This month, we wrapped up our inquiry into natural disasters. We learned how to read literary nonfiction and informational texts by using text features and text structures to help us better navigate and comprehend texts. Additionally, your 3rd grade writer used what they knew as readers to write their very own nonfiction books and articles about natural disasters. Be sure to click the link below to read everyone's Natural Disaster Informational Writing. You're guaranteed to learn a lot about natural disasters and see our growth as writers of nonfiction.

In Topic 5, 3rd grade mathematicians are strengthening their ability to multiply up to 10 × 10 by identifying patterns in order to solve problems with efficiency and accuracy. Skip counting is one strategy that can helps with multiplication facts using 2, 5, or 10 as factors. For example, to find 7 × 5, skip count by 5s seven times.

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35

7 × 5 = 35

We are also continuing to use the Distributive Property, which states that a multiplication fact can be broken apart into the sum of two other multiplication facts. For example, 7 × 5 is the same as the product of 7 × 2 plus the product of 7 × 3.

7 × 2 = 14

7 × 3 = 21

14 + 21 = 35, so 7 × 5 = 35.

Play this game with your child to help him or her learn more multiplication and division facts.

Operations Game

Materials: paper and pencil

Have Player 1 think of two numbers between 1 and 10. Write down the two numbers with a multiplication symbol between them. Ask each player to explain a strategy to find the multiplication fact. For example, to find 7 × 2, you can skip count by 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. After the first fact has been completed, players can switch roles and continue playing.

When we come back from Winter Break, we will begin Topic 10. In Topic 10, mathematicians will learn to apply his or her knowledge of place value to multiply greater numbers. By looking for patterns in multiplication facts, he or she will learn to multiply multiples of 10 by one-digit numbers using mental math. Here is an example of patterns we'll learn:

5 × 7 = 35

5 × 70 = 350

We will also learn how multiplication properties can help multiply by multiples of 10. You can group factors using the Associative Property of Multiplication.

5 × 20 = 5 × (2 × 10)

= (5 × 2) × 10

= 10 × 10= 100

You can decompose a factor using the Distributive Property.

5 × 20 = (3 + 2) × 20

= (3 × 20) + (2 × 20)

= 60 + 40= 100

Be sure to encourage your third grader to continue to practice multiplication and other math concepts on Reflex Math or DreamBox!

• Graded Classwork
• Parent Advocates for Gifted Education Brochure

Dec 16 - Nov./Dec. Reading Goal Sheet due

Dec 19-30 - Winter Break

Jan 3 - Students return to school

Jan 10 - Topic 10 Math Test (tentative)

Jan 12 - Early Release at 11:40am; End of 2nd Quarter

Jan 17 - Spirit Night at Texas Roadhouse, 5pm to 8pm

Jan 23 - Report Cards will be issued

Jan 31 - January Reading goal Sheet due

DFES is proud to be a Title I school.