THE MIDDLE AGES TIMES

The 3rd grade class at Innovations Academy ended the year unamimosly agreeing to study Ancient Egypt for the next project. I left for winter break planning an exciting project on the pyramids, ancient flooding Nile and mummification. I returned with a plan in hand. When I asked if the students were excited to study Egypt, they groaned, “We don’t want to study Egypt.” Shocked I asked them why and was told cheerfully, “Its been two weeks Patrick, were just kids, of course we changed our minds already.”

I said goodbye to King Tut and welcomed Constantine. Starting next week we’ll be studying the Middle Ages, which apparently is the new thing for 2010. The focus of the project will be studying how the people of the Middle Ages met their needs. We’ll be reading for information, practicing research skills, and writing informational reports. The class met to plan the project, and decided to build a medieval village and they have a few other ideas waiting in the wings.

We do need parent help in implementing the project. We need materials to build the village- pretzel sticks, sugar cubes, clay, paper towel rolls, hot glue gun sticks, white popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, white Styrofoam cups and fake flowers (some dollar stores sell them real cheap.) So keep your eye out when you are shopping. The more supplies we have the better our project will be. I can promise you we will use all materials and that we’ll still be in need of more. Thanks so much to the parents that have already donated.

MYTHOLOGY

The class has taken an interest in Greek and Roman Mythology. We started a new unit and the students are really excited about it. The students are enjoying listening to Percy Jackson and the Lighting Thief. We’ve been reading some other short myths and stories. When were finished we have been acting them out, writing about them, and creating tabules. If you’re not sure what a tabule (tab-low) is ask your child. Speaking of asking your child about what’s going on at school, try asking them to tell you their favorite myth.

MULTIPICATION

You know in 2001, when there’s that giant white monolith reaching miles into the sky looming over all the people. Well that basically what multiplication is in the third grade. It’s hard, it takes a lot of practice and it’s a lot of numbers to keep track of in your head. I Thankfully the students at Innovations are coming up with new and creative ways to practice, practice, and practice. The class is coming up with new ways to review their multiplication facts. They’ve created games called battle dice, target math, and a strange game-involving pattern blocks is in the works. Multiplication takes a lot of time and repetition. If you want something to be doing at home than ask them to teach you one of the