Take a virtual trip through the park for your personality after taking the personality quiz. Then read about the parks in a collection in Get Epic. Next we will all go to Yellowstone and visit the themes of the park. Make sure to take pictures of the park attractions you have visited and put them in the Photo Album.

Students learn about sharks as they read, write, listen, and create.

The BrainVenture begins with the driving questions about crayons in the future. Will there Be Crayons? Who knows? The BrainVenture take students on an adventure through the history crayons, the making of crayons, and the changes that computers with drawing and coloring capabilities have brought to the world of crayons.

A look at two elephants that were at the Detroit Zoo. The elephants were moved to a reserve out in California. The Roadmap discusses the idea of keeping animals in captivity, especially elephants. At the end students will create a PSA.

This Roadmap was used on Day 2 of the Unit on Renewable and Non-renewable Resources.

The Discovering Matter lesson allows for students to conduct one of their first experiments in 3rd grade. Through the Roadmap they are introduced to the three common states of matter, the terms constant and variable, as well as being introduced to creating a driving question and creating an experiment (with help). The activities can be completed as a group or as individuals. The choice is yours.

Students will explore the principles and concepts of economics through the lens of Michigan today. Students use what they have learned in the previous unit about Michigan’s natural resources to explore how natural, human and capital resources combine to influence the types of businesses in our state today. Student then focus on the economic principles of scarcity, choice, and opportunity costs. Using a simulation model, students experience the impact of scarcity on their choices and the opportunity costs that result. After identifying Michigan’s current economic activities, students explain the reasons for their location. Using fruit as an example, students are introduced to how geography affects specialization and interdependence. The concept of interdependence exposes students to Michigan’s connection with the national and global economies. Finally, students explore the role of government with respect to goods, services, and incentives.

This is an example of a guest teacher flow chart. This was created to help the guest teacher flow through the day with ease. When using my computer that day the websites with accounts automatically logged in for her.

Students use a geographic lens to explore the state of Michigan. The chapter focuses around the five major themes of geography: movement, region, human/environment interaction, and location. Students explore the concept of “state” using a map of the United States. In studying location, students use cardinal directions, identify various ways to describe the relative location of Michigan, and begin to explore how location can influence the development of a state. When studying place, students identify and describe significant human and physical characteristics of Michigan using a variety of maps. Through literature, maps, informational text and other resources students also explore the concept of human/environment interaction as they learn about Michigan’s natural resources and how people have used, modified, and adapted to them. In studying movement, an emphasis is placed on the Great Lakes. Using shipping as a launching point, students explore how and why people, goods, jobs and ideas move within, into and out of Michigan. Finally, students apply the concept of region to the study of Michigan as they explore different ways Michigan can be divided into regions as well as the different regions to which Michigan belongs.

Students will extend their civic perspective from second grade local government to state government. They begin with an examination of the purposes of government and ways in which the government of Michigan works to fulfill those purposes. By exploring the concept of representative government, students learn how the power of government resides with the people. They build upon their knowledge of local government and community by distinguishing the roles of state government from local government and explore why state governments are needed. By learning about the Michigan Constitution, students are introduced to the concept of limited government and the history of Michigan’s Constitution. An understanding of limited government is further enriched through an exploration of how the powers of government are separated among the branches in state government. Students then explore the judicial branch by examining ways courts function to resolve conflict. Finally, students consider important rights and responsibilities of citizenship including the responsibility to be informed about public issues.