applied their prior knowledge of whole
numbers to fractions, recognizing
Thurgood Marshall Elementary School
Here are some of the topics we have
been working on in third grade, as well
our units of study for the month of
February.
Reading/Writing/Language Arts
In the month of February, Grade 3
students compare common themes or
important points in texts. Students will
read literature from historical fiction
and literary nonfiction as well as study
how authors share real and imagined
experiences. They examine how change
affects people and their relationships.
Students will begin by identifying the
characteristics of historical fiction.
Later in the month, they identify the
central message of a text and compare
elements of two texts written by the
same author. Literature discussion is
introduced to provide students the
opportunity to share their analysis of
text in a collaborative conversation.
Finally, during the last weeks of
February, students read two realistic
fiction selections written by Cynthia
Rylant. The selections illustrate the
overarching concept of change and
students compare story elements to
examine how the author expresses a
theme.
Math
In February, students continue to build
on their knowledge of fractions. In
order to support development of
students’
understandings
about
composing
fractions
from
unit
fractions, students extended and
Volume No. 1
February 2016
that just as every whole number is
obtained by combining ones, every
fraction can be obtained by combining
unit fractions.
In February, students develop a deep
understanding of the size of a
fraction, the number and size of parts
that compose a fraction, and the
location of a fraction on the number
line.
Students
apply
their
understanding of unit fractions and
extend
their
understanding
of
fractions as numbers as they locate,
count, and represent fractional lengths
on a number line diagram. Towards the
end of February, students further
extend
and
apply
fraction
understandings to reason that two
fractions are equivalent (equal) if they
are the same size or the same point on
a number line. Students use area
models, visual fraction models, and
number line diagrams to generate
equivalent fractions and compare
fractions (with the same numerator or
the same denominator) by reasoning
about their size. Students use these
understandings
to
explain
why
fractions are or are not equivalent and
are able to apply these understandings
to compare fractions using the symbols
>, =, or <.
Throughout
all
instruction
on
fractions, there is sustained emphasis
on reasoning and the understanding
that the size of a fractional part is
relative to the size of the whole. In
Grade 3, denominators are limited to 2,
3, 4, 6, and 8. A solid understanding in
Grade 3 of fractions as numbers is
critical to future learning, as this,
along
with
understandings
of
operations with whole numbers, lays
the foundation for students to
perform operations with fractions in
Grades 4 and 5 and to explore Ratios
and Proportional Relationships in
Grades 6 and 7.
Science
Students continue to develop their
understanding of heat production and
transfer in the Measurement Topic of
Physical Sciences. Students begin by
investigating sources of heat, which
leads to identifying and describing
burning, friction, and electricity as
methods of heat production. Later in
the month, students investigate and
examine technology used to light and
heat buildings; students apply their
learning of heat production from prior
weeks
as
they
develop
their
understanding in the Measurement
Topic of Engineering and Technology.
Social Studies
In February, students study elements
of multicultural settings. Students
construct and interpret maps to locate
and expand their understandings about
places on the Earth: North America,
Maryland, and the United States.
Students then compare elements of
culture and examine how people from
different cultures meet their needs.
The locations selected for this study
are the United States and Mexico City
today and the ancient Aztec city of
Tenochtitlan. Students continue their
study of selected locations by
exploring how transportation networks
connect people, goods, and ideas. They
investigate reasons for movement
today and long ago and the impact of
movement on sharing and borrowing of
culture.
Other
 Valentine’s Day parties will be
held in each classroom on Friday,
February 12th. at 2:20 P.M.
 We are short of tissue boxes.
We would appreciate any donationsthank you!
Important Dates and Upcoming Events
February 12—Valentine’s Day parties
February 13- PTA’s Read-A-Thon begins
February 15 – No School: President’s Day
February 17- Pennies for Patients begins
February 26 – Early Release: Students
dismissed at 1:20pm