3rd Grade
In the Third Grade, Language Arts is integrated into every aspect of the curriculum- math, science, social studies, and in our Units of Inquiry. Students will have the opportunity to identify and reflect upon “big ideas” by making connections between the questions asked and the concepts that drive the inquiry. They will become aware of the relevance these concepts have to all of their learning. Students will understand the reading and writing process, the effective use of language as a valuable life skill, the structures of language, and that communicative competence comes before emphasis on accuracy.
Oral Communication
Students will appreciate the power of oral language and use speech with increasing awareness and responsibility. They will participate appropriately in discussions and will talk about a wide range of topics. Students will learn how to listen attentively, to understand and evaluate what they hear, to think about both literal and inferred meanings, and to respond appropriately. They will become increasingly aware of the use of oral language to articulate, organize and reflect on learning. They will use increasingly complex language confidently and creatively, with increasing accuracy, detail and range of vocabulary. Speaking involves the pronunciation, intonation and stress of speech, vocabulary development, the use of grammar, and the speaker’s fluency and accuracy.
Written Communication
Students will read a variety of fiction and nonfiction books confidently, fluently, and independently, and they will select books appropriate to their reading level and for a specific purpose. Every nine weeks, the children will need to turn in two book reports, (they have a choice on how they wish to present them) on teacher-approved fiction or non-fiction. They need to be on a variety of literary genres. The students will learn to use reference books, dictionaries and information technology independently. They will read daily in class and will regularly read for a sustained period of time, both in class and at home.
Grammar, spelling, handwriting, punctuation and paragraphing will be taught gradually through the writing process. Students will develop fluency in writing, and will write independently and with confidence. They will begin to use a wide and vivid vocabulary with supporting details. They will understand that difference types of writing have different structures. They will write for a range of purposes, both creative and informational, and will plan, edit and review their own writing. They will present their writing appropriately using a consistent, legible style.
They will spell most high frequency words accurately and use a range of strategies to spell words of increasing complexity. There will be a spelling pretest every Monday, and a spelling test on Friday. In grade three, we use a spelling program based on commonly misspelled words, spelling patterns, root words, prefixes and suffixes, and unit of inquiry words. Students review the words using the Look, Cover, Say strategy. They are encouraged to “Have a Go” when they misspell words. They use independent spelling strategies to try to correct their spelling errors as well as tools such as dictionaries, spell check, etc. Spelling tests do not make up students’ entire spelling grade. Additional spelling grades come from application of learned skills and strategies as evidenced in their daily independent written work.
Visual Communication
Students will experience a wide variety of visual media materials. They will respond to viewing experiences orally and in writing. They will use a variety of materials to plan and create projects with different media and will use electronic media to find information. The children will learn how to create Keynote presentations, use Inspiration, use online references, write and edit/spell-check using AppleWorks, word processing and drawing, and make use of articles from newspapers and magazines.
Math in Grade 3
1st six weeks
Graphing: line graphs, pictographs, bar graphs, reading and interpreting, plotting points on a grid.
Collecting data: tally marks (mean and mode for those who are ready)
Addition and subtraction problem solving (number stories one and two steps)
Rounding to the nearest tens, hundreds.
Estimating sums.
Place Value: comparing numbers and ordering numbers.
Plotting points on a number line
Expanded notation.
Number patterns.
Add and subtract with regrouping to the millions.
2nd six weeks
Measurement: metric and customary length, weight, capacity, converting units.
Reading a thermometer.
Telling time (to the nearest five minutes, minute, elapsed time, quarter hour, half hour)
Elapsed Time
Timelines
Calendar.
Counting, adding and subtracting money.
Making change.
3rd six weeks
Multiplication as repetitive addition
Multiplication arrays
Multiplication facts 0-5
Solving and writing multiplication word problems (one digit factors)
Identifying patterns in multiplication.
4th six weeks
Multiplication facts 0-12
Analysis of the multiplication table (12x12)
Cumulative Law of Multiplication
5th six weeks
Area.
Perimeter.
Angles.
Geometric vocabulary: faces, corners, parallel, congruent, symmetric, intersecting, obtuse, acute.
Properties of solid 3-D figures.
Lines, line segments, rays.
Congruent figures.
Lines of Symmetry
Slides, flips, rotations.
Probability: likely, more likely, less likely.
Possible outcomes: possible, impossible, certain, uncertain.
Constructing concrete models of fractions.
Using fractions names to describe parts of a whole.
6th six weeks
Comparing fractional parts of a whole with concrete objects.
Constructing concrete models of equivalent fractions.
Comparing and ordering fractions.
Collecting data and creating ratios.
Understanding fact families in relation to multiplication and division.
Using models to solve division problems.
Multiplying with three digits (2x3) x5
Multiplying with larger numbers 24x6
On going math goals
Understanding mathematical language (certain words give clues to operations)
Mental math calculations
Applying math concepts to other disciplines
Checking math work for reasonableness
Explaining math methods and reasoning.
Communicating mathematically orally, in writing, with pictures, and graphic representations.
Identifying real life situations when math is used.
Using calculators to check answers.
Solving multiple steps problems.
Analyzing word problems for too much/too little information.
Using logical reasoning.
Problem solving strategies: work backward, draw a picture, make a table, look for a pattern, solve a simpler problem, guess and check.
Science in Grade 3
Third Grade Science and Technology, through transdisciplinary skills, will take place primarily within the context of our Unit of Inquiry. Within these units, students will explore our central ideas, using both science and technology as they have relevance and significance to their learning. Those topics not included in units will be addressed as stand alone units.
Students will record, describe, question, analyze data, and draw conclusions throughout the inquiry process. They will develop their scientific investigation skills by reflecting on their findings to identify patterns or connections, make predictions, and test and refine their ideas with increasing accuracy.
Within the context of our units, students will explore the ways objects and phenomena function, identify parts of a system and gain an understanding of increasingly complex cause and effect relationships. They will examine change over time and recognize that change may be affected by one or more variables (How The World Works, Where We Are In Place And Time, Sharing The Planet). They will be aware of different perspectives and ways of organizing the world (How We Organize Ourselves, How We Express Ourselves), and will be able to consider how these views and customs may have been formulated. Students will use their learning in science to plan positive and realistic action to improve their welfare and that of other living things and the environment (Sharing The Planet, Where We Are In Place And Time, How The World Works).
Science and Technology
Science and technology is an integrated area of inquiry and will present itself as needed throughout all areas of our curriculum. The unique perspective provided by following the strands outlined below contributes to an understanding of our world and out place in it.
Living Things
Third graders will investigate the characteristics and basic needs of living organisms, including both animal and plant life. By this age, students will understand that organisms can only survive in environments in which their basic needs can be met. As thy explore the life cycles of different living things, they can begin to consider the impact of environment and the concept of inherited traits.
Earth Science
Students will identify the materials the earth is made of (rocks, minerals and soils, water, and the gases of the atmosphere). They will learn that these materials have different properties and that their properties affect their use as natural resources. They will begin to recognize how misuse of these materials results in the destruction of the earth’s natural resources.
Earth and Space
This is the study of the planet Earth and its relationships to the universe. Active investigation and observable objects in the sky (clouds, sun, moon, and stars) leads third graders to understand that all objects in our solar system have properties, locations, and movements that can be observed and described. They will explore different ways in which natural phenomena can change the earth.
Forces and Energy
Third graders will take on the concept of energy, its origins and its effects. Through active investigation, students will deepen their understanding of force and motion. They will explore the properties of light, heat, and sound. They will observe, describe, measure, and classify the properties of objects including size, weight, shape, color, and temperature.
Tools and Technology
Third graders select and use tools and technology to help them conduct effective scientific investigations. As they use these materials, supplies, and equipment in safe and appropriate ways, their awareness of how scientists use and invent tools to solve scientific problems will increase.
Social Studies in Grade 3
Social Studies in third grade emphasizes social and cultural understanding, encompassing history, economics, citizenship, and geography. Third grade social studies will take place primarily within the context of all our units of inquiry. Within these units, students will explore our central ideas, delving into social studies as it has relevance and significance to their learning.
In the third grade, students will expand their understanding of human society, focusing on themselves and others within their own community, as well as other communities that are distant in time and place. Through our units of inquiry, students will inquire into people’s need for government, education, transportation, and communication. They will begin to observe the cause and effect in relationships. We will as questions such as “Why did this happen this way?” or “What might happen in the future?’ to encourage connections and understandings of how the past shapes the future. In addition, third graders will deepen their understanding of how people influence and are influenced by their environment. Students will gain an appreciation between valuing the environment and protecting it.
Social Studies Perspective
Social Studies is an integrated area of inquiry and will present itself as needed throughout all areas of our curriculum. The unique perspective provided by following the strands outlined below contributes to an understanding of human activity.
History
In third grade we will search to develop and understanding of the past, its influences on the present, and its implications for the future. Students will begin to understand how local, regional, and national governments and their traditions have been shaped by events and people in history. We will look at famous scientists and inventors, and examine their impact upon human society. As third graders learn about continuity and change, they will reflect on how technology has changed our world and the impact such change has had on people’s lives throughout the world.
Geography
Third graders will learn to make, read, and interpret maps. They will begin to understand scale and will read and create legends on maps. They will identify ways people’s lives are influenced by their environment (climate, physical features, and natural resources). Whether studying the local community or a place far away or in the past, they will reflect on how environmental factors have shaped the culture, traditions, and economy of those communities. They will be expected to think about how people have changed the environment for specific purposes and explore the positive and negative effects of these changes. They will reflect upon and build an awareness of how they can contribute to preserving the earth’s natural resources.
Government
Third graders will develop an understanding of the basic structure and function of government and will reflect on why different groups had different ways of organizing themselves. We will look at the reason for rules and laws, and students will consider ways in which rules and laws protect people’s rights and ensure that people are treated fairly. We will then compare how laws are made and upheld today as compared with earlier times.