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This page has information about how to complete projects that we're currently working on and highlights of projects we have completed.

Third Grade Summer Reading Requirements -

Incoming third graders must read two chapter books to fulfill their summer reading requirements.  After reading each book, students will fill out a book report (see "book report form" hyperlink below).  The two book reports AND one of the books that was read need to be brought to school on the first day of class in the fall.  During the first week of school, we will be participating in a book swap.  The students will make short presentations “advertising” one book they read over the summer, and students will decide which book they’d like to swap for based on the presentations.  The books the students bring in will not be returned, but each child will get a “new” book to read.

Book Report Form

LEARNING THE 50 STATES – A Year Long Goal

Name the states of each region the same way each time.  The first state in each region that we name is called the “anchor state.”  It is usually the best known or easiest to recognize of the group.

Southeastern States

Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida. 

Mnemonic Device - The King Wasn’t Very Nice Since Going Away Mad Last Autumn (must remember Florida separately)

Additional Memorization Tips

1.       You can also remember GAM for the order of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi.

2.     Remember Louisiana is shaped like an L.

Western States

Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona

Mnemonic Device – Carl Once Walked Into Uncle Al’s Neighborhood

Additional Memorization Tips

1.       You can also remember the order of California, Oregon, and Washington with COW – or add Arizona in for A COW

2.     Remember Nevada has a shape like the diagonal line of an N.

Central States

Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana

Mnemonic Device - start with Texas and go straight up - Take Our Kids, No! Said Nanna.  Start over with New Mexico and go straight up - New Cows Want Milk - New Mexico - Colorado - Wyoming - Montana

Midwest States

Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin

Mnemonic Device - start with Michigan, circle clockwise - My Only Interest Is Melting Ice Making Water

Additional Memorization Tip

1. Remember Michigan is shaped like a mitten.

Northeastern States

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode, Massachusetts

Mnemonic Device - start with Maine, go down through New York to Maryland and circle back counterclockwise - My Nervous Veterinarian Never Pulls My Dog's New Collar - Rover Might Bite (there is no B state, in class we chomp at that point to make it make sense and to remember that there's not really a B there.

The schedule for studying each region of states is as follows –

November and December – Southeastern states, January – Western states, state projects (done in school), February – Central states, state hat projects (done at home), March – Middle Western states,  April – Northeastern states, May – review of and culminating test over all fifty states

We will be doing a lot of work in school to learn the locations.  We will be practicing with worksheets, games, puzzles, overhead maps, large hands-on Velcro maps, and websites.  We will practice, at least for a few minutes, almost every time we meet for s.s. 

Though we will work daily at school, the children will still need additional practice at home!  Please use the resources available on www.stedward.org – St. Edward School - Mrs. Minchey’s webpage – educational links – 50 States.  There are websites for location practice.  There is another resource available to you.  www.unitedstreaming.com  This is a paid website that the school subscribes to.  It has tons of educational video clips that enhance our curriculum.  We use it frequently in class.  The website has videos for each of the US geographical regions we will be studying.  After typing in www.unitedstreaming.com on your internet browser, put in “stedwardschool” as the username and the password is “student.”  Do a search for “US Geography” and it will bring up videos about each region of states.  It’s a series named “US Geography, From Sea to Shining Sea.”  Each month, when we study a new region, you can have your child view this at home.  We won’t be watching these videos in class, but they will enhance your child’s understanding of the geographical regions of our country.  You can watch them together and discuss them as well.

Book Report for AR Credit - if you read a book that we don't have the AR test for at school, you can still get AR credit!  Just do a book report using "Book Report for AR Credit" form.  You can print it out here or get copies in our classroom.

How to Write a 5 Sentence Paragraph

Begin with a topic sentence –

Tell what the paragraph is about – the topic.

 Make it interesting.

Be sure to indent!!!

Example:

Last summer my family went on an amazing picnic in a park.

Each sentence should tell more about the topic.

Use good describing words and interesting action words.

Example:

Last summer my family went on an amazing picnic in a park.  We brought freshly made ham sandwiches, apple pie and ice cold lemonade.  While we enjoyed our picnic lunch under a tree, a small gray squirrel crawled close to us.  Suddenly this squirrel grabbed my delicious piece of pie off my plate and scurried off. 

Ending Sentence -

Restate the topic of the paragraph.

Keep it interesting.

Example:

Last summer my family went on an amazing picnic in a park.  We brought freshly made ham sandwiches, apple pie and ice cold lemonade.  While we enjoyed our picnic lunch under a tree, a small gray squirrel crawled close to us.  Suddenly this small squirrel grabbed my delicious piece of pie off my plate and scurried off.  We couldn’t believe this hungry squirrel had invited himself to our family picnic!

Geobear

One of our favorite on-going projects in 3M is Geobear.  He is a bear that travels with any of our classmates that go out of state.  He comes back with pictures and journal entries about his adventures.  Pictured below is Chloe telling the class about her time with Geobear in St. Thomas.

 

Geobear started traveling in 2003.  In the United States, he has been to Washington,  Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Virginia.  He has also visited St. Thomas, Jamaica, and Mexico.

Purple = states Geobear has visited

Please e-mail your questions to mminchey@stedward.org