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. Students will also help plan and serve at several school Liturgies this year.

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 the High Frequency Word List. 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 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. These skills are reinforced throughout the curriculum.

Overview: Review addition and subtraction facts. Other skills include regrouping, (carrying and borrowing), problem solving, time and money, standard measurement, multiplication facts to 12x12, some division facts, graphing, fractions, some decimals, and geometry.

Science – The third grade science curriculum has changed this year. There are four units of study. They include Forms of energy, Water and Weather, Changes in Ecosystems, and Variation of Inherited Characteristics, this last unit helps the students understand the offspring of plants and animals closely resemble their parents, but are not exactly the same as their parents, which helps them survive changing conditions.

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, Art and Spanish are taught by specialists.