I know summer vacation is close to ending when I start shopping for your school supplies and my new school shoes. (Are you ready to do the “new shoe dance” on the first day?) I have some new posters; stickers; folders for Social Studies, Science, and homework – no groans, please, crayons, thin and thick markers, and colored pencils for our projects. There’ll be a supply of pencils, erasers, rulers, scissors, and glue sticks to use as well.
One of our first activities of the school year will be to fill a time capsule. We will fill it with some special things we do on the first day and then “bury” it in the cellar to be opened on the last day of school in June. A shoe box makes a great capsule; try to remember to save one and bring it in on the first day. (We do have some extras if you forget; so, don’t worry.)
This year we will have a Student of the Week activity. For a week you’ll be the one student who can bring in pictures, souvenirs, and other items that are special to you. We’ll make a display that is all about you. It will be fun, but more about that after school starts.
Our Social Studies theme this year is called “Kids, Customs and Cultures”. The first “trip” we take will be to the country of Canada. See if you can locate it on a map of North America. Let me know if you’ve been there; I have. One of our teachers was born there and still has family living there. Any guesses?
In Science our first unit of study is called “How Living Things Function.” We’ll start with plants and move on to animals, looking at leaves and life cycles. And there is so much more. Our estimating jar is always fun to fill. The third graders know how good an estimator each second grader will become as the year goes by. Isn’t that right?
Have a wonderful ending to your summer vacation. Honey (bear), Pouncer (jaguar), and I are looking forward to seeing you and hearing about all that you’ve done.
Mrs. King
