multiplication review

In grade 3, students need to learn their times tables up to 7 X 7.  The following website has some great games that are also fun for the students.  http://www.multiplication.com/

One of the favourites today was 'Diaper Derby'.  Students can customize the baby and then make him or her move forward by answering multiplication facts.  They actually race against other people who are playing the game at the same time.

Enjoy!

Chinese new year and keybording skills

Today is Chinese New Year.  We read a story to learn about some of the traditions of this day and found where China is on a world map.  We looked at some Chinese characters and greetings for this special day, such as 福禄寿.  We also spend some time on the following website doing some informational reading.  There are some great crafts and colouring pages here as well that your child may enjoy at home.
http://www.fete-enfants.com/nouvel-an-chinois/nouvel-an-chinois.htm

In grade 3, students are ready to start learning keyboarding skills.  A fun website we have been using during our computer lab period is called Dance Mat Typing.  You may want to try this site at home with your child to encourage proper positioning on the keyboard and increase typing speed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Science - Forces and Movement (les forces et le mouvement)

If you have not had a chance to explore the following website with your child, please give it a try.  We spent some time there today during our computer lab period and the students really loved it.  It is a fantastic review of the concepts in our Forces and Movement science unit.
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/sci-units/force.htm

spelling practise

This is an excellent website for students who need to practice weekly spelling lists or for word study programs.     http://www.spellingcity.com/

You type in the list words and the website creates online games and interactive activities with the words as a focus. Students can also do their spelling test on line. They click on a button and it reads the word to them. They can click on another button and it reads a sentence with the word in it. It does not work so well with French words, but great to review those English words!

nous sommes en train d'apprendre...we are learning...

-en mathématiques on travaille sur les diagrammes circulaires (circular graphs) et des diagrammes (de Venn, à barre) (Nicole, Ellis, et Anara)
-en sciences on a appris comment les structures sont solides (Anna)
-en études sociales on a travaillé sur les noms et les avantages des différents types de maisons (Benjamin) et on appris au sujet des zones commerciales, industrielles et résientielles (Mélanie et Ella)
-on a fait des boules à neige en art (Nikolina) et on a utilsé de la peinture et des brillants (Paulina)
- on fait des rotations d'atelier en français et on aime beaucoup le centre d'écoute!  (Paulina, Mélanie)
- On a commencé à apprendre une danse en éducation physique.  Je n'aime pas trop cela!  (Benjamin et Paulina)  Moi j'aime la danse!  (Ella)

Science - stability

In science, we are working on a unit on stability.  One of our readings this week talked about making furniture out of cardboard.  Here is an interesting French video about how one artisan goes about making furniture out of reusing cardboard.  Wow! 
http://vieenvert.telequebec.tv/occurrence.aspx?id=514  Click on 'Un extrait de cette chronique'.

Great math websites

We have started our new unit on addition and subtraction strategies.  Here is a great website that you can use to explore math with your child.  Great for problem solving!
http://nrich.maths.org/public/index.php

Also, here is another great website that has virtual math manipulatives like we use in class and also fun interactive problems to solve online:

http://nlvm.usu.edu/

We are working on learning a couple of songs that I hope to post to the blog next week for Halloween!