If your child is absent due to an illness I
am happy to provide an overview of the work they missed in class that day or
for those days they are out sick. Inevitably there are times when trips need to
happen during the school year and your student should be assured that although
they are missing class time, I encourage them to embrace the learning
opportunities outside the walls of our school. Parents often ask me for a
packet to bring along to keep their child engaged in some learning and kept
busy in a car or on a plane, but I don't assign "trip work" packets.
Trips on their own have the potential to be rich learning experiences from
airport or car, to destination and back. Instead I ask that students keep a journal,
photo journal or scrapbook of their trip which could be shared with me upon
their return to class. They are also welcome to share these with the class, but
I don't require them to do so. Finding a secret spot and having a special
little journal in hand in which to write and sketch what they see is infinitely
more valuable to your child than me giving them a story prompt. If you do want
your child to have some 3rd grade-level busy work during travel you could visit
Learning Palace or a similar store to purchase 3rd grade skills workbooks. The
following are some ideas for meaningful learning during trips:
Math:
Have your child use math, reading and writing skills as often as possible. Have
them pay for things and count change or add up the coins received back, use
maps, figure out elapsed time or the time an activity took to complete, compare
prices of menu items, look for patterns in nature or architecture, estimate the
time it will take to complete an activity, collect data of some kind and create
a bar graph (cars vs. trucks on a five mile stretch of road or the kinds of
people around you on the plane who order soda vs. juice for example), etc.
Writing:
Have them bring their writer's notebook or more fun, have them choose and buy a
special little notebook just for the trip where they can sketch possible
characters, special spots or images to use in future writing. Everyone and
everything they see can be given new life as a character or setting in future
writing. A little set of colored pencils or tiny watercolors to go along with
it can make it more fun as well. Have your child write and mail a postcard or
letter to our class (even if it arrives after they return). Our school's
address is 3421 SE Salmon St., PDX 97214. Thank you notes for guest accommodations
or for hotel operators is always fun, too.
Reading:
Trips can be made more fun if your child is taken to the library or to Powell's
for a special trip book or two. Perhaps they could visit a local book store at
your destination where they can choose a book to read or purchase for the time
they are there or for the trip back. As time permits, be sure they read at
least 30 minutes or more each day.
Science or Social Studies:
We study rocks and minerals in 3rd grade and it's always a joy for kids when we
begin this unit in winter to bring in a special rock from a place they have
visited during the year. We also learn about the first peoples who lived on
this land long before white settlers came to what is now known as Portland. It
can be interesting for kids to learn about other first peoples who lived in
places you visit. Just learning a bit about the history of a new place with a
city walking tour, nature hike, scenic route or collecting little souvenirs or
scraps can be fun for your child as well.
This policy is also posted at the bottom of the blog for your reference!
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