SHAKE IT UP!

Parents,

I hope your week is going well! If your child hasn't told you we are starting to learn about EARTHQUAKES! We are learning about how the surface of the earth can be changed by forces such as an earthquake or glaciers. I am really focusing on earthquakes because I want students to understand what a huge effect they have on the earth surface. Though we do not have earthquakes around here, they still play a huge role in our environment. We will be looking at what causes earthquakes, and the before and after of earthquakes. I will leave you with a few websites that are fun and educational and might give your child a little peek of what an earthquake might be like.

• Earthquakes for Kids is a fun and interactive site that would keep any kid busy for hours! It has earthquake facts, pictures, games, puzzles, and even a link to become and EARTHQUAKE SCIENTIST! I love this website and I'm sure you child will too! I hope you and your child enjoy it and learn as much as I did!
• 42 Explore! is a site full of information. It has all kinds of other links on this page for your child to visit! (Don't forget all of my websites are child safe) My favorite part of this site is it give instructions for your child to be an earthquake explorer! How fun is that!
• Weather Wiz Kids is where you will find tons of fun information on earthquakes. It has incredible pictures that show your child exactly what happens when an earthquake occurs! It also has a link to see an animation of a real earthquake.

SUNSHINE!!

DEAR PARENTS,

This week we are studying the SUN!!! I expect this to be a fun unit for your child! There is so much to learn about the sun and not much time to discuss it all, so I might need a little help from you. Learning about the sun is part of our TEKS, so remember by assisting your child online your are preparing them for the TAKS Test! I am going to post a few websites that I hope will help your child learn about the sun.Have Fun!

• Who dosen't love NASA! The first website is NASA Science for Kids! It is an extremely informational website, and will definantly require your assistance. Although this website is for kids it has some big words. It has great pictures as well as links to different NASA sattelites that view the sun! Which is totally cool if you ask me!
  
  
• How Stuff Works is a great place to find fun activities about the sun. There are fun recipes, solar pictures, and even a way to test sun tan lotion. I wish we had time in class to try all of these fun activities, but we don't! So if you have time at home feel free to do any of these activities with your children.

• Eye on the Sky is more of a teachers website, but as parents you are all teachers. This website lists all kinds of lesson plans along with activites. Please use these activites to bond with your child! It also gives you as parents a little look into the crazy world of lesson plans
  

I hope you enjoy learning about the sun with your child!!! As always feel free to leave any questions or comments on my blog!

DON'T TRASH IT!

Parents,

We have just started a unit on recycling! For the next few weeks your child will be learning the importance of recycling and how it benefits our earth! Recycling is a part of our Science TEKS!

At home this week I would like for you to share with your child what you do to recycle. If you do not usually recycle, you should start now! Discuss how you can set up your own little recycle bin at your house. You might also help your child make separate bins at your own house! A little tip: You can use old boxes and label them! (Please do not spend any money on this)

Here are a few fun packed websites for you to visit with your child:

• Recycle Zone is a super fun place to learn all about recycling! Your child will love this one! It is teacher, parent, and child friendly. It features a fun zone, an activity zone, an info zone, and a recycler zone. Feel free to visit the teacher zone as well. This website will probably keep your child busy for hours. It is so much fun and is full of information on recycling! What more could you ask for!




• Recycle Fun (DCC Kids) is yet another super fun place where your child can learn about recycling. On this website you and your child can play games, make things, find other links, and do all kinds of stuff! I really encourage you to check this site out! It is so full of useful information that is fun too! This website even has jokes for your child about recycling!




• Recycle City is a great site that features games, activities, facts, and graphics for your and your child. The facts page is full of fun facts to read to your child!

If you have any questions or comments feel free to leave me comments on my blog! I will get back to them ASAP!

LIQUIDS, SOLIDS, AND GASES! OH MY!

Parents,

This week in class we are learning to identify a liquid, solid, and gas. Your child has learned to successfully identify the difference between a liquid, a solid, and a gas. This is the TEKS that we are using for this portion of our class:

(7) Science concepts. The student knows that matter has physical properties.

The student is expected to:

(B) identify matter as liquids, solids, and gases.

Here are some fun websites to visit to reinforce the concepts we have been learning in class.

• This game, Solid, Liquid, or Gas (original I know, but fun!) your child has to get the farmer across the river by selecting the right form of a solid, liquid, or gas. This website also has levels, so as your child progresses he or she can move up a level.

• This website gives instructions for a super fun activity you can have your child do while you cook or clean or even eat! Scavenger Hunt is a great way to remind your child that we see different forms of solids, liquids, and gases in our everyday life!

• This is a fun website that will give your child a great visual of what a solid, liquid, or gas might look like. It is an informational website that asks no questions. States of Matter is a great website for you to share with your child!

WELCOME!

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Mrs. Gilliam's 3rd grade science class! This edublog is a fun way to communicate for teachers, parents, and students. It is a great way to find out what your child is learning. In my blogs I will post websites, games, and fun activities for you and your child to do at home! Each website, game, or activity will connect to what we are learning in our classroom! Feel free to look around and leave comments or questions on my blog. I hope you have a great time checking out my blog and enjoy the activities I post with your child!

Mrs. Gilliam