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GRADE THREE AMAZING RACE LAUNCHED TODAY

Handmade Diya as might be found in India for the celebration of the Festival of Light. The kids worked together to read and measure the ingredients to make the dough for this little light which represents the triumph of good over evil.

What is PBL? It stands for Project Based Learning. The grade 3 classes launched our PBL today to give the kids more in-depth exposure to all the countries we will study this year: India, Ukraine, Peru, and Tunisia. Since all the classes are working together, students got to choose a partner from another classroom who will go on all the amazing race challenges with them.  Each classroom is transformed into a country and the students work together to complete a variety of either roadblocks or detours! Check out our blog on the link below for more information on the project and for pictures that will be coming soon!

We made Canadian backpacks and duct tape wallets filled with bills from each country. Those who trek through the countries and have money at the end will get to shop for a surprise! The way to keep money in your wallet is to stay on task, help and encourage each other, and solve all the roadblocks/detours!

The kids divided up and travelled to different destinations today with their buddies and came back excited to do it again on Tuesday! Our classroom is India and we had so much fun making diyas and rangoli and learning about animals, clothing, landmarks, and daily life in India. It was great to see the kids so excited and motivated to research and create things together! In the words of one of our students "it was the best day ever!!" Here's the link!  Great job Grade 3's!!!

Click here to go to the Grade 3 Amazing Race Blog

spelling list!

MARCH NEWS!

Hope everyone had a nice reading week! I picked up a ton of great new books for the kids at teacher convention and had time to make some exciting materials for a big PBL project happening later in March called The Amazing Race with a Social Studies theme! Stay tuned for more information! Our launch day will be March 21st!

Also, we have invited a new student into our classroom from Syria and had a presentation by our District ESL teacher David Fuller and his friend Mohammed to help everyone with the transition.

Now our that we have the basics of materials and designs down, we get to start our big building projects as part of our Building With a Variety of Materials Science Unit! We'll be building everything from hanging cup holders and basketball towers, to playgrounds and famous landmarks! Thanks to everyone who sent in building materials! Keep'em coming!

In Social we are learning about Peru and the kids were so excited to make their woven bookmarks for Valentine's day! They did such a good job and some even made extras for their brothers and sisters! This week we are making a woven bowl so I am asking that everyone brings a ball of coloured yarn to school for Wednesday.  If your child would like to do more than one colour, feel free to send a few.

In Math, we are deep into double and even triple digit addition with regrouping! We keep practising our Monday Mad Minute facts as the kids should know addition to 18 fluently by the end of grade three.

In LA, we are wrapping up our study of the novel Stone Fox and of course Crenshaw! Next we have an author study of Patricia Polacco who is an American author and illustrator. She struggled in school because she was unable to read until age 14 due to dyslexia; she found happiness expressing herself through art. For a list of her books check our her website at patriciapolacco.com

 

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One School One Book Donations to YWCA Harbour House

Greetings Mike Mountain Horse families!
We sincerely hope that you are enjoying our One School, One Book selection: Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. A great many themes surface in this remarkable read, and, as you may have already noticed, there are also some very sensitive topics addressed. Though sometimes difficult to discuss, hardship and homelessness are realities in today’s world and we encourage you to take these opportunities to engage in conversation with your child (children) about these concepts. What better way to learn than through quality literature?
 With awareness of poverty and homelessness growing, we invite our school population to participate in two charity efforts for local individuals and families in need: 
1) Donations of personal care items and/or packages for YWCA Harbour House. YWCA Harbour House provides shelter and care for families in crisis.  Items to donate or include in a large Ziploc freezer bag: (see display case across from the office)

*full size shampoo and conditioner  *soap *first aid supplies (i.e. band-aids and ointment)  *toothbrushes and toothpaste  *deodorant/antiperspirant  *hand lotion  *slippers for women and children 

ITEMS CAN BE BROUGHT IN TO CLASSROOM TEACHERS ON OR BEFORE  WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15TH.

 2) Monetary donations in the form of sponsorship as our school participates in the ‘Coldest Night of the Year’ walk taking place on the afternoon of February 15th (held in conjunction with our annual ‘Winter Walk)’. This fundraising effort will benefit Streets Alive Mission which battles poverty in Lethbridge and the surrounding communities by offering free services, clothing and aid to anyone who needs it. 
 
MONEY CAN BE BROUGHT IN TO CLASSROOM TEACHERS ON OR BEFORE  WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15TH.

 *Donations will be presented to YWCA Harbour House and Streets Alive Mission at the One School, One Book Closing Assembly taking place in our gymnasium on Thursday, February 16th beginning at 2:15pm. 

January Spelling Menu Choices and Lists!

Hello! I thought I would post the January Speller's Choice Menu just in case anyone needs it! The lists for the week of Jan. 23-27 are below as well.

                                    January Speller’s Choice Menu

Choose one activity each night during the month of January in order to prepare for your spelling test on Friday. Please write the name of the activity at the top of the page and then complete the activity. 


                             ** Please choose a different activity for each night!** **  


1. Air Words:  Use your finger to write each word in the air. Have an adult do the same. See if you can figure out their word! Please be sure to have someone sign the Speller’s Choice page to say you did it!
  
 2. ..  . Where are the vowels? Write your words but draw a line instead of putting the vowels.
(a, e, i, o, u)      Ex: b l – –– –    c k c k c k c k    
  
 3. Sweet & Salty Words: Be sure an adult knows you are going to do this activity! Put some sugar or salt on a plate. Use your finger to write your words in the sugar or salt.

4. Spelling City: : Go to the website http://www.spellingcity.com and Type in your list and choose pretest, game or post test. Write “Spelling City” on the Speller’s Choice page and have an adult sign it to say you did your words on Spelling City!

5. Computer Fun:  Use your computer to type your words. Use different fonts and make it look really fun! Be sure you print it out and bring it to school. Or you can type your words in an email and email it to me.

6. Other Handed : If you are right handed, rite your words with your left hand. If you are left handed, write with your right!

Lists for Jan. 23-27

BLUE GROUP
1. winter
2. fossil
3. reptile
4. foggy
5. turkey
6. duty
7. final
8. napkin
9. rival
10. cozy

Some of these words follow the VCCV pattern (winter) and some follow the VCV pattern (cozy). Can you sort which are which? Do any break the rules?

GREEN GROUP
1. rain
2. hay
3. tray
4. snake
5. tape
6. ax
7. add
8. crab
9. trap
10. fan

Some of these words have Short a patterns and some have Long a patterns. See how many different long a patterns you can find. (ai) (ay) (a-e)

RED GROUP
1. toast
2. goal
3. boat
4. loan
5. toad
6. home
7. rode
8. pose
9. drove
10. cone

All of these words have the long o pattern. Can you find and sort all the ways to make long o? (oa, o-e)

Don't forget Tuesday is Hot Lunch Day and our big One School One Book reveal is happening this Thursday Jan. 26th along with our Family Literacy Night where we will collectively read the first 3 chapters of our mystery novel!  6:30-7:30pm.   If you are unable to attend, simply read the first 3 chapters at home with your child so they'll be ready to discuss it with their friends at school the next day.  Your brand new copy of the book is coming home in......4 more sleeps! ;)

Here's your hint at the title!

Skating Fun!

Thanks to all the drivers, skaters, and people who sent extra skates and helmets! Here are a few pictures from our skating day. I'm sure we will be a little more streamlined next time we go on February 14th now that we know the layout and capacity of the brand new ATB facility!