Reading
Grade 3: Reading
Read and demonstrate an understanding of a variety of literary, graphic, and informational texts, using a range of strategies to construct meaning; recognize a variety of text forms, text features, and stylistic elements and demonstrate understanding of how they help communicate meaning; use knowledge of words and cueing systems to read fluently; reflect on and identify their strengths as readers, areas for improvement, and the strategies they found most helpful before, during, and after reading
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Sharing what students have observed and documented in their nature journal is the perfect way to integrate reading into nature journaling. Students can partner up, exchange their journals and read what each other has observed.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and "It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However the last statement becomes very important for connection making. Encourage them to begin writing themselves using single words or simple sentences. Please note that spelling is not a focus in the nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - please ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link feedback at the bottom of this lesson for tips on this. Using words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encourage to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
E-BOOKS - Through PDSB BYOD
<<<Click the Library icon to go directly to the site.
To navigate there yourself:
Login to your PDSB student BYOD portal at byod.peelschools.org
Go to the Library icon
If you are looking for apps that will help with research here are a few we recommend:
Pebble Go
Pebble Go Next
Kids info bits k-5
The Canadian Encyclopedia
Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Also, check out the "Other Resources" section for even more options
If you are looking for storybooks here are a few we recommend:
Bookflix
AV2 World Languages
Your teacher may also have the class assigned to Raz-Kids. Be sure to ask them and they will be able to provide you with the correct logins.
E-BOOKS - Multi-Language
<<<Click the AV2 World Languages icon to go directly to the site.
To navigate there yourself:
Login to your PDSB student BYOD portal at byod.peelschools.org
Go to the Library icon
Select the correct reading level (Primary/Junior or Intermediate/Secondary)
Select the AV2 World Languages icon
Select a topic/book
Select a language (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, Mandarin, German, Hindi, Korean, and/or Tagalog)
ENJOY!
Planting
Take time to read books or websites about plants focusing on the following;
Name the parts of the plant and what their roles are
What are the characteristics of plants and how do they differ from each other?
What impacts do plants have on humans?
What impact do humans have on plants, both good and bad?
Why are plants important to the entire ecosystem?
For free online books use the Peel BYOD library, link is on the left.
Try taking your book or device outside to read under a tree or in your yard.
Curriculum Links:
See Oral Communication or read your book out loud to a family member.
See Writing
See Measurement
See Data Management
See Life Systems
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.