Activities That Show Relevance/Connection to Student Learning

1. Measurement - In Math, we spent a unit studying Measurement. The students learned about the different tools used to measure different objects. As a hands-on activity to go with Halloween and Measurement, the students worked on creating their own "flubber".

2. Earth's Layers - We had a month long Science unit on Rocks, Minerals and Soil. Students learned about the properties of rocks and minerals, the different types of rocks and minerals, where they can be found, how they form and change, and how we use them in our day to day lives. One activity that the students worked on for this unit is creating a clay model of the 3 layers of the Earth.

3. Fossils: Paleontologists for a Day - In this unit the students learned about what fossils are, the different types of fossils, and the scientists involved in working with fossils. The students were able to experience becoming paleontologists for just a day through an activity that required them to dig up fossils. Using brownies, walnuts, M&Ms, and toothpicks, the students were able to gain a better understanding of what paleontologists do.

4. Round & Round We Go! - Our class spent a month long unit on rounding whole numbers to the nearest tens, hundreds, and thousands. At the end of the unit, the students worked in their tribes using base ten blocks as manipulative to show what they have learned in rounding. I gave the class a set of numbers on the board and tell them to round it either to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand. The tribes would then find the answer and show me using the base ten blocks on their table. This was also a good review of Place Value which the class was introduced to earlier during the semester.

5. 3 Branches of Government Triorama - Our class spent a very long unit studying the 3 Branches of the United States and CNMI Governments. At the end of this unit, all three 3rd grade classes went on a field trip to the 3 Branches of Government here in Saipan. Another activity that the students worked on was making a "Triorama" of the 3 Branches.

* Cathy Seman shows her final product.