In this activity, students were put into groups and given 50 plastic cups. They had one minute to use as many cups as they could to create a cup tower. When the minute was up, we recorded how many cups each group used. Then, we used those numbers to find the mean, median, mode, and range. We did this two times. The first one we did together; the second one students had 30 seconds to build a tower, and they had to solve the mean, median, mode, and range on their own.
Here, students practiced their time-telling skills by creating their own watches. Each student was given a different time to draw onto their watch. Then, they went around asking each student what time it was. They had to record each students' time onto their recording sheet.
To follow up on our lesson about angles, we did some more work with right angles. Students created their right angle monster and were let loose around the room to find all the right angles they could. They did a great job and were shocked at how many they found!
For this assignment, students were to create their dream house on graph paper. Once they created their house, they calculated the area of each of their rooms. Then, they had to find the area of their entire house. Since it has been so nice out lately, we decide to take this assignment outdoors for a little fresh air.
in science we are talking about the water cycle, so we decided to make one of our own! We drew the cycle onto baggies then filled them up with some water. Next, the students taped them to the windows to let the energy from the sun start working. Students have been observing them for a few days now. They were able to see evaporation, condensation, and precipitation all inside their bags.
Here, students worked on finding equivalent fractions using fraction strips. They were given a fraction and were told to see how many other fractions could they make that would equal the same amount. Then, they were to write all the equivalent fractions on their desks. They could not believe i was actually allowing them to write on their desks. I hope this decision does not come back to bite me in the butt... I am willing to try anything that makes them excited to do Math!
Students have been joining in on the March Madness fun doing a bracket of their own! An equivalent fraction bracket. They have been paired together and working on this challenging math packet for a couple of weeks now. The questions are a little tough and are making them work together to solve some the problems. Some of the material involves skills the students have not been exposed to yet, such as changing fractions into decimals and percentages. Although it is tough and a tad time consuming, the students are enjoying working together and challenging themselves to use skills they already know and apply it towards solving the basketball related problems.
Another activity we did with fractions was our Fraction Sundae's. Oh the disappointing groans i did hear once they found out the sundaes were going to be made from paper.. But, they still turned out delicious!
The students have been working on fractions, so we decided to do a little activity to help reinforce what they have learned. Plus, the students are always down for whatever involves taking off their shoes. Do not ask me why... In this activity, students were to place one of their shoes in the middle of the group. Once the shoes were in the middle, they were told that that pile of shoes was their 'whole'. They counted the shoes in their pile and knew to use that as the denominator for their fractions. Students were then asked a series of questions , such as: what is the fraction of the shoes that tie? What is the fraction of the shoes with black soles? What is the fraction of shoes that are Nike's? etc.
Two weeks ago the students traveled down to Mrs. Devine's classroom to work on an experiment with the 6th graders. They learned a little about the scientific method and what happens to milk and vinegar once it is heated. The students enjoyed being partnered up with the big kids and getting their hands dirty. They also enjoyed some of Mrs. Devine's classroom pets.. The only classroom they will be enjoying pets...
A few weeks ago, the kids played a multiplication game using a deck of cards and dice. They used the cards to make a game board and raced to the finish by correctly multiplying the number on the die by the number on the card they landed on.
Here, students made a city skyline and created an array out of the windows on each building.
In this activity students had to work with a partner and solve multiplication problems. They each had a game board filled with numbers and dots. One student would roll the dice twice and multiply the two numbers together. When they got their answer, they would find their number on the game board and draw one line near by to connect two dots. The object of the game was to create a full square around a number, and that became your box. The trick was, you had to be the person to draw the fourth line to connect the box in order to claim it. Students competed to see who could claim the most boxes. Students used dry erase boards to keep track of boxes and to draw pictures to help solve their multiplication problems.
Chapter 3 in math was all about addition and subtraction of 2 & 3-digit numbers along with word problems. For this activity, students were handed a word problem to solve and to check by the revers operation. They turned their boring math problems into exciting mugs of hot chocolate!
Last week the students used shaving cream to practice writing their spelling words. This probably gives you an explanation as to what might have been found all over their shirts. They all had a great time practicing their words this way! I think next time I will have them do it at their own house... :)
In Science the students are learning all about animals. Two weeks ago we were discussing different adaptations animals have to help them survive. We talked about mimcry, poison, armor, and camouflage. We decided to focus on camouflage and create an activity out of it. Students in my classroom were given a blank cutout of a fish, and students in the other third grade class were given a blank cutout of a butterfly. It was then up to them to camouflage their animal somewhere in the classroom. The students did a fantastic job. You would never know there were 41 butterflies and fish hanging around!
For Halloween, both 2nd and 3rd grades had to decorate their hallway to the theme of 'Skeleton Alley'. So, the students made skeletons and hung them on the walls outside our room. If you look reeeally closely, you can see the body of the skeletons are the students' names in cursive!
A few weeks ago we covered standard, expanded, and word forms of numbers. Students were asked to pick a four digit number and write it on the leaf of their apple. Then, the students cut their apple into three different sections; one for writing their number in expanded form, one for word form, and one for drawing their number in base ten blocks. Next, they glued everything together onto a piece of construction paper and hung them in the hall for everyone to see. I was very please with how well they turned out. The students did a great job!