Third Grade Curriculum
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Close PopupReligion
The religion program is based on the Concordia Publishing House Voyages, Exploring God’s Word curriculum. Lessons are designed to help children see God's love in sending Jesus to redeem them. Stories from both the Old and New Testament reinforce this. Also concepts of faith, such as Law and Gospel, confession, repentance, forgiveness and grace are emphasized throughout.
Memory Work Third graders will be responsible for memory which includes selected Bible verses as well as learning the Ten Commandments, Books of the Bible and other related content.
Language Arts
Reading
Third graders have many opportunities to learn and use new reading skills. This is done through oral and silent reading, learning about settings, main characters, plot, etc. Students also work on comprehension skills, vocabulary, understanding different genres and responding through their own writing.
Book Reports are required and are combined with the "Book-It Program." Quiet reading is encouraged during free time during the school day as well as at home.
English
Sentence structure, nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and tenses are all part of our English curriculum. We also have a Phonics curriculum which compliments our English and helps to prepare students for independent writing and stronger reading skills.
Spelling
Weekly units in spelling reinforce new words and allow students to use those words in various ways. Two opportunities are given each week to take the spelling test.
Handwriting
We use the D’Nealian method of handwriting. We begin learning and practicing the cursive handwriting in a workbook and later in the year we begin using cursive on other assignments.
Music
Students are introduced to playing the recorder in third grade. Students learn to produce a clear tone, read notes in the treble clef, decode musical notation, the key signatures of 2/2, 4/4, and 3/4 time. They also learn to play together in small ensembles such as duets and trios. Students are encouraged to play solo. Students are also introduced to rondo form.
Math
The third grade begins with a review of basic addition and subtraction facts and builds on this to higher numbers and regrouping. This is a key year for multiplication and division. We memorize multiplication facts through 12. There are also units on money, time, measurement and metrics.
Science
3rd and 4th grades share a combined science class that explores the wonders of God’s creation. One year we discuss how to protect the Earth and the environment that we live in. We also learn about matter, electricity, the wonderful world of nature and how meteorologists predict the weather. The next year we study the life cycles of plants and animals, the Sun, Moon and Earth, energy and Earth’s amazing water. Classes include demonstrations and hands on activities. Our goal is to encourage children to ask questions and wonder and together learn about the world around us.
Art
In third grade students will experiment with color, design, and drawing through the use of paper, paint, pencil, crayon, and chalk. Students will also develop three-dimensional art forms through the use of various other materials. Emphasis is on the process of experiencing many different activities by the individual and some group work.
Social Studies
The main theme of our curriculum is communities. We learn about communities in local settings as well as international. We study rural, suburban, small and large cities. We study how some of our American communities were founded. Map skills are an integral part of our studies. The study of economics, citizenship, culture, geography, history, government, science, technology and society are interwoven throughout the book.
Technology
Children will gain confidence with our technical world and gain skills in the use of the computer. They do this through the development of keyboarding skills, identifying and using various parts of the computer and resources on the Internet. We use Learning.com Online Teaching Technology as well as Typing Master Online.