Mrs. Watson's Weekly: News From Day 166...

When I started tweeting each day, it didn't seem like Day 166 would get here so fast! And yet, here it is.

Our bulletin board of #180daysofawesome is very cool. I look back to see what we were learning early in the year and our classmates look so much younger! We have really grown up! Be sure to try to stop by and take a look at our year in pictures! We sure have done a lot!

Speaking of which...

These past few weeks have been so busy. With testing behind us, it was smooth sailing for some fun new learning! We used anchor texts to do some research.

We read Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney and then learned about lupine seeds. Ours our sprouting!

Check out our lupine "seedlings"!

Based upon the story we also drew "popsicle stick partners" and researched a country. Using our research we then filled out of "official" passports. Students wrote journal entries about the country they visited! They are displayed on a bulletin board in the hallway!

Passports are ready. We are off!

Then we read, The Fruit and Vegetable Man by Roni Schotter. Ruby and Trudy Rubenstein own a fruit and vegetable store on Delano Street. Ruby's motto is "I take care." And he sure does! The neighbors on Delano Street don't know what they would ever do without Ruby. But what happens when Ruby gets sick? We learned about what it means to show Community Spirit. Students wrote letters pretending to be a character from the book explaining what is going on three months later.

Finally, we read The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry. A man was sent into the rain forest with an order to cut down a large tree. But he listens to the all the animals who speak to him when he falls asleep under the tree. Their persuasive words have an effect on his actions!

"Please Senhor," hissed the boa constrictor.
"This is my home. Do not chop it down."

We looked at vocabulary words from this story including the "stratas" or layers of a rain forest. Then we researched a rain forest animal. What do you know about a tamarin or a kinkajou? Do you know where in the rain forest they live?

MEDFIELD! Monday is our tour!

We used large grid paper and created a map of Medfield. We filled in our neighboring towns. Then we made a map key or legend to show other map features such as hills, rivers, swamp areas, and of course, Ralph Wheelock School!

Corey's map is looking great!

One morning this week, we used the map and the coordinate grids to find locations on the map. The students were familiar with coordinates if they had ever played BATTLESHIP!

We also took a close look at the official seal of Medfield. Ask your child to tell you what each part of the seal represents!

Ask your child where you can find the seal in town!

MASSACHUSETTS is NEXT!

Now we are working on learning about Massachusetts. Just for added fun in June, we are learning about our New England states so we have a greater understanding of just where we are located. Be sure to review the spelling of all six states and capitals!

We read Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen and learned about the DROWNING of the Swift River towns to create the Quabbin Reservoir. Apparently cities and towns have a "powerful thirst". Yolen's poignant writing is really amazing as she shares the history of this event.

This is terrific book if you haven't had the pleasure!

Next week we will start working on our Massachusetts maps. We will cartographers soon enough!

Writing Update

We are finishing final drafts for our persuasive writing letters and we are simultaneously working on our V.I.P. reports!

I can't wait to see these projects when they are presented on June 17th! Be sure to pencil us into your calendar! It is a great museum day!

Finally, here's a secret.

SHHHH! Don't tell anyone!

You might be at home complaining about ALL the work your third grader is still doing, BUT we are SO BUSY here right now and learning so much right up to the END! The other day, one of our classmates said, "It's 3:00 already!" Yes, my friend. It is! And that, dear parents, makes the hot days of June worthwhile!

Thanks for ALL you do! I greatly appreciate it!