Busy Week Ahead....

Hello, hello!  We are nearing the end of April, but unfortunately, it feels like March!  Hopefully this week will not be as wet as last week was.  

This week, all third graders will be taking a field trip for Arbor Day.  On Thursday, April 25th, we will be traveling to the Nature Center in Vernon Springs where the students will be going through several “stations” and will learn many things about nature and wildlife.  Students will not need to bring their own lunch that day, as the school will be supplying the sack lunches.  The field trip will be from 10AM to 2PM, so please see that your child wears pants, tennis shoes, and a coat.  The Nature Center has asked that the students not wear shorts or capris because we may be outside in taller grasses.  If you have any questions, please ask.  Thank you!

KidWind is coming to Cresco!  On Friday, April 26th, our 3rd grade students will be participating in various KidWind activities.  Students will determine how a generator works, generate human power, move a sail car, and test how fast wind is.  Students will also be given the opportunity to build a wind turbine and test the speed of its blades.  Students that enter this challenge will be given a box of blade materials.  They can then build the best set of blades they can and enter them into the instant blade design competition.  Blades will be tested in our wind tunnel.  Students should use what they have learned from our KidWind days so they can apply that knowledge during this challenge.  Not all students have chosen to participate in the competition as this was optional.  I will keep you posted on the results of the day.  How fun! 

Hopefully your child had fun creating his/her simple machines car.  Many of you questioned if the ramp/inclined plane counted as a second simple machine for the car.  The inclined plane was NOT counted as a simple machine as the simple machines needed to be included in or on the car.  We are racing the cars Monday afternoon to see which car can run the fastest and the one that can go the longest distance before stopping.  Then we will race against the other 3rd graders at a later date.  Sounds fun!

As stated last week: Not only does your child have Book Clubs assignments, he/she also has an assignment of publishing his/her draft from writing.  We are publishing our stories on a website titled "Story Jumper."  Your child has a login card for school and also has a login card for home.  YOUR CHILD IS BRINGING HOME ANOTHER COPY OF HIS/HER LOGIN CARD.  You will need to help set up his/her account at home.  I am expecting your child to work on his/her story throughout the next few weeks AT HOME.  MAPS, or MISIC, testing will continue for the next few weeks and we will not have access to a classroom set of laptops for several weeks.  Unfortunately, that means we will not be able to work on the books at school, so students will have to work on them at home.  If your child does not have access to the Internet at home, he/she can come in to the classroom before school at 8:00 AM and work on it during that time.  Your child will have to let me know if he/she is coming in before that morning, so I can plan on him/her being there.  PLEASE SEE THAT YOUR CHILD IS WORKING ON THIS AT HOME, ALONG WITH THE BOOK CLUB ASSIGNMENTS.  BEGINNING NEXT WEEK, I WILL HAVE PARENTS SIGN OFF ON AN ASSIGNMENT SHEET TO INDICATE THAT YOUR CHILD IS MAKING PROGRESS ON HIS/HER BOOK.  If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.  Thanks!

Lastly, there will be a 3-hour early dismissal on Wednesday, April 24th, due to teacher in-service.  Students will be dismissed at 12:25 PM, so please plan accordingly.  Thanks!

Please contact me with any questions or concerns!  Thank you!

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. McCarville