Dear MRSD Families,  As we release this next Distance Learning Activity Packet, please allow us to express our heartfelt appreciation for the efforts you’re making to ensure students’ most important needs are met, and to reassure those who worry if they’re “doing it right,” or “doing enough” that we are here to help and not to judge. If you’re doing what you can do – you’re doing it right, and we appreciate your support at home, in whatever capacity you are able to offer! Thank you!  We know this is a challenging time for families – with competing priorities, uncertainty and isolation, and we want to reaffirm that we stand with you in ALWAYS putting family first! As the expert on your child, you’re in the best position to decide what, when and how they engage in the learning we’ve designed, and you have our full backing in limiting (or adding to) the amount of school work they experience, based on your individual circumstance.  We invite you to reach out with specific questions, worries, or needs you may have. Please know that we’re in this TOGETHER, and your school partners are here to help.   In gratitude, K-5 Staff     

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MRSD Learning Activities Grade 3 (May 5 - May 18)  

We recommend each instructional day to include the following: 

 Teacher-Led Learning 

Family-Led Learning and Supplemental Activities  

Meeting Nutrition and Wellness Needs 

60 Minutes Maximum  2 Hours Recommended  2 Hours Recommended 

Instruction, tasks, and activities as assigned by teachers in this document (English Language Arts/Math/Wellness & Self-Care/Music). 

Suggestions: ● 20+ minutes of independent 

reading or reading to family member (books of student choice) 

● Counting and sorting ● Drawing ● Flashcards/math facts 

review ● 60+ minutes of imaginative 

play ● Journaling (write/draw) ● Arts and crafts ● Listening to music ● Board games, puzzles, dice, 

cards ● Drama/acting/singing ● Listening to a read aloud ● Watching educational 

programs or videos ● Finding and continuing 

patterns ● Measuring around the 

house ● Crafting, sewing, knitting 

Suggestions:  Meal Time ● Integrate hand washing ● Invite children to help ● Include all members of the 

family if possible ● Connect/talk during meals 

 Outside Play ● Walk together ● Bike rides ● Jump rope ● Sidewalk chalk drawing 

 Inside Play ● Puzzles ● Games ● Stretching 

 Quiet Time ● Snuggling with a pet/stuffed 

animal ● Resting or napping ● Listening to calm music 

Please schedule your day as it makes sense for you and as it works best for family schedule and student needs. Each activity or subject does not need to occur in one sitting. Remember to take breaks, and enjoy the time with each other! Please see our Online Resources for Families to help with supplemental activities and wellness needs. 

Day 1  Day 2  Day 3  Day 4  Day 5  Day 6  Day 7  Day 8  Day 9  Day 10 

   

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✓  Day 1 

  Literacy Watch Exploration Section of Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2) What Makes Bridges So Strong? (22 minutes) https://bit.ly/2VJqhqk  

  Math Fractions: Unit Fractions A fraction is a number that represents an equal part of a whole or an equal part of a set. A unit fraction is one part of a whole. The top number of a unit fraction is always 1. The bottom number of a unit fraction is the number of equal parts in the whole.  

● Watch Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_P7xc00C8o ● Label each part of the whole with its unit fraction: Here, the unit fraction = ⅓. 

  Hands-on Activity: Parts of Me  

● Divide a piece of paper into 6 equal sections.  ● Each section explains what makes you special.  ● Draw and write about each of the unit fractions 

of you. Example:“1/6 of me is a good friend” or “1/6 of me loves sports”  

● Share with a family member. Celebrate how unique and special you are as a whole! 

● IXL: W. Understand Fractions, number 7      Extra optional practice- IXL: W. Understand Fractions, numbers 17 and 18 

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  Music 

Go to this link < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVNlQ50khwI > and listen to “Going to the Zoo” by Peter, Paul and Mary. The link can be accessed via Google Classroom, Class Code 2hxhc5m. When the song names an animal, make the sound that animal would make. Play the song again and join in as much as you can. 

If you are unable to access the link, think of any song you know about animals, such as “Old McDonald Had a Farm,” sing it and make the animal sounds. 

Now, get 2-3 of your stuffed animals for the next activity. They don’t have to be the same ones mentioned in the song; they can be any kind of animal. Practice making the sounds these animals would make. Next, see if you can make your animals have a “conversation” using these sounds. Can your animals sing using these sounds? Try making up a song for them to sing, using the sounds you have practiced instead of using words. 

  

   

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✓  Day 2 

  Literacy  Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2)  Hands-On Activity: Build Bridge #1 

● Students will tackle a Bridge Challenge and use their knowledge of forces, to build their first strong bridge that supports as many pennies (or other small objects) as possible -- using only paper.  

● Use the Bridge Challenge Worksheet (May choose Spanish/English) https://bit.ly/3bDgI1Q for this activity and do #1-3 (build the first bridge only)  

● Also use the Bridge Designer’s Notebook (May choose Spanish/English) https://bit.ly/2yJ08it printout to record your thinking and the Building Bridges Teacher Tips https://bit.ly/3cOMclR printout to guide you. *May select English or Spanish for each worksheet. 

      

  Math  Fractions: Parts of a Whole The numerator tells the number of equal parts being represented (the number on the top). The denominator tells the total number of equal parts (the number on the bottom). 

Fraction Kites: Create a beautiful kite to show how fractions create a whole. 

1. Cut your graph paper into a square array of whatever size you want. Example: 4 x 4, 5 x 5 or  6 x 6.  2. Choose 4 to 5 colors and create a pattern, by coloring each square on your array.    3. Write the fraction of each color used in the pattern on a different square of the graph paper. Example: if you have four orange squares on a 4 by 4 array, the fraction of orange squares would be 4/16 of the total kite. These fraction squares will be the bows of the kite’s tail.   4. Use a string or thread as a tail to the kite. Attach the tail to the kite. Then cut out the fraction bows and attach them (glue or tape) to the tail. 

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 5. Share your creation with your family and your teacher.  Extra optional practice- IXL: W. Understand Fractions, numbers 4, 5, 8, 19 and 20 

            

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✓  Day 3 

  Literacy  Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2) Hands-On Activity: Build Bridge #2 

● Students will tackle a Bridge Challenge and use their knowledge of forces to build their second strong bridge that supports as many pennies(or other small objects) as possible -- using only paper. 

● Use the Bridge Challenge Worksheet https://bit.ly/3bDgI1Q from yesterday for this activity (start at #4 on the worksheet -- build the second bridge) and the Bridge Designer’s Notebook https://bit.ly/2yJ08it printout from yesterday to record your thinking. 

  Math  Fractions: Parts of a Set  

● Complete the Parts of a Set Worksheet https://bit.ly/2KJMheo provided in the link and then draw 3-5 examples of your own fractions using parts of a set.  

● Parts of a Set Worksheet, answer key https://cutt.ly/Hydi0VE   Extra optional practice- IXL: W. Understand Fractions, number 21 

  Wellness Social Awareness  Empathy video: https://youtu.be/cObsOhaegfk  Empathy--Knowing or recognizing how someone else is feeling, walking in their shoes   

● Facial expressions ● Body language ● Situation cues 

Practice: Watch for the facial expressions, body language and what’s going on in the situation and ask your parent(s), babysitter, brother/sister if they are feeling___________________. Check to see if you are right!  Listening with Attention 

● Focus on the person’s words  ● Don’t interrupt  ● Ask questions to find out more  ● Repeat what you heard to show you understand 

Practice: Ask someone at your house to tell you something they did today. Use these skills and repeat back what you heard to make sure you got it right.  Being Assertive-a respectful way to get what you want or need, like when you need help at school. 

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● Face the person you’re talking to  ● Keep your head up and shoulders back  ● Use a calm, firm voice  ● Use respectful words 

Practice: The next time you need help or want to do something use your assertiveness skills and see how easy it is to get what you need (within reason, of course)  Predicting Feelings Predicting Tricks  

● Think about what you know about the person ● Think about how the action might affect the person.  ● Think about how the person might react.  ● Think about how you might react in the same situation. 

Practice: Predict how the other might feel? You ask Grandma to do a hiphop dance video with you when you spend the night. Parents being told by their boss they are going to work twice as many hours next 

week. Sibling is told they have to let you pick all the activities for the family this weekend. Teacher finds a note from the substitute from the day before saying she made up her own lesson plans and did nothing your teacher asked to be taught. 

  

     

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✓  Day 4 

  Literacy Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2) Hands-On Activity: Build Bridge #3 

● Students will tackle a Bridge Challenge and use their knowledge of forces to build their third strong bridge that supports as many pennies (or other small objects) as possible -- using only paper. 

● Using the same Bridge Challenge Worksheet: https://bit.ly/3bDgI1Q for this activity (start at #5 on this worksheet -- build the third bridge) and the Bridge Designer’s Notebook https://bit.ly/2yJ08it printout to record your thinking. 

 

  Math Fractions: Problem Solving   

● Make a diagram or picture to help you complete the Fraction Word Problems Worksheet: https://bit.ly/35hhbEv.   

  Music Go to this link < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MONgmqIpaW8 > and watch the video about “Pow-wow dancing styles and meanings.” The link can be accessed via the Music Google Classroom, Class Code 2hxhc5m. Be sure to read the captions, as they will help you learn more about Native American music and dance. Watch the video a second time. Can you match some of the steps the dancers are doing? 

                

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✓  Day 5 

  Literacy Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit Mystery 2 Document Your Work   You have designed and built 3 bridges the past 3 days. Today, choose which bridge you think was the strongest - the bridge that held the most pennies (or other objects you selected).  

● On a separate piece of paper, draw a quick sketch of your bridge and label the type of bridge you built.  

● Explain (out loud and/or in writing) your building process and what you observed; What made this bridge the strongest? 

  Math  Fractions on a Number Line 

● Complete the Fractions on a Number Line Worksheet:  https://bit.ly/3aQ4T73 

● Following the example in #6 on the worksheet, draw 3 different number lines and ask a family member to fill in each fraction on the number line.  

● Optional challenge: try IXL W. Understand Fractions, numbers 12, 13, 14, and 15 

 

                      

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✓  Day 6 

  Literacy Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2)  Watch Doug and Pat Build a Bridge 

● Go back and watch Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2) What Makes Bridges So Strong? https://bit.ly/2VJqhqk  

● At the end of the Hands-on Activity part of the video, click the blue arrow > and watch Doug and the other Mystery Science people try a few of their own bridge building ideas. Now that you’ve built your own 3 bridges, watch this part of the  video to see other ideas you may not have thought about trying.   

  Math Equivalent Fractions 

● Watch the Equivalent Fractions Intro video. Follow along and do the equivalent fractions activity shown in the video https://bit.ly/2zF70ho   

● Then complete the Equivalent Fractions Worksheet:  ● https://bit.ly/2ShlcDx  ● Optional challenge: try IXL X. Equivalent Fractions, numbers 1, 3, 

and 4 

  

       

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✓  Day 7 

  Literacy Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit, (Mystery 2)  Galloping Gertie Read Aloud.  

● Read Galloping Gertie with an adult (page 17 of this packet) ● Watch the video of this tragedy. https://bit.ly/3bJzynU Tacoma Bridge Collapse: 

The Wobbliest Bridge in the World? (1940)  

  Math Optional challenge: Complete IXL skills from previous day(s) or choose your own skill in W and X.  

  Music Go to this link < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsCZ9IRCqaM > and listen to the “Hawaiian Language Numbers Song.” The link can be accessed via the Music Google Classroom, Class Code 2hxhc5m. Repeat the numbers in Hawaiian as you hear them, either speaking or singing them. Replay the video so you can learn the song and sing along. 

  

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✓  Day 8 

  Literacy: Online resources: Learn more about the Golden Gate Bridge: https://bit.ly/3cXB5qQ  Writing: On a piece of paper, write 5-7 facts you learned about the Golden Gate Bridge. Don’t forget to use complete sentences, and check your sentences for capitals and periods. Share them with a family member or your teacher! 

  Math  Fractions as One Whole 

● Watch this video about Representing 1 As A Fraction: https://bit.ly/2yRnGlu  ● Follow along and do the activity; draw fractions as one whole. ● Optional Challenge: Try IXL skills X.9 and X.10  

  Wellness Social Awareness--Part 2  Taking Others’ Perspective--understanding that people have different likes and dislikes, and that’s okay. 

● Practice: Think about how you feel about ○ Going on carnival rides that go upside down ○ Spiders/Snakes ○ Homework ○ Speaking in front of your class 

● Find 2 people who feel differently about each of these activities than you do. ● What are some ways you can show you accept other’s perspectives? 

 Disagreeing Respectfully--it is perfectly natural and normal to not agree with all people, all the time. The key is HOW you disagree...respectfully is the only acceptable answer. 

● Key Skills: Listen ○ Clarify ○ Use “I” statements (don’t blame or judge the other person) ○ Avoid extreme words (always, never) ○ Pick your battles 

Practice: The next time you have a different opinion about something with a friend or family member use the Key Skills to help guide you through the conversation.   Responding With Compassion Compassion--Empathy in action...understanding what someone else is feeling and having the desire to do something to help that person. Practice: What can you do to show compassion to others in these situations: 

● A friend loses their favorite toy/book ● Parent is exhausted from a long day at work ● A sibling or cousin is told they can’t spend the night with a friend 

If you see someone struggling today, offer to listen and help them. 

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 Virtual Calming Room--relax with sights, sounds, guided practice, art, apps  

  https://www.district196.org/about/calm-room  

   

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✓  Day 9 

  Literacy  Mystery Science: Invisible Forces Unit Mystery 2 

● Go to the Online Resource: Building Big: Bridges: https://to.pbs.org/3cWX29w  to experiment with bridge building. Pick 1-2 activities, and write a brief summary about what you learned. 

  Math Whole Numbers as Fraction 

● Watch this video Whole Numbers As Fractions: https://bit.ly/2KAJpkd  ● Follow along and do the activity; draw whole numbers as fractions. Examples: 6=6/1  ● Optional Challenge: Try IXL skills X.9 and X.10 

  Music 

Go to this link < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqrwI3CRWvs > and watch the video on “Hula Basics for children.” The link can be accessed via the Music Google Classroom, Class Code 2hxhc5m. See how well you can do at learning the dance! 

  

       

   

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✓  Day 10 

  Literacy Invisible Forces Unit Mystery 2: What Makes Bridges So Strong? 

● Complete the End of Mystery Assessment   English/Spanish Versions: https://mysteryscience.com/docs/489   

● Answer key: https://mysteryscience.com/docs/570     

  Math Comparing Fractions  

● Read the directions and play the Fraction Basketball Game with a partner. https://bit.ly/2yVddWc 

● Optional challenge: try IXL Y. Compare Fractions, numbers 1, 2, and 10 

 

     

     

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Galloping Gertie 

by Pat Murphy 

On July 1, 1940, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the opening of a new bridge near the city of Tacoma in Washington state. Marching bands played and soldiers fired a 19-gun salute. The governor of Washington State drove the first car across the bridge. 

Everyone praised the beauty of the bridge. Some called it the “baby brother” of the Golden Gate Bridge. In both bridges, great steel cables stretched over two tall towers. The roadway hung from these cables, free to move in strong winds.  

People driving across the Golden Gate Bridge didn’t notice the bridge moving. But the bridge near Tacoma was a different story. The wind made the bridge bounce and ripple. Driving on it made some people seasick. 

The bridge’s official name was the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. But people gave the bridge a nickname. They thought crossing this bridge was like riding a galloping horse. So they called the bridge “Galloping Gertie.” 

Bridge engineers feared that the bridge might not be safe. So they built and tested a model of the bridge. When the wind blew on the model bridge in a certain way, the roadway twisted back and forth. Bridge engineers said that the same twisting on the real bridge would be dangerous. The engineers figured out how to change the model bridge to prevent twisting. Then they started making those changes to the real bridge.  

But time ran out on November 7, 1940. Early that morning, strong winds blasted the bridge from the side. The bridge began bouncing and rippling. At 10 AM, the roadway started twisting. It tilted up on one side and then on the other. A delivery van crossing the bridge tipped over, but the people inside got out before it fell. The State Police stopped everyone from crossing the bridge. 

Finally, at 11 AM, the twisting of the roadway and the pushing of the wind tore the bridge to pieces. Great steel bars twisted like rubber and the cables snapped. Chunks of concrete tumbled into the chilly waters below. With a roar like thunder, the bridge collapsed into the water with a huge splash. 

After that, some people worried about the Golden Gate Bridge, the “big brother” of the fallen bridge. They asked Charles Ellis, the man who designed the Golden Gate Bridge, to look at what had gone wrong with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Ellis explained that the Golden Gate Bridge had a much wider roadway. It would not twist in any wind. 

Ten years after the collapse, a new bridge was built. The newspapers called it “Sturdy Gertie”. The bridge has lived up to that name. Today, millions of cars cross it each year.   

   

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