November 30 Parent Letter

Parents,

I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.

I will be sending home the children’s Christmas program parts in the folders again today. Your child’s part will be highlighted. Please practice their part with them. Their parts should have been memorized today. They need to speak slowly, clearly, and loudly. The more they practice, the better their performance. Besides wanting the children to look and sound their best, it is also important to share the message of Jesus and his birth with those in attendance. The students’ parts need to be understood by the audience.

Remember to clip those Campbell Soup labels. We’re trying to get enough labels to earn double points.

Progress reports will be in the folders today. Some students need to pick up the pace on the reading. Remember to sign the bottom portion and return it tomorrow to raise a daily grade to a 100 in the subject of your choice.

UPDATE: As our weather is turning cooler, please send your child with appropriate outerwear. If it is not raining, we will go outside. Everyone was dressed great today, so this is just a reminder. Also, I did not have time to copy the Christmas program parts again. If you no longer have the one sent home before Thanksgiving, let me know.

Third Six Weeks Memory Verse #3

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Lesson 12 Science Vocabulary

The dehydrated gel from this activity is very hygroscopic - it can soak up (absorb) a LOT of water. This type of gel would be good for making materials drier because it absorbs water so well. A cracker is an example of a hygroscopic material.

An example of absorption is a paper towel cleaning up spilled water. Not all materials will absorb water.

The dehydrated gel is also used to transport plants over long distances - it absorbs water, keeping it near the plant's roots. This is the same gel used for disposable diapers, because the gel absorbs moisture quickly.

When water changes from liquid to gas, it is called evaporation.

Dehydration means removing the water from something.

November 16 Parent Letter

Parents,

Our field trip to the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra is Friday. I should hear today about arrival time and place. Please return your permission slips as soon as possible, so I can give them a good head count. The only money the students need is for their lunch at McDonald’s.

Third graders will be multiplying and dividing money this week. The important thing when doing this is getting the decimal in the right place!

This will be a regular week, although our tests on Friday may be at different times, due to the field trip.

Field Trip Update: As of right now, there are only seats for 2 parents. I have requested more in case some more of you want to go, but have not heard anything yet.

Third Six Weeks Memory Verse #2

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him. Colossians 2:6

Lesson 11 Science Vocabulary

Surface tension is when water molecules stick together like they are holding hands. Surface tension is what makes falling raindrops round. Surface tension is a force. Surface tension causes the water in a bucket to curve down at the edges making the surface uneven.

When the needle was laid gently on the water, the water molecules “hand holding” was strong enough to hold up the needle. Their force was stronger than gravity trying to pull the needle down. The dent in the water around the needle was the struggle between gravity and surface tension.

When we belly flop in the swimming pool, it hurts. This is because our body has to break through a huge number of water molecules.

Forces in our activity: the weight of the needle, surface tension, gravity.

AR Big Cookie Pics

Ayla -175 points

Harlie - 25 points

November 9 Parent Letter

Parents,

Today is the first day of the new grading period. Expect report cards to come home on Wednesday.

We will be starting new units in Social Studies and Health this week.

There will be a take home Health Test over Chapters 1 and 2 on Tuesday night. Students will take home their books, and complete the test. Feel free to help them.

On November 20, our class will be taking a field trip to TAMUK to see the Kingsville Orchestra. I will send home permission slips one day this week. I need to verify that they have us down and seats assigned for us. The concert begins at 10:00 and I am not sure how long it will last. Previously, we have gone to McDonalds for lunch when the concert was over. I will be needing drivers for at least 7 of the children. (I can take 3 in my car.) Be thinking if you would be able to drive.

New folders will be sent home today.

Third Sixs Weeks Memory Verse #1

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Lesson 10 Science Vocabulary

There are 3 states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases.

For matter to change states, you must involve energy.

Matter is what scientists call the stuff that surrounds us.

When the salt was added to the water, it didn’t disappear, it became a solution.

A physical change is when something changes from on state of matter into another, when materials change form: water changing from liquid to solid (ice cubes), water changing to a gas (evaportation).

Water boiling, water freezing, a burning match are all examples of physical changes.

In this weeks project we changed the solid dry salt into a liquid solution (by adding water), and evaporation caused the water to turn into a gas.

November 2 Parent Letter

Parents,

This is the last week of the grading period. All papers must be turned in by Friday, or a zero will be given. Report cards will be sent home next Wednesday.

This week we have 5 tests scheduled. (6 including the Science quiz on Thursday)

Tuesday: Health Quiz #3

Wednesday: Social Studies Unit 2 Test

Friday: Reading Test

Spelling Test

Math Test

Please be sure to look for study sheets on-line and help your child prepare for their tests the night before.

Nova Ordner has begun to make a practice test to help Mason study for the Science Quizzes on Thursdays. She is making them in a T/F and Multiple Choice format. If you would be interested, I can forward these to you via e-mail. Just let me know.

Please consider making a donation to the church food bank. As I said last week, canned goods, especially soups or meats, are needed.

Second Six Weeks Memory Verse #5

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:44

Health Quiz #3

It is safe to fly a kite: in an open field, away from trees, away from streets, and away from electrical wires.

You should always play in a safe place.

When you feel tired, you should stop and rest.

When you are running, you should look ahead.

A doctor who examines your eyes is an optometrist.

You should always skate on a sidewalk.

Three plants that cause skin poisoning are:

- poison ivy

- poison oak

- poison sumac

Unit 2 Social Studies Test

Geography – the study of Earth and the ways people use it

Landform – the different shapes that the Earth has: for example - hill, mountain, plain,

valley, island, peninsula

Ancestor – a person in your family who lived before we were born

Producer – someone who makes or grows something

Consumer – someone who buys and uses goods

Natural resource – a useful material that comes from the Earth: for example – air, water,

sun, forests, soil

Crop – a kind of plant grown by people for food and other uses

Conservation – the care and protection of land, water, plants, and animals

Rules of Conservation

1. Stay on paths in a park.
2. Don’t litter
3. Smell but don’t pick the flowers
4. Take care of plants and animals

Cause and Effect

Example: I was thirsty so I got a drink of water.

CAUSE: I was thirsty

EFFECT: I got a drink of water

Lesson 9 Science Vocabulary

Your bones are alive…that's why it hurts if you break one!

Your skeleton (the body's framework) contains 206 bones (in all shapes and sizes) that all work together. They work with tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints to help you move. It protects your vital organs (heart, lungs, brain). It protects your nervous system (especially the spinal cord.)

Your bones also store nutrients (calcium and phosphorous). They also contain special blood cells that fight disease.

The skull is the bone in your head that protects your brain.