2023-2024 Gr. Three Harris

This week and last, we  revisited  our unit on Data analysis . We  spent time reviewing how to read and interpret information presented  in the form of  pictographs, bar graphs,  line graphs, and line plots . We  learned how to analyze the data presented in the graphs to solve one- and two-step word problems . We  discovered how to use multiplication skills to find the numbers represented on these scaled graphs . As  a class, we collected data about a topic that interested us and created our bar graphs . In  the following week, we will compare all four types of graphs and solve story word problems with the information on the charts.  Our fraction unit is also coming to a close this week. In our unit, we started with paper folding . We  began learning what a unit fraction is and learned the denominator in a fraction is the number of equal parts in the whole  and  the numerator is the number of shaded or selec...

In Science this week  we  started our new Unit on Mattter. We are beginning to discover that everyday materials around us generally fit into one of three categories: solid, liquid, and gas. Along with plasma, these three categories represent the different possible states of matter. A table is solid, while the air we breathe is a gas. Some materials can even transition between the  different  states. For example, water can exist as a solid (ice), a liquid (water), or a gas (steam or vapour).  On Friday, we had a fun lesson that explored the properties of  “ oobleck ”  – a simple mixture of cornstarch and water. Oobleck is unique because it can behave as  both  a solid and a liquid. We discovered that Oobleck acts like a liquid when  poured,  but like a solid when a force  is acting  on it. You can grab it  and  then it will ooze out of your hands. Oobleck gets its name from Dr.  Seuss...

  A big "Thank you" to our dedicated volunteers who joined us on our excursion to Weaselhead Park. Despite the unfavourable weather, the students did amazing and it was a wonderful morning exploring another fantastic natural area in Calgary. As we continue to participate in these great field studies, the students have begun to develop wonderful reflective and scientific journaling skills. Our discussions after our excursion are fantastic and the effort they are making to represent their learning is a great indicator of the educational value of our trips.  This week in Math, we have started our money unit. In this unit we will learn how to count money, including coins and bills. We will learn the relationships among coins, including the penny. Although the penny is no longer used in Canada, the value of the penny as one cent is still important as the base value of all the other coins. We will count money amounts involving coins starting with the larger value, and we will learn...

  This week in Math, we have started our money unit. In this unit we will learn how to count money, including coins and bills. We will learn the relationships among coins, including the penny. Although the penny is no longer used in Canada, the value of the penny as one cent is still important as the base value of all the other coins. We will count money amounts involving coins starting with the larger value, and we will learn to represent money amounts using the least number of coins. Once we have familiarized ourselves with coins we will learn how to make change by counting to the nearest multiple of ten and then counting up to the nearest dollar.  In literacy, we had lots of fun using the short wordless animation film "Snack Attack" to create our short stories. The video tells the story of an old lady and her intention to eat some snacks (cookies). The short movie touch on a sequence of quite compelling themes: Understanding elderly people. Judging someone based on their a...

A big thank you to all of our volunteers who joined us for Aggie Days this week. The students had a wonderful time learning all about the agricultural climate in Alberta and gaining an appreciation for the hard work that it takes behind the scene to provide food for us to eat.  In Math this week was to learn how to skip count to divide. We discovered how to skip count on a number line, skip count using our fingers and that we can divide by sharing the total number of items and the number of times in each set.  To use a number line we considered, what number is being divided? (20) How can you tell from the picture? (20 is where the arrows end) What number are we dividing by?(4) How can you tell? (4 is the size of the jump) So, what is the answer to 20 ÷ 4? (5) How can you tell from the picture? (the number of arrows)    We also discovered that skip counting can be performed by  keeping track of the number of times you skip count, using fingers. For example when s...

  During the last two weeks in Science we have been discussing forces and that a force is something that can cause movement.  We explored a series of pictures in which there were many actions occurring.  After examining the pictures, and looking at all of the forces, the stud ents discussed the question "What exactly is a force?"    A block was placed on a desk, and a question posed:  "How can we move this block without it leaving the desk?"  We discussed many options, and concluded that in each case we were either pushing or pulling the block (or a tool touching the block) to make it move.  We read about using pushes and pulls to move (or attempt to move) objects, and then looked back at the picture from out previous lesson.    Through a variety of centers we learned to label the forces as being "gravity", "buoyancy", "friction", "muscular”, “magnetic” or “wind”.  I have attached a video that represents our learning.     ...

  Character Development   This week in health class we continued to explore the qualties that help us develop resilience by learning about our brain and how incredible it is. We discussed that our brain helps us to experience the world through our senses, feelings and actions. We agreed how wonderful this is but, sometimes our brains can cause use some challenges when we get super angry, frustrated  or anxious. When this happens, we are not at our best and these types of emotions can intensify and cause us to temporarily lose control of our actions. We call this “flipping our lid” We discussed that this is perfectly normal and helps to keep us safe from danger, but when we have these strong emotions, we are not always in danger resulting in us acting without thinking. Consequently this results in us getting more upset.    We took the time to learn that there are three main parts of the brain using a hand model and that these parts are involved when we have big e...