3rd Grade

What are we doing in the library?

September

📚 Exploring the Library!

Students are diving into a review of library rules and expectations as we kick off the new school year. They’re learning how books are organized, exploring different genres, and discovering how to check out and care for library materials. To make it fun, we’ll be doing scavenger hunts around the library and learning to navigate our library system, Destiny Discover. It's a great way to build confidence and excitement about using the library!

📚 Get Ready for Battle of the Books!
We’re excited to begin preparing for Battle of the Books (BoB) — a fun, quiz bowl-style competition for students in grades 3-5th Grade! Participants join a school team and commit to reading a list of 6 selected books. They can read independently, with a group, or alongside an adult!

BoB encourages teamwork, exposes students to award-winning literature, and promotes a love of reading both in and out of the classroom. While it is a competition, the heart of BoB is all about discovering great stories and sharing the joy of reading.

📖 This year’s book list includes:

• Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom – Matthew Swanson

• Dragons and Marshmallows – Asia Citro

• Goldie – Ellen Miles

• The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza – Mac Barnett

• The Great Pet Heist – Emily Ecton

• Third Grade Angels – Jerry Spinelli

October

🔧 Engineering Design Challenges 

Inspired by the book Scaredy Squirrel, students will put their engineering skills to the test! Working in small groups, they’ll design and build a creative solution to help Scaredy Squirrel safely get down from his tree. Using teamwork, problem-solving, and a variety of materials, students will brainstorm, plan, and build their own unique contraptions — all while having fun and thinking like real engineers!

As we continue exploring design challenges, students will read Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and take on a fun, hands-on STEM task! Working in groups, students will use the design process to create a broom that can hold all six characters from the story. Their creations will need to be 8 inches long and will need to be able to balance between 2 cups.

This activity connects to key ISTE Standards for students as Innovative Designers, including:
🔧 1.4a – Using a design process to solve problems
🧠 1.4b – Considering constraints as part of the challenge

We can’t wait to see their problem-solving skills and teamwork in action!

Author visit

On October 6th, Joanna Ho will be visiting Flatirons to talk about her new book, Becoming Boba.