Iowa Tests Awards

Congratulations to 3rd grade students who received Iowa Tests awards for Outstanding Achievement or Excellent Improvement!  I am very proud of your hard work!

Hands-On Experiments

We've had a great week of hands-on experiments!  I've included some photos below.  Ask your child to describe the activities and what he/she learned.

Math
We went outside to measure the length and width of the playground in feet and meters.

We created "Poppa's New Pants".

Science
We explored how sound travels through the 3 states of matter.

Students created a closed circuit to light the bulb.

Jefferson County Park Field Trip

Watch this video with your child and have them tell you all about our great day at the park!

Jefferson County Park: April 19, 2012 on PhotoPeach

Upcoming Field Trip

This note will be sent home with students today.

Jefferson County Park

Field Trip

Thursday, April 19

We will be spending all day at the park.  You need to WEAR BOOTS and dress for the weather.

We will be hiking through the creek bed looking for rocks, so we’ll be in WATER and MUD.  Please bring a change of shoes and socks.

We will eat at the park. 

Make sure to bring a lunch

and something to drink.

Parents are welcome to join us!

Gravity vs Friction

Ask your child about today's ramp experiment.  Can he/she explain the force that pulled the marble down the ramp (gravity), and the force that stopped the marble (friction)?  We had some great synergy in our groups today.  Together is better!

Sidewalk Chalk Fractions

We decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather this week.  Both 3rd grade classes used sidewalk chalk to practice fractions.  Students drew a shape, divided it into sections, then wrote the appropriate fraction for each section.  It was a fun way to practice our fraction skills outside of the classroom!

Visit to City Hall

On Tuesday, March 6 the third grade students from Washington and Libertyville Elementary Schools visited City Hall in Fairfield.  Mayor Ed Malloy and City Administrator Jeff Clawson explained to the students a bit about how our city government works and the responsibilities of our elected city officials.  The students were able to take turns sitting in the council members' chairs and go through a mock vote.  One student asked the council to consider a request.  Then a "council member" motioned and seconded the motion to approve the request.  The "City Clerk" called each student to vote on the motion.  The "mayor" then announced the results of the vote.  

After a short question and answer period we went outside where Fire Chief Scott Vaughn explained all the parts of the fire truck.  Students were allowed to get inside the truck to look around.

A big thank you to Mayor Malloy for a great visit to City Hall!

Mayor Malloy addressing the students.

City Administrator Jeff Clawson explaining his responsibilities.

Quint Stark making a request of our mock council.

Mayor Logan Nelson and City Clerk Abby Schaefer

City Administrator Jose Mendoza and Mayor Clare Else

Fire Chief Scott Vaughn showing the students the parts of the truck.