Anna Maggio

Third Grade Curriculum Overview

LEARNING GOD’S WORD

Through the Word and Spirit of God students will know God, especially His seeking and forgiving love in Christ. They will respond in faith and grow into Christian maturity. Students will see themselves as reconciled, redeemed children of God and individual members of Christ’s body, the church. Students will express their joy in worship of God and in loving service to others. In addition, they will live in Christian hope with blessed assurance of eternal life in heaven through Christ Jesus, our Lord.

• Creation
• Adam and Eve
• Noah
• Abraham
• Isaac
• Moses
• Samuel
• Saul
• David
• Jesus
  • Birth
  • Ministry
  • Teachings
  • Death
  • Resurrection
  • Ascension

MEMORY

Students are given memory work based on scripture verses, the Ten Commandments, books of the Bible, songs, or recitations for Advent or Sunday worship services.

SPELLING AND VOCABULARY

Learning to spell is a developmental process and students move from what they know to what they are developmentally ready to learn. Emphasis is placed on learning principles and patterns. High-frequency words that do not follow predictable principles but that are important for writing are included as well. Spelling includes a pretest, introduction of spelling principle, dictionary skills, proofreading and writing, vocabulary, spelling – meaning strategies, and a posttest.

• Categorization
• Synonyms/Antonyms
• Word Origins
• Use in context
• Analogies
• Spelling-meaning connection
• Spelling strategies
• Expanding vocabulary
• Proofreading/Writing
• Weekly spelling tests

ENGLISH

The English curriculum includes reading, writing, listening, speaking, thinking, and language study. Students are taught the basic steps of the writing process. Literature is used to introduce concepts and grammar skills are applied directly to writing. The fully integrated units use literature as a springboard for teaching vocabulary, listening, speaking, thinking, and composition skills.

• Grammar
• Usage
• Mechanics
• Reference and study skills
• Writing
  • Complete sentences
  • Main ideas and details
  • Narrative paragraphs
  • Descriptive paragraphs
• Book Reports – Monthly
• Research report: Cat or Dog
• Introduction, five body paragraphs, conclusion, sources page
• Biography Book Report – Bottle Person

LANGUAGE ARTS

The language arts program allows students to experience success in reading through high-interest, multilevel literature. Students will become independent readers through phonics, skills, and strategy instruction. Language arts competency is developed through lessons and activities for spelling, writing, grammar, listening, speaking, and viewing.

• Reading
• Comprehension
  • Making inferences
  • Problem/Solution
  • Cause/Effect
  • Sequence
  • Author’s purpose
  • Compare and contrast
• Vocabulary
• Phonics
  • Consonants, hard and soft c and g
  • Short and long vowels
  • Compounds, blends, digraphs, y as a consonant and a vowel, r-controlled vowels
  • Contractions, plurals, suffixes
  • Vowel pairs, digraphs, diphthongs
  • Prefixes, based words, syllables
  • Synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, dictionary skills
• Study Skills
• Writing

MATH

Mathematics builds on prior learning. There is a systematic plan of spiral review and test practice that ensures retention of concepts and skills.

• Number to 10,000
• Place Value
• Order and Round Whole Numbers
• Addition and Subtraction
• Multiplication Facts and Patterns
• Geometry and Measurement
• Perimeter and Area
• Solids and Volume
• Division Facts and Patterns
• Fractions
• Addition and Subtraction of Fractions
• Decimals
• Money
• Multiply 2-digit Numbers by 1-digit Numbers
• Long Division

SOCIAL STUDIES

Through the Social Studies program, students will develop to be literate citizens – individuals with the knowledge, skills, and civic values they need to be become active and reflective participants in the world today.

• Listen to the Land
  • Mighty Waters
  • Rustling Leaves and Grasses
  • Majestic Peaks and Deserts
• The Land and the First Americans
  • By the Shining Sea – Kwakiutl tribe
  • Over Waves of Grass – Cheyenne tribe
  • In Red Rock Country – Navajo tribe
• Settling the Land
  • Settling the Northeast – Life in Plymouth
  • Beyond the Appalachians – The Spanish in America, Passages to the West, Abilene, Kansas, Coming to America – immigration
• The Land Today
  • The Land of Plenty – San Joaquin Valley
  • Taking Care of Our Land
  • Governing Our Land – Community, State, and National Government, Citizenship
  • Our Holidays and Symbols
• Skills
  • Study Skills
  • Visual Learning
  • Map and Global Skills
  • Critical Thinking
  • Social Participation
• Projects – Covered Wagons, EZ File Folder Reports, History Pocket Reports

SCIENCE

The content of the Science program is not only comprehensive, but also meets the National Science Education Standards. In addition to the material in the text, students learn through hands-on activities that are used to teach science concepts. Students are taught the scientific method for science inquiry.

• Life Science
  • How plants and animals live and grow
• Physical Science
  • Matter
  • Forces
  • Machines
  • Work
  • Energy
  • Sound
• Earth Science
  • Earth
  • Sun
  • Moon
  • Planets
• Human Body
  • Body systems
  • Staying healthy

ART

In our art lessons, students use a variety of mediums. They learn about notable artists within those mediums. Below is a detailed list of the mediums used:

• Watercolors
• Oil pastels
• Crayons
• Colored Pencils
• Acrylic paints
• Clay
• Paper folding
• Seasonal Crafts
• Projects for other curriculum areas
• Art To Grow On projects

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical education is an important part of our students’ curriculum at Christ Lutheran. In third grade we focus on:

• Physical fitness
• Self-control
• Self-confidence
• Good sportsmanship
• Leadership
• Coordination
• Agility
• Balance
• Flexibility
• Basic sports – kickball, volleyball, basketball, baseball

TECHNOLOGY

Students are taught skills that build on the previous years lessons. This year students learn the following:

• Typingweb.com
  • Each student has their own account to learn and improve on their typing skills
• “Techno Poet”
  • Improve upon formatting text skills, format graphics, use Word Art, learn about text wrapping, edit words using the thesaurus (Microsoft Word)
• Create an eight page collection of poetry using learned skills
• Internet Safety

MUSIC

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

Plato

The music program at Christ Lutheran School (Grades K-6) employs the Orff-Schulwerk process, in which students, through play, movement, improvisation and creativity, learn musical concepts and theory. Singing and rhythm training is a regular part of the curriculum. Students are assessed in their ability to keep a steady beat, sing on pitch, and their understanding of basic music theory. Students in third grade learn to play the recorder (a flute-like instrument) as part of the music education. The goal of the music program is not to create future musicians, but to foster a safe environment in which students enjoy the art of music, and are encouraged to be creative and expressive without judgment. Students learn to objectively asses what they hear or what their fellow students create.

“The fact that children make beautiful music is less significant than the fact that music makes children beautiful.”

Cheryl Lavender

FIELD TRIPS

Here are some of the typical field trips for third grade

• California Science Center / Big Lab
• Autry Museum of Western Heritage
• Play or dramatic performances