Third Grade
Third Grade Current Unit of Inquiry
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Theme: How the World Works
Central Idea: People explore machines and apply their uses to real world situations to make work easier.
An Inquiry Into:
• The impact of machines on everyday life
• How simple machines have transformed or changed over time
• Understanding what constitutes a compound machine
English Language Arts
The third grade English Language Skills curriculum emphasizes quality reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students strengthen independent reading skills through whole class, small group, and individual reading opportunities. Students engage in activities that require knowledge of language mechanics and usage, and that foster an intuitive sense of language structure. In addition, course work includes a strong emphasis on study and organizational skills. Vocabulary development is very important at this level. Students begin identifying affixes to decipher word meanings. Students also engage in descriptive, persuasive, expository, and narrative writing, while reinforcing the writing process through continued practice. Finally, presentation skills are incorporated In grade 3 the unit of inquiry with a Language Arts focus will be A Tale to Tell and The Value of Me.
Math
While mastery of multiplication and division facts is required, third graders continue to emphasize basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division operations. Identification of even and odd numbers, factors, and multiples of numbers are visited. Students explore number properties for all operations and practice both estimates and actual calculations. Students can effectively identify, write, add and subtract fractions and decimals. Students will also count money, make change, write checks, tell time, find temperature, weigh objects, and estimate length. Geometry involves identifying and describing transformation, translations, rotations, and reflections. In addition, students also explore areas of both drawing and reading bar, line, and pictographs.
Science
At the third grade level, students are required to conduct experiments applying the scientific method. Life sciences, earth sciences, and physical sciences are each presented in the curriculum and include, but are not limited to, topics such as environmental factors adaptations, photosynthesis, variable and control, light, solar energy, and flight. Students observe phenomena resulting from their environment and obtain science information from a variety of resources such as textbooks, the internet, and observations. Hands-on lab work continues to enhance each student’s ability to gather and report data, as well as think scientifically. In grade 3 the units of inquiry with a science focus will be From the Sky, Aha! That was Simple!, and Natural Wonders.
Social Studies
The third grade social studies curriculum provides students the opportunity to explore the world to discover the cultural differences between many of our world’s countries. Through a strong literature-based program, students engage in hands-on activities that incorporate mapping skills and geography. Students will be able to identify the continents, oceans and hemispheres from around the world. Through a vast array of experiences, students will develop a sense of awareness for themselves and the world around them. In grade 3 the units of inquiry with a Social Studies focus will be So Many Places, So Many Faces and A Tale to Tell.
Art
Students work with a wide variety of mediums including paint, pencil, colored inks, clay, glazes, linoleum blocks, tissue paper, and plaster to create and express themselves. With participation in the art program, students develop skills in the use of various techniques. They will interpret and evaluate both their individual artwork and that of other students, as they explore art as it relates to culture, society, environment, and careers. In grade 3 the unit of inquiry with a science focus will be From the Sky.
Music
Through singing songs and playing instruments, students will develop the ability to perform accurately and confidently, making expressive use of musical elements. Instruction at this levels involves music appreciation activities to enhance students’ musical abilities. Music theory will include music notation, note values, key, time signatures, rhythm, dynamics, melody, harmony, and the sounds of musical instruments. Growing awareness of the social and cultural horizons of musicianship are stressed in this well-rounded experience.
Computer Technology
Our project-based program prepares children for their future by introducing students to technology vocabulary through multi-media projects. Students will be able to use terms such as file, save, open, close, print, hardware, software, fonts, graphics, menu, toolbar, and much more. At this level, students are exposed to network applications and Internet use. By the end of the course, they should be able to carry out guided searches, copying, pasting, and acknowledging sources of documents from the Internet. They should also be able to create and use applications involving word processing and graphics as well as increase their rate of typing using “Type to Learn”. In addition, computer use will be integrated into the classroom through tasks devised from all areas of the units of inquiry.
Physical Education
Student focus on physical fitness and team building skills while developing gross-motor skills, spatial awareness, body control and movement activities. Emphasis is placed on the areas of cardiopulmonary fitness, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. The President’s Challenge Physical Fitness test is administered to the students in the spring; however, physical fitness training takes place through the year to improve fitness levels. Students participate in a variety of games, such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis and focus on learning the basic rules of the game. Cooperative group skills are emphasized through a variety of games that develop a sense of fair play and cooperation with others.
Spanish
Building on their previous knowledge of Spanish, students will develop their vocabulary and be able to speak in simple sentences in Spanish. Using oral language for social interaction and to obtain knowledge of Spanish life and culture, they will use language for greetings and polite behavior. Students will learn the functional vocabulary related to daily experiences both in school and outside tin the community. Increasing their vocabulary knowledge, student at this level are encouraged to speak and explore the Spanish language through hands-on activities. Centered around the Spanish culture, this course builds basic grammar, sentence structure and communication skills of Spanish speaking countries.
Personal and Social Education
Personal and social education is concerned with developing the characteristics embodied in the Student Profile together with the attitudes that are one of the essential elements of the Primary Years Program. The students will develop an awareness of self as evidenced by their self-confidence and self-worth. They will learn to recognize, communicate and manage their own emotions., reflect on their behavior and take responsibility for their actions and choices.
The curriculum fosters awareness of the cultural, racial, social, linguistic, and religious differences in the school population, and students will develop appropriate social skills when interacting with others, while learning to develop healthy relationships, and to respect the views, needs and rights of others. The students will approach learning with flexibility, creativity and commitment, showing increasing independence and self-direction.
Library
Students will be able to orient themselves in the library in order to conduct effective research. They will be able to understand and use the library terminology, select books by interest and reading ability, locate materials both by browsing and using the online catalog, distinguish between fiction and non-fiction texts, and understand the Dewey decimal classification system. Students will be able to collect data, extract and record information, and synthesize and present information and ideas logically.
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