Math Connections: Third grade began the year learning about multiplication. They were introduced to multiplication through the context of picture and bar graphs that represented categorical data. Once they mastered graphing and how multiplication could help them make scaled graphs they moved on to learning about the use of arrays to represent multiplication problems. This underlying knowledge was essential as they began to learn about finding area.

The essential questions that were asked throughout this project : What is the area of a flat surface? How can I find the area of a surface? How can I use area to determine the amount of evaporation that has occurred? How can we use multiplication to determine how much water Americans use each day? How can we use division to figure out how much water is used each day, week, and month?

Students represent and solve multiplication problems through the context of picture and bar graphs that represent categorical dat

ELA Connection: Students read "Step by Step Experiments with the Water Cycle" by Bob Ostrom. This text explained the water cycle and

included experiments that tested different water cycle concepts. Students demonstrated vocabulary knowledge by drawing diagrams of the

water cycle and explaining the process in small groups. They described their own experiment during oral presentations in whole group

discussion.