Math Bingo

Today third grade students focused on math as they had some choice activities to review median, mode and range.  Following some good work and discussion they took a wrap up assessment to show off their learning.

Here are just a few of their awesome products!
Cameron Median

Jacob Mode

Samuel Range

Here are some online games for further practice:
http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/numbers/meanmedianmode.html

http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/send-trolls/

http://www.turtlediary.com/game/mean-median-mode-range.html

Second graders kicked off math by starting our Digging for Data unit and learning about the term "typical".  They discovered the median as one way we can find what is typical for a set of numbers.  Students should be able to recognize the median as the middle number is an ordered group of data.  They found the typical number of high jumps they could do in one minute be finding the median of their three trials.

We were able to do some deeper research as we divided and conquered the elements of the courtroom system.  They also competed as the plaintiff vs. the defendant in a mock case at this website.

The Case of the Teachernapping

I had a bit of a scare today as I was whisked off unexpectedly.  My twin sister, Mrs. Donaldson, took over for me and helped the students put their CSI knowledge, Habits of Mind, and math data skills into action to find me.  They processed the crime scene for evidence, used deductive reasoning, interviewed a witness, and found my location based on the median of the information I was able to provide.  It turns out that I was taken to a surprise party where our class was named ALERT class of 2015!  I am so proud.  I was able to make it back in time to celebrate with students.  I am looking forward to our awesomeness continuing in 2016.

With our crime solving gear

Lifting a footprint

Dusting for prints

Sorting out the clues

Interviewing the witness

Watching an emergency transmittion

Teachernapping Video 1

Teachernapping Video 2

Teachnapping Video 3

Teachernapping Video 4

Following the Evidence to Court

Even though we had a half day, we managed to squeeze in some research on trials.  We have looked at crime scenes, forensics labs, and now will follow the evidence to court.  Students used Nearpod to read an article covering the basics of a trial and watched a BrainPop video sharing the difference between criminal and civil cases.  They also took a virtual field trip through a courthouse and looked closer at the parts of the courtroom system to prepare for our real field study there later in the semester.

Forensics Lab

This week we transformed our classroom into a forensics lab to test some evidence fresh in from the crime scene.  Our analysts learned about chromatography and matched ink band samples from different pens to find the culprit who wrote the ransom note in The Case of the Dognapping.  They also compared physical properties of three different mystery powders confiscated from suspects in The Case of the Crummy Cake. Students then looked at the chemical properties of the substances as they tested their reactions to water and vinegar to identify each and catch the culprit.

For math, third grade worked on more median, mode, and range. For more review students can watch this video: Mean, Median, and Mode Toads.

We also did part two of our Critical Thinking Series.  We discovered the 5 Standards of Critical Thinking (clear, relevant, fair, accurate, and logical).