Monday, September 22, 2014

Peter and the Wolf: Russian Folktale

Elephant Post 7 - 3rd Grade 2014

**Reminder, leave a comment for tickets in class**

Today, students explored different instruments.  They then brainstormed how an instrument could represent a character's personality.


Why are we doing this??  Well...in The Russian Folktale, Peter and the Wolf, the characters are represented by different instruments!  I remember learning this story in 3rd grade and falling in love with music and the characters in the story.  We read the book in class and "listened" to the instruments for each character.  After that, we listened to the orchestra performing the story as the director narrated the story.  Students, acted out the story while the music was playing.  YAY Folktales!  We will be discussing the theme of the story tomorrow!  Stay tuned.

Orchestra - Peter and the Wolf


1) Do agree or disagree with the instruments that were chosen for the characters?  Would you change any of them? Why?
2) How does the music help you enjoy the story more?

You can see hear the story and the instruments while seeing the pictures in the story.

Storybook - Peter and the Wolf
3) How was the ending different? Which ending do you prefer, why?

4) Which did you like best? - Watching the story with the orchestra or seeing the picture while listening? Why?

**Extra Assignment**
Because we are reading Peter and the Wolf, we are learning about musical instruments. Your student will be rewarded if he or she creates a musical instrument at home and brings it to school.  Household items work wonders: Paper towel rolls, Kleenex boxes, rubber bands, wax paper, and other creative items.  

Each character in the story has a particular instrument and a musical theme: 
- Bird: Flute
- Cat: Clarinet
- Duck: Obeo
- Grandfather: Bassoon
- Hunters: Bass Drum and Timpani
- Peter: Violin
- Wolf: French Horns


Have a great night, 
~ Ms. Lightfoot

  

Folktales: Tall Tales

Elephant Post 6 - 3rd Grade 2014

**Reminder, leave a comment, for tickets in class**

3rd graders are enjoying Folktales!  Last week, we read Fairy Tales.  This week will be looking at Tall Tales, Fables, Myths, and Legends.  We are creating a poster in class in order to define all of these types of stories.  When we are finished, I will upload it onto the blog. 

Tall Tales:

  Paul Bunyan


John Henry


1) What is a Tall Tale?
2) How are these two Tall Tale Characters similar?
3) What are the characters' exaggerated features?
4) How could you be a Tall Tale Hero?

Thanks!!
~ Ms. Lightfoot

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Math Games!!!

Elephant Post 5 - 3rd Grade 2014



This is a really fun math website for some learning games.
Cool Math Website
- Click on Math For Kids and Practice Your Math
- Explore other areas

Leave a comment ...

1) THUMBS UP or THUMBS DOWN for any of the games???

2) What type of math did you practice?

3) Do you recommend any of the games or activities for any of your friends? Why?

Here's the Pirate rounding game that we played in class!!
Aye Mate Math!

Have a great weekend,
Ms. Lightfoot

Cinderella Stories

Elephant Post 4  - 3rd Grade 2014

Want to hear Cindy Ellen again? - Western Version of Cinderella


Question 1) 
How many stars would you give this version of Cindy Ellen ... 1, 2, or 3? - Why?

Another Cinderella Story: The Rough Faced Girl - Native American Version of Cinderella




Question 2) What surprised you about this Native American Version of Cinderella: The Rough Face Girl?

Question 3) What character traits would you to describe the different characters?  Why did you chose these?

Question 4) Can you think of a way to create another version of Cinderella?  Where would it take place?  Mexico, Hawaii, or somewhere else?  How would the characters change? - Be Creative!!!

I can't wait to see your responses!!!  Have fun.
Enjoy your weekend.
~ Ms. Lightfoot

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Wall of Fame!

3rd Grade Elephant Blog 3 - 2014

Congrats Elephants on your hard work displayed on your bulletin board!  You have recieved a lot of compliments on it.

- First Day Jitters
- Math: Number Representation with Comparing
- Vision Boards: Your goals
- Pictures of you holding up the # of your future job!




 
 
Keep up the GREAT Work!!!
Don't forget to leave a comment.
~ Ms. Lightfoot
 

The First Day Jitters

3rd Grade Elephant Blog 2 - 2014

Hello!

Elephants have been working very hard in Reading!  Characters, Setting, Problem, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Solution are all part of a story's plot.  The plot is used to create a summary.  Third graders created a Roller Coaster to learn about plot and then performed and wrote a summary for a story, The First Day Jitters.
 

Drinking "Jitter Juice"


 
 

The following links and QR codes are videos of the summary.  Students are playing an "improv" game. They can only say one word at a time. Students must listen to each other to complete a sentence to explain the story.  I love how they encourage each other by quietly cheering each other on.  Enjoy!!!

Qr Code

Qr Code

Qr Code

Qr Code
Qr Code
Qr Code
Our Bulletin Board that displays our work for The First Day Jitters.
- Plot Rollercoasters
- QR Codes of Videos
- Written Summaries



Have a great night!!
Don't forget to leave a comment!!
~ Ms. Lightfoot

Welcome 3rd Graders and Parents!!

3rd Grade Elephant Blog 1 - 2014

We have had so many great things happening since school has started!!!

Keep checking back to the blog to catch up on the latest news!  Elephants, sometimes you will have *BONUS* fun assignements on here to complete.

If you leave a comment, you will get *PEANUTS* when you return to class!!

In math, we have been learning...
- Place Value
- Greater Than and Less Than
- 100,000's
- Number Representation in pictures, manipulatives, and expanded formation.


 In Science...

Third Grade had a special visitor from the high school to teach an exciting lesson about the solar system



We have visited the Science Lab had learned about...
- Matter
- Magnets
- Science Safety











Happy Grandparents Day!





August Birthday Celebration!

Have a great night!
Don't forget to leave a comment :-)
~ Ms. Lightfoot