Lit Lagoon
Student Recommended Reading:
The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip
Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas
The English Roses
Some new links:
If you want to learn about manatees and even adopt one, go to the above site. We even listened to a baby manatee calling its mother! It is so cool!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/games.shtml
The website above includes fun games that are related to the solar system and space theme. Enjoy!
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm
The above site is filled with all sorts of information about the planets. You can see a great model of the solar system, visit places in our solar neighborhood, and more!
http://www.amnh.org/ology/astronomy/sun/index.htm
The above site has an interview with the sun and additional information about the Milky Way.
Read the above site to find out about the wonderful author who wrote Mrs. Buck’s favorite book, The Tale of Despereaux.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids
Like reading? Like knowing your current events? Then visit the above website to find out what’s happening around the globe!
http://pbskids.org/readingrainbow/
Reading Rainbow is a classic! Check out the above website for games, books of the week, contests, printables, and more!
Social Studies and Science Places to Visit
The above site is a great one about science and social studies. You can see images from space and play interesting games, such as Earth Trivia and Label Pangaea.
http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/kids.html
The above link is from the Census Bureau. You can find out tons of fun facts here!
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gnrlhome.html
Maps, maps, and more maps! This site is from the Library of Congress. You can find maps of all kinds here!
http://ology.amnh.org/index.html
The above site is sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History. It has many different topics to explore, from biodiversity to genetics. In the Archaeology section, you actual take a virtual tour and meet Lucy, the Zapotec urn!
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home
If you have any questions about pet care or want to learn some fun facts about different types of pets, you should stop here. Plus, the site has some hilarious music playing while you browse!
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/
If you like animals and you enjoy learning new facts about them, this is the site for you! The cheetah kitten pictures are adorable and the frog close-ups are fascinating!
http://www.geographia.com/If you want to check out other countries and find out what they are like, then the above site is the site for you. Who knows, maybe you’ll travel to some of these places one day!
If you like learning new things in science, especially the ocean and its creatures, then look no further. Read about all sorts of underwater animals at the link above.
The above site has some really great games for all kinds of topics, including: math, grammar, phonics, Black History, and Charlotte’s Web!
ILA resources:
http://www.quia.com/cb/81637.html
Do you like Jeopardy? Do you like pronouns? Check out this great site to review your pronouns. You can play a one person or two person game.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/pronoun_clubhouse/index_pre.html
The above site is loads of fun. You can build different clubhouses by using pronouns correctly.
http://www.betterendings.org/homeschool/Words/Root%20Words.htm
The above link lists the meaning of common root words, prefixes, and suffixes.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/wordbuilding/suffixes/index.shtml
The above link is all about suffixes. It provides information, a worksheet, and quiz formats.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/spelling/wordbuilding/prefixes/index.shtml
The above link is all about prefixes. It provides information, a worksheet, and quiz formats.
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/
The above link is a great one for different grammar skills review by grade level.
http://www.mape.org.uk/startower/menu.html
The above link has some fun games to review a variety of skills, including vocabulary (Word Drop), punctuation (Star Punc), and order (Orderly Owl) just to name a few. You will also find some games related to math and social studies here.
http://www.tomie.com/main.html
We are currently reading Miracle on 34th Street illustrated by Tomie dePaolo. Tomie is one of our favorite authors and illustrators! This is his official website.
Grammar resources on Possessive Nouns:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/exploring_possessives/index.html
http://www.better-english.com/grammar/possplu.htm
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/par_numberless_quiz.pl/plurals_quiz.htm
http://www.english-zone.com/spelling/poss2.html
http://www.andrewclements.com/
Visit the above site to find out about the author of Frindle and many other great books!
This website coordinates with the children’s religion book. Not only does it provide loads of information about religion topics, it also includes interactive quizzes and activities. This may be a valuable resource when preparing for tests or quizzes.
Scholastic Reading Counts E-Catalog
The above website is a fabulous resource! I have used this to level the books in my library. When you look up a book, it will give you tons of information about the book, including reading level, interest level, genre, skills, content, themes, word count, etc. This information can help match students with “just right” books that they will enjoy.
The above site has many different features for children and parents alike. I particularly like the Kids Art section. It has some great info on famous artists. The Eye Bogglers are tricky!
Reading is Fundamental: Reading Planet
The above site has some really neat features that encourage writing and reading. Go to the Game Station and check out Poetry Splatter, where you can make your own funny poems online. The Super Sorter will help you find books to read based on your answers to some silly questions. When you visit the Activity Station, you could learn how to make your own fortune cookie or illustrate a story. Even the online coloring book is fun!
This site has some great info on cool new books, trivia, and author birthdays!
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/la-read.html
http://www.harcourtschool.com/menus/preview/harcourt_language/grammar_park.html
http://www.eduplace.com/tales/
http://www.roalddahlfans.com/index.php
Dolch Word List - Grade Three
From 50-75% of all words used in school books, library books, newspapers, and magazines are in the Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary of 220 words (preschool thru Grade 3).
The Dolch word list is made up of “service words” (pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and verbs) which cannot be learned through the use of pictures.
Complete Grade Three List:
about better bring carry clean cut done draw drink eight fall
far full got grow hold hot hurt if keep kind laugh light long
much myself never only own pick seven shall show six small
start ten today together try warm
You can put these words on flashcards.
Here are a few ideas for how to use the flashcards:
The flashcards can simply be held up, giving the child the opportunity to read each one. But if you’re looking for a more engaging activity, try combining the Dolch flashcards with the noun picture flashcards for a variety of activities (I’ve listed some suggestions here from simplest to hardest). If you’re printing the cards for one of the higher grades, you should consider printing the ones for previous grades as well — the Dolch words are cummulative and you’ll be able to make more complex sentences.
ACTIVITY ONE:
Have an adult arrange the flashcards to form a sentence.
Read the sentence with/to the child.
Remove one of the dolch words from the sentence and put it back in the pile (you may want to make the pile smaller in the beginning to make the activity easier).
Give the pile to the child and have them find the correct card to place back in the sentence.
Re-read the sentence.
ACTIVITY TWO:
Have an adult arrange the flashcards to form a sentence, leaving one card out.
read the incomplete sentence with/to the child.
present between 2 and 5 cards to the child (one of them should make the sentence complete)
Have the child chose which is the correct card.
re-read the sentence with the card chosen. Talk about whether it makes sense or not.
ACTIVITY THREE:
Provide the child with all or part of the pile of flashcards
Allow them to create their own sentences using the cards.
Read the sentences with them and talk about what they’ve created.
OPTIONAL: Have them glue their completed sentence to the bottom of a piece of construction paper and draw a picture of their sentence on the top. (Author/illustrator of their own story).
This can all be found on http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/grade3.htm
Grade 3 Word Wall Words
about hole there
again hopeless they
almost I’m they’re
also impossible thought
always independent threw
another into through
anyone it’s to
are its too
beautiful journal trouble
because knew two
before know unhappiness
buy laughed until
by let’s usually
can’t lovable vacation
city myself very
could new want
community no was
confusion off wear
countries one weather
didn’t our we’re
discover people went
doesn’t pretty were
don’t prettier what
enough prettiest when
especially probably where
everybody question whether
everything really who
except recycle whole
exciting right winner
favorite said with
first school won
friendly something won’t
getting sometimes wouldn’t
general terrible write
governor that’s writing
have their your
hidden then you’re
Each day, we will have a Daily Word Wizard (with wand in hand) explore our Word of the Day. They will find the word in the dictionary. After finding the definition, the wizard will write the word, definition, part of speech, and illustration (if necessary) on the board. The wizard, using the wand, will read the information to the class. The class will also read the information on the board and provide examples of the word used in a sentence. This is a fun way to expand our vocabulary!
Literacy Centers
Grammar Gully:
Sentences Comic Strip
Homophones Hullabaloo
Extra! Extra! Adjectives Extravaganza
Perfecto Possessives Please
Combo Photo Frames
Solution Shore
Improvements for St. Elizabeth’s
A Peaceful Planet
Food for Thought
Taking Terrible Tests
Mother Earth
Writing River
Write the Room
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
Magic Fortuneteller Ball
Guess Who
Crazy Word Creation
News Nook
Cool Collage
Are You Convinced??
Action! Action! Action!
Classified Caper
Wish You Were Here Weather
Spelling Activities
5-POINT ACTIVITIES
• Write your spelling words in ABC order.
• Write each spelling word without its vowels. Replace each vowel with a line.
• Write your spelling words in crayon. Write each consonant letter in red and each vowel in blue.
10-POINT ACTIVITIES
• Write each spelling word five times.
• Write each spelling word in a rainbow of colors. First, write the words with a red crayon. Trace over the words with a blue crayon. Finally, trace the words again with a green crayon.
• Write each spelling word. Next to each word, write two additional words of at least four letters that can be spelled using the letters in the word.
• Create a secret code by assigning a number to each letter of the alphabet. Write your spelling words in code. Challenge a classmate to use that code to decode each word. Correct your classmate’s work. Each of you earns 10 points. (For more ideas, see the lesson Spelling Counts.)
• Write your words with the hand you do not usually write with. (For example, if you are right-handed, write your words with your left hand.)
15-POINT ACTIVITIES
• Use each spelling word in a sentence. Correct spelling and grammar count!
• Find each of your spelling words in a word search puzzle. (Teachers might use Puzzlemaker or another software program to create the puzzles; older students can create their own puzzles.)
• Write 20 sentences with errors of grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Each sentence should include one of the spelling words for the week; an error is carefully worked into the sentence. Have someone edit yours or edit someone else’s sentences and you both get 15 points!
20-POINT ACTIVITIES
• Use your spelling words to write a short story. Your story must include all your spelling words.
• Cut out large letters from headlines or ads in newspapers or magazines. Use the letters to spell your words. Paste the letters on a large sheet of paper.
• Write a mnemonic sentence to help you remember each of your spelling words. Each letter of the word should start a word in the sentence. For example, an mnemonic sentence for the word throw might be Ted has rented one wheelbarrow.
30-POINT ACTIVITY
• Find a misspelled word in the newspaper, a magazine, or some other printed publication. Or find a misspelled word somewhere in your community (on a billboard, a sign, a menu…). Bring the misspelled word (or a picture of it) to school and you get 30 points!
40-POINT ACTIVITY
• Find a misspelled spelling word and you earn a whopping 40 points! Wow!