Over the next 4 weeks, your child will be learning about the European explorers of North America. He or she will be learning about what motivated the first European explorers to strike out for the New World. Below are some suggestions for activities that you amy do at home to highlight what your child is learning about the European explorers of North America.
Be sure to read all the way to the bottom for important information about our upcoming field trip, Battle of the Books, and this unit's at-home project.
Sing a Song!
This week in class we'll be hearing and singing the song "1492" together. Discuss the song lyrics with your child. Have them share what they know about some of the Native American groups referenced in the song. (We'll be spending more time with these groups in our next unit on Native Americans!)
Geography
Discussion Topics
Ask your child, "If you were an explorer, where in the world would you want to explore?" Have your child pick a place on the globe, and ask them to envision what life must have been like there five hundred years ago without electricity, indoor plumbing, central heating or cooling, advanced medical care, air travel, etc. Ask the following questions, "How would you prepare for your journey? What would you have to bring? How would you get there? What kinds of jobs would people accompanying you on the journey have to be able to do to make the journey possible? How would you survive in the new land? How would you communicate with the native inhabitants? How would you figure out where to go, or what to eat, or how to make a new home?"
Now ask your child to imagine that she was a Native American seeing Europeans in her homeland for the first time. Ask, "What would you think? How would you feel? How would you decide whether or not to become friends with the newcomers?"
Sayings and Phrases: The last straw
Discuss with your child what the saying, "The last straw" means. This saying comes from the longer phrase, "it was the last straw that broke the camel's back." Explain how this saying reflects the concept of how small burdens can accumulate so much that, in the end, it's almost as if just one piece of straw could cause the camel to collapse. In reality, the camel is collapsing under the weight of all the accumulated burden. Come up with an example that uses the phrase, "the last straw" in a sentence that has relevance to your child.
Words to Use
Below is a list of some of the words that your child will be learning about and using. Try to use these words as they come up in everyday speech with your child if possible. Otherwise, make up a sentence that uses these words.
- propose
- colonization
- disastrous
- immune
- rebellion
- suspicious
- established
- extinguish
- circumference, circumnavigate
- navigation
- narrowed
- honorary
- reputation
- expedition
Useful Skills to Have!
Explorers had to have a wide variety of skills and be able to use their tools well. Throughout the course of the unit we will be trying our hands at some of the skills below. If you can, share some of your knowledge on these topics with your child, or pick one or two of interest and look them up together:
- knot tying
- reading a compass
- reading/following a map, or making a map of a familiar place
- experimenting with different spices
- locating good sources of Vitamin C to prevent scurvy
- locating the North Star and constellations for use in navigation
- playing dice and card games to stay off boredom on long voyages
At-home project
Next week your child will bring home details for our Explorers projects. For now, you can save TWO things for use later in the month: 1) cereal box(es). Each student will need 1 cereal box for the project, and 2) the Date! We will be presenting our projects orally on Tuesday and Wednesday (1/27-28) from 12:15-1:15 if you would like to attend!
January Field Trip: Tryon Creek State Park
On Friday, January 23rd, we will spend the full day at Tryon Creek State Park in Portland. We are participating in their "Forests in Winter" program, which offers a fascinating look at how active a forest can be when it seems so quiet in winter! Students will need to bring warm clothes, shoes for hiking (mostly paved trails), a lunch, snack, and water bottle. I do not need any additional chaperones at this time, but there are still slots open for trips later in the year if you are interest.
Battle of the Books is coming to CHPCS!
Battle of the Books (BOB) is a reading incentive program for students in grades 3-8. Students read books and come together as a class to demonstrate their abilities and test their knowledge of the books they have read. Classes work together to not only read these books, but master them. This year's list will be released on Thursday, January 8th, 2015.
Books may be read independently, read to the student, or read with an adult. Audiobooks are also an acceptable way of accessing books! During our BOB period, third graders may bring Kindle-type ebook readers to school. ALL ereaders must be kept securely behind my desk except during reading times. It is up to each family's discretion whether or not to send electronic devices to school. There will be multiple copies of books available for students to read in class, as well.
A Battle consists of two teams facing off. The students are presented with as many questions as possible during the 15 minute battle about the
The final Battle of Books will be between the two teams having the most points at the end of the round robin. The class with the most points at the end of the final
Thank you for reading to the bottom! Please write "expedition" in your child's planner and they will receive 1 Dojo "TEAMWORK" point!
Have a wonderful evening!
Mrs. Gausman
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