Dear Parents/Guardians,<img class="alignright size-full wp-image-65" src="http://jack.cuipblogs.net/files/2009/04/oj.jpg" alt="oj" width="130" height="98" />

Please forgive my late newsletter. The "cold" bug has bitten me yet  again. I am at home at this moment drinking tea and orange juice.

I just wanted to touch bases with you and let you know what's coming up. As of right now our school will be walking over to 53rd street beach as a part of the Adopt a Beach program. I'd really love to be there but thought it's probably not a good idea to be along our lakefront while trying to recover. I am thinking about the children and know they are having fun.

As you know we are preparing for the<em> Chicago</em> play to be performed on May 15th. We have already started our study of Chicago's history as well as the present to have a perspective from which to work. I am asking you to help your child remember their part/s in the skit. Please remind your child to be mindful of how much work goes into putting on a performance and how little time we have to accomplish this.  Cooperation is key.

Last week I mentioned in my newsletter that the "<em>Scraps of Time"</em> memory boxes or diamoras would be due this Friday. I also wrote that I would send home more information about the project. "OOPHS, I forgot." The instructions included in last week's newsletter is really what the project is about. There is really nothing else you need to do. As stated, the shoebox or whatever box you and your child choose to decorate and put "memories" of your past as well as the memories the students want to share with their children and your grandchildren, are what should go in the box. Please don't make the project difficult. I just want you and your child to share a project that encourages story telling from your past as well as hopes for the future. If you need more time the projects can be turned in by Wednesday of next week.

The school will present science projects next week.The third grade can display something they have been working on in Science. We have started learning about earth materials and are observing rocks. In partners or maybe in three's, the children will display a science project they have selected from a handout I have given them. The children will decide what part they can work on at home. This will be as simple as one of them deciding to write the explanation for the project which they will have on the handout, or drawing an illustration or making sure one or the other is responsible for getting the material. I will supply poster boards if they need them. We will work on them in class on Thursday and Friday.

Due to our busy schedule there may be changes to the curriculum. The Chicago play for the third grade was designed to integrate both Language Arts and Social Studies.

This week we will be doing the following:

LANGUAGE ARTS:

We will continue to read and discuss "Through Grandpa's Eyes" in our OpenCourt readers. We will also continue to practice our skit for the Chicago play.

MATH:

We will continue to extend our knowledge of multiplication and division in Unit 7 as well as review parts of Unit 6 that focus' on geometric concepts.

HOMEWORK: Math Boxes_7.4-7.7_Home Link 7.4. 7.7. Some Unit 6 assignments. Check assignment books. Multiplication practice

SCIENCE:

We will continue to explore rocks and other earth materials.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

Chicago will be the focus of our curriculum as well as continued practice for the Chicago play.

HAVE                          A                 GREAT                        WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!