Posterous theme by Cory Watilo
3C

Literature Circle Book Talks

Here are minute-long clips from the book talks you gave after finishing your eBook clubs. Skills we worked on included: preparation, giving a brief summary, supporting an opinion about a book, and using a loud and clear presentation voice.

 The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale

(download)

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

(download)

Fudge-a-Mania

 

(download)

Harriet the Spy

(download)

See ya later, Gladiator

(download)

Descriptive Writing: our epic snowball fight!

Today we practised descriptive writing. We worked on expanding an event and on showing emotion rather than telling. We also talked about VOICE. Here are some of the lines I really enjoyed from your journals today.

Our topic: The Cypress boys vs. girls snowball fight last Tuesday.

Victoria

The girls were jumping up and down. Some of us were gasping for air, and lots of toes were numb.

Jenny

Everyone snapped to attention and ran outside.

The boys were throwing snowballs with the light of fight in their eyes.

Jillian

We could feel the heat on each other's bodies and the tension in each other's faces.

The girls would not be denied.

Kaden

And now, I've got to go - the girls are coming!

Nicholas

We ate our snack to get ready for battle.

Our arms were like cannons, our snowballs like cannonballs (good simile!)

Alyza

My heart was racing, I had a shiver down my spine

I jumped up and fell to the snowy ground.

Khayali

Nicholas's hands formed into fists, but he still surrendered.

The hair was standing up on the backs of their necks, but they were ready for battle.

Gabi

Ewan shot a dirty look at the girls and the fight for justice began.

Eli

It was just me and Chuck Norris.  (??!)

Adrian

I quickly threw a snowball and Gabi fell over like an avalanche (another fitting simile!)

Ewan

Just then we heard thumps.

In the misty, icy forest we came upon a wide snow valley.

Sahra

If there was one day to live for, it would be today.

The boys immediately got to work, hearts pumping, ready for an invasion.

With not the slightest hint of fear, the girls advanced.

Sophie

My heart pounded like an eagle furiously flapping it's wings.

I clenched my fists. I picked up an icy snowball that felt cold against my soaked hand.

Lucy

Tears fell down our puffy faces.

Yash

Our fearless captain, Ms.Cannon yelled with joy, "there it is, the Hollyburn lodge!"

Jed

Deadly snow was flying, burning like fire crackling on trees, painful, relaxing, warm, and cold. The girls were going in for an attack, but I said "No, fight back. Never stop."

Aleksei

She was as tall as the frozen trees. We all knew this was not going to be easy.

They were tired. Their eyes looked down as if they were crying. They tried not to show it.

Amanda

The girls shouted as loud as they could, hands in the air jumping up and down. They jumped so high it looked like they were going to touch the sky.

Awesome job, 3C! I love the way you are bringing your writing to life with description and VOICE! It looks like we will have to have a rematch in the snow one day :)

Travel Brochures

3C, you did an outstanding job on your travel brochures for your provinces! To help you understand what fully meeting or exceeding expectations looks like, here is a sample for each category: conventions, information, illustrations, and persuasive writing. Each of these students received 4/5 or 5/5 for their category.

Conventions: (Adrian)

Brocad
Persuasive Writing: (Victoria)

Brochure_persua
Illustrations: (Kaden)

Brochure_illus
Information: (Ewan)

Broc

 Why do you think these students met/exceeded expectations?

What did you do well on your brochure?

What could you improve on for next time?

What was the most interesting fact you learned about your province?

What are you still curious about?

 

Canadian Regions

We are midway through our UOI on Canada. Last week we began looking at geographical regions of Canada. We looked at the Appalachian Highlands, the St. Lawrence Lowlands, the Canadian Shield, the Interior Plains, the Arctic, and the Western Cordillera. Each group was responsible for researching about the following: land, climate, wildlife, vegetation, and natural resources. Now we are beginning to make connections between the resources and industries in each region as well as the landscape and activities that take place. Some of us made connections from our Grade Two unit on trade, importing, and exporting.

Here is a picture of us mapping our information and photographs:

Regionmap
The Canadian Shield:

Regioncs
And a few clips from our brief multi-media region presentations:
(download)
(download)

We also thought about this question: Why are people on the North Shore and in Vancouver generally healthier and fitter than people who live in northern communities? Here are some of our initial ideas:

-They have to wear heavier clothes and coats to keep themselves warm, so they can't go out for a jog like that. We can go outside in our lighter clothes. (Ewan)

-Maybe the weather. If you're in the Arctic, it's too cold to exercise. People smoke less here. (Jenny)

-There's not much free range food. (Yash)

-It's really cold and you can't grown stuff, you have to import it, so they don't eat as much veggies. (Adrian)

-It's too cold and icy. You could slip and injure yourself. (Nick)

-Maybe there's less pollution here and the air is cleaner. (Jed)

Do you have any other thoughts? What about the landscape?

Addition Story Problems

Image001

Here is your math assignment tonight. Log into Posterous. Click on the comments and read the last story problem. Solve the problem. In your comment, you will need to give the answer in a sentence, and then leave your own word problem for the next 3C student to solve. Remember two things – One: You must ask a question at the end of your story. Two: The story problem you make up must be able to be solved using three digit addition! Good-luck, math superstars!

Mulgrave Photo Essays

Today we continued our West Coast photography project. We each chose our favourite photograph taken from our picturesque school grounds and wrote a few descriptive sentences about our choice of place. I'm impressed with the powerful verbs and juicy nouns you are now using in your writing. So impressed, in fact, that a new issue of the 3C West Coast Impressions is coming soon to a desk near you! Soon enough you will be able to see the full Canadian edition co-produced by Mr. O-C.

Here is a sneak preview with editions from Yash, Ewan, and Victoria:

Click here to download:
photo_yash.pdf (327 KB)
(download)
Click here to download:
Photo_Ewan.pdf (382 KB)
(download)
Click here to download:
photo_Victoria.pdf (339 KB)
(download)

 

Multiply Across CANADA!

Our multiplication challenge is in full swing. On Tuesdays and Fridays each week we have a timed multiplication quiz, and we work at our own pace to make it to the legendary ULTIMATE MIXER. We have three minutes to complete thirty questions. If we get at least 28 questions correct, we move onto the next number. Because we work at our own pace we also keep the province we are working on confidential (that means not bragging or asking others what province they're on - though we're always allowed to encourage our classmates!). Here is a picture of a challenge sheet in progress. Way to go, Jaden! 

Jadddden

Ways to practice our Multiplication Tables:

-The practice worksheets we bring home

-The flashcards we made at school (if you're working on the fours, take all your four cards. If you get the answer right away, put the card in the yes pile. If it takes you awhile, or you get the answer wrong, put it in the no pile. After you go through the deck, pick up the no pile. Repeat, until every card is a y-e-s!).

-Have your parents quiz you, or make up a thirty question practice challenge for you

-Listen to a Multiplication rap C.D (we'll try this tomorrow!)

-Play the challenge card game. Compete with a sibling or parent. Have someone hold up a flash card. Whoever shouts the answer out first wins the card. Whoever has the most cards at the end wins.

-Explore the many, many multiplication iPad apps out there. If you find one that you think is really helpful to you, email some information about it to your friends so they can try it out too.

 

Good-luck, 3C! You're doing a wonderful job so far :)

iPad Workshop Helpers

On Friday, Ms. Ullman, Ms. Mitchell, Mr. Jamieson, and I presented a workshop to 44 teachers from other schools about our iPad program at Mulgrave. Lucy, Jed, Gabi, Melissa, and Amin generously gave up part of their day off to come help us out. They walked teachers and principals through some of the work that we've done this year on our iPads, and they also answered many questions. One of the exciting moments came when Gabi and Jed got to meet Mrs. Rees (the teacher who commented on our blog) in person. Thanks grade threes - you were wonderful representatives for our school!

22
44
11
33

​