---

Upcoming Field Trip:

October 30 - Downtown walking tour and lunch at the Varsity

November 13 - Governor's Mansion tour - no chaperones needed

November 27 - Botanical Gardens - we will need chaperones depart 9:00 AM

February 7 - Sweet Auburn Exhibit at school - no chaperones

February 21 or 28 - Coke Museum (still waiting on date confirmation)

March 4 - Capitol Tour depart 10:00 AM we will need chaperones

April 3 - Elachee Nature Center depart 9:00 AM we will need chaperones

April 16 - 18 Overnight - no chaperones needed

May 8 - Box City exhibit at school no chaperones needed

 

What We Are Learning:
Bible Verses - James 1:2-6.  For this passage we will be focusing on one verse each week. The children are learning the important truth that God uses the trials in our lives to develop perseverance.
Bible - We have completed our 13 week study of Joseph. Through Joseph's life we learned the Biblical principle that God works all things for good. The last Bible character we will study this year is Daniel. During this 11-week study we will understand that God is in control of history. We will also discover the importance of prayer in Daniel's life.
Math - We have explored the relationship between multiplication and division. The students are learning their division facts. Next we will learn about division with remainders and how to divide larger numbers.
Language - In the past month the student have focused on using verbs correctly when the sentence has a singular or a plural subject. They have also studied synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms. Next they will learn how to use confusing words correctly. Then we will sharpen our dictionary skills. The students are also practicing their creative writing, using complete, descriptive sentences.
Literature - We are continuing in our second reader entitled "Across the World." We are currently enjoying stories from Asia and Australia. Next we will "travel" through the Americas in the final unit of this book. The students will be reading a variety of stories, practicing their skills in predicting what the story will be about and summarizing what they have learned.
Phonics -  We recently completed our Phonics unit.  The students worked through 15 lessons to help them better understand the spellings of sounds and words. 
Science - We just completed our third grade science projects. Each student chose and animal to research. This major project included a research paper, a poster, and a model of the animal. The posters and models will be on display throughout the month of March.
Social Studies - We are completing our study of the fascinating continent of Africa.  We have learned about its land, its people, and its culture.  Our next focus will be a nine- week study of Georgia History in preparation for our trip to Coastal Georgia.
Spelling - Each week we study 20 new words, which focus on specific spelling-sound relationships. 
Cursive - This year will be improving our cursive handwriting skills as we review all the letter formations.

 

Foreign Language:
Spanish

 

Field Trips and Special Events:
Atlanta International Museum - We visited the Atlanta International Art Museum where we had the opportunity to see the Ndebele exhibit. The Ndebele are a South African ethnic group. The artifacts on display included beadwork and mural paintings of rich, bright color and striking geometric design developed over the past century by the Ndebele women as well as the contemporary artwork of the Ndebele men. The children thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to understand and view the artifacts of another culture. 
Elachee Nature Science Center - Our first trip this year was to the Elachee Nature Science Center.  We participated in the program “Exploring the Animal Kingdom.”  We also took a trail hike.
Tennessee Aquarium - Our class took a day trip to the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  While there we enjoyed viewing the animal exhibits and spending time in the special Discovery classroom.
Atlanta Botanical Gardens - We had a wonderful time at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens at the end of October. The children were able to see many different aspects of God's creation. We visited a desert, a rain forest, and an herb garden, just to name a few! We saw many different types of carnivorous plants and had the opportunity to talk with our guides about how these plants function.
Wren’s Nest -  As a part of our study of famous Georgians, we will visit the home of Joel Chandler Harris, better known as Uncle Remus. On March 23 we will enjoy hearing the African American stories of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox. We will also tour the home, which is Atlanta's oldest house museum. 
Box City - The Atlanta Preservation Center is coming to present this Heritage Educational Program for our class. “Box City” is an exciting two-hour program which affords students the opportunity to construct their own buildings out of cardboard boxes to create the city of Atlanta. It familiarizes students with various architectural styles and encourages thinking about what makes a community pleasant and livable.  This program involves cooperative learning, hands-on participation, and critical thinking while inspiring creativity and imagination. 
Atlanta Walking Tour - We will take a tour of downtown Atlanta with a guide from the Atlanta Preservation Center. We will learn about the history of Atlanta and about the skyscrapers of today.  After our walk, we will enjoy lunch at a famous Atlanta landmark, the Varsity.
“Sweet Auburn”  - The “Sweet Auburn” slide show will be presented by the Atlanta Preservation Center. It explores this neighborhood, describing the history and architecture of the area. It tells about Auburn Avenue and Old Fourth Ward where Martin Luther King, Jr., lived as a child.
Water Treatment Plant - Our last chapter in Science focuses on water. We will tour a local water treatment plant to learn about the path water takes to reach our homes.

 

Spring Overnight Trip:
Epworth By the Sea, St. Simons Island
     Our overnight trip this year is to Coastal Georgia, March 22-24, 2006.  Our lodging accommodations are at Epworth By the Sea, a Methodist conference center located on Saint Simons Island.  On our trip we will visit many historical sights and enjoy the beauty of the coastal region.