Curriculum Highlights: Third Grade

• Sentence structure, sentence writing
• Paragraph writing:  topic sentences, supporting sentences, conclusions
• Summarizing
• Writing process
• Writing:  reports and letters, descriptive, creative
• Cursive handwriting
• Parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, prepositions
• Capitalization
• Punctuation
• Vocabulary
• Dictionary skills
• Spelling: plurals, syllabication, rules, prefixes, suffixes
• Analogies
• Literary forms and terms
• Comprehension skills
• Listening skills
• Critical thinking
• Independent reading
• Oral reports
• Junior Great Books
• Summer workbook
• Summer reading

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Division
• Decimals
• Fractions
• Functions
• Graphs
• Geometry
• Place value
• Numerical order
• Estimation
• Inverse operations
• Linear functions
• Pythagorean Theorem
• Summer workbook

• Early civilizations and archeology
• Prehistoric man
• Egypt
• Mesopotamia
• Hebrews
• Hittites
• Persians
• Phoenicians
• Outlining
• Note taking
• Essay writing
• Analyze and synthesize data
• Research skills, using books and encyclopedias
• Write a research paper
• Oral presentations

• Scientific method
• Bi-weekly labs/hands-on activities
• Plants: cells, reproduction, processes
• Animals: classification, growth, cells, body systems
• Living together:  populations and communities, ecosystems
• Nutrition and health:  food groups
• Earth science: weather, landforms, rock cycle
• Space science: planets
• Matter: properties/states, physical/chemical changes, mixtures/solutions, atoms
• Force and work, simple machines
• Energy: electricity/magnetism, light/sound

• Review of states and capitals
• Southeastern United States
• Physical features of the globe
• Map scale
• Map symbols
• Land and water features on a map
• Features of North America
• Features of Central America
• Egypt
• Kenya
• Nigeria

• Commands
• Schedules and time
• Calendar
• Grammar
• Conjugation
• Gender in adjectives
• Spelling
• Oral and written vocabulary:  school supplies, colors, food, clothes, toys, house, clothing
• French culture

• Daily P.E. class in uniform
• Physical fitness and conditioning, including running
• Manipulative skills: throwing, passing, shooting, kicking, rapping, and striking balls
• Game skills
• Dance:  multi-part, contrasting movement patterns in ensemble choreography
• Body control, agility, flexibility, endurance, and balance
• Responsibility, self-control, team work, good sportsmanship

• Weekly art class
• Drawing and coloring: pencil, eraser, markers, oil pastels, pastels, colored pencils
• Painting: tempura paint, watercolors
• Sculpture: oil-based clay, carving tools
• Calligraphy: inks, pens, brushes
• Color theory
• Drawing the human form
• Egyptian art, hieroglyphics, cave paintings
• Georgia O’Keefe
• Self expression, respect, confidence
• Annual, school-wide art contest

• Choral singing:  diction, dynamics, interpretation, rounds, harmony
• Instrumental counterpoint
• Building musical literacy
• Percussion: maracas, metallophone, bass xylophone and others
• Musical compositions that tell stories
• Lives and works of composers
• Performance:  music program twice per year

• Speaking role in class play
• Develop acting skills
• Imaginative use of costumes/props
• Ensemble/solo singing, choreography
• Public speaking, confidence, poise

• Selecting/checking out books
• Egyptian writing
• History of book printing
• Reference books
• Magazines/periodicals
• Dewey Decimal System
• Research skills
• Thesaurus
• Poetry
• Cookbooks
• Book fair

• Star Boards in each classroom
• Rolling computer cart for computer use in classroom
• Basic familiarity with computers
• Internet safety
• Basic internet research

• Class bonding activities
• Character affirmation/improvement
• Personal presentation
• Social graces
• Extemporaneous speaking
• Mock interviews
• Noblesse oblige
• Planning for personal growth
• Drama critique
• Workshop in music/poetry/art
• Graduation preparation

Several field trips per year; recent examples include:

• Hirshorn Sculpture Museum
• Thomas Jefferson Community Center
• Walters Art Gallery
• Petit Plats (Restaurant)
• Steven Udar-Hazy Center
• Rachel Schlesinger Concert Hall