Bugs!

This week Third Grade scholars started a new nonfiction reading unit on Bugs! Scholars have been reading to investigate how bugs are essential to the survival of life on Earth. In this unit, readers are practicing close reading to build knowledge through content-rich nonfiction texts. When students close read, they are observing facts and details about the text and then interpreting these observations. Brave readers practiced carefully gathering observations about bugs and discussing conclusions about what these observations add up to. During class discussions about “Nature’s Patchwork Quilt” by Mary Miche, scholars determined the main idea, recounted key details and explained how these details support the main idea, while providing evidence from the text to support their answers.

Good Vibrations

Third Grade scientists spent the week diving deeper into science concepts related to sound, vibration, pitch, and volume. Through hands-on investigations with a water phone, a xylophone, a kalimba and a string beam, young scholars were able to build on their knowledge that sound originates from vibrating sources. They extended this knowledge by investigating different lengths of the instrument parts to determine what causes high, low, and medium pitched sounds. Students were able to determine that the longer objects produced low pitches that vibrate slowly and that shorter objects have higher pitched sounds that vibrate quickly. Investigating sound has definitely a Third Grade class favorite!

Striving for Accuracy School-wide

On Monday during Whole School Morning Meeting, students were introduced to the phrase “Striving for Accuracy”. Cooper School students know that “striving” means trying your very best and that “accuracy” means that something is correct. Scholars have been mindful about achieving accuracy in various areas of their school day. They are aware that “striving for accuracy” isn’t about being perfect or never making mistakes but giving your very best to all that you do.  When students work towards accuracy, they build confidence and learn from their mistakes. They take pride in the work they have done then eagerly move onto the next challenge. Ask your child about the areas where they chose to strive for accuracy during school this week.