Third Grade
Curriculum
RELIGION
The third grade religion program provides the students
with opportunities:
- to experience community
- to receive systematic instruction in the essentials of
Catholic faith
- to develop skills in loving God and neighbor
- to give expression to their own growth in faith
The content of the third grade religion program combines:
- scripture
- worship
- doctrine
- mission
- justice
- morality
The topics covered in third grade are:
- believing in Jesus Christ
- believing in God's promise
- believing in God's word
- believing in the Church
- family life
MATHEMATICS
The third grade Mathematics program provides the students
with opportunities to develop their math skills. These skills will
encourage the students to become active decision-makers with the power of choice
they'll need to function in their personal lives.
Addition & Subtraction:
- add and subtract up to two 6-digit numbers including
regrouping through multiple zeros
- estimate sums and differences
- add and subtract money amounts
Place Value:
- identify standard numerals and expanded numerals
through six digits
- identify place-value and value of a digit in a numeral
- know ordinal words through ninety-ninth
- round whole numbers
Time, Money, & Measurement:
- tell time to the nearest half-hour, quarter-hour, and
minute
- identify simple unit conversion within a system of
measurement
- compare money amounts
- measure lengths to the nearest centimeter and inch
- read a thermometer
Multiplication & Division
- memorize to automaticity multiplication table for
numbers between 0 and 12 with corresponding division facts
- multiply three 1-digit factors
- choose the operation to solve the problem
- multiply a multi-digit whole number by a 1-digit whole
number
- divide a multi-digit whole number by a 1-digit whole
number to a quotient, showing a remainder when necessary
Introduction to Fractions & Decimals:
- write and compare fractions
- write, add, and subtract decimals through hundredths
- represent and convert mixed numerals and improper
fractions
- recognize that fractions based on tenths and decimals
are two different representations of the same concept
Geometry & Graphing:
- identify lines, line segments, and angles
- identify and classify shapes and figures
- find the area, perimeter, or volume of a shape
- create and interpret a bar graph, pictograph and line
plot
- interpret a pie chart
LANGUAGE ARTS
The third grade Language Arts program is designed to
encourage students to become lifelong effective communicators. To achieve
this goal, the students are exposed to quality literature and language
experiences, which enhance their reading , writing, and speaking skills.
Reading Comprehension:
- main idea and details
- comparison
- inferences
- word reference
- sequence
- predicting outcomes
- drawing conclusions
- cause and effect
Reading Word Analysis:
- prefixes and suffixes
- long word decoding
- context clues
- compound words
Reading Literature:
- story elements
- characterization
- figurative language
Reading Study Skills:
- alphabetize words
- book parts
- symbols and signs
- dictionary skills
- graphs
- following directions
Spelling:
The third grade spelling curriculum coincides with the
phonics curriculum. Some tested spelling words are taken from other
subjects such as reading and social studies and science.
ENGLISH
Grammar, Correct Usage & Mechanics:
- sentences - subjects and predicates
- nouns and pronouns - including formation of plurals
- verbs
- adjectives
- adverbs
- capitalization and punctuation
Written & Oral Communication:
- writing a paragraph
- writing a report
- writing letters
- journal writing
- creative writing
- oral presentations
- choral speaking
- book reports
- poetry
- use a word processing program
Phonics:
- initial, medial, and final consonant sounds
- short and long vowels
- y as a vowel
- consonant blends
- contractions
- dipthongs
- syllables
Handwriting:
The third grade handwriting curriculum reviews D'Nealian
manuscript and introduces D'Nealian cursive. All students write in cursive
script by the end of third grade.
SOCIAL STUDIES
The social studies program is designed to provide students
with the comprehensive knowledge, civic values, and intellectual skills they
will need to meet the challenge of citizenship in the 21st century.
The third grade Social Studies program includes:
- knowledge and understanding - history, geography, and
culture
- civic values - national identity and citizenship
- skills - map and globe skills, critical thinking,
social participation, and study skills
The theme for the third grade social studies program is
continuity and change. We focus on the physical and cultural landscape of
our local region, including:
- physical and human geography of the local region
- Native Americans of the local region
- explorers and settlers
- local economy
- how our community was established
Other topics covered in the third grade include:
- role of rules and laws in our daily lives
- basic structure of U.S. government
- lives of American heroes
SCIENCE
Students will follow an integrated science curriculum,
which includes the following subjects:
Physical Sciences:
- Energy
- Light and color
- States of matter
Life Sciences
- Plants and animals
- Environments
- Habitats
Earth Sciences
Scientific Method
- Investigation and Experimentation
- Measure length, weight, temperature and liquid volume
using appropriate tools
- Collect and analyze data in an investigation
- Use metric and standard units
Study materials include the student science textbook,
directed reading workbook, quiz sheets, review questions, video and audiotapes
and use of the Internet.
The Scientific method skills are essential for
investigating the natural world. The curriculum integrates science with
reading, writing and math skills, social studies, health and physical education
through meaningful activities and strategies. Lab work makes learning
active and encourages students to apply ideas to their daily lives.