April Learning Update
This month
This month we explored how Earth’s surface changes over time by investigating layers of the Earth and how fossils help us understand the past. Students developed their understanding of dinosaurs that once lived in Alberta and the important work of paleontologists. We also learned about the Royal Tyrrell Museum and how fossils are discovered and studied.
We connected our learning to our community by focusing on safety. Students used radar guns to measure the speed of vehicles near the school and created charts to compare safe (under 30 km/h) and unsafe (over 30 km/h) driving speeds. We also reviewed important street safety skills such as crossing the road, understanding signals, and safe bus behaviour.
We visited Fire Station 4 on April 21 at 10:00 a.m., where students learned about fire safety and emergency response. A highlight was the opportunity to spray water from a real fire hose.
On Earth Day (April 22), we discussed ways to care for our planet and took part in a schoolyard clean-up. Students worked together to collect garbage from the school grounds and nearby park, building a strong sense of environmental responsibility and teamwork.
Next month we will
Next month we will continue our learning about dinosaurs and Earth’s history. We will also work with data by collecting class information, organizing it, and representing it using bar graphs and pictographs (for example, surveys about favourite spring activities or class pets). We will explore simple probability through hands-on activities such as flipping coins and recording how many times heads or tails appears, rolling dice to see which numbers show up most often, and testing which outcomes are more or less likely over multiple trials.
Ask your child…
- What did you learn about how fossils are found and what they tell us?
- How did you decide if a vehicle was safe or unsafe using the radar gun data?
Other Information
Families are invited to upcoming events at Vista Heights School:
- Celebration of Learning Assembly – Wednesday, April 29 at 10:15 a.m. (doors open at 10:00 a.m.)
- HeARTbeat Theatre Performance (“Here, There Be Dragons”) – Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 p.m. (Kindergarten–Grade 4)
Additional school community information shared by School Council included:
- Kernels Popcorn Fundraiser – orders due May 8
- Movie Night – May 20 (bring cash for entry and snacks)
- Friends Pizza and Pasta Fundraiser – proceeds support school initiatives
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sincerely,
Mr. Olson
March Learning Update
This Month
What a fun and busy month in Grade 3! We have been learning, exploring, and working together while noticing signs of spring. Our focus has been on friendship, kindness, and cooperation.
In math, students learned about fractions. They practiced showing equal parts of a whole and worked with halves, thirds, and quarters. We used pictures, shapes, and real-life examples like pizza to help students understand and explain their thinking.
In science and language arts, students explored protecting plants and animals in our local environment while practicing narrative writing. They organized their writing with a beginning, middle, and end. We spent time learning about the wild rose and rose hips—how they grow, when they appear, and how animals use them for food. Students also discussed how people can use rose hips and what they tell us about local plants and animals.
On March 11 we went on a community walk to observe plants, including wild roses, and notice signs of spring. Students made observations and sketches to connect what they saw outside with what they learned in class.
In art, students created St. Patrick’s Day four leaf clover artwork. In music, students explored a variety of instruments and practiced keeping a steady rhythm while playing together.
Next Month We Will
Next month we will visit Fish Creek Provincial Park to learn more about plants, animals, and their habitats. We will continue practicing fractions in math.
In science, we will focus on Earth’s surface and how it changes over time. Students will investigate how natural events, humans, plants, and animals shape the land. We will examine soil, explore local habitats, and learn how layers of Earth hold stories from the past, including fossils found here in Alberta.
Ask Your Child
What did you learn about rose hips and how they help animals?
How do you show or explain fractions like ½, ⅓, or ¼?
Other Information
Fish Creek Provincial Park field trip on Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Please return permission forms by Monday, April 6, 2026
Students should bring a lunch, water bottle, and dress for the weather
Sincerely
Mr. Olson
February Learning Update
This Month
What a full and exciting month in Grade 3! Even with some very cold weather and indoor recesses, we stayed busy learning together.
We visited the Shepard Landfill and Eco Centre and learned how our waste is sorted and processed. Students explored what belongs in the blue, black, and green bins and discovered how important it is to reduce, reuse, and recycle properly. After completing our landfill missions, students officially became Level 2 Recycling Agents!
In science, we learned how animals survive Alberta winters. Students designed their own unique winter-adapted animals in Minecraft Education and wrote about the special adaptations that help their animals survive the cold.
We also celebrate Black History Month by learning about Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. We have important discussions about fairness, courage, and standing up for what is right, which connects to our SEL focus on being fair and respectful. We also recognize Pink Shirt Day by talking about kindness, inclusion, and how we can help everyone feel a sense of belonging in our classroom community.
In art, students created beautiful chalk pastel Northern Lights artwork. In music, students worked in groups to compose their own songs using wooden spoons and performed them for the class. It was wonderful to see their creativity and teamwork shine!
Next Month We Will
- Visit TELUS Spark Science Centre participating in the “Lab Matters” Program
- Continue practicing multiplication and division and work on Fractions and Measurement
- Focus on our SEL theme of Friendship and Kindness.
Ask Your Child
- What is the special signal that shows you are a Level 2 Recycling Agent?
- How does your Minecraft animal survive the cold Alberta winter?
Other Information
- Celebrate Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 25th by wearing a pink shirt to help spread kindness and a sense of belonging.
- Our class will visit the Book Fair on Wednesday, February 25th in the afternoon. If you would like your child to purchase books, please send money with them.
- Field trip to TELUS Spark Science Centre on March 3, 2026. Please return field trip forms as soon as possible.
- Thank you for helping your child dress warmly during this very cold stretch. We are looking forward to warmer weather in the coming weeks.
Sincerely,
Mr. Olson
January Learning Update
This Month
- What a busy month in Grade 3! Students spent time with their buddies and created pointillism fruit artwork together. Our Grade 5/6 buddies also shared the robotics projects they worked on during their TELUS Spark learning week.
- Students finished their water cycle stories by completing final drafts on the computer. We also planted radishes and carrots in our classroom garden.
- In math, students practiced multiplication facts through Mad Minutes, reviewed addition and subtraction, and worked on measurement. We measured the length and perimeter of classroom objects/places and learned when to use millimetres, centimetres, and metres. In music, students learned about and played wooden spoons, an instrument used by early settlers in Quebec, and practiced keeping a steady rhythm together.
- Our SEL focus for January was Problem-Solving, with an emphasis on how and when to ask for help.
Next Month We Will
- Next month we will continue practicing multiplication and division. We will also explore fractions, geometry, and symmetry. Students will continue learning about right, acute, and obtuse angles and continue measurement work. Our SEL theme for February will be Being Fair and Respectful.
Ask Your Child
- How did your buddies show you their robotics projects?
- How do you know when it is a good time to ask for help?
- What did you learn about measuring length or perimeter?
Other Information
- Monarch butterfly field trip on February 3, 2026.
- Field trip to the Shepard Waste Management Facility on February 17, 2026.
December Learning Update
This Month
- December was a busy and fun month in Grade 3. We continued working in our reading groups, sharing ideas, listening to each other, and learning from one another. In science, we explored the water cycle. Students created their own drip characters, wrote about their journeys in journals, and made matching artwork to show what they learned.
- We had a visit from Elder Saa'kokoto, and had a conversation about the Big Dipper. Some students also chose to share about their own names and what they mean, which led to thoughtful and meaningful discussions in class.
- Students took part in the Trickster Theatre residency. They created and performed their own skits and used towels in activities to practice being inclusive, showing kindness, and working together, having lots of fun while learning.
- We also had visits from two firefighters. Students learned about fire safety and making safe choices. Students are encouraged to make a fire plan at home and practice evacuations with their families to keep everyone safe.
Next Month We Will
- Next month we will begin reading Charlotte’s Web and learn about the story elements. In math, we will continue practicing multiplication and start exploring division. In science, students will explore forces and motion. We will also focus on working together, solving problems, and sharing ideas in class.
Ask Your Child
- Can you tell me about your drip and what happened to it in the water cycle?
- What did share about your name during our elder conversation?
- How did you use towels in your Trickster Theatre activities to be kind to others?
- What is your family fire plan and how will you practice evacuations at home?
Other Information
- We return to school on January 5, 2026.
- If possible, please continue RAZ Kids and Mathletics over the break.
- Wishing all our families a joyful and restful winter break. We are looking forward to starting the new year of learning together!
November Learning Update
This Month
What a busy and fun month in Grade 3! Students have been working in reading groups, reading books, writing word sets, and building words with Bananagrams. We painted pumpkins for Halloween and worked with our buddies on a collage project, learning about teamwork and taking care of our classroom community. In music, students have been learning the ukulele, practicing how to hold, tune, and play three chords. In gym, we continued our basketball residency with professional players. In math, we practiced basic facts and times tables. In science and social studies, we explored renewable and non-renewable resources in Alberta.
Next Month
Next month we will continue reading and word activities in groups, practice math facts, learn new ukulele chords, and explore more about Alberta’s natural resources.
Ask Your Child
- What is your favourite activity in your reading group?
- How did you and your buddy work together on your collage and what did you learn about teamwork?
Other Information
- Student Learning Conferences are in person, Thursday after school, and online, Friday next week.
- Students can continue practicing reading and math at home with RAZ Kids and Mathletics (google classroom).
September Learning Update
This Month
What a great first month of Grade 3! We have been busy learning and having fun together. We did UFLI phonics lessons and enjoyed read-alouds. We have been learning about noticing our feelings and following our social-emotional wellness plan. We talked about filling each other’s buckets and what we bring to our classroom family. We learned about Terry Fox, read Our Class is a Family, and had important discussions for Truth and Reconciliation Week. In science, we explored our five senses, spent time in sit spots, and practiced observing like scientists. We also practiced telling time, made artwork, and spent time with our class buddies.
Next month we will
Next month, we will continue exploring time, AM/PM, and the calendar. We will practice our times tables and basic math facts. We will also start mapping our classroom and learning about Alberta.
Ask your child
- How do you notice and talk about your feelings?
- What fun or interesting thing did you learn about Terry Fox, our classroom family, or exploring your senses in science?
Other Information
October 22nd. Field trip to the Calgary Farmyard. We’re excited!