This week's featured Squiggles!

There is a little guy and his name is Question Mark. When you ask him questions he answers them. He loves to answer questions. If you need to ask a question, ask Little Question Mark. So ask him a question; he loves them! Do you need to ask a question? Ha! I just asked you a question!

By: Farrah

There once lived a little girl named Haley. She loved her house. She was going to see her friend today. She said she was going to spend the night with her. "What a very good day" she said. "I can pack lunch for today so we could have a picnic today. But I would not bring chocolate because we might get sick and go home and miss the sleep over. That's going to be fun! Best clothes, best dress, best shoes! Let's go!" "On my way" she said on her cell phone. "Bye!" When she got there, they had fun!

By: Heather

Soil - More than just dirt?

Soil - More Than Just Dirt
Who knew getting "dirty" could be a learning adventure?

On Monday, our science lesson focused on soil. We learned lots of interesting facts. Here's a few we'd like to share with you:

• Soil is very important! Plants need soil to grow. In a round about way, every living thing on our planet needs soil!
• The top layer is called topsoil.
• The next layer is the subsoil.
• The final layer is bedrock, which as its name implies is a "bed" of solid rock.
  
• Soil is more than just dirt. It contains rocks, remains of dead plants and animals (humus), minerals, and water.
• There are several different types of soil: sand, silt, clay, and loam.
• Loam is basically potting soil or topsoil. It's full of humus and other nutrients needed by plants.

I found the neatest website on Discovery Education's website. Students and I boarded an EarthShip. We traveled on a microscopic safari through the various layers of soil in search for a toxic chemical. Our mission was to discover the toxic chemical before it could damage the meadow and the creatures that live there. We were able to use a "shrinking" ray of sorts to make ourselves small enough to travel down through the soil. We discovered there's much more than meets the eye when dealing with soil.

Click here to visit the site!

Clipart by Phillip Martin.
Screen Shot from Discovery's Website.

Science Fair Update

Gilbert's Science Fair
May 10-11, 2010

All students in grades 1 through 5 are required to do an individual science fair project. Each student should perform a science experiment following the scientific process. The science experiment will count as a major test grade. This assignment is not optional.

A science fair packet was sent home each student including the form needed to complete the project or experiment. All of this information is coming home in a letter on Thursday. Your project should have all of the following information.

Scientific Method Outline

• Problem: What do I want to find out?
• Hypothesis: What do I think will happen?
• Experiment: How can I test what I think will happen? What materials will I need?
• Procedures: Write down exactly what you do to test your hypothesis.
• Observations/ Results: What happened? Report your findings.
• Conclusions: What did I find out and how does it compare with what I thought would happen?

Please note: The display board is optional. It is not required for the graded assignment. However, if you want your project to compete at the Walker County Science Fair, the science display board is required. These boards are available in the office. They are rather large and somewhat difficult to transport on the bus. I would suggest coming by to pick it up. The cost is $4 per board.

Topics for 3rd Grade Experiments

Rocks
Minerals
Fossils
Soil
Magnets
Heating and Cooling
Habitats (Plant & Animal)
Effects of Pollution & Humans on the Environment

For ideas about experiments, use your local library. The LaFayette Walker County Library has a large variety of books containing easy-to-do experiments. You can also access the Internet to search for more information. While you are there, be sure to sign up for a library card! This way, you'll be all set for the Summer Reading Club!

Although our science curriculum touches on Earth Science, please do not make a model of a volcano. This model is not considered at science experiment. Keep in mind your project must follow the scientific method. You must ask a question, form a hypothesis, and test your hypothesis.

Helpful Sites

• www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas.shtml
• http://www.sciencefair-projects.org/
• http://sciencefairproject.virtualave.net/
• Google - Search Engine
• Yahoo Kids - Search Engine

Thank you, Shop Rite!

Thank you, Shop-Rite!

Third grade teachers and students would like to thank Shop Rite Supermarkets for their recent donation. Thanks to their generosity, everyone will receive a grade level t-shirt and enjoy a learning adventure at Ruby Falls to culminate our rocks and minerals unit. Be sure to stop in and let them know how much we appreciate Shop Rite's continued support to our school and community!

Fraction Fun!

Here are a few games to keep your fraction skills at the top of their game!

• Fraction Matching - Match each fraction to the correct model.
• Fraction Bars - This applet lets you create fraction bars and break them into pieces.
• Fraction Frenzy - Matching equivalent fractions.
• Flowering Fractions - An interactive lesson on fractions.
• Finding Grampy - Play hide and seek with Grampy using fractions!
• I Want My Half - An interactive review of fractions.
• Fraction Circles - Interactive fraction circles.
• Who Wants Pizza? - A fun interactive lesson combining pizza and fractions. Yummy!
• Parts of a Whole - You find the fractions to match the models.
• Melvin's Make a Match - Matching fractions on a balance scale.
• Fraction Flags - Creating flags using fractions.
• Pizza Party - Identify fractions.
• Kids and Cookies - Equal divisions

Clip Art by Phillip Martin

Squiggles!

What in the world is a squiggle, you may ask?

Last week, we started a new station during our Reader's Workshop. It's called Squiggle. Students choose a random squiggle from the file. He or she has to make a picture from the squiggle and color it. On the back, students are required to write a story about their picture.

Students really love this station! The stories have been amazingly creative! Here are just a few!

One time there was a snake. It saw a juicy mouse. The problem is he couldn't catch it. The mouse kept wearing down the snake. But one day he ate it all down. It couldn't get out!

One day a girl was walking down a dirt road and she saw a puppy. She picked it up and named it Prissy. She took it home and took care of it. It was brown and was as sweet as can be. Prissy was happy because her owner was Haley.

Rex was the first dragon that every lived. He was the king of them all. People still remember him as a great leader in the world. A lot of people loved him.

Stay tuned... more to come soon!

Field Trip Reminder

Field Trip Reminder

The second installment of the field trip cost is due on Friday, March 19th. If you paid $7 down, the remaining $7 is due.

If any parent would like to sponsor a student from our class, please let me know. We have a few students who would very much like to accompany us!

Our shirts have been ordered and are scheduled to arrive on March 29. I can't wait to see them!

AR Congratulations!

Congratulations to these new Point Club Members!25 Points - Desmond & David V.

50 Points - Desmond, Royce, & David K.

75 Points - April & Haley

Free Chattanooga Fun!

Thursday, March 11, 2010
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Mark your calendar! Thursday, March 11th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. is the day to join the Creative Discovery Museum for free family fun. Make a splash in RiverPlay! Create a masterpiece in Arts Alley! Dig the dinos in Excavation Station! Bring the family and enjoy art lessons, science demos, a drawing for a free membership, guests from other organizations such as Project Ready for School and much much more!

For More Information Contact:

Creative Discovery Museum
321 Chestnut Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 756-2738
www.cdmfun.org

Time Games

Need to brush up on your time skills?

Try these games to increase your skill!

• Bring On Time - Read the time in words then stop the clock when the hands reach the right time.
• Beat the Clock - Interactive Time Game
• Clock Program - Start with either an analog or a digital clock, then set the other clock to the time given on the first clock.
• Clockwise - Time practice
• Matching Time - Time practice in a matching game format
• Clockworks - An interactive clock
• E-Lab 4th Grade - Elapsed time practice
• E-Lab 3rd Grade - Elapsed time practice
• Saxon Math - Elapsed time practice
• Elapsed Time - More practice
• Is it P.E. time? - Use a chart to help solve time problems
• The Right Time - explore the meaning of AM and PM while they tell time to the hour and half hour
• Stop the Clock - Stop the clock on the time given
• Telling Time Practice
• Time Concentration
• Time to Go
• Travel Times

We need your help!

We opened our last box of tissues this morning!

We could use a few more boxes. Your help is greatly appreciated!

Our noses thank you for your generosity!

We're Hitting the ROAD!

Third grade classes at Gilbert have been busy learning about rocks, minerals, fossils, and soils. To culminate our unit, we have planned a field trip to Ruby Falls on Thursday, April 1, 2010.

The cost of the field trip is $14 per student. This price includes transportation, admission, and a t-shirt. Each classroom teacher has chosen a color for her class. Having these shirts helps us to easily identify and keep track of our students. Students love wearing them for spirit days and other special events throughout the remainder of the year. T-shirts are available for parents if interested.

We would love to have parents accompany us on our trip. However with spaces limited, each class has five spots available for parents. If you are interested, please let your child’s teacher know, as these spaces are offered on a first-come first-served basis. Payment must be made before places will be held for parents.

We understand that finances are tight for everyone these days. To help, you may pay in installments. The first installment of $7 is required so that we may order our t-shirts. It is due by Friday, March 5th. The remaining $7 is due by March 19th.

Parent T-shirts

• Youth Small $7
• Youth Med. $7
• Youth Large $7
• Adult Small $7
• Adult Med. $7
• Adult Large $7
• Adult X-Large $8
• Adult 2X-Large $9
• Adult 3X-Large $10

Dance Rescheduled!

Get our your dancing shoes!

Our dance has been rescheduled!

Due to inclement weather, our dance was postponed. We've finally set the date! It will be held on Thursday, March 11 from 2:30-4:30. It's not too late to attend! If you would like to stay for the dance, I will need a note from your parents giving you permission and your $5 which includes a snack, drink, and a photograph!