Study Buddy
Destination: Southeastern United States
Dear Parents,
We are sending the study buddy out today, and we’ll let you
know the test date closer to time. Remember, just like with the
last study buddy, if you study with your child and you sign saying
you have studied, your child receives 3 Bonus Points if they bring
back the study buddy on the day of the test.
Thanks,
3rd Grade Teachers
Science Concepts that I need to understand:
 Hurricanes form over warm water. Hurricanes are large
storms that produce strong winds and lots of rain. When
hurricanes reach land, they die down. Hurricanes can cause
much damage to buildings, and they can cause floods. The
hurricanes that hit the Southeast start in the Atlantic Ocean
or the Caribbean Sea.
Sound:
 Sound is a form of kinetic energy. Energy is the ability to do work.
 Vibration is a type of motion that is responsible for making sound.
 Sound travels in waves.
 There are differences in sounds (high pitch and low pitch). These
differences are because of the vibrations.
 Instruments make different sounds because of the vibrations of
moving parts within the instrument.
 Describe the parts of the human ear. (external ear, middle ear, inner
ear, eardrum, hammer, auditory nerve, cochlea)
 Explain how to protect your hearing and why you should protect your
hearing.
 A hearing aid is used when our hearing is damaged. If a person
cannot hear at all, they are deaf.
Light
 Light is a form of kinetic energy. Energy is the ability to do work.
 Light travels in waves.
 Light travels faster than sound.
 Light can be observed to determine how it travels and how it interacts
with different materials. (reflects, absorbed, passes through)
 Light travels in a straight path until it strikes an object.
 Light reflects when it strikes a mirror.
 Light refracts when it strikes water.
 Light is absorbed in dark material.
 Light travels through materials that are transparent (clear).
 Light travels through materials that are translucent, but it won’t be as
bright.
 Light cannot pass through materials that are opaque. This may cause
a shadow.
 Lenses can be used for magnifying and blending light.
 Describe the parts of the human eye.




Light enters through the pupil (the black part or opening of your eye).
The cornea is a transparent covering on the eye.
The optic nerve sends messages to the brain.
Explain how to protect your eyes and why you should protect your
eyesight. Safety glasses and sunglasses help protect our eyes.
When someone cannot see at all, they are blind.
Some social studies concepts I will need to understand:
 The Caribbean Sea is located between South America and
North America.
 The Gulf of Mexico is like a c-shaped body of sea water.
 The Atlantic Ocean forms the Eastern boundary of the United
States.
 The Mississippi River is the oldest river in the United States.
 The mountain chain that is located in the Southeast is called
the Appalachian Mountains.
 There are 12 states that are considered part of the Southeast.
They include: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
 Each state has a capital city. Tallahassee, Florida; Atlanta,
Georgia; Columbia, South Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina;
Richmond, Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia; Frankfort,
Kentucky; Nashville, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama;
Jackson, Mississippi; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Baton
Rouge, Louisiana.
 Florida is a peninsula. That means it is a piece of land
surrounded by water on three sides.
 The Everglades is a National Park located at the southern tip
of Florida.
 Beaches/coastlines are located where the land connects to
the sea. Most states in the Southeast have beaches. Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia all
touch the Atlantic Ocean. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and
Louisiana all touch the Gulf of Mexico.
 A large delta has formed where the Mississippi River empties
into the Gulf of Mexico. A delta is a great place for farming,
but it can flood easily.
 Choosing to live or to build along the coast is a risk. You may
enjoy the beautiful beaches and warm sunshine, but you take
a risk because of the hurricanes that often hit in these areas.
 Back in history, there were people who moved here to make
money. They raised large crops of cotton in the rich soil of
the southeast. These large cotton farms were called
plantations. In order to help do all of the hard work on the
plantations, the owners often bought slaves from Africa to
work.
Performances I will need to be able to do:
Can I locate all 12 Southeastern states on a map and identify their
capitals?
Can I locate the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the
Mississippi River, the Appalachian Mountains, and the Caribbean
Sea on a map?
Can I describe the effects of a hurricane?
Can I explain the behavior of light as it reflects and refracts?
Can I explain how sound is produced?
Can I explain how different pitches are formed?
Remember the test date will be at a later time. This study
buddy is to help you know what we are doing and to help
you share in your child’s education. Studying is a key to
success.
Thank you for supporting your child by studying with them.
If your child has the study buddy signed and at school on the
day of the test, then they will receive 3 Bonus Points. (Sign
me for +3) When you sign, you are a witness that your child
has studied at home. Good Luck!
_______________________________________ (parent signature)