Last two chapters of Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything In It

We ran out of time on Friday, and were unable to finish our last read aloud. Here are the last two chapters for you and your family-I encourage you to read them aloud, and discuss these big ideas together. This book has sparked countless discussions regarding "Big Ideas", and most students have really enjoyed this book and its great tie in to our study of Rocks and Minerals.

Have a great summer, everyone!

Bridge Tour Slideshow-Thanks for sharing your photos!

Bridge Tour

Wow-Today, we walked 10,739 adult steps, crossed 6 bridges, walked 5.1 miles, and had a wonderful time with Peter Chausse, of Peter's Walking Tours of Portland. He was an incredible wealth of information about Portland-and leads public, private, school, and group tours. Thank you to the wonderful chaperones that kept the students safe, happy, and moving forward-as well as to the students, for their curiosity, engagement, and positive attitudes!

Some folks asked for Peter's information, and that can be accessed at www.walkportland.com

All Class Invite-Connor's Birthday!

Hello all,

I have been e-mailing back and forth with Connor's family, and they are inviting us all to a birthday gathering at Sunnyside School park on Saturday, June 15th at 12pm. From Rebekah-she hopes that any and all of us can/will stop by.

Best,

Catie

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

This is it!  My final newsletter of this school year.  It has been a pleasure working with all of your students this year.  I’m really going to miss them, and you, next year!  If I don’t see you before school gets out, I hope that you all have a restful and fun summer. Our field study today was fascinating, and we finished off the day with fresh juice (apple, carrot, beet, ginger, and cucumber watermelon (thanks Katy for your support!)

Bridges

Our study of bridges culminates with our Bridge Tour on Tuesday and our “Bridge Strength Challenge” on Thursday.  The kids will be given limited materials and time to create any kind of bridge they choose for this challenge.  Using what we’ve learned about bridges, they will try to construct a bridge that will hold the most weight possible.

Writer’s Workshop

Our class book is currently at the district print shop.  ($10 suggested donation for our class yearbook and zine). I should have them by the last day of school, but I may not have them by Thursday’s Author’s Tea.  If this is the case, I will print out the students’ writing so that they can share.  They will also be reflecting on their growth as writers this year.  We would love to have some treats to go with our tea for the celebration.  If you are able to bring something, please e-mail Bonnie. The students will be sharing their writing about Portland and reflecting on themselves as writers at our final Author’s Tea on Thursday, June 13th at 9 AM.

Reader’s Workshop

The kids have been enjoying the adventures, questions, and discoveries of Brendan Buckley in our final read aloud book.  They have also been learning a lot about rocks and minerals from this book.  We are going to wrap up this book as a whole third grade on the last day of school.

Rocks and Minerals

The students are working on their field tests on the mystery minerals in our classroom.  On Wednesday, the kids will make their educated guesses about which minerals descriptions match the results of their testing.

The Big Clean Up

On Thursday, after our Author’s Tea, the class will be emptying our desks and lockers, cleaning the classroom, and sending a lot of things home.  Please send your child to school with an extra bag so that they can take these things home.

Ask Your Third Grader...

What shapes and parts make bridges stronger?

Tell me about Brendan Buckley’s Universe.

What did you see and learn at the rocks and minerals museum?

Thanks for sending such sunny students to school each day,

Catie

Important Things Coming Up...

June 11 - Bridge Tour

June 13 - Author’s Tea (9 AM)

June 13 - Classroom Clean Up

June 14 - Last Day of School!

Weekly Update-Catie's Class

It’s the home stretch!  This week will mainly be about bridges, rocks and minerals, and tying up other loose ends.  Don’t forget that we have one field study this wee, and another next Tuesday: a trip to the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals in Hillsboro on Friday, and the Bridge Tour on Tuesday.

Bridges

Last week, we began learning about the various bridges that cross the Willamette River in Portland, and we started learning about the different kinds of bridges in the world.  This week, we’ll focus on building beam, arch, and suspension bridges, and learn about some of the math and physics behind these amazing and amazingly useful creations.

Writer’s Workshop

Last week (finishing up tomorrow) the class worked hard to finish up the articles for our class zine.  This week I will be sending the book to the print shop so that each child will get a copy.  We also got a visit from Melissa Delzio and Steven Snell on Friday.  Melissa was the editor and creator of the book Our Portland Story, which inspired the creation of our book.  Steven wrote a piece for the book about Portland’s bridges.  They spoke to the students about writing, the creative process, and Portland.  The kids had many great questions for our visitors.  The students will be sharing their book about Portland and reflecting on themselves as writers at our final Author’s Tea on Thursday, June 13th at 9 AM. If you are interested in helping set up or bring snacks/tea, please send me an e-mail. Also, there is a $10 suggested donation for our class yearbook and zine. Every student will receive one regardless of ability to pay, but every amount helps! Thank you. 

Reader’s Workshop

Last week, we began our final read aloud book of the year, Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything In It.  This book is about a 10 year old boy living near Seattle who spends a summer discovering things about himself and the world.  The main character, Brendan, has a black father and a white mother and sometimes struggles with ideas of where he fits racially.  This has led to some great conversations with the class.  Brendan is also a budding scientist who is fascinated with rocks and minerals - a great tie-in for our own study.  

Rocks and Minerals

Last week, we began doing field tests on our 12 “mystery minerals.”  These field tests, along with some research, will help the kids determine the identity of each one

Ask Your Third Grader...

What are the three types of bridges?

What is your favorite Portland bridge?  Why?

Tell me about Brendan Buckley. In what way can you relate to Brendan's feeling that he is like "a puzzle piece that just doesn't quite fit".

Tell me about some of the field tests you have done on the mystery minerals.

Important Things Coming Up...

June 7 - Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals Field Study

June 11 - Bridge Tour 

June 13 - Author’s Tea (9 AM)

June 14 - Last Day of School!

Rice Museum Field Study Friday, June 7

Hey all,

I was just reading up on the Rice Museum trip next week.  It's supposed to be warm so students should wear closed toed shoes in order to get a rock from the rock pile at the end of the tour.

Best,

Catie

Photos from a busy, beautiful week!

Reader's Theater, practicing fluency, expression, and acting!

A student's long delayed birthday circle.

Oshi, our Lewis & Clark undergraduate intern.

The founder of Our Portland Story Volume 1 (and Volume 2 is on its way to publication) and poet Steve share their work, advice, and inspire passionate zine writers.

Celebrating Walk & Bike to School Month this morning.

Student initiated support to stick to the deadline! The pressure!