Sorting by NYSLS MST & Grade Level 3
 

Title
Synopsis
  Monkeying Around Go out on a Machine March. Send the students to different areas of the school to find and list machines used in that area. Also take pictures of machines (Polaroid or digital). Also the students will go home the night before and list machines that they have in their home.
  Create a Simple Machine Slide Students will construct a model of a simple machine, use a digital camera, create a Power Point Slide and give a group presentation.
  The Graph Club Students will vote on their favorite fruit and make a tally chart using the data. They will use their tally chart to create a table and bar graph using The Graph Club program.
  Bubbly Buoyancy This unit is a 2-3 week study of buoyancy and displacement. Students will perform many hands-on experiments. Data will be collected, recorded, and analyzed using a variety of methods. Most of the learning experiences involve working cooperatively with a partner.
  Amazon Rainforest Essential Questions: What defines a rainforest? What are the layers of the rainforest and how are they unique? Why are the rainforests important?
  Endangered Animals Bookmarks By developing bookmarks students will be integrating their scientific knowledge with writing skills to present information to the public on endangered animals. The students will need to have background information on a specific endangered animal and working knowledge of a publishing program such as "Print Shop".
  Pond Life The students will use the internet to research animal and plant life that make up pond environments. They will present this information in the form of a brochure using a desktop publishing program.
  Life on the Edge Essential Questions: Why do animals become endangered? What can be done to help endangered animals not become extinct? What impact is there on the world when animals become extinct?
  Money, Money, Money ... Money Students will learn about money by buying an Easter dinner for a needy family. Students will also learn about letter and paragraph writing, and creating a commercial.
  Grunts, Chirps and Growls Students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
  Invariably Chocolate How can data be collected? How can we organize data into graphs? What conclusions can be made through reading and interpreting graphs?
  The 8 Wonder of the World Essential Questions: How do physical settings and geographical form affect living things; survival in their environment and habitats?
  Links in a Food Chain This learning experience was created to give students a better understanding of the world we live in while utilizing the many grade appropriate resources on the world wide web. They are given the opportunity to learn and better understand the relationships that exist between all life forms. The students will complete a webquest to broaden their understanding of the new concepts they are attaining in a motivational, cooperative environment.
  The World Wide Food Web This unit was created to give students a better understanding of the world we live in. They are given the opportunity to learn and better understand the relationships that exist between all life forms.
  Mathematical Operations: 1, 2 & 3 Digit Addition Teacher will launch unit by having students create collages showing visual representation of connection of Mathematics in everyday life, i.e., banking cooking, measuring, estimating, shopping, etc. and lead discussion of practical applications for mathematics in our lives and careers.
  Honeybees Honeybees are an integral part of agriculture. The students in third grade will learn the importance of bees to the farming industry, as well as to humans. They will learn about the life cycle of the honeybee, encounter the different types of honeybees, and learn their importance to the hive. Throughout this unit the students will be using the Internet to research and gather information about their chosen honeybee. They will also use Microsoft Word to publish their project papers.
  Famous American Famous Americans is a language arts unit for third graders. Famous Americans who have contributed to our nation’s history can provide children with important role models for leadership, courage and idealism. The students will read and understand biographies and autobiographies. The students will use computers and the library to research a famous American. They will write a report and produce a final product. This unit will take approximately 4 – 5 weeks.
  Owl Scavenger Hunt Students will get practice using internet technology for a specific purpose (scavenger hunt)
  The War With Grandpa This learning unit is based upon the book The War With Grandpa by Robert Kimmel Smith. It will be used in an after school program of third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The novel will be read orally to the students as a group with the unit to follow. This unit is designed to give the students practice in using a digital camera and computer technology for the specific purpose of sequencing. Other related activities will accompany the technology.
  Journey This learning unit is based upon the book Journey by Patricia MacLachlan. It will be used in an after school program of third, fourth, and fifth grade students. The novel will be read orally to the students as a group with the unit to follow. This unit is designed to give the students enrichment activities that focus on the book and related concepts.
  Butterfly/Moth Compare/Contrast Essay This compare/contrast learning unit is to increase the students ability to observe and record written and illustrated information at all stages of the butterfly's life cycle, care for their butterfly (feeding, cleaning, releasing...), comprehend factual material, access a web site, complete a graphic organizer using the scientific information gathered and write/edit/type a compare/contrast essay. This unit will be used with a third grade class in conjuction with the third grade BOCES Science Kit, Life Cycles.
  Graphing What is the purpose and/or objective of graphing? In what ways do we construct clear and accurate graphs to depict information in our lives? In what ways do we use graphs to depict information and/or solve problems in our lives?
  Clouds Meteorology and literature will be combined to explain cloud types and their effects on weather.
  How to DO Just About Anything This unit will incorporate technology and ELA in various subject areas on writing "How To's", and then presenting the finished product. The lesson will be first done with a small group of Consultant Students, who will then become group leaders to the full classroom.
  Land Ho This unit introduces the students to standard and non-standard measurement with a pirate theme. At the culmination of the unit students will understand the difference between standard and non-standard measurement. They will be able to estimate measurements and measure using standard and non-standard measurement tools.
  Food Pyramid The lesson was developed for the learning standards because of the need to integrate as many curricula areas as possible for both academic and motivational rigor. I learned a great deal in preparing this unit.
  Biome Web Quest A learning unit designed to involve students in the use of technology through involvement in a biome web quest, which compliments New York State's third grade social studies curriculum and incorporates language arts, social studies, science, technology, and art.
  Simply Marvelous Machines Simply machines, project based activities.
  Wacky wheels and Marvelous Machines Simple Machines: How do simple machines make-work easier? What effects do simple machines have on everyday life? How do forces affect work? How could you construct and use a compound machine to make a simple task easier?
  Colorful Writing This Learning Experience will take about 3 weeks to complete. The students will be learning the different types of figurative language so that they can use them in their writing to make it more interesting and descriptive. The students will then be using what they have learned about figurative language to describe their family's characeristics in a slide show presentation.
  The Earth's Underwater Zoo: Under The Sea This learning experience demonstrates the variety of underwater environments and exquisite forms of life.
  The Rainforest of Costa Rica Essential Question: What role does the rainforest play in our ecosystem?
  Virtual Zoo Teach students the process used in creating a Kid Pix 2 / Slideshow presentation to simulate an exhibit typically seen at the zoo.
  Way To GO With Graphic Organizers Way To "GO" With Graphic Organizers is a unit designed to introduce Grade 3 students to the use of graphic organizers as an aid to independent writing tasks. This unit for writing instruction utilizes basic skills of organization and note taking. Attention will focus on setting up graphic organizers and providing opportunities to practice reflective writing. Models will be set up for narrative and letter writing to meet the requirements of the NYS Standards and the Grade 4 ELA. Students will be exposed to making appropriate graphic organizer selections to meet the needs of the assigned purpose of the writing assignment. Adjustments to this unit can be made for other grade levels by altering the reading selections at the appropriate reading level of the students. As a wide variety of graphic organizers are available, you should implement them to meet the needs of the particular writing assignment and modify them based on the individual needs of the students.
  Under the Canopy This rainforest unit is an integrated summer reading program designed to reinforce language arts skills with an emphasis on reading and writing. The summer program is designed to help students at risk meet the N.Y. State standards. This unit is literature based and spans a period of four weeks incorporating reading, writing, and technology skills for students who have just completed grades one through five. It will also expose the students to the geographical and scientific significance of a rainforest habitat. This theme based approach to learning a broad topic allows students functioning at a wide variety of levels to work together cooperatively, learn from each other, and have fun together. At risk readers take on the role of the "mentor" or "teacher" when paired with younger students and they are then able to build their self-esteem . These students are rarely able to be the experts with their peer group so this becomes a very positive experience for all the children. In addition, the younger students love the attention from their older classmates. All aspects of the summer program center around the rainforest theme including reading, writing, listening, and speaking projects, art activities, guest readers, and even snacks are woven into the theme. "Under the Canopy" is sure to be a swinging good time for all!
  Surprise in a Suitcase The purpose of this learning experience is for students to develop a habitat for an animal from Australia. The student will select an animal, and then because many of these animals are unfamiliar to him/her, the student will have to research carefully to make the proper habitat for his/her new pet. The habitat may be in the form of a diorama or other alternative such as a poster, mobile or a pamphlet.
  Junk Yard Math A Third Grade Place Value Lesson
  PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD Analysis, Inquiry, and Design: Students will use Mathematical Analysis to pose questions, seek answers, and develop solutions.
  Polygon Search What is geometry? How does geometry affect our everyday life? How are geometric figures classified in our world? What are the characteristics of a geometric figure? "Children who develop a strong sense of spatial relationships and who master the concepts of language and geometry are better prepared to learn number and measurement ideas, as well as other advanced mathematical topics." (NCTM 1989a, P.48)
  Info Access in the Library for Electronic Resource Library Reference, Research: Information technology is used to retrieve, process, and communicate information and as a tool to enhance learning.
  The Lemonade Stand Students will complete The Lemonade Stand worksheet in the classroom which introduces them to the interactive game:The Lemonade Stand. Different vocabulary terms, such as producer, operating expenses, and profit will be explained. Two different charts will also be displayed and explained. The students will have to make some decisions and answer some questions using the Weather Forecast and Financial Information Chart and A Daily Report Chart.
  Polar Animal Research Reports Students will use a variety of research materials to find information on polar animals.
  The Write Byte The Write Byte is part of a writing workshop unit, which is an in-depth plan that teaches students the writing process. The purpose of the Write Byte is to get students excited about writing, learn about authors they have read, and become familiar with the writing process.
  Animal Safari The purpose of this learning experience is for students to successively research, write, edit, revise and present a paragraph, using the computer and multimedia presentation software, about the animal of their choice.
  Viewpoint of the Native American Interview a member of a Native American tribe or watch a video depicting the treatment of Native Americans from long ago today. (If conducting an interview it is a good idea to videotape it with permission from your guest for future use) If the students interview a guest make sure to help guide the students to devise questions that focus on the issue of how the Native American person is treated now as compared to how they were treated long ago
  100 Years and Counting This unit is primarily based on the book ...If You Lived: 100 Years Ago, by Ann McGovern. The book is a wonderful resource and full of information that is written in children's language. It covers all of the information that will be studied such as schooling, clothing, jobs, transportation and conveniences (or inventions) from the time period extending from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. The book explains what it was like primarily in New York City, which fits in nicely with the fourth grade curriculum, but also can tie in nicely with the third grade curriculum as it covers many different communities from around the world.
  Let Go of My legos! Essential Questions: How do simple machines effect our lives? How have people used simple machines? How does gravity influence the way we live?
  Don't Be A Dodo! Throughout this learning unit and learning experiences, students will be able to learn how animals adapt to their environment. Students will see how animals need to change in some way so that their survival is possible. Student will also be able to find out what happens if animals fail to adapt. Students will also discover that humans can play an important role in animal adaptation. Finally, in a culminating activity, students will create a class magazine that can be shared with others throughout the school.
  Outer Limits Solar System
  Fall Into Winter None available.
  Don't Step on the Coral Reefs Create a step-book using data collected about coral reefs in prior lessons.
  Wearing Tuxedos in the Land of Brrrrrrrrr! What do living things need to survive in Antarctica? What characteristics do living things have that enable them to adapt to life in Antarctica? How are plants, animals, and people interdependent? How do the animals of Antarctica compare/contrast with the animals of your environment?
  Out of the Deep Students will create a mural of the environment of coral reefs.
  Blast Off Essential Questions: What would life be like on another planet? If another planet was discovered what would it be like? How would you prepare yourself for a trip to another planet? How does it feel to have no gravity at all?
  Machines Can Be Simple The simple machines unit is a component of physical science and is introduced in the third grade and further developed in the sixth grade curriculum. Students will need to know how to: read for information, use a graphic organizer, use footnotes, use the scroll bar to view information on the computer, work cooperatively with a partner.
  To Infinity and Beyond: A Unit on Space Essential Questions: What is the relationship between the universe, galaxies and solar systems? What might life be like on the other planets of our solar system? How might our lives change if the earth's rotation, revolution, or position in the solar system changed? Why do we study space?
  Fatten Up or Freeze Essential Question: What might happen to a migratory animal which was unable to migrate? How might a native animal, raised in captivity, survive if released? What adaptations do animals and people need to make to survive in winter?
  Island Investigation Mini research project for intermediate students to learn about one of the larger islands near the community of Clayton called Grindstone Island. Students learn how an island affects the life of people living there. They will also learn that lifestyles on Grindstone Island have changed over time (completed in two 3-4 multi-age classes at Guardino Elem. School-two month long unit designed to totally immerse children in reading, writing, speaking and listening, culminating in a final project. Lessons took about one and one-half hours per day. Daily scheduled reading and writing workshop times were used for this project. Activities related to NYS Standards in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology.
  Making Healthy Nutritional Choices Why is a study of nutrition essential to a healthy life? How do nutrients help the body? How will the Internet be helpful in this search?
  Oceans This is a third grade unit on oceans. This unit will be designed to help the studetns understand what the ocean is made up of and what lives in the ocean. The students will also learn what the different layers of the ocean are. The students will also identify different ocean animals and plants and their characteristics. This unit will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete.
  Solar System 298. Essential Questions: What would life be like on any of the nine planets? Why is space exploration necessary? Thinking about the communities we live in today, what would space communities be like? How will the studying of space lead to a better earth? How is earth the only planet with living species?
  International Festival We have activities that relate to math, arts and writing. The learning experience has different activities incorporated into one, therefore all learners should be able to find some aspect that appeals to them. The students will be engaged in activities that relate to the learning standards as stated above.
  Creating Pie Graphs Using Percents Graphing information.
  Rain Forest Animal Habitat Museum A rainforest project that requires students to have a thorough understanding of one specific rain forest animal and its needs.
  Soaring through the Solar System The students will be engaged in their learning about our solar system through individual and group activities that focus on research, reading, writing and group work skills. Students will soar through this interdisciplinary unit.
  Predicting Temperature: An Internet/Excel Learning Students will access, generate, process and transfer information using appropriate technologies.
  Cybernetiquette This learning experience will teach students the basics of safety on the Internet. This learning experience will be a perfect beginning to any Internet activity whether it is within a technology curriculum or other content area. This connects to all areas where instruction will lead to exploration of the Internet. This Learning Experience is tied to the unit called Keypals: Communicating Across the Information Superhighway
  Internet Scavenger Hunt This learning experience will teach students the basics of maneuvering in cyberspace. This activity will be helpful in any research situation across all content areas. The scavenger hunt content can be modified to address a specific topic or it can remain general to focus simply on the computing goals.





Content Copyright MADISON ONEIDA BOCES 1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003