Giving Thanks for Third Graders

Wishing everyone a very happy Thanksgiving and a relaxing weekend! Here are a few highlights from our very busy day, including sharing a Thanksgiving reader's theater, "Eat More Veggies", at the Elizabeth Nursing Home and Assisted Living, and sharing our own third grade Thanksgiving feast! We took a moment to share what each of us are thankful for; third grade responses ranged from family and friends to legos! I'm thankful for our wonderful third graders!

Presenting "Eat More Veggies" at the Elizabeth Nursing Home

Performing for the residents of Assisted Living 

Third Grade Thanksgiving Feast

Bake Sale Bonanza! THANK YOU!

THANK YOU to all parents and students who provided so many yummy treats for our bake sale on Monday and Tuesday.  We had an overwhelmingly positive response to our bake sale, with a wonderful assortment of baked goods for sale.  The third graders worked hard at the bake sale, always keeping in mind the reason for our efforts, helping out the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. All of the elementary students visited the bake sale, along with teachers and other staff members.  It was heart-warming to see students tell our third graders to "keep the change", many wanted to donate their extra quarters to our cause. Our total profit will be added to this post as soon as we have it.  Thanks again for helping our third graders learn about the importance of helping others this holiday season.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

NEWS FLASH: Our total profit for the bake sale is $293.05!!! Thanks so much again for all of your generosity!!

The goodies are all ready to sell!

Cora's brother, Damon, trying to make up his mind on which yummy treat to buy.

Environmental Science with Mr. Sample

On Monday, Mr. Seth Sample (Izak's dad) came in to our classroom to share his knowledge about ecosystems. Mr. Sample is an environmental scientist at Apple Canyon Lake, and he spent some time with our classes on Monday teaching about the food chain and ecosystems. We also got to play a couple of fun environmental computer games (see our special symbaloo for the links!). Finally, he shared highlights from his job with us, including discovering the emerald ash borer in Jo Daviess County.  Thanks Mr. Sample!

Learning about... and helping the Philippines

Fr. Noel from Elizabeth and Judith Glenn (Philip's mom) came in last week to speak to the third graders about their home country, the Philippines.  Fr. Noel gave the third graders a great history of the country, including how it was originally ruled by Spain and then the United States took possession of the country in 1898 after the Spanish American War.  Both Fr. Noel and Mrs. Glenn have family members currently living in the Philippines, although none of them were in the direct path of the typhoon  They did have difficulty after the storm contacting them, but they are all well, with only minor wind and rain damage.  After listening to our guest speakers, the third graders were even more motivated to help out and start baking for our bake sale.

Fr. Noel showing the third graders where the typhoon hit

This Week at River Ridge....Starring 3rd Grade!!

Check out the latest edition of This Week at River Ridge....you just might see some familiar faces!

Welcome Cierra!

This week we welcomed Cierra to our class! We are so happy you came back to River Ridge, Cierra!!!

 

Field Trip Fun!

The third graders had a great time today attending the play "Charlotte's Web" at Highland Community College. On the way home, we stopped for a bite at Subway. Here are a couple of highlights:

3S Recommends...

This week we are showcasing....Jack!  Here's Jack's book recommendation for this week...

"You just HAVE to read Stranger in Right Field by Matt Christopher!  I loved this book because I like baseball.  It's a really good book.  There is a stranger in right field and Alfie is very mad. He is mad because that was his spot in the field and he liked that spot.  His coach didn't do a thing.  It was hilarious!"

Thanks to our Veterans!

As we enjoy our 3-day weekend, the third graders and I would like to thank all Veterans for their brave service to our country.  On Friday we were very lucky to be able to welcome Sgt. Jeremy Phlaume into our classroom.  He shared with us his experiences in the Army as a military policeman deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Haiti.  Thanks to Mrs. Dittsworth for bringing her brother-in-law to school with her!

3S Recommends...

This week we are showcasing....Izak!  Here's Izak's book recommendation for this week...

"You just HAVE to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw!  I loved this book because it's hilarious! When he went to the bathroom, a kid stole all of his chicken nuggets! One morning, Greg was wearing a robe and his dad couldn't, so he was mad.  You just gotta read this hilarious book!"

It was a "Spooky Science" Halloween at River Ridge

Here are some highlights from our fun Spooky Science Halloween. Thanks again to the middle and high school science club and PTO for sponsoring our fun day!

Dressed Up and Ready to GO!

Nick adding an esophagus to his human body

Kamron, Jack & Dylan eating their carnivore ice cream

Learning about germs

Checking our "clean" hands with a black light....not as clean as we'd thought!

Learning about chemical reactions

Taking a break between stations

Checking out solids and liquids

Making bird feeders