Third Grade Share Day
Students travel to three centers with their parents and guests
Third graders John and Bianca looked at their parents mischievously. Would their mom and dad be able to figure out how to make the paperclip levitate? Meadow Pond's science lab was filled with families in similar situations.
Their mom turned over the plastic cup, considering its purpose, while their dad pushed the red ring magnets out of the reach of their two-year-old twins.
“Here,” said John, giving his parents a start in the right direction. He handed his dad the piece of cardboard with a piece of string tied to a paperclip pushed through a notch.
Families work together in a science lab
Third graders invite their parents and guests to learn in their classrooms for a few hours
Making a levitating paperclip was one of three stations at Meadow Pond Elementary School’s Third Grade Share Day—an annual event set up by third grade teachers Ellen Choolfaian, Connie Merritt, Beth Morgan and Anne Marie Friscia. "Share Day is a day for students to showcase some of their amazing learning and for parents to experience what the students are learning by learning it themselves," said Merritt.
Small siblings came to the event as well as out of town grandparents. Math, science and English language arts activities were sweetened by hugs and the specialness of having family in school, and students as teachers.
Smiles and fun
students teach math games to their parents
Maddox sat at one of the high-top tables in the third-grade common area with his mom, little sister Taya and her Beanie Baby Livvie. They were playing a card game that sharpened the players’ multiplication skills.
“He’s a math whiz,” said his mom. “He can multiply faster than I can.” The family’s competitive streak showed in smack downs and high fives during Multiplication Top-It, Knock Out and Target Number. It felt like a party—a math party—complete with snacks, friends, family and fun.
families create venn diagrams to represent their similarities and differences
“What do we have in common?” Choe asked her mom and dad. They were doing a Venn diagram of their family’s similarities and differences. The activity flexed their word skills and activated self-awareness. The family agreed that they are all funny, competitive, and like pizza and treats. “But we like different treats,” said Chloe. Case in point: she was having a rice crispy square, while her mom picked a cookie, and her dad was munching on a pretzel.
Back in the science lab, thanks to hints from the third graders, all family groups were able to make a paperclip levitate. John and Bianca’s family admired the paperclip suspended inside of the cup, which demonstrated the dual forces of gravity and magnetism. “We did it a second way in our class,” said John. “Can you figure that out, too?”
