Third Grade Curriculum

Subjects of Study:

Reading
Students will:

• Continue to effectively apply a variety of reading strategies for comprehension, such as identifying author’s purpose, clarifying by asking questions, categorizing information, developing a mental picture of what is read, making predictions, sequencing, retelling, making inferences, remembering critical details, synthesizing
• Focus on the development and mastery of story elements, such as characters, setting, plot, climax, resolution, theme and point of view
• Study a variety of literature genres, such as fair tales, fables, novels, short stories, biographies, poems, historical fiction and non-fiction
• Read fluently with expression
• Read several class novels, with the aim of strengthening reading as well as comprehension

Phonics
Students will:

• Continue to reinforce the decoding skills learned in previous grades (the program works with the spelling program to ensure students receive a balanced amount of decoding and encoding practice)

Spelling
Students will:

• Correctly spell frequently used and common words
• Practice encoding; learn spelling rules and apply them through a variety of activities such as spelling games and spelling dictation

Writing
Students will:

• Practice the writing process: pre-writing, drafting, proofreading, revising and publishing using the Structure and Style program
• Compose various types of writing pieces including narrative, creative, descriptive, expository, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, and report writing
• Further develop use of key word outlines to build better writing pieces

Math
Students will:

• Master basic skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication (through 12) and division
• Develop and master strategies for problem solving: restate the problem, identify relevant information brainstorm approaches, identify the answer (using Singapore Math program)
• Develop skills needed to write a number sentence
• Master one- and two-step word problems
• Understand perfect squares, square roots, Roman numerals, and decimals
• Add and subtract fractions with like denominators
• Use denominators and identify mixed numbers
• Compare quantities, order numbers, and identify place value to the hundred thousand
• Further develop multiplication skills: 1 digit x 3 digit, with and without regrouping
• Further develop division skills: 3 digit by 1 digit, introduction to 3 digit by 2 digit with quotient written as remainder
• Develop understanding of statistics and probability
• Further develop understanding of measurement and time, geometry, fractions, decimals and problem solving
• Practice math timed tests of basic facts

Grammar
Students will:

• Write a complete sentence with appropriate grade level spelling, grammar, punctuation
• Identify subject and predicate
• Identify nouns, verbs and adjectives
• Develop understanding of adverbs

Science
Students will:

• Practice the scientific methods of observing, measuring, predicting, comparing and classifying
• Use hands-on investigating to illustrate concepts learned, including scientific inquiry and reasoning, the scientific method, life science (habitats), space, the geosphere, and physical science (force, motion, light and sound)

Social Studies
Students will:

• Further develop understanding of chronological thinking, changes over time, and calendar time
• Focus on the Earliest Americans, exploration of North America (1500s), Thirteen colonies, American Revolution (1775), Declaration of Independence (1776), U.S. Constitution (1787), Bill of Rights (1789), Lewis and Clark (1804), Westward Expansion, Native Americans, Slavery, North South Divide, Civil War (1861), Cultural regions in North America, National and local folk tales, National and local celebrations and holidays, historical figures from U.S. history
• Further develop understanding of maps and globes, keys and legends, symbols, grid system, coordinates, compass rose, cardinal/intermediate directions, hemispheres, the Equator, and poles
• Identify and use various types of maps: political, physical, climate, atlas, population
• Identify various physical land formations: boundary, cape, channel, delta, isthmus, oasis, plateau, swamp, tundra, valley
• Identify various water formations: bay, gulf, reservoir, strait
• Locate places on a map: home, school, city, state, regions, countries, continents
• Focus on early American settlements, Original Thirteen Colonies, westward movement, American Indian settlements
• Study use and care of natural resources, renewable and non-renewable

Religion
Students will:

• Study stories from The Old Testament beginning with the Story of Creation and leading up to the life of Christ
• Continue to study the New Testament, focusing on the works and teachings of Christ’s ministry on Earth
• Recognize the Old Testament stories and Jesus’s parables in the New Testament teach us about God’s love for us
• Develop growth in virtue (through the K4J program)
• Recognize and celebrate certain special Feast Days
• Learn specific prayers
• Participate in weekly Mass, as well as in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist

Third grade students also attend classes in Art, Music, Spanish, Physical Education and media center.