Our 3rd grade Rams were excited to return to school after the break and jumped right back into learning with enthusiasm! They have begun Wit & Wisdom Module 4, A New Home, which invites students to explore themes of belonging, change, and understanding others through literature.
The module’s anchor text, Grandfather’s Journey, is a realistic fiction story that follows a character traveling between Japan and America. As students read and discuss the text, they are learning about the emotions that often come with immigrating to a new place—such as excitement, uncertainty, and homesickness. Students are having wonderful conversations that have sparked thoughtful discussions around the module’s essential question: How do stories help us understand immigrants’ experiences?
Throughout the unit, students will explore the challenges immigrants may face when adjusting to a new country, including learning new customs, adapting to unfamiliar environments, and balancing old and new traditions. Our 3rd graders have been eager to share different journeys and perspectives, building empathy and deeper comprehension through meaningful classroom dialogue.
To connect reading and writing, students are beginning narrative writing by creating fictional letters inspired by the experiences of the characters they are studying. This creative activity allows them to step into someone else’s shoes and express thoughts and feelings through writing, strengthening both literacy skills and emotional understanding.
3rd grade is off to a wonderful start this quarter, and students are excited to continue learning, sharing, and growing together!
