Miss Hayley Sweet
Third Grade Class Summary
Language Arts:
The language arts curriculum for Third Grade focuses on skills in reading,
writing, listening, viewing, speaking, language and literature. Reinforcing
the concepts taught in Second Grade, the students learn to use the reading
process more effectively with emphasis placed on reading comprehension. Students
gain knowledge of the writing process by participating in prewriting, drafting,
editing, rewriting and publishing. Students incorporate the grammar skills
taught in Second Grade into their writing.
Texts:
Houghton Mifflin Reading Series: Reading, 2006 (2 volumes)
* Horizons
* Rewards
Zaner-Bloser Handwriting Opens the Door to Communication: Grade 3, 2003
Supplemental Materials:
Series transparencies and practice workbooks
Write a Super Sentence, Paragraph Writing, Punctuation (Evan-Moor Corp., 1997)
Daily Oral Language Level 3 (McDougal, Littell, & Company)
Month-by-Month Phonics for Third Grade: Systematic Multi-level Instruction,
Cunningham and Hall (Carson-Dellosa)
Series workbooks and assessments
Various worksheets
Trade books and “Big Books”
Methods:
Reading is taught daily through the use of the textbook series with selected
skills reinforced as needed. The Reading Practice book emphasizes phonics,
grammar and the proper usages of speech. Daily Oral Language provides hands?on
practice in correcting misspelled words, punctuation, capitalization and grammatical
errors. Weekly spelling words reinforce basic rules of English. Daily journal
writing provides an opportunity for students to express themselves and explore
new ideas. Reading aloud from quality literature broadens their vocabulary
and knowledge of genres.
Mathematics:
The purpose of mathematics instruction in the Third Grade is to build
on the concepts and skills taught in Second Grade by practicing and applying
operations and number theories. Students learn to evaluate and choose appropriate
operations for solving word problems. This process includes memorizing multiplication
facts and applying them to word problems. Measurement is used to correctly
solve problems with real?life applications. Students begin to understand basic
concepts of geometry, algebraic thinking, data analysis and probability.
Text:
Everyday Mathematics, McGraw Hill, 2004 (2 volumes)
Student Reference Books
Supplemental Materials:
Series student math journal workbook
Series skill sheets, manipulatives and games
Math Topics and Math Practice (Instructional Fair)
Mathematics in Action (Macmillan/McGraw?Hill)
10 Days to Multiplication Mastery: A Commutative Approach (Learning Wrap-Ups
Inc., 1996)
Other manipulatives (i.e. Multiplication Learning Wrap-Ups, Base Ten Blocks,
etc.)
Methods:
Through the use of student workbooks, manipulatives and games the children
gain repeated exposure to the mathematical concepts taught in previous grades
as well as the new concepts taught in Third Grade. Skills review is incorporated
daily. Building on addition and subtraction skills taught in Second Grade,
the students apply rules of regrouping to three and four?digit numbers. They
also learn to solve complex word problems involving time and money with real?life
applications. Multiplication facts and basic division is developed further
to prepare them for Fourth Grade skills.
Social Studies:
Social studies instruction for Third Grade consists of an introduction
to the concept of history, a study of world and United States geography, a
study of United States history and government and an introduction to the fundamentals
of national and world economics. Students build on the social studies concepts
taught in Second Grade by continuing to use maps for real-world applications.
Text:
Communities (Harcourt Brace Social Studies, 2002)
Supplemental Materials:
Series worksheets, maps, trade books, videos, field trips.
Methods:
Building upon the foundational information established in previous grades,
the Third Grade curriculum takes a more in-depth look at Communities, American
History, and Government. Geography and map skills are incorporated throughout
the year. Trade books and videos help provide a multimedia approach to the
subject rather than relying solely on informational texts.
Science:
Third Grade science concentrates on the following areas of exploration:
the nature of matter, energy, geology, astronomy, the processes of life, how
living things interact with their environment (with the study of insects,
plants, and birds) and the nature of science. Students understand and are
able to explain concepts within these focus areas. Students have a working
knowledge of the scientific process and can demonstrate its use in problem
solving. In health, students study the systems of the body, including the
skeletal, respiratory and muscular systems. Hygiene and nutrition are also
addressed.
Text:
Understanding God’s World (A Beka, 1998)
Developing Good Health, (A Beka, 1998)
Supplemental Materials:
Series worksheets, activity workbook, trade books, experiment materials.
Methods:
Using experiments to explore the abstract concepts of the scientific curriculum,
the students learn more about the world and universe of which they are a part.
They are exposed to the application of the scientific process both in class
and through home projects. An emphasis is placed on increasing their scientific
vocabulary as well as relating new details to previously learned information.
Bible:
The purpose for Third Grade Bible instruction is to present and instill
a general knowledge of major Biblical characters and events in chronological
order. Students build on concepts and principles taught in Second Grade by
increasing their knowledge of details concerning Biblical stories and by applying
Biblical principles to everyday life situations. Students will know the names
of Bible characters. They also will be familiar with the events surrounding
the life and death of Jesus Christ. The Bible curriculum for Third, Fourth
and Fifth Grades will cover the entire Bible in three years. Each grade will
study the following major topics: the Law, Poetry, Literature, History, Major
Prophets, Minor Prophets, the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles and Revelation.
The Third Grade theme is great men and women of God.
Texts:
Through the Bible in a Year (Standard Publishing)
Holy Bible: The New King James Version
Egermeier's Bible Story Book (Warner Press)
Supplemental Materials:
Series worksheets and activities, visual aids, songs, A Reason for Handwriting:
Based on Scripture Verses (The Concerned Group, Inc., 2001)
Methods:
The Third Grade Bible curriculum is an overview of the Bible, focusing on
areas in the Old and New Testaments. The specified areas covered coincide
with the Bible curriculum for Third through Fifth Grade. The text is read
from both the actual biblical text, and the easier to understand paraphrased
versions. The children do daily activities to reinforce the information taught
and discuss ways to apply the lessons to their lives. Personal application
activities involve class discussion and cooperative group projects.