THIRD GRADE
Developmental Characteristics of Eight and Nine Year Olds
Eight year olds have big goals and a large imagination. They are anxious to achieve new goals but do not always have the patience to accomplish them. There is a love of fun and friends, coupled with some level of anxiety. The transition to nine comes with increased worry and inquisition. There is an increase in the level of competitiveness and arguing at times when working in groups. Begin to see the world at large, as well as the concerns and problems that accompany our community. They need patience, love and laughter from the adults who love them!
English Language Arts - Reading
Students continue on their journey of not simply learning to read but reading to learn. They experience both fiction and nonfiction text while applying a variety of comprehension strategies. Students continue to refine their skills while working in guided reading groups structured to meet their individual needs and skills levels. In addition, students become empowered to make independent choices and develop a passion and appreciation for literature.
Curricular Materials and Resources:
- Wilson Phonics
- Guided Reading and Leveled Library
- Lucy Calkin’s Units of Study
- Balanced Literacy including Reader’s Workshop
Students Will:
- Use comprehension strategies such as previewing, predicting, questioning and visualizing
- Make inferences, draw conclusions and summarize chapters
- Read appropriate grade level texts with fluency and accuracy
- Retell stories including fables, folktales and myths from a variety of diverse cultures
- Distinguish between first, second and third person point of view
- Use text features to demonstrate understanding of text and domain specific words
English Language Arts - Writing
Students learn how to draft writing pieces from a variety of genres including personal narratives, compare/contrast essays, poetry and research based informational pieces. They refine their ability to draft introductory sentences, supporting details and strong conclusions. Their appreciation for writing is enhanced through opportunities to draft pieces from self-selected topics.
Curricular Materials and Resources:
- Guided Reading and Leveled Library
- Step Up To Writing
- Lucy Calkin’s Units of Study
- Six Traits of Writing
- Balanced Literacy including Writer’s Workshop
Students Will:
- Write about a variety of topics incorporating expository and narrative styles
- Understand and utilize the steps of the writing process including brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing and publishing
- Research information and organize notes into cohesive sentences and paragraphs
- Use linking words and transition words appropriately
- Provide well developed introductions and conclusions when producing narrative and informational writing pieces
- Utilize technology to produce and publish writing pieces
Math
Students at this level are transitioning from the concrete stage of understanding to a more conceptual abstract level. Topics are introduced in such a way to provide depth rather than breadth. Learned skills are enhanced through meaningful and in depth hands-on learning experiences.
Students will focus on the following strands:
OPERATIONS AND ALGEBRAIC THINKING
- Represents and solves problems involving multiplication and division
- Understands properties of multiplication and the relationship between multiplication and division
- Multiplies and divides within 100
- Solve problems involving four operations
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS
Uses place value understanding and properties of operations to perform multi-digit arithmetic
NUMBERS AND OPERATIONS - FRACTIONS
- Develops an understanding of fractions as numbers
- Understands the concepts of representing, reducing and comparing fractions
MEASUREMENT AND DATA
- Solves problems involving measurement and estimation of intervals of time, liquid volume and masses of objects
- Represents and interprets data using a variety of types of graphs
- Understands concepts of area and relates to multiplication and addition
- Understands perimeter and distinguishes between linear and area measures
GEOMETRY
Reasons with shapes and their attributes
Religion Objectives
- Express an understanding of the liturgical year and recognize its impact on liturgical celebrations
- Relate the feast of Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the early Christians
- Recite the Apostles Creed and the Memorare from memory
- Discuss and define the sacraments of service, holy orders, and matrimony
- Identify Mary’s faith and trust in God as a model of perfect Christianity.
- Express understanding that the Mass is the great celebration of the Church
THEME STUDIES - SOCIAL STUDIES
Curricular objectives based upon the College, Career and Civic Life framework developed by the National Council for Social Studies.
PRINCIPLES OF THE REPUBLIC
- Identify and explain why cities make laws and ordinances
- Discuss and apply responsibilities of citizens
- Identify the purposes of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution
PRINCIPLES AND PROCESSES OF GOVERNMENT SYSTEMS
- Analyze peaceful resolutions of disputes
- Identify and explain the three branches of the government at the federal level
MISSOURI UNITED STATES AND WORLD HISTORY
Identify the contributions of Martin Luther King Jr.
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES
- Identify and explain public goods and services
- Conduct a cost benefit analysis
- Identify taxes and how they are used
ELEMENTS OF GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY AND ANALYSIS
- Read and construct maps
- Locate and label the states bordering Missouri
- Describe various ecosystems in Missouri
- Identify examples of different regions
THEME STUDIES - SCIENCE
Curricular objectives based upon the Next Generation Science Standards and in partnership with Washington University’s MYSCI units of study.
LIFE SCIENCE DOMAIN
- What do plants need to grow?
- How many types of living things live in a place?
PHYSICAL SCIENCE DOMAIN
- How are materials similar and different from one another?
- How do the properties of materials relate to their use?
EARTH SCIENCE DOMAIN
- How can land change and what causes it to change?
- What are different types of land and bodies of water?