Third Grade - Curriculum
	Third grade weather study. Language Arts The literature chosen for the Language Arts curriculum varies each year, taking into account students’ readiness, interests and learning styles. An emphasis is placed on literature that enhances other areas of the curriculum (e.g., Social Studies and Science). The Language Arts texts and workbooks are as follows: Afflerbach, Peter, et. al.:  Reading Street, Pearson Education, Inc., Glenview, Illinois,  2007. Beers, James, et. al.: Everyday Spelling, Scott Foresman Addison Wesley, Glenview, Illinois 2000. Editors, Scott Foresman: Practice Book, Pearson Education, Inc., Glenview, Illinois, 2007. Kemoer, Dave and Nathan, Ruth: Write on Track, Houghton Mifflin Company, Willmington, Massachusetts, 1996. Sebranek, Pat and Kemper, Dave: Write on Track: Skills Book, Houghton Mifflin Company, Willmington, Massachusetts2002. Thurber, Donald Neal:  D’Nealian Handwriting, Scott Foresman Addison Wesley, Glenview, Illinois, 1999. Reading The Third Grade reading program incorporates the Scott-Foresman reading series, Reading Street with literature that enriches all subject areas. All students read curriculum-based books that are grade appropriate.  As the curriculum is differentiated, students are provided with reinforcement as well as enrichment materials that support him/her in mastering appropriate reading materials. Writing projects are done in conjunction with student’s reading, providing an opportunity for students to analyze the materials they have read.  Students participate in group discussions, enhancing comprehension, auditory processing and vocabulary development. In Third Grade, twenty minutes of reading is assigned each night for homework, much of which is related to skill-building, comprehension activities and/or other areas of the curriculum. Spelling and Vocabulary The spelling approach used in Third Grade emphasizes, amongst other things, phonics, as well as rules and exceptions in spelling and incorporates words used in all areas of the curriculum. Vocabulary words are introduced from all areas of the curriculum. Student’s strengths are assessed and the spelling and vocabulary program is continually restructured to improve student’s spelling and vocabulary. Creative support activities are integrated to strengthen encoding and decoding skills. The Third Grade spelling and vocabulary program emphasizes accountability for spelling and word use in everyday writing. Writing The Third Grade follows the writing process of brainstorming, rough drafts, self-editing, occasional peer editing and student/teacher conferencing, resulting in a publishable piece of writing.  By mid-year, cursive handwriting is required. Personal narratives, persuasive pieces, expository works, poetry, book reports, letters, and research reports will be written in Third Grade.  Sentence structure, grammar, and the mechanics of writing will be emphasized throughout the year and the emphasis will be on the incorporation of learned skills in everyday writing. The Write on Track Sourcebook as well as the accompanying workbook will be used as a tool to illustrate and reinforce the various mechanics of writing. A main focus of the writing program is writing complete, coherent paragraphs, ultimately combining paragraphs to write letters and reports. We use the metaphor of a hamburger, with the top of the bun representing the topic sentence, the hamburger, lettuce and tomato representing the relevant details and the bottom of the bun representing the concluding sentence. Research projects that build knowledge about a topic and develop research skills, with culminating projects presented at the Third Grade State Fair in the spring.   Writing Skills Using Punctuation periods, question marks and exclamation points commas: in a series, before a conjunction when combining two sentences into a compound sentence, following a greeting and closing quotation marks apostrophes: to show possession, in contractions checking mechanics punctuating capitalizing abbreviating plurals verb tenses relevant word use Understanding Sentences types of sentences: declarative, interrogative, exclamatory and imperative subjects and predicates sentence fragments and run-on sentences simple and compound sentences Understanding Language and Parts of Speech vocabulary development and appropriate word use common nouns, proper nouns, abbreviations and pronouns articles adjectives and adverbs verbs, helping verbs, irregular verbs and verb tenses  question words contractions, conjunctions, prepositions and interjections possessives and plurals homophones, homographs, synonyms and antonyms compound words dialogue Handwriting legible print and D’Nealian cursive handwriting utilized     Prewriting tools o    use prewriting tools, such as semantic webs and concept maps to organize ideas and information Types of Writing personal narratives persuasive pieces expository works poetry letter writing book reports research reports well-constructed paragraphs   use of linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more) to connect ideas within categories of information dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and more using temporal words and phrases to signal event order develop topics with facts, definitions, and details            ·         Production and distribution of writing o   with guidance and support, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose o   with guidance and support, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing o   with guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (via PowerPoint presentations, etc.), as well as to interact and collaborate with others via videoconferencing, etc.         ·         Range of writing    o   Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.         ·    Portfolio       o maintain a portfolio that includes imaginative and interpretive writing as a method of reviewing work with teachers and parents Mathematics Textbook: Charles, et al. Third Grade Math.Scott Foresman-Addison Wesley 2000                      Data Collection and Graphs read and make pictographs read and make bar graphs read and make line graphs organize data use coordinate grids Place Value understand place value to the hundred thousands explore place value relationships compare and order numbers round to the tens and hundreds Time tell time to the nearest five minutes explore time to the nearest minute time to the half hour and quarter hour elapsed time use ordinal numbers read and use a calendar Addition explore addition patterns add on a hundred chart explore algebra: missing addends estimate sums add with regrouping add two, three and four-digit numbers column addition use mental math count coins use the dollar and cent symbols explore making change add money Subtraction review the meaning of subtraction explore subtraction patterns subtract on a hundred chart estimate differences explore regrouping subtract two, three and four-digit numbers subtract with two regroupings subtract across zero use mental math subtract money Multiplication explore equal groups write multiplication sentences multiplication stories learn basic facts doubling explore patterns on a hundred chart explore patterns on a fact table multiply three factors estimate products multiplication with arrays multiply two and three-digit numbers multiply money Division explore division as sharing explore division as repeated subtraction division stories connect multiplication and division learn division facts even and odd numbers use division patterns estimate quotients division with remainders Geometry solids faces of solids: polygons lines and line segments angles slides, flips and turns symmetry perimeter area volume Fractions explore equal parts name and write fractions equivalent fractions compare and order fractions estimate fractional amounts fractions and sets find the fraction of a number mixed numbers add and subtract fractions Measurement explore customary length measure length to the nearest 1/2 and 1/4 inch explore length in feet and inches feet, yards and miles centimeters, meters and kilometers metric and customary capacity customary weight grams and kilograms Decimals explore tenths and hundredths add and subtract decimals connect decimals and money Science Third Grade science builds upon the natural curiosity of children, emphasizing positive science attitudes, process skills, problem solving, inquiry and science content. Emphasis is placed on using the ability to make predictions, record observations and data, and draw conclusions. Students gain a well rounded appreciation of science through their exposure to life science, physical science, and earth science. Integration with mathematics and technology are threaded throughout the units. Emphasis is placed upon making predications, observing the world around them, recording data and drawing conclusions. Areas of study include animals, predator-prey relationships, uses of water and need for water quality, weather, sound, light, shadows, and technology. Animals •Traits of animals •Vertebrates verses invertebrates •Build a vertebral column •Examples of vertebrates •Examples of invertebrates •Adaptations for survival •Ways animals protect themselves •Methods by which animals learn •Using fossils to learn about past animals Human Body Systems •Roles of the body systems •Major organs of the body systems •Skeletal System •Digestive System •Nervous System •Immune System •Respiratory System •Circulatory System Water •Model locations of Earth’s water •Importance of water •Uses of water •Structure of water •Phases of water •Water cycle •Importance of clean water Weather •Define weather •Identify causes of weather •Role of the atmosphere •Measure and predict weather •Build an anemometer •Observe a rain gauge •Read weather maps •Compare weather across the country •Compare and contrast types of storms Sound •Creating sound •Vibrations •Pitch •Calculate frequencies of sound •Sound travel •Animal sounds Patterns in the Sky •Causes of shadows •Annual patterns •Constellations •Earth’s rotation and revolution •Phases of the moon •Eclipses Technology •Technology and energy •Wind energy •Solar energy •Hydroelectric energy Social Studies The Third Grade Social Studies curriculum focuses on learning the value of building a sense of community, from the local to the global.  It will be an introspective look outwards, from learning about the East Woods School community, to our own communities, to the communities of past and present immigrants.  Finally, the study of communities culminates in a research project where each student learns about the history, geography, places of interest, people of interest and/or economics of a specific state.   The many resources of the classroom, the EWS Library and computer lab, are further enriched through our many field trips and guest visitors, chosen for their relevance to the areas of Third Grade study. Historical fiction will also be used to enhance the curriculum. Through these varied experiences, the students will acquire the knowledge and skills to better prepare them for a changing world. Social Studies textbook: Clinton, Dr. Catherine: Share Our World, Houghton Mifflin Company, Wilmington, Massachusetts, 1997. Communities What is a community? Oyster Bay, culminating in an Oyster Bay Walking Tour field trip other communities and cultures in the United States rural, suburban and urban communities how structure, rules and laws are needed to create safe and productive environments, enhanced by a field trip to Safety Town, whenever possible celebrations, holidays and festivals Exploring Maps and Geography map of Oyster Bay map of the United States exploring the world map natural resources of various environments using climate and resource maps Citizenship voting pledges and anthems conflict resolution decision making helping the environment Early America Native American communities settlers at Jamestown Salem, Massachusetts (1700’s) Growing America our heritage: interviews of grandparents ancestor on-line search via the Ellis Island website immigration, enhanced by Ellis Island field trip Economics earning a living global market goods and services farms to factories global market Government local government people, public places and services county government candidates and rules state government people, laws, taxes and state services national government President, Congress, court system, Constitution, Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights