Simple Machines Building

The kids had a great time trying to build the Rube Goldberg projects!

So many creative engineers in our room!

Measurement

Using graduated cylinders and syringes to find how many milliliters are in the cup.

Practicing measuring using the balances. How many grams to make things around the room balance?

Ellis Island Simulation

For weeks, we've been studying immigration…

*Why people immigrate

*How Europeans came to America in 1910

*Process at Ellis Island

*What immigration from Europe looks like today

This has been a great experience for the students to learn about the hardships people left in their home country, the difficulties of traveling in a crowded boat, and the struggles that awaited many when they arrived in America. Personal accounts of people coming through Ellis Island, research about Ellis Island, and a historical fiction book (Letters from Rifka) gave the kids an idea of the immigrants' journey.

The research culminated in an Ellis Island simulation day…

The week began with the students creating their immigrant character--what was their name, where were they from, why were they leaving, who was in their family, and what would they pack.

On October 16th, we signed the manifest for the SS Maurtania and crowded into the "boat." In just the 30 minutes the grade level was gathered together, the kids realized that being jammed into a small space for a 2-week journey would be hard.

Baggage Room:  Each student packed 5 of their most important possessions. In the Baggage Room, they got to share their luggage and then make the difficult decision of what ONE item they would want to keep if they lost everything else.

Registry Room:  Here each student had to answer interview questions to make sure no shady character were entering America. What's your name? Where are you from? Are you a criminal? Why are you here? Do you already have a job?

Medical Room:  Before being allowed off Ellis Island, the kids had to do a medical exam. This included a physical, measurements, and an examination by a "doctor." Though most of the kids passed, some were detained for illnesses. Fortunately all of us made if off Ellis Island in a couple of months!

Americanization Room:  The Immigration Aide Society met with our new arrivals to introduce them to American culture--The Pledge of Allegiance, Statue of Liberty, and popcorn.

Indiana Room:  All of our immigrants traveled to Indiana once they were permitted to leave Ellis Island.   The students learned about the history of Indiana and some of it's key features. Then they decided where in Indiana to move based on their skills and what job they wanted to get.

This was an amazing simulation! The following week we put it all together into scrapbook diaries where the kids got to take their experiences and develop their immigrant character even more.

Ms. Danielson also shared with us what it's like to immigrate to the United States now. The kids (and I!) were amazed at the similarities of here experiences to those of European immigrants in coming through Ellis Island.

Welcome to the United States!

Daubenspeck Park Field Trip

Well…

This was awhile ago!

But, better late than never!

To practice our map reading and direction skills, the third grade went to Daubenspeck Park to find our pet rocks. Ms. Streit had put together four different scavenger hunts that took each group to different areas in the park. After much walking and map reading, the kids were reunited with their rocks.

Thanks to all the parent volunteers who made this possible!

Pet Rocks

For several weeks, the kids have been great geologists. They've identified properties, described rocks and minerals, and tested for minerals. They've done the Scratch and Vinegar Tests. They've discovered the difference between rocks and minerals.

And today... They got a pet rock.

We started off the adoption process by reading the story Everybody Needs A Rock by Byrd Baylor. Then the kids were given rocks--plain, old boring rocks.

Which, of course, needed decorated. So all of third grade got to paint their rocks. And add glitter. And "sparklies." And googly eyes. 

Such a fun way to end a week. 

And to start a mystery next week... But more on that later!

Back to School Night

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend Back to School Night on Thursday! Linked below is the presentation I shared. Have a great weekend!

Back to School Night presentation

Mock Rocks

This week we started our first IB Unit:  Where in the World Is… This unit covers both geology and geography.

We began with an experiment called Mock Rocks, where pairs of kids "mined" through their fake rocks to discover shells, smaller rocks, food coloring, sand, and salt. We learned that minerals are the same material all the way through, and that rocks are a combination of minerals.

Here are pictures from our work this week…

Part 1:  Observing the Mock Rock

Part 2:  Mining the Mock Rock and Discovering the Minerals

Part 3:  Discovering the Salt

We learned that rocks are made of different minerals. Rocks can be broken down into smaller ingredients but minerals can't.