Fenway Park...

Here are some photos from today's Fenway Park trip!  Special thanks to Tess's mom and dad, Jackson's dad and Sarah's dad for being our chaperones.  

Mystery Powders...

Even though it's a week before school ends, 3 K/M is still deep into learning!  This week, we have spent a great deal of time on a science unit, "mystery powders" (also called "chemical tests" on the report card).  This unit explores many science practices, including forming a hypothesis, testing, observation, gathering data, etc.  They are also completing a "lab report"... yep, right here in third grade!  Students have had the opportunity to examine the physical and chemical properties of FIVE unknown white powders.  They have tested them with various liquids, including water, vinegar, iodine and cabbage juice and observed the changes.  Next week, we will put it all together, using some deductive reasoning, and solve the mystery!

Specifically, the standards addressed in this unit are:

• Compares and contrasts the properties of solids and liquids (color, texture, and hardness)
• Demonstrates an understanding that solids and liquids undergo changes in form, color or texture when mixed together, separated or heated
• Uses known properties to identify an unknown chemical

Enjoy some photos from our first exploration...

Muffles Truffles Math...

3 K/M has recently completed "Muffles Truffles". From the publisher, "...the focus of this unit is the development of the open array as a model for multiplication and division. This unit uses a series of investigations based on the context of Muffles' Truffles shop. The questions posed in the first investigation (how many boxes of ten can be made with a given quantity of truffles; how many leftovers will there be from a given quantity and how can they be combined to make assortment boxes; and what is the cost of a given quantity of truffles if they cost $1 each) give students an opportunity to explore place value - the multiplicative structure of our base-ten system and quotative division. In the second and third investigations, students build two-dimensional blueprints of one-layer boxes and use these arrays to explore some of the big ideas in multiplication (the distributive, associative, and commutative properties). In the fourth and final investigation, students work with open arrays in the context of labeling and pricing wrapped boxes of truffles. To figure out the dimensions of the wrapped boxes (or open arrays) and the cost, students need to apply a number of big ideas previously developed in this unit..."

At the conclusion of the unit, student pairs were asked to choose one piece of work that they are most proud of for display.  They then wrote a paragraph together describing their work and the strategies that they employed while working on Truffles.

State Research Report Projects...

One of the big changes with the evolution to the "common core" state standards for education is a more balanced approach between fiction and non-fiction in the classroom.  In thinking about this, third graders at Harrington have been busy reading and researching about a state.  Our class is in the midst of this work, which is a wonderful way to work across the disciplines of reading, writing and social studies.  Once their research is complete, students have been creating a large poster to display their information.  They will have an opportunity to present their boards and all of the information gained through the project to fellow classmates.  Be sure to ask at home about their states!

Paper Tables...

One of our science standards is in the area of technology and engineering.  Specifically, it is that a student, "... applies the principles of the engineering/design process (ask, imagine, plan, create, improve) to solve a problem...".  Today, students in 3 K/M were asked to design a table, made from no more than ten sheets of newspaper and masking tape, that was at least eight inches high and could hold our social studies textbook... for at least five minutes.  Our class took on this challenge with excitement and engineering all wrapped up in one!  We discussed good strategies and planning, along with specific engineering principles such as "load distribution" and the concept of a "truss".  So far, two of our seven working groups have been able to create the table (after several tests and "improvements")... others are on their way!  Check out some designs: