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Third Grade QUEST

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DETECTIVE CLUB
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November 2013

Issue No. Three

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THEY USED PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES AND CRITICAL THINKING TO SOLVE ENIGMAS!

CASE FILES

Your detectives have completed their unit!

The students completed their case les in RECORD time! They are now experts at using a grid to solve problems. They can even create their own grids! See the picture on the right - they are holding their certicates and their case les.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

MARFA LIGHTS

The kids received mail from the Museum of the Unknown. (See bottom picture to the right) The Museum was looking for more information on The Marfa Lights for a museum exhibit they were creating. The students took part in a guided research study, exploring the different theories behind the Marfa Lights and even coming up with their own! They completed the research project with a presentation on the iPad using the application Haiku Deck. Ask your child about the Marfa Lights!

Check out these pictures of your secret agents hard at work!

WEBQUEST

We just nished up the last part of this unit which was an independent research study using a Webquest as a guide. The students each chose a then each completed a project of choice - a powerpoint and a newscast. naturally occurring enigma (Stonehenge and Wow! What a great job they did! Ask your child which naturally occurring Machu Picchu) and conducted research. They enigma they chose and what they learned about it.

DETECTIVE CLUB!
For a brain buster, the students used Rorys Story Cubes to create a story on the iPad. It is a great game to play, and the stories turn out to be quite comical!

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WHATS NEXT FOR THESE DETECTIVES?

The next unit your detectives will be completing in QUEST is called Cipher Sleuths. We will be learning all about ciphers and codes! The students will: Explain the human need for communication Understand that there are various modes and purposes of communication Recognize that numbers, letters, and symbols are used as ways of communicating Be able to explain the difference of a code and a cipher Understand that some forms of communication must be done in secret and that codes and ciphers are a way of communicating The culminating project for the unit will result in the kids creating their own code and cipher!

Third Grade Theme:

Enigmas
Enduring Understandings:
1. Enigmas are all around us. 2. Enigmas do not always have an explanation. 3. Enigmas require research when

Completing research for the Museum of the Unknown!

searching for possible answers. 4. In order to solve or understand an enigma, you must use both convergent and divergent thinking.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS UNIT!

DETECTIVE CLUB!

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Puzzles and Things

1. I am awake while you are sleeping, but sleeping while you are awake. What am I? 2. I am the most precious thing anyone can have. Everyone has me, but no one uses me properly. What am I? 3. Throw me off the highest building and I will not break. Throw me in the ocean and I will. What am I? 4. I turn around once. What is out will not get in. I turn around again. What is in will not get out. What am I? 5. I can run, but I cannot walk. What am I?
Answers at bottom left corner

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

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