3-2-1- Blast off!

Parents,
This week has been a very exciting week in 3rd grade. With just 4 weeks left in the year, we begin our much-anticipated Astronomy unit! This week we learned about Nicholas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei. We've explored our own solar system, including our lunar phases and the 8 planets (and Pluto, too).  Listed below are some of the major Core Knowledge objectives your child will be expected to know over the course of the next 3 weeks.

• The difference between a universe, a galaxy, and a solar system. We live in the Milky Way galaxy. 
• The Big Bang is the leading scientific theory for how the universe began. We discuss the word theory  and students are encouraged to have conversations at home regarding family belief systems. 
• In everyday language, 'theory' means a hunch or a guess. To scientists, 'theory' refers to a well-supported explanation of why something happens (or happened) based on evidence. Scientific theories do not predict outcomes of future events- that's a scientific law. 
• The theory that best explains the current universe is the Big Bang theory. This theory states that, in the beginning, the universe was all in one place. All of its matter and energy were squished into an infinitely small point, a singularity. The laws of physics which applied at that instant are not understood at all. Something unknown caused the universe to explode, and thus began the expansion that we see today.
  
  

• Our Solar System includes the sun and 8 planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. (We also discuss poor Pluto, and why he isn't a planet anymore!) 

• The difference between orbit/revolution and rotation, and how these two concepts affect a planet. (One rotation = one day .. One revolution = one year)

• Earth's seasons are caused by Earth's orbit around the sun and the tilt of Earth's axis.

• Gravity and gravitational pull are forces that attract one body to another. The sun's gravity keeps the planets in orbit. The Earth's gravity does the same for the moon. The moon's gravity causes ocean tides.

• The difference between asteroids, meteors, meteorites, and comets.

• The names of the major phases of the moon, and how both lunar and solar eclipses happen. 

• The names of some major constellations, and how to use the North Star and Big Dipper to navigate at night.

• Major events and people in space exploration, including the Apollo 11 and  Challenger missions, Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, and Mae Jemison. 

Important Dates!

Friday, 5/13       Solar System hike in Eugene, 7:00am-5:00pm

Thursday, 5/26   All school Swim field trip. (12:30-3:30)

Monday, 5/30     Memorial Day, no school

Saturday, 6/4     3rd Grade Family Camp-out

Monday, 6/6       Diffendoofer-Field Day

Tuesday 6/7       USO Show, Falcon Fly-up, dismissal at 11:30

Please see the previous blog post for more details about the hike or camping trip. Have a wonderful evening! Please send a Dojo message or write "gravity" in your child's planner for a home-school connection Dojo point!