A “get up and dance” favorite! (comes with a CD) 
Visit our Pinterest site for great book selections as well as yummy Passover recipes! https://www.pinterest.com/jcdsri/passover-books-for-kids/ 
We love books by Tami Lehman-Wilzig , who has been a Visiting Author at JCDSRI. Her website has children activities and more. http://www.tlwkidsbooks.com/ You will enjoy the recipes in her book 
JCDSRI library suggestions:
Looking for some awesome books for girls that challenge stereotypes? Check out the extensive lists of great books at Mighty Girl. https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=2241
Read the informative remarks noted in, “Why Does Gender Matter? Counteracting Stereotypes with Young Children,” in the next paragraph.
Some of my personal favorites that our students love:
“Picture books provide role models for children in defining standards for feminine and masculine behavior, yet sexism manifests itself in diverse ways in children’s literature. Nonsexist books, on the other hand, produce positive changes in self-concept, attitudes, and behavior. Children’s gender attitudes may be positively changed through the reading of appropriate children’s literature and other book-related activities (Blumberg, 2008). Parents and teachers are encouraged to critically evaluate books for gender bias. However, rather than eliminating all books with stereotypes, adults can guide children to recognize stereotypes and increase independent critical thinking about gender and perceptions of gender. Making a concerted effort to provide positive, empowered stories and images of diverse characters will activate positive self-concepts for children and promote anti-bias attitudes.” (Dimensions of Early Childhood. “Why Does Gender Matter? Counteracting Stereotypes With Young Children.” Vol. 39, No. 3, 2011)
You might be wondering what’s been going on in our much talked about design lab. Based on student motivation, developmental ability, and classroom-connections, projects will look quite different from grade to grade. Here is a taste of some of the projects we have been working on most recently:
For the 100th day of school, kindergarteners worked to create the tallest structures they could using 100 toothpicks and 100 marshmallows. They noticed what shapes are structurally stronger than others. They also realized that sometimes you need to start a project over again in order to do it better the next time. Mistakes are what help you get better!
First graders have been learning about simple machines. They have been introduced to levers, pulleys, and wedges. Students experimented with all three of these machines then were tasked with the following challenge: Create an invention using at least one of these simple machines that could help someone with a problem. They have come up with some fascinating tools!
Check out a video of one student’s creation here:
2015-03-13 11.22.14 from Jewish Community Day School RI on Vimeo.
Second graders have been studying balance and motion and have created various tools and inventions such as musical instruments, cars, and marble coasters.
Third graders have been creating digital content to go along with their fantasy stories that they wrote with Mrs. Davis. They have learned how to navigate between apps, to pull pictures from the internet, and to record their voices in order to create powerful digital content. Soon you will see their work in the hallway near the computer lab. Please download a QR code viewer on your mobile device to be able to watch their projects.
Fourth and Fifth graders have been tirelessly working to create a Rube Goldberg machine. They have learned so much about creating ideas, testing, making mistakes, and trying again. Their grit and tenacity has been apparent as they tirelessly strive to make a successful machine. Stay tuned for the final video.
Here is one student talking about the process of creating the Rube Goldberg:
2015-03-16 14.02.15 from Jewish Community Day School RI on Vimeo.
Brightly is a new online resource that encourages parents to raise lifelong readers. Brightly aims to provide moms and dads with inspiration and guidance around creating a reading life for their families. “Brightly is like your fun, friendly, and well-informed kid-lit pal. Our focus is on celebrating and embracing different kinds of readers, kids, and interests. Brightly gives parents insights into which books and authors their children might get excited about and what activities might enhance families experience of reading,” said Liz Kotin, editorial head.
Miss Earth (teacher) Lives! 3rd grade library classes with K.White, librarian
Seven Spiders Spinning (The Hamlet Chronicles) by Gregory Maguire
Recognize the author’s name? Yes, it’s THE Gregory Maguire, the author of The Wicked Years, a four-book series including Wicked, Son of a Witch, A Lion Among Men, and Out of Oz—all New York Times bestsellers. Wicked: The Musical is based on these books.
Maguire’s novels are revisionist retellings of children’s stories (such as L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz into Wicked)! He was a professor and co-director at the Simmons College Center for the Study of Children’s Literature from 1979-1985. In 1987, he co-founded Children’s Literature New England. (HarperCollins)
“What happens when seven deadly Siberian Snow Spiders from before the dawn of time invade a contemporary classroom in rural Vermont? Bedlam, and one of the funniest, creepiest, ickiest middle-grade books ever written! ‘Demon spiders, lover spiders, greedy spiders, sensitive spiders—they all go on heroic quests that get entangled in classroom rivalries and local soap operas. . . . Everything is part of the comic brew, from the nightly news and Spidergate to Dracula, The Wizard of Oz, Charlotte’s Web and Little Miss Muffet. A fast, delightfully entertaining romp.”
Notable Children’s Books of 1995 (ALA)
As we finished the last page, we gathered to discuss this delightful book over treats that relate to the story. Students reviewed the story and shared their favorite parts. Fortunately, since the book is part of a series (The Hamlet Chronicles), they can continue to read about Miss Earth and her class. Each student had various roles to perform. They loved the dramatic play and really got involved with their parts. Dramatic play helps students understand the characters and story as well as adding fun to library classes. In addition, we loved singing and acting out the “scary” songs included in the story!
Novels can help teach research skills. For example, when reading Seven Spiders Spinning we:
What’s going on in third grade? So many things
It’s time to wire a house! Students learned about magnetism and electricity this term. Our culminating activity is to plan, build, and wire a wooden house so it has light and power! Thanks to Peter, students have an unbelievable “hands-on” experience to use the tools necessary to execute such a task. The house has three sections in it. Peter has been working on measuring and constructing with the children in the design lab. In the end, students will be allowed to decorate their house.
In each group students will:
Meet Bugsy! As you know we completed a very intense and comprehensive project on adopting a class pet. We had no idea the project, research, and expert interviews would persuade the majority of the class to change their class pet of choice COMPLETELY….but it did! There were so many twists and turns throughout our journey. We learned a great deal and in the end we adopted BUGSY! He is an adorable guinea pig that brings joy to our children every day. We love him so much! They’ve grown to be responsible caregivers to Gizmo and Bugsy:)
One of a Kind
What makes a person unique?
……a very important concept question we’ve discussed. Martin Luther King Junior lived his life by being true to himself and making a difference in this world. He was unique in so many special ways. What makes YOU unique? Through literature and creative writing assignments students learn that they have the opportunity to open their minds and think BIG! We want students to be honest in their writing as well as allowing their voice to shine through.
Our new novels:
Where The Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin and Skinnybones by Barbara Park
Students will:
-learn more about story structure:
-learn about Chinese Folklore
-learn about faith and friendship
Math- We are moving along nicely. Students are doing a great job multiplying double digit numbers and solving multi-step word problems using several different strategies. Students are also illustrating their processes and explaining their thinking. Please continue to encourage your child to study their math facts:) Thank you!
“Writing has to be learned in school very much the same way that it is practiced out of school. This means that the writer has a reason to write, and intended audience, and control of subject and form. It also means composing is staged across various phases of rumination, investigation, consultation with others, drafting, feedback, revision, and perfecting.” -Jossy-Bass
Writing– Students are in the process of publishing their fantasy stories. We also just finished writing our formal letters to a scientist of choice. Some students wrote to geologists, others to scientists at NASA, and one even a physicist. They are very curious children that have a lot of questions. Different interests resulted in various questions for the unique scientists all over the world. Our goal and hope…..is for each scientist to write back. And yes…..we even addressed envelopes and are sending them tomorrow….. the old fashion way!
Leaders- Yes, the third graders led two very successful assemblies. They were AMAZING! They exhibited initiative, pride, responsibility, and cooperation! We look forward to their leadership again in the spring.
Our class is bustling with preparation for our milestone event, The Chumash Ceremony! Excitement is palpable in the air! Putting the finishing touches on our study of the story of Avram and Sarai, memorizing lines and practicing appropriate expression for our detective skit, excitedly preparing costumes and helping classmates complete their costumes are the activities of the day. Each third grader has written a beautiful metaphor about Torah to be shared at the ceremony. The comparisons that the students have so vividly described range from Torah being magic to miracles to knowledge to bravery. We look forward to sharing these with you very soon; you are in for a treat!
CREATING A VISUAL EXPRESSION OF TORAH METAPHOR
DRAMATIC EXPRESSION PRACTICE – MYSTERY OF AVRAM’S DISAPPEARANCE
HOLIDAY STUDY
We are currently learning about TuB’Shevat, the new year of the trees.We are learning the Hebrew vocabulary for many of the words of the water and plant cycles in addition to getting to know a number of songs and blessings on these themes. We revisited our “friends” Hillel and Shamai, the ancient scholars for a discussion about when the new year of the trees should be celebrated. We had learned about their theories of how the Chanukah candles should be lit. The third graders are getting the sense that most often we follow the ideas of Hillel in our Jewish practice.
IDENTIFYING TU B’SHEVAT CUSTOMS
BLESSINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WATER AND PLANT CYCLES
WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!
RISD
Students sketched, analyzed, and reflected about various pieces of art in “The Circus Show”-Thank you to Mrs. Bend and to our parent volunteers 🙂
Circus—a glimpse into the visual world of this phenomenon during the height of its popularity, 1850 to 1960. Approximately 40 circus-themed paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and posters by artists such as Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, James-Jacques-Joseph Tissot, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec delve into life under the big top and its wider connections to culture and society.-RISD
Field of Exploration
Students had an engaging and fun learning experience traveling to Bristol, RI to the Audubon Society to continue our research own owls of New England for our Animal Adaptation Unit!
Pictures from our AWESOME celebration….. after reading The Chocolate Touch!
Literature Circles
Students learn to work together by collaborating and listening to one another’s amazing responses to literature while being led by a student facilitator.
Skills we are practicing….
Before Reading:
During Reading:
After Reading:
Math is fun when multiplying ANYTHING and EVERYTHING! Students are learning how to solve various multiplication equations using colored cubes. Students will be expected to create multiplication stories while explaining their thinking soon!
Cursive! Script! Yes! We began writing in cursive and we are super excited.
Why cursive? What do you think?
http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2013/06/should-schools-still-teach-cursive/
Current Writing Genre-Fantasy
Learning about the process of identifying the characteristics of a fantasy is key:
Fact– reading fantasy helps students explore and apply their understanding of literary elements and of the difference between what is real and what is not.
Grade Level Expectations:
The Rag Coat- a book bag project for families! “People only need people”…..Minna reiterates through this heart-felt story. This literacy experience reminds us all what is really important in life.
Science Unit – Magnetism and Electricity
Goals:
1. Students will become familiar with the vocabulary associated with magnetism and electricity.
2. Students will become familiar with the properties of magnets.
3. Students will learn to plan and conduct experiments and control the variables.
4. Students will observe, describe, and record the results of their experiments.
5. Students will learn to use the skill of prediction.
6. Students will learn to interpret the results of experiments to draw conclusions.
7. Students will use technology to enhance their research, graphics, and assessment skills.
8. Students will develop an interest in experimenting on magnets and electricity.
9. Students will research the history of magnetism and important milestones in the discovery and use of electricity.
10. Students will appreciate how magnets are used in household appliances.
Gizmo is ready to share the classroom with our new adopted Guinea Pig…..stay tuned!
We are currently in the adoption process! 🙂
Reminders:
Thank you!
Mrs. Davis
Third Grade Rocks!
What kind of classroom pet should we adopt and why?
This is the first question students tried to answer but realized it wasn’t a question you could just answer easily. There are so many factors when looking into adopting a classroom pet. Here are the steps that students took to get to the amazing stage that we are presently at now:
What is left to do for our multi-faced project?
Readers’ Theater– “The Pied Piper” ……students are building fluency and having fun with this meaningful story that also prompts great discussion!
Buddies
What can I say……we LOVE our buddies. We had a very special time eating soup and playing with our pre-k pals!
Other things we are learning about and/or learning how “to do” in the third grade:
Important Notes:
Have a wonderful week!
Mrs. Davis
