Busy**Busy**Social Issues, Fractions and Native Americans**Busy**Busy

Yes, we are! Busy that is! It seems that since April vacation, the world is spinning faster! We have many smaller units in our math, science, and social studies programs, so it seems like we are moving through many topics at this point of the year.
In reading, we are currently in our Social Issues Unit. We have read fiction stories that you may recognize: The Hundred Dresses and Thank You, Mr. Falker. Both stories while having several small social issues share the the social issue of bullying. After reading and discussing the books in depth, we decided that we needed to gather some information about the topic of bullying. In order to do this we watched a video that explained exactly what bullying is. We learned that there are three types of bullying: physical, verbal and social bullying. We also learned that the easiest way to solve the problem of bullying is to be kind to everyone. After the short video we read a non-fiction article that discussed what to do if you experience bullying as a bystander or as the victim. The students in Room 24 are armed with a 3 step plan No!, Go!, Tell! The one word cues remind the students how to handle a bullying situation and how to turned it around sooner, rather than later. We finished off with writing advice to either Patricia, the character in Thank You, Mr. Falker who was bullied or Wanda, the character in The Hundred Dresses who was bullied. Students needed to include information we gathered in the video and the non-fiction reading in the advice response.
Additionally, we have read about the condition of poverty, homelessness, and the desire for education or a home of ones own in several different book clubs. All of these books had themes and sub-themes. Students read to recognize the characters longings, and  the way in which the characters reached his/her dream. It is fair to say that we have hit home the idea of "working long and strong is the best way to make life dreams come true!" Along the way we read non-fiction articles and watched TED talk video, CBS 60 Minute excerpts and agency informational videos to learn more about how these real people worked toward their dreams with the assistance of volunteers and specific organizations that supported their in need.

In math, students are currently learning about equivalent fractions by way of a nine day center rotation. These hands on centers are focused on comparing fractions to 1/2, identifying the fractional parts on a number line and placing fractions on a number line. These concepts are far more challenging than our introduction unit on fractions last trimester, so the time invested in these ideas is well worth-the-while.

We have completed a short unit on Native Americans. We had small groups read short informational articles on the tribes of the Plateau, and the Plains. Other groups read to understand The Inuit and The Aleut or the Pueblo. Each group focused on common cultural aspects such as food, clothing and shelter of the tribe. After completing art work and writing to show what we learned, the entire class did a museum walk to share our learning. Ask you child if he/she like the museum walk and what was learned by doing the museum walk.

As I said it has been busy around room 24 and there is no sign of it letting up until June!

Technology in Room 24

     To wrap up our biography unit, each student read a just right biography and created a slide show in Googleslide.  Each slide show had the same requirements: Tell the audience, who was this person, who was in his/her life, what was the time period like, struggles and major accomplishments. Also which text features were helpful in understanding the subject's life. While this was a fast paced creation, 3 days on computer, 1 slide per day, it took some time for all of the 24 presentations to be made to the class. We have finally concluded all presentations. They were awesome and many student's slide shows generated interest for classmates to read about the biographical subject! Who could ask for more?!
      I am thrilled when students really "get into" a project and that is what happened in our classroom! It is amazing how students in third grade learn and master a new concept using technology! We experienced some very creative presentation. In some cases, I hadn't seen this kind of interest and creativity with other mediums used previously for final presentations. I think we have some budding graphic designers!!
     That brings me to the main reason for this blog post....Please go on line and have your child show you his or her slide show. Follow up fun could be allowing your child to create endless slide shows. What better typing practice and learning and growing in an area that will be so useful in future schooling and life. My daughters loved making power-point shows (there was no Google slide show back then!) about any and every topic....All About Me, Getting To Know My Dog and My Summer Vacation were just a few. They learned to insert photos and create hyperlinks to related web pages. They really enjoyed showing off their shows to the rest of the family too!
     I can't tell you how many presentations they've each done in their school career and it all began on those long, hot summer days with nothing in particular to do!! This is truly a situation of getting better at creation by doing. Typing practice can be boring, but making your own slide shows adds the creative aspect and we are back to something interesting and fun to do. Just be sure your child uses the skills they are practicing daily on typingweb. Typing with all of their fingers in the correct spots! I have had a few students create a slide show of their own already! Also I always try to show off any work classmates do during snack time.