Introduction

Dear 3rd Grade Families,

This month, we started learning about the importance of soil in Science and celebrated students completing their research projects in Writing. We are so proud of all of the hard work, effort, and love they put into their writing! Students have now begun making story mountains to help write their new realistic fiction writing pieces for our new writing unit! 

Our students showed some extra love and appreciation to their classmates, teachers, and other faculty at our school on Valentine’s Day this month!

Please remind your child to stay focused in school! It can be hard at this time of year, but we want to continue the year in a positive way and stay focused on our goals!

Thank you for your continued support at home.  We couldn’t do it without you!

Important Dates & Reminders

• WIDA Testing throughout the month
• March 2nd - Early Release
• March 3rd - No School. Staff Development Day
• March 30th - STEAM Day! (More information coming soon)!
• Make sure your child comes to school with a snack and water bottle every day.
• Check out our new online attendance form. It not only allows you to report an absence for your child but also late arrivals and early dismissals. You will find it on our website, https://timberlanees.fcps.edu/about/attendance-form.

Language Arts

What We Learned This Past Month:

This past month we shared our research projects:

• Students spent a lot of time researching on a topic of their choice using a variety of different strategies. They inquired, researched, explored, and collaborated with others throughout the process.
• At the end of the unit, third graders shared their research with second graders! 

This past month, in Language Arts, we began our Biographies and Autobiographies unit:

• Students have noticed different qualities that are embedded into these types of books.
• Students have learned about individuals who have contributed to our world and struggled through the face of adversity. 

This past month, we began our new writing unit: Realistic Fiction:

• Students began brainstorming and writing their own writing pieces.
• Students have developed an understanding of the relationship between conflict and resolution that communicates the deeper meaning of fictional writing. 

Students are continuing to learn new sounds in words and make connections between how letters work together in Word Study.

What We Will Be Learning Next Month: 

Our next unit in Language Arts is Poetry:

• Students will analyze what makes a poem,
• What poems reveal about the author/poet, and
• Determine how we can make poems come to life.
• This unit focuses on the structure, themes, messages, interpretation of poems.
• Students will have the opportunity to uncover multiple meanings in poems, represent poetry in different ways (performance/art), and explore different points of view.

Math

What We Learned This Past Month:

In Math, we have started Part 2 of Addition and Subtraction:

• Students are revisiting this unit and working on strategies to solve multi-digit addition and subtraction through 9,999.
• Students are working on creating and solving single and multi-step practical problems that involve addition and subtraction within 9,999.
• Students have utilized a variety of different strategies to achieve success!
• Students have been working on determining the value of coins, comparing the value of combinations of coins and bills, and making change from $5.00 or less. 
• Students have also applied their understanding of computation to work with elapsed time.

What We Will Be Learning Next Month:

Our next unit is Part 2 of Fractions:

• From Part 1, students should be able to name and write fractions and mixed numbers represented by a model, represent fractions and mixed numbers with models and symbols, and compare fractions having like and unlike denominators using words and symbols (>, <, or =).
• Students will build on this previous knowledge by solving practical problems that involve addition and subtraction with proper fractions having common denominators of 12 or less.

Advanced Math

What We Learned This Past Month:

This past month we finished Multiplication and Division part 2:

• We demonstrated fluency with multiplication facts through 12 x 12, and the corresponding division facts.
• We learned to estimate and determine quotients of whole numbers, with and without remainders  and also determine products of whole numbers.
• We created and solved single-step and multistep practical problems involving multiplication and single-step practical problems involving division with whole numbers. 
• We also learned to identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables.

What We Will Be Learning Next Month: 

This month we started our Fractions Part 2 unit:

• In this unit, we will learn to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers having like and unlike denominators.
• We will learn to solve single-step practical problems involving addition and subtraction with fractions and mixed numbers.
• We will learn to identify, describe, create, and extend patterns found in objects, pictures, numbers, and tables (numerical).
• We will learn to recognize and demonstrate the meaning of equality in an equation. 

Science

What We Learned This Past Month: 

This past month, we started our new Science unit on Soil:

• This unit has been engaging students in investigations and observations that have been providing them with an understanding of the importance of soil to life on Earth.
• Students have been learning about conserving soil and conservation methods. Students’ scientific thinking has improved greatly with this unit!
• Students have participated in multiple hands-on learning experiments. Hands-on opportunities allow students to more deeply understand instruction and make connections to their lives.

What We Will Be Learning Next Month: 

In March, we will continue the Soil unit and begin our next unit in Health and Family Life Education:

• This unit will focus on positive self-image and good and bad touches. 
• Students will identify positive personal characteristics and attributes.
• Students will also demonstrate how to respond appropriately to good touches and how to handle inappropriate touches. 

Social Studies

What We Learned This Past Month: 

We have paused Social Studies to do our science units. We will start learning about Ancient China after our Soils & Health & Family Life Education Units.