Measuring Perimeter

The finale for our unit on measurement was a week measuring perimeter. We learned that perimeter is a skill we will use often in our daily lives. We pretended to be architects this week, planning for tiling a bathroom or putting up a fence. In order to know how many tiles or how much fence we need, we must find the perimeter. To practice, we created shapes on our classroom floor around tiles. We counted the tiles on each side and found the perimeter. It was so much fun learning to measure perimeter by taping the floor! Mrs. Johnson would never let us do this on any ordinary day!

Lyric, Jendaya, and Arrion are adding all the sides to find the perimeter.

Kadajah, Ja'Von, and Selicia have to make sure their tape is straight.

Alric, Dwinesha, Brindarius, and Charles made huge objects!

This rectangle has a perimeter of 14 units.

One side is 4 units long.

Miss Greenwell taught us a "rap" at the end of our perimeter lesson. The song helps us to remember HOW to find perimeter. Listen and learn!!

The next day, we learned how to find the perimeter using rulers. We actually measured each side to the nearest inch and centimeter, added all the sides together, and found the perimeter. This was a great review of measuring with rulers!

Shanora, Antasia, and Sharnecia measure carefully!

Lyric makes sure she gets the exact measurement.

Sharnecia and Shanora measure again just to be sure.

We have really enjoyed learning about measurement! It's a good thing because measurement makes up 31% of our third nine weeks test! And, guess what! The nine weeks tests are in only 2 weeks!!! WOW!

Units of Measurement

During our study of measurement, Mrs. Johnson taught us two different systems of measurement: Metric System and Customary System. We discussed each system, sorting units of measurement into length, weight, and capacity. Mrs. Johnson provided manipulatives to demonstrate each unit. For example, in the metric system, a tape dispenser is about one kilogram and a paper clip is about one gram. We passed these objects around so that we could experience the feel of a kilogram and gram. Mrs. Johnson allowed us to participate in two activities where we chose which unit of measurement to use for a given item.

A couple of weeks ago, Mrs. Johnson guided us in creating circle maps for both the Customary System and the Metric System. Then, we cut and pasted the appropriate unit next to a given object.

Our circle maps

This week, we participated in a rotation to various objects around the room. Mrs. Johnson had pictures of various objects set up all over the room. She let us choose a partner and gave us a clipboard. We walked around the room with our partner to the various objects. Once there, we had to choose, from a list of choices, which unit of measurement was appropriate. As we walked around the room, we justified our opinions to each other in order to decide on the appropriate unit. We enjoyed working and thinking together to make these decisions. When we finished with all seventeen objects, Mrs. Johnson checked them as she went over each object with the class. The group with the highest score was Sharnecia and Jameel! We had a great time!

Arrion and Antasia try to decide whether the iced tea should be measured using quarts or cups.

Would a slice of apple pie weigh ounces or pounds?

Selicia and Brindarius think hard.

Antasia and Jaylin know that a sack of potatoes would be measured in pounds.

Sharnecia and Jameel

Lyric and Dwinesha discuss which unit should be used to measure the weight of a pumpkin.

Charles and Alric figure it out!

Our class certainly exhibits the motto of our school: "We have fun while we learn!"

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mrs. Johnson's class would like to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day! We celebrated Valentine's Day on Friday, February 13th. Mrs. Johnson started the day in a very good mood. She probably was just excited about the many thoughtful gifts she received for Valentine's!

Charles and Kadajah remembered Mrs. Johnson's love of frogs!

Of course, we still had to continue with a regular school day - writing from an outline and reviewing the week's lessons on types of sentences, multiple sources, and Flight: The Journey of Charles Lindberg. However, after lunch Mrs. Johnson allowed us to begin preparations for our party. First, she gave us all paper bags to decorate. These bags would hold our valentines from our classmates. It was fun! While we decorated our bags, Mrs. Johnson played the soundtrack from High School Musical!!! We all sang along - even Mrs. Johnson knew the words!

Lyric and Nareuna

Selicia, Sharnecia, and J'Darrien

Jaylin and Tyrell
Do you see Jaylin's valentine from her mom? It's so neat!

Dwinesha, Antasia, and Alric

After our bags were ready and our valentines were prepared, we passed out valentines. Then, the party began! It was a very "love"ly day!

Our party food

Big G

For the last three weeks in math, we have been learning about measurement. Mrs. Johnson has used so many manipulatives during her lessons! It has really been fun! This past week, we reviewed the units for capacity: cups, pints, quarts, and gallons. Mrs. Johnson told us a fun story to help us remember how to convert units of capacity. Her story is about "Big G."

"Once upon a time in a faraway place, there was a magical land called Capacity. There was one giant ruler of the land of Capacity. His name was Big G! (Gallon) But, the land was SO big that Big G needed help. So, he called on four Queens to help him. (quarts) These queens were the sweetest ladies! In fact, they were so sweet that they allowed a Prince AND a Princess to live with them. (pints) Wasn't that sweet? Anyway...the princes and princesses were not so nice. The were mean, greedy, and grouchy! They were so greedy that they insisted on having TWO Crowns!! (cups) Can you believe that!? The rulers learned to work together and lived happily ever after."

Mrs. Johnson said she couldn't think of a good ending for the story, so it ended a little abruptly. Ha! As she told us the story, she drew the letters: First, she drew a huge G on the board. Then, she drew four Q's inside the huge G. After that, she drew two P's inside each Q. Lastly, she drew two C's inside each P. This made such an easy visual for us to convert units of capacity!

This week, Mrs. Johnson introduced us to Big G, or the Gallon Man, in person! She put all his body parts together for us. Then, she gave each group of students a stack of construction paper, scissors, glue, and markers. We worked together to make our own gallon man. This is also a great visual to convert units of capacity.

Antasia, Alric, Dwinesha, and Sherrina

Charles, Shanora, Jendaya, and Brindarius

Miss Greenwell even helped a group!

Markeith, Kadajah, and Lyric

J'Darrien, Selicia, and Sharnecia

Arrion, Jaylin, and Tyrell

When we finished, Mrs. Johnson had us all name our men. Then, she displayed them in the hallway. It was such a fun day in math!

Our finished projects!

Science Fair

This year's science fair was a huge success for Mrs. Johnson's class. Each student was required to turn in a science project for a science test grade. The students did a wonderful job, and I am so proud of all their hard work! Although I'm still waiting on a few, I was very impressed with our class's performance in the science fair. We had several winners.

Computer Science: Kadajah 2nd place
Botany: Dwinesha 1st place
Earth and Space: Antasia 3rd place
Math: Jameel 3rd place

Jameel

Shanora

Jaylin

Sherrina

Antasia

Charles

Kadajah

Lyric

Dwinesha

Jendaya

Arrion

Nareuna

Congratulations to all our winners, and thank you to the students who worked so hard!

Now Starring...

What a day for Mrs. Johnson's class! Our class was chosen to participate in a promotional video for Junior League of Jackson. Junior League does so much for our school. They read with third grade students two days a week, give away free books to all our students several times a year, and they are here for almost any big event. We are so blessed to have these ladies in our school! Jackson Public School received $120,000 in grant money from Junior League, and they chose our room to shoot the presentation of the check! How fun! Mrs. Johnson was so nervous. She even had her make-up done by a real make-up artist!

Mrs. Johnson getting her make-up done

Before taping, our director told us exactly what we had to do. When the ladies brought the check into the room, we cheered and clapped. Mrs. Johnson acted surprised. It was funny! Our director said we did our job very well. One of the lovely Junior League ladies said fun things to get us cheering. She yelled, "Mrs. Johnson gets $120,000!" "Everyone gets a Wii!" "She's going to Toys R Us for you!" Of course, Mrs. Johnson kept reminding us that she was just kidding! She only wanted us to cheer big! We didn't mind! We loved it!

Getting our final instructions from our director

Once we all had our instructions, it was time for taping! We took several takes from different angles. We were worn out by the time we finished. Mrs. Johnson even needed water!

The director

Presentation of the check

After working with our class, the camera crew moved to our family area. They taped a piece about "Book Buddies." The Junior League of Jackson has volunteers who read to selected third grade students twice a week. The students love it, and our test scores improved! Thank you to the wonderful ladies who volunteer their time!

Book Buddies

Collaborating with parents - Mrs. Hicks and Mrs. Wheat

We had a wonderfully fun day! Thank you so much for all that Junior League of Jackson does for our school and other schools in our district! You'll never know how much you have impacted us!

If I Were President...

President Obama promises CHANGE. To change our country, we must all get involved. What would you do to change the world?

Sharnecia


"If I Were President..."

If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. I would make new rules because people don't follow them. Some people don't care about the rules. I would change college prices. College costs too much. Some people don't have that kind of money. The last thing I would change is fighting. People get hurt by fighting. The 10 Commandments say, "Thou shalt not fight." I would make the world a better place.


Dwinesha


"If I Were President..."

If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. One thing I would change is stealing. I will change that because people are robbing banks. They are taking purses from women. I would change smoking. I will change it because it kills people. It kills their lungs. I would change fighting. I will change it because people get shot. People get hurt and break a bone. The world needs a change.


Lyric

"If I Were President..."


If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. I would tell people to pick up the trash and put it in the trash can. I will tell them to use the trash can at all times. We would not use guns or other weapons. We would not be killing or robbing anybody. We will not fight with our guns or fists. We will fight with our mouths. Yes, we can!

Devin

"If I Were President..."

If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. I will change the world by helping the homeless. They might need a home. I will help them get a home. I will change the world by getting something if someone needs it. They might need food. Then, I will give them food. I will change the world by helping the poor. They might need money. I will give them money to buy what they need. This is how I will change the world.

Charles

"If I Were President..."

If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. If I were president, I would make the gas prices go down. To fill up your car, I would make you pay $18. You have to pay $50 to fill up your car now. If I were president, I would make a speech called, "Chase After Your Dream." Some people think that they can't chase their dreams. If they want to do something with their life, then do it! I would make everything in stores not go over $400. Everything you buy in the store is high. It is like over $4,000. I would change a lot of things!

Antasia

"If I Were President..."

If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. I will change the world by fixing the road. The road is very very bumpy. You can have a flat on bumpy roads. I will change the world by picking up trash. This way the road won't have a lot of trash on it. I will clean people's yards if they have trash in their yards. I will change the world by helping people that do not have a home. I will go find them a home. I will buy a house for them. I will help change the world.

Tyrell

"If I Were President..."

If I were elected president of the United States, I would make some changes. I would change the gas prices. I would make it go down. It might go down to $2.85. I would change the high prices of houses. It might be $245. It would be that much each month. I would change the car notes. I would change it to $3.46. Now, that I changed this stuff, people will thank me. I would love that change!

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"I have a dream..." The words of that famous speech are the words that give us hope and encourage us to Dream Big! To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Mrs. Johnson's class wrote a poem describing him using the parts of speech. After writing a class poem, we broke into partners. We worked with our partner to research other famous African-Americans who Dreamed Big. With the election of our first African-American president, we realize more and more that ANYTHING is possible!

Punctuation Power

Mrs. Johnson's class has gone "Back to the Basics." After our nine weeks tests, Mrs. Johnson decided it was time to review basic rules.


We did this with a deeper understanding of the rules. Mrs. Johnson had phrases and sentences printed out with various punctuation marks: periods, quotation marks, exclamation points, question marks, commas, and apostrophes. We worked in groups to identify the punctuation mark and tell WHY it is used in each specific example. One phrase read, "Mr. Jones." We knew that "we always place a period after an abbreviation." By doing this activity, we gained a deeper understanding of WHY we use punctuation marks. We had a great time!