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

Exploring Weather Patterns!

Our students are diving into an exciting new research project on weather! Using trusted resources like PebbleGo, Gale, and nonfiction books, they will investigate weather conditions in specific regions. As part of their exploration, students will analyze temperature and rainfall graphs within their assigned climate zones to identify patterns and trends. Working in pairs, they’ll then use their findings to create and produce their own weather reports using WeVideo. Stay tuned for some impressive forecasting ahead!

November

Used Book Fair – November 4–7
Students will have the opportunity to shop at the Used Book Fair from November 4th through November 7th. This event is a major fundraiser for our school library—last year we raised over $1,000 to purchase new books!

All books are donated by members of our Nederland community and will be priced at $1 for paperbacks and $2 for hardcovers. Please take a moment to look through and discuss the books your child brings home from the fair. We do our best to review donations, but we’re not able to check every book individually

Building on their weather research and science explorations, students are now working with partners to write scripts for their upcoming weather videos. Using the data and insights they gathered from PebbleGo, Gale, and nonfiction books, along with their analysis of temperature and rainfall graphs, they will plan how to present their findings clearly and creatively. This next step combines research, collaboration, and communication skills as students prepare to bring their weather reports to life on WeVideo!

December

Students will use WeVideo to record and enhance their projects. They will practice manipulating backgrounds, adding text and transitions, and animating objects to move and change size based on their location, building creativity, technical skills, and an understanding of digital media principles.

January

This month, students will learn about online safety using the Digital Literacy & Well-Being curriculum from Common Sense Education and the Quaver curriculum.  This curriculum helps 3rd graders build smart, safe, and respectful habits online.