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!