Third Grade Curriculum

At a Glance:

Religion - The text we use is Silver Burdett and Ginn, Blest Are We. Students learn social and conflict resolution skills through our Second Step and Steps to Respect programs. A program about personal and touching safety, titled “Talking About Touching” is taught. Religion is taught every day, as well as integrated into every aspect of our school day. Students come to know experientially all we believe as Catholics. Daily prayer reinforces the values being taught formally. Students will memorize The Apostle's Creed. The Gloria. Jesus Prayer, and the Memorare.

Literacy - Third grade literacy curriculum consists of a combined strategy of subject areas, building upon earlier learning and further development in the areas of reading, writing, and communication. We use a basal reading series, Reading , which is published by Scott Foresman. Phonics skill lessons will be taught from our spelling and reading series. Writing is modeled for students and daily writing allows opportunity for practicing new skills. Students are asked to engage in all steps of the writing process including: brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, illustrating, and publishing. They will follow these steps using the Six Trait Writing model which includes: editing and revising based on ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. Daily Oral Language gives students practice on punctuation, verb tense, capitalization, and grammar. Weekly spelling lists are derived from the Zaner-Bloser Spelling Connections and words from other curriculum areas. Third graders will learn cursive writing using the Slingerland method. We emphasize neat cursive writing as an effective communication tool. Writing, reading, and communication skills are used throughout the whole curriculum.

Math - We use the Silver Burdett Ginn text, Mathematics and the Toolkit for mathematics instruction, along with a variety of other math related materials, including math games and manipulatives, trade books, and writing activities. The students learn both computation and problem solving strategies. Writing and math skills are connected to problem solving in preparation for the 4th grade WASL. These skills are reinforced throughout the curriculum.

Overview:        Review addition and subtraction facts.

Carrying and Borrowing (Regrouping

Problem Solving

Time/Money

Standard Measurement

Multiplication

Division

Graphing

Fractions

Geometry

Science - Students use Foss Science Systems. At the third grade level, this consists of three interactive kits: The Human Body, Measurement, and the Physics of Sound. These kits employ hands-on, real world science with multimedia materials and active learning at its core.

Physics of Sound - Students learn about how sounds are made and how they travel from origin to ear. This unit will also include a component about light and how it travels.

Measurement - Students learn metric measurement through hands-on learning experience.

Human Body - Students learn about how their bodies work through a focus on the bones and muscles. Students will work on a research paper related to science this year.

Students will also learn about and apply the Scientific Method.

Social Studies – In third grade, students begin to explore more complex concepts and ideas from civics, economics, geography, and history. Students will study the varied backgrounds of people living in Washington and the rest of the United States . Emphasis is on the cultures in the United States , including the study of Native Americans. Students will study these cultures from the past and in the present and how these cultures have shaped our present society. There will be 3 main units of study; First Nations of North America, Cultures of North America, and Cultures in Our Community. Catholic Social Justice Teachings will be incorporated in each unit.

Fine Arts - Students learn art history through featured artists and art styles. After learning about a particular artist or style of art, the students replicate the work to the best of their ability. Students will be learning about the artwork of the Native Americans in North America as part of a social studies unit. In addition, students will be learning about the lives and works of famous artists Jacob Lawrence and Georgia O'Keefe. Art is also incorporated into other subject areas.

Research Projects - Third graders will be working on at least 2 research projects during the year. These will be related to a curriculum area determined by the teacher.

** Music, Physical Education, Library Media Center, and Spanish are taught by specialists.