Monday, March 28, 2011

March 21-25

Students continued their work on Grids and Indexes this week, 
finishing pages 24 and 25 and reviewing the answers together.

After indexes were discussed, students added an index to the maps of 
their bedrooms.

Classes then played a grid game on the chalkboard. Groups were split 
into two teams. Team members were called on to come to the board to 
draw--in the appropriate grid box, as dictated by the teacher--their 
favorite animal or fruit. This game combined grid use as well as 
directional (Cardinal and Intermediate) map skills.

Third graders then put their knowledge into physical action. Classes 
headed outside to an area in which the teacher had used chalk to draw 
a compass rose and a giant grid. Students reviewed the compass rose 
and the grid before being instructed to run together to a given grid 
box, again, using both grid and directional skills.

At the end of this activity, 4-5 students were dispatched to grid 
boxes, leaving the remaining students to dictate an index using the 
students' names (Indexes are always in alphabetical order).

Monday, March 21, 2011

March 14-18

Early in the week 3rd graders completed In-Class Work #2. This time  
they had the chance to use a map of San José. In the assignment,  
students had to give directions (either Cardinal or Intermediate, as  
appropriate) between locations in the San José metropolitan area.  
Hopefully the exercise provided students a chance not only to  
demonstrate their knowledge of Cardinal and Intermediate Directions,  
but to better familiarize themselves with their hometown.

Students scoring less than an 80 on the assignment were told to  
complete p. 19 in order to improve their In-Class Work #2 grade.

The 3rd grade class then moved on to Grids. After completing p. 22 as  
a class, students drew grids of their bedrooms, in which they had to  
locate and identify the location of four items (such as their bed,  
dresser, etc.). For example, after drawing their respective bedroom  
grids, students had to demonstrate their understanding of it by  
writing "My bed is in B2," "my desk is in C1," etc.

The week ended with an introduction of Indexes (p.23) followed by more  
grid practice (p. 24). One question on p. 24 demanded students know  
the difference between a "row" and a "column."

Monday, March 14, 2011

March 7-11

In the 3rd grade we covered and solidified our knowledge of  
Intermediate Directions (NW, NE, SW, SE) by completing book exercises  
and through dynamic methods as well. In this respect the teacher  
jumped between students, asking students what direction students were  
from them (asking "what direction is Suzy from Jenny," for example).

The 3rd Grade also went outside this week to the cancha. Students were  
stationed at the North, South, East, and West, and some in the center  
with the teacher. Those in the center were dispatched on the count of  
three to run to Intermediate Directions as directed by the teacher.  
Most headed in the right direction right away, and those that did not  
soon corrected themselves.

The 3rd Grade group also had its first homework assignment. Its  
assignment was to discuss the San Juan River dispute with parents or  
an adult family member, with the help of a sheet containing  
information about the positions of Costa Rica and Nicaragua and  
background on the International Court of Justice.

At the end of the week 3rd graders continued with Intermediate  
Directions exercises--preparing for In-Class Work #2 and Quiz #1--both  
slated for next week.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Week of 28 February-March 4

Last week we used our map skills from Chapter 1 of "Maps Globes  
Graphs" to draw maps of Saint Anthony primary school. In our map  
Legend, we used such landmarks as the gym, the soda, the classrooms,  
and the parking lot.

The teacher also used a compass to identify the cardinal directions  
within the classrooms. He taped papers labeled "North," "South,"  
"East," and "West" to the appropriate walls of the classrooms.

Students worked well together and were very creative in  
their use of symbols and subsequently in their coloring of the maps.  
We made sure the concept of the Legend and the symbols was clear, and  
that the maps had a compass rose.

With 3A, we were able to begin work on Chapter 2--Intermediate Directions.