Friday, March 11, 2016

Upcoming Trips for March and April

March
Monday, March 21, 9:30 am - 1:00PM
NY Historical Society
History  of Technology
Chaperones: Please let me know by email or note if you would like to be a chaperon for this trip...  We are allowed up to 4. I've only heard from one parent so far, Joy's mom, that would like to chaperon.  I need at least 1 more to be able to attend the trip.  
Chaperones please arrive by 9:15am.

April
Thursday, April 21, 9:30 am - 1:00PM
Cooper Hewitt

Chaperones: 
Chaperones please arrive by 9:15am.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Audubon Program

Beginning this Friday, February 26, our class along with the other 3rd grade classes, will be participating in an Audubon program.  The dates for the program are as follows:
- February 26
- March 4 and 11
- June 17 and 24

There will also be a class trip on Thursday, May 26th to go along with this curriculum.

Permission slips will be handed out in early May.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Science Packet

Page 3 of the packet, you need the Heat and Light Energy book to complete this.

Please ignore that page until we receive those books.  They have been ordered.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Hope you are enjoying the break!

Ms. Sullivan

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Informational Book Publishing Party!!!

It is about that time where the children have been working so diligently and for weeks on their amazing informational books.


Class 3-203 would like to cordially invite you to come in to celebrate their work!!

Please join us on Thursday, February 25 @ 1:15 p.m.

Hope you can make it!!

Thanks
Ms. Sullivan

Lunar New Year / Valentine's Day Celebration!!

Just wanted to post this as a reminder!

We will be celebrating Lunar New Year and Valentine's Day this Thursday 2/11 @ 12:45 p.m.  I know the parents have already notified the class.  

Please have your children wear RED!!!!

Thanks.

Ms. Sullivan


Thursday, January 28, 2016

** New Due DateAfrican American History Month Project

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/posts/u133/images/bio_megha_cutting_harriet_0.jpeghttp://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/posts/u133/images/bio_nelson_and_kanal_0.jpeghttp://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/posts/u133/images/bio_lucas_rory_martin_n_fred.jpeg
Attached are the same papers I gave the children yesterday.

African-American Research Report

Project Due Tuesday 2/9/16

 
 



February is Black History Month.  You will research a famous African-American. 

Follow these directions:
  1. Choose an African-American to research and complete category 1 on your note-taking graphic organizer.
  2. Go to the library and borrow a book and/or find information off the internet from a reliable source. These resources will be recorded on your note-taking sheet.
  3. As you research, use the note-taking sheet to take notes for each of the remaining categories.
  4. After looking over your notes and making sure you have all the required information, use the essay planner to plan and organize your essay.
  5. Type or neatly handwrite the essay.
  6. Attach it to the inside part of the cover (as shown in sample pictures------------------à
  7. Make the cover. (See example pictures on the side.)
    1. Find a picture of the person’s head (about the size of your hand). Copy and paste it to a word document—as shown in class—and size it to half the page.
    2. Print out the picture.
    3. Paste it at the top to look like the head on a body.
    4. Use colored pencils, crayons, colored construction paper, and other art materials to creatively construct the cover.  Make a jacket, shirt, etc. to create the top part of the “body”.
    5. Find 6 pictures that show important events in this person’s life.
    6. Paste the pictures on the inside flaps and write a caption.
    7. Create a timeline of the person’s life, including 5 major events that occurred in their life based on importance.
    8. Go over each part and make sure it is complete.
  8. Attach the rubric to your report.

Steps to Success:
Ø  Follow the directions carefully.
Ø  Use the rubric to guide you.
Ø  Ask an adult to help you.
Ø  Double-check your work and make sure your rubric is attached!
Ø  Hand in your project on time… due date Thursday 2/4/16.
Name:______________________________
E.Q.  How can you use your notes AND a plan to write a well-organized report?

You will use your notes to write a well-organized essay about the famous African-American you researched.  You will use the planner below to help you write the essay.
* Follow the ESSAY FORMULA: An essay is written in a special format that includes the introduction, body, and conclusion.  Your essay will have a total of 8 paragraphs. 
*Follow the PARAGRAPH FORMULA: Every paragraph begins with a topic sentence, 3 or more supporting sentences, and a closing sentence.
Use this planner to help you write the essay. Follow the ESSAY FORMULA
Paragraph 1: Introduction
Use category 1 from your notes, to write an introduction.  Begin the paragraph with a famous quote (category #1) for a catchy beginning. A transition you could use at the end of the introduction to lead into the body is:
I learned about the accomplishments, family life, childhood, education, character traits, and other interesting facts about ________________________. (person’s name)
Paragraphs 2-7: BODY The body of the essay is the “meat” of the essay. 
Use categories 2-7 from your notes to write the body of the essay.  You will use the category number from your notes to separate into paragraphs.  For example, category 2 is about ACCOMPLISHMENTS and CONTRIBUTIONS.  Therefore, this paragraph will only be about that specific topic. 
You may want to start off paragraph 2 by saying…
      One notable accomplishment (or contribution) of _____________________________ is that he/she … (write one accomplishment. ) Another accomplishment is______________________
Conclude (end) that paragraph by saying… These are just a few of his/her contributions or accomplishments.
Begin paragraph 3 by indenting and introducing the next topic, which is FAMILY LIFE.
      ______________________ grew up in a family of _______________ (how many children did his/her parents have?) .  He/she had __________ sisters and ___________ brothers.  Their names are __________________They were close/not close.  They enjoyed doing___________________.  He/she got married to ___________________  on _______________(date) * and later had _ (number) of children.  Their names are ____________________________ If this person didn’t get married or have children, write “______________ never married or _________ had no children.”
*Continue writing the body (paragraphs 4-7) by starting a new paragraph for each of the remaining categories using the same paragraph formula as the modeled ones above.
Paragraph 8 CONCLUSION… Choose a lead for the conclusion: 
In conclusion        To sum it up              Overall                        In summary               In summation            

In the conclusion, you will sum it up and write a final thought about this person.  It could include a lesson you learned or something you feel strongly about after learning about that person.


Name:____________________________ Class:____________
Black History Month Biography Report Notes
Category 1. I am learning more about ________________________________
Date of Birth: ____________Date of Death: _______ or Still Living: ____(check off)
Birthplace: _______________________________________
 Famous Quote: What is something he/she is famous for saying? “__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________”Category 2.Accomplishments/Contributions: What did this person do that was special and made him/her famous? What did he/she do to make a difference? Be specific.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Category 3.Family Facts: What facts can you find about his/her mother and father? Did this person have brothers and sisters (how many?)? When he/she became an adult did he/she marry and have children?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Category 4.Childhood: What was this person’s life like when he/she was growing up? Was life difficult?  Obstacles: Was life always easy for this person? Was there anything he/she had to overcome, such as slavery, poverty (being poor), discrimination, etc.? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Category 5.Education: Did this person go to school? For how long did he/she go, and what did he/she study? Was there anything interesting or unusual about his/her education?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Category 6.Character Traits: What character traits did this person have that helped him/her  out in life? How did those traits help him/her achieve fame?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Category 7.Other Interesting Facts
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Resources I Used
Books:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Websites:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 


Name:___________________________________________________  INFORMATIONAL WRITING: BIOGRAPHY                                     

4 (Above Grade Level)
3 (At Grade Level)
2 (Approaching Grade Level)
1 (Below Grade Level)
Focus/
Information
**Important events in the person’s life
CCSS*:
RIT – 1
W – 2
 Responds skillfully to all parts of the prompt
 Demonstrates a strong understanding of topic/text(s)




 Responds to all parts of the prompt
 Demonstrates an understanding
of topic/text(s)



 Responds to most parts of the prompt
 Demonstrates limited
understanding of topic/text(s)



 Responds to some or no parts of the prompt
 Demonstrates little to no
understanding of topic/text(s)



Organization/Structure
CCSS:

W – 2a
W – 2c
W – 2e
W – 4
Organizes ideas and information into purposeful, coherent paragraphs that include an elaborated introduction with clear thesis, structured body, and insightful conclusion
 Logically groups related information into paragraphs or sections, including formatting
 Uses linking words, phrases, and clauses skillfully to connect ideas within categories of information

Organizes ideas and information into logical introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs
Groups related information into
paragraphs or sections, including formatting (e.g.,headings)
Uses linking words and phrases appropriately to connect ideas within categories of information
Organizes ideas and information in an attempted paragraph structure that includes a sense of introduction, body and conclusion
Grouping of ideas lacks cohesion (e.g., list-like, rambling, or repetitive)
Attempts to use some simplistic
linking words to connect ideas
 Does not organize ideas and
information coherently due to lack of paragraph structure and/or a missing introduction, body, or conclusion
 Does not group related
information together
 Uses no linking words
Support/Evidence
Includes evidence from the text.

CCSS:
RIT – 1
W – 2b
W – 8
W – 9b

 Skillfully uses relevant and substantial text support from the resources with accuracy
Develops the topic with well integrated facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples


Uses relevant and sufficient text support from the resources with accuracy
Develops the topic with facts,
definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples

Uses mostly relevant text support, but may lack sufficient evidence and/or accurate use
Develops the topic with limited facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

 Does not use relevant or sufficient text support from the resources with accuracy
 Does not support opinion with facts, details, and/or reasons

Language
CCSS:
L – 1
L – 2
W – 2d

 Uses purposeful and varied sentence structures
 Demonstrates creativity and flexibility when using conventions (grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling) enhance readability
 Utilizes precise and domain-specific vocabulary accurately throughout student
writing
 Uses correct and varied
sentence structures
 Demonstrates grade level
appropriate conventions; errors
are minor and do not interfere
with the readability
 Utilizes precise language and
domain-specific vocabulary
Uses some repetitive yet correct
sentence structure
 Demonstrates some grade level
appropriate conventions, but errors may interfere with the readability
Utilizes some precise language
and/or domain-specific vocabulary, but minimally and/or inaccurately
 Does not demonstrate
sentence mastery
 Demonstrates limited
understanding of grade level conventions, and errors interfere with the readability
 Does not utilize precise language or domain-specific vocabulary
Cover
Cover is skillfully, neatly and creatively constructed.
Includes all required parts as indicated in directions.
Cover is neatly constructed and includes most required parts.
Cover is not neatly constructed and is missing some parts.
Cover is not neatly constructed and is missing most parts.
Timeline
The timeline includes 5 major events that are important and interesting.  The events are placed in proper order and a complete date has been included.
Most of the included events are important or interesting, one or two events may be missing.  Almost all events are placed in proper order and complete dates are included for almost every event.
Some major events are missing.  Most of the events are placed in proper order and an accurate date has been included for almost every event.
Many major events are missing.  Most events are incorrectly placed on the timeline and dates are inaccurate or missing for several events.


Monday, January 25, 2016

Vocabulary List 14

Due to my absence today, the children did not receive the new vocabulary list.  Here it is.  I will also be giving the children a copy tomorrow. The children will have an extra day to complete their vocabulary homework.

1. admirable
 (adj.) deserving praise
The murals they painted on the wall are admirable.
Synonym: superior
Antonym: mediocre
2. automatic
(adj.) done without thought or will; done by a machine, not by a human
Blinking is an automatic response.
Synonym: involuntary
Antonym: deliberate
3. devotion
(n.) loyalty and affection
They showed their devotion to their religious faith by attending services on a regular basis.
Synonym: dedication
Antonym: disloyalty
4.distant
(adj.) far away; not friendly
The distant cabin was difficult to get to.
Synonym: remote
Antonym: adjacent
5. dreary
(adj.) gloomy or dismal; without cheer, comfort, or enthusiasm
The rain did not stop at all during the dreary afternoon.
Synonym: depressing
Antonym: vibrant
6. exhaust
(v.) to use up; to wear out
Don’t exhaust yourself shopping at the mall.
(n.) the escape of gas from an engine
The exhaust from the bus made me choke.
Synonym: (v.) fatigue
Antonym: (v.) refresh
7. kindle
(v.) to get a fire going; to stir up or to start something
We tried to kindle a campfire.
Synonym: ignite
Antonym: smother
8. predict
(v.) to guess what is going to happen
No one can predict the future.
Synonym: anticipate


9. separation

(n.) the act or condition of being apart
They met again after a separation of ten years.
Synonym: detachment
Antonym: unification
10. stunt
(v.) to stop or slow down the growth of
The scientist worked to stunt the growth of the weed.
(n.) an act that shows great strength, bravery, or skill, often to get attention
Harry Houdini, the great magician and escape artist, was known to perform a daring escape stunt.
Synonym: (v.) restrain; (n.) feat
Antonym: promote