Dear Parents,
Due to the Labor Day holiday, third grade students are one week behind our second graders in this unit. Therefore, we will do a separate blog this week for each grade level. Second grade parents, please scroll down to the Second Grade section. We are thoroughly enjoying working with all of our wonderful students!
We would like to thank all of you for helping our little chefs to create their delicious chocolate recipes. We had a yummy time sampling all of these unique candies.
The Target Teachers
THIRD GRADE 9-10-07
Problem Solving/Brainstorming
Third graders tickled their brains with a number of interesting word bogglers and then sharpened their deductive reasoning skills by solving an interesting matrix puzzle. Additionally, all classes used manipulatives to "balance the scales" and solve Hands on Equations.
Unit Work
The children shared their unique recipes for the Perfect Chocolate Bar with class; many students brought in samples for their classmates to try. The entries were so spectacular that teachers decided to send all the recipes to Mr. Reginald Van Feisty, owner of the Dutch Chocolate Candy Company, for his experts to judge and select the winning recipe! Students named their candy bars and designed an attractive wrapper for their sensational treats to send along with their recipes.
Students decoded rhyming messages from a thief and used their mathematical-logical intelligences to solve six challenging number logic problems.
Teachers read "The Case of the Chocolate Factory" to the class and then students worked together to solve this "sweet" mystery. Some classes did word bogglers.
Home extension activity - Frog Logic sheet - Additionally, all students are to find a mystery book on their reading level and bring this book to class for teacher approval. A book report assignment will follow.
SECOND GRADE 9-14-07
Problem Solving/Brainstorming
Second graders began their day by solving an interesting matrix logic problem entitled The Basketball Tournament.
Unit Work
Students were surprised to learn that their expert deductive reasoning skills were sought by a private company to solve a shocking crime!!! We explored the importance of asking the questions who, what, where, when, why, and how when solving a mystery.
The children examined the evidence found at the scene of the crime and learned about valid and invalid assumptions. They will use this information next week to further investigate this case!
Teachers shared information about the history of detective novels with their students.
We read and solved The Mystery of the Third Strike Sport Store.
Home extension activity - All students are to find a mystery book on their reading level and bring this book to class next week for teacher approval. A book report assignment will follow.
