use to take notes a second time. Strategies were discussed and the students walked away with an amazing page full of notes, main idea, and summary.
Determining Importance will be a focus over the coming weeks both in reading and writing. This comprehension skill links closely with their ability to conduct effective research. Ask your child if they can explain the pasta/strainer analogy with determining the importance in a text.
Taking notes is a valuable skill that students will continue to refine over their years of schooling. The grade 3 students felt a real struggle and frustration note taking without teacher guidance or strategies. Once they realized this was intentional, they were both relieved and upset that I had let them suffer. However, they were given a Cornell form to use to take notes a second time. Strategies were discussed and the students walked away with an amazing page full of notes, main idea, and summary.
Determining Importance will be a focus over the coming weeks both in reading and writing. This comprehension skill links closely with their ability to conduct effective research. Ask your child if they can explain the pasta/strainer analogy with determining the importance in a text.
MATHS: Maths in our neighborhood, polygons, and more!!! The children had the challenging task of using pictures from everyday life (floors) to collectively come up with number sentences and word problems for their classmates to solve. Many students found it difficult to find just the right words to use when composing their word problems. It required collaboration from their classmates and some serious thinking. Some said their brains hurt afterwards.
Geometry continued to be a focus of study. The students inquired into the meaning of the word polygon and how that relates to their understanding of polygon shapes. Furthermore, we studied a table that helped them extend their understanding of angles and degrees of angles with regular polygon shapes. Here is the link we used. |