Reading
In January students will delve into the world of non-fiction. Students will practise reading long chunks of texts to grasp what the author has highlighted. They will learn that the little facts that matter are those that support, illustrate, and embody the big ideas. Students will also learn how to read an informational text and determine the main ideas and recognize the structure of a text so that they can turn around and teach the main idea and the supporting points to someone else. This will support the research skills needed for our non-fiction writing unit.
Writing
In writing, students will complete the publishing process of their personal narratives. We will be inviting families into our classroom community to join us in the celebration and to hear the stories read aloud by the authors! Please stay tuned...Later this month we will begin our unit on Information Writing. To help your child, have a discussion with them on topics they are an expert on/knowledgeable about. To ensure success in this writing unit, it is crucial that the topic chosen by your child is something that he/she is knowledgeable and passionate about. Such topics could include:
- animals
- games (videogames, card games, etc)
- toys
- sports
- hobbies
- a well-known person
- a historical event
- a well-known place
Students will learn how to write with authority for real audiences, and to actually do some teaching on their topics. They will also learn how powerful a table of contents can be as a tool for structuring an expository piece. As the year progresses, greater emphasis will be placed on drafting, revising, and publishing. Students will revise by learning concrete strategies and using those strategies to lift the level of their work. They will learn more complex revision strategies such as using grammar with meaning, tapping research for elaboration, using text features, and fact checking.
Social Studies
As our unit on Communities in Canada 1780-1850 wraps up, students will apply what they have learned to write a realistic fiction guide to survive living in Upper Canada.
Science
We are wrapping up our unit on Strong and Stable Structures. Students can identify the difference between strength and stability and will investigate how these two properties affect the usefulness of a structure. The grade 3s will investigate the factors that affect a structure's strength and stability such as shape, centre of gravity and apply their learning as they design and build their own dream school in teams. Be prepared to be amazed!
Visual Arts
Please remember to have your child send in magazine cutouts of texts or letters that spell out words that describe who they are or how they see themselves (e.g., sister, athletic, creative, curious, Canadian, etc...) by Tuesday January 8th!
