Parents....look at what we are doing!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Our first unit of study, your child will be focusing on the Early Settlers of Upper Canada. Your child will have the opportunity to geographical placement of Ontario within Canada. This study will be used as a springboard for numerous activities. Your child will examine and discover how a diverse collection of people came to form cohesive settlements in Ontario. Your child will work cooperatively to research information on early settlers including the major component of a village (e.g., gristmill, the general store, blacksmith, the school house and the log cabin), the roles of males and females, gain understanding of number sense and numeration (money, barter system) and explore the importance of stability in creating structures. Your child will also expand their writing, oral and reading skills throughout the entire unit of study.

Social Studies: Early Settlers of Upper Canada

Grade 3's the focus of this unit it to provide you with an opportunity to become aware of and learn about the Early Settlers of Upper Canada, their lives and their contributions to present day society. You will be introduced to the changes that have taken place the communities since the time of early settlement and compare it to modern times. You will have an opportunity to visit Black Creek Pioneer Village and witness first hand the life and community of early Settlers. If you visit Great Upper Canada Adventure you can play an interactive game that will take you through the life of Early Settlers in Upper Canada.

Trip to Black Creek Pioneer Village

As an important part of the Early Settlers in Upper Canada unit, we will be visiting Black Creek Pioneer Village in order to experience life as early settlers did. The trip is scheduled to be on October 8th, 2008. A letter and permission form will be sent home shortly with you.

Parents:
Black Creek Pioneer Village use the Ontario Curriculum: Social Studies expectations when classes visit the village. This facility provides that students with a hands on experiences as they travel through the village and see how life was during that time.

Language: Writing

As a class, we will be brain storming ideas about early settler Life in Upper Canada. There are many different aspects that make up an early settler community as well as the various roles within the community. I invite you all to begin to make some notes about how early settlers lived, what natural resources they used as well as where the early settlers actually came from. If you click here, you will be able to read about the early settlers and answer some important questions.

This information will be used during an activity that we will be exploring in class.
I would like you to visit the website and answer the questions. When answering questions from the web site you are required to answer in complete sentences, using correct punctuation and do not forget to check your spelling!

Novel Study: Sarah, Plain and Tall

We will begin reading a novel titled Sarah, Plain and Tall which links directly to the Early Settlers of Upper Canada unit which is our unit of focus. The novel is written by Patricia MacLachlan and won a Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. Sarah, Plain and Tall is a heart warming tale of two children who are in search of a mother. Anna and Caleb are two children who live alone with their father on a farm in a rural community. Papa put an ad in the paper, asking for a wife and a mother for his children. Papa receives a letter in the mail from a woman. Could she be the one? Will she be nice?

Will she like them? Will she stay on the farm?

Let's read and find out!

Find out more about the author click on her name!

Mathematics: Addition and Subtraction

As we begin a new school year it is always important to review the skills you learned in Grade 2 to help you build on and learn more skills for grade 3. We will begin the math lessons by reviewing adding and subtracting numbers. We will then move on to adding and subtracting using money. These two units in math will be linked to the Early Settlers of Upper Canada unit that we are also studying. In order for you to practice some adding and subtracting I have provided some links to web sites that you can visit and get the practice that you may along with the homework that will be given daily.

If you want to practice Addition you can chose any of the following activities:
Draggable Math
Math Facts
Flash Cards
Mental Math

If you want to practice Subtraction you can chose any of the following activities:
Flash Cards
Arithmetic Four
Draggable Math
That Quiz

Parents you can also visit Nelson Education and find many useful activities as well as information about the textbook.
Have fun!

Science: Structures

Wherever we go, we see structures. People have built some of them. Animals are good designers and builders too.
A structure is something that has been built and has a purpose, or job. Look at the structures in the picture.

• Who built them?


• What jobs do they do?


• How have materials been joined together to make them?

In this unit you will design and build structures. Tools make it easier to build things. So you will learn how to choose tools and use them safely. Like a scientist, you will also test the building materials you use and your structures themselves. There will also be an activity that will link the Early Settlers of Upper Canada unit and structures. You will be create a free standing structure and demonstrate stability and strength of different materials.

For some fun activities about strucutres click here!

Drama: Day in the Life of an Early Settler

Dear Busy Early Settlers,

Did you know working as a team was very important for early settlers? Early settlers worked together to help each other out. When groups of neighbours gathered, it was called a “bee.” A “bee” was when a group of people got together to accomplished something. There were bees to build barns, clear land, plough fields, or build fences. Women held special “bees” to preserve fruit and vegetables or to create beautiful warm quilts. After a “bee” people usually had a celebration and socialized.
By the end of the unit in groups of 4 or 5, you will be asked to perform a dramatic sketch or “bee” representing an aspect of early settler life.

Good luck, have fun and “bee” creative!

If you want some practice with drama, check out these games!