W.T. Jackson
Elementary
Learners at
Work
Atlanta, GA
March 2, 2012
http://www.atlanta.k12.ga.us/Domain/2250
Ms. Poteet’s 3 rd Grade Newsletter
A Peek at Next Week…
Skills-at-a-Glance
o Reading
o All Shook Up
o Sequencing
o Writing
o Response to Literature
o Grammar
o Pronouns
o Math
o Complete Measurement
o Begin Geometry
o Science
o Rocks, Minerals and Soil (oh my!)
o Social Studies
o Historical Figures
o GA Studies: Interdependence
Upcoming Assignments – Week of 03/05
Wednesday –
Measurement
Thursday –
GA Studies
Friday –
Rocks and Minerals
Geo Vocabulary
Monday,
5th –
P.E.
Tuesday,
6th Science
Wednesday,
7th No Specials
Thursday,
8th –
Music
Friday,
9th P.E.
Soil
Layers of Soil:
Topsoil – Soil forms in layers. The top
layer is called topsoil. Topsoil has a lot of
humus (part of the soil that is made up of
parts of dead plants and animals). Many
small animals, such as ants and
earthworms, live in topsoil.
Subsoil – The layer underneath topsoil is
called subsoil. Subsoil does not have a lot
of humus, but it does have small rocks in
it.
Solid Rock or Bedrock – If you dig deep
enough into soil, you will reach solid rock.
This solid rock is called bedrock. Most
small rocks in soil come from the bedrock
underneath.
Different Types of Soils:
Sand – soils that have small pieces of rock
that you can see with your eyes alone.
Silt – soils with tiny grains of rock that are
too small to see without a microscope
Clay – soils with very, very tiny grains of
rock
Loam – a mixture of humus, clay, silt, and
sand. The best type of soil to grow plants
and crops.
Weathering and Erosion
Weathering – the breaking down of rocks
into smaller pieces
Erosion – the movement of weathered
rock and soil