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THIRD GRADE

Language Arts

The Language Arts program includes reading, communication, spelling, phonic skills, listening, viewing and representing, handwriting, and composition.  The McGraw Hill language arts program provides the basis for the third grade reading and spelling.  The McGraw Hill program also provides study of grammar and basic English skills.

 

Reading

_ Reading comprehension and response

_ Decoding, word recognition, and oral reading

_ Literary terms

_ Phonics and spelling skills

_ Learn how to respond to literature

_ Learn various reading skills and strategies, sequence; draw conclusions (fact vs. fiction, fact vs. opinion)

_ Summarize; compare and contract

Supplemental reading:

Students will be exposed to many forms of literature including:

_ Poetry

_ Short stories

_ Fiction (Chapter Books)

_ Non-fiction (Chapter Books)

Students will be able to:

_ Recognize the main idea of a story

_ Identify the main character, setting and plot of a story

English:

Students will be able to:

_ Identify the basic parts of speech

_ Use these parts of speech in written and oral communication

_ Identify the parts of a sentence

_ Identify and use complete sentences in written and oral communication

_ Identify the different types of sentences

_ Use these sentences in written and oral communication correctly

_ Clearly communicate in both written and oral forms with correct usage

_ Understand and use prefixes and suffixes

_ Find words in a dictionary

_ Use and identify common synonyms and homonyms, compound words, and rhyming  words

_ Break words into syllables

_ Vocabulary and word identification

 

Writing:

Students will be able to:

_ Write a sequence of proper and legible sentences organized around a central theme

_ Clearly communicate, using a main idea, details and proper sequencing

_ Print and use cursive writing correctly and neatly so that others can read it

_ Write clear, complete sentences

_ Use a variety of sentence types, and modes/forms in their writing

_ Write and identify different kinds of paragraph: narrative, informative, persuasive, descriptive

_ Write and identify poetry and stories

_ Write and identify parts of a friendly letter

_ Address a friendly letter correctly

 

Listening:

Students will be able to:

_ Gain information by listening to descriptions, stories and informal presentations

_ Show common courtesies for listening

_ Follow multi-step directions

_ Gain good and proper listening skills

 

Speaking:

Students will be able to:

_ Use organized and complete sentences

_ Organize thoughts before speaking

_ Use correct usage in speech

_ Participate and share ideas in discussions appropriately

_ Answer questions clearly

_ Gain good communication skills

 

Handwriting

Cursive writing is taught in the third grade using the Zaner-Bloser curriculum.

Learning Activities:

Classes include oral guided reading and silent reading, direct instruction of basic skills, group discussions, hands-on activities, board work, audiovisual materials, small group activities, and student presentations.

 

Math:

Basic math concepts are taught using the Harcourt-Brace Third Grade Math Series.  Students will be able to:

_ Identify and compare whole numbers through four digits

_ Identify and compare rounding four digit numbers

_ Identify and round three digit numbers to the nearest tenth and hundred

_ Readily recall addition and subtraction facts

_ Readily recall to a mastery level of multiplication and division facts from 0-9

_ Identify and compare fractions with like denominators

_ Identify and compare decimals

_ Describe place and geometric figures

_ Readily recall measuring objects and temperature

_ Readily measure time

_ Readily collect and analyze data

_ Count and compare amounts of money

_ Predict which events are certain or impossible

_ Read schedules to solve problems

_ Read and use graphs to compare information

 

Science:

Third grade students will learn science skills through the study of life science, earth science and physical science.  The basic foundation of scientific process will be experienced in many hands-on activities

 

Students will be able to:

_ Solve problems using the scientific method: Question, hypotheses, experimentation, observation, and conclusion

_ Understand and use proper vocabulary

 

 

Life Sciences:

_ Identify the different parts of a plant and their importance

_ Identify different types of plants

_ Classify and group living things (plants and animals)

_ Identify what animals and plants need to survive

_ Explain how living things affect and change the Earth and their environment

_ Know how communities affect and depend on each other

_ Know how groups of living things interact

_ Know how different communities change the lives of different organisms

_ Know how adaptations help living things survive

 

Earth Sciences:

_ Understand the water cycle and how it affects living beings and the environment

_ Identify and know the three types of clouds

_ Know and understand how clouds are formed

_ Understand different types of weather

_ Understand how weather affects the environment and living things

_ Identify and understand how rocks are classified

_ Identify how rocks and soil are used by living things

_ Identify and understand how the Earth changes

_ Identify the different layers of the Earth

_ Know how the earth and moon move

_ What the sun and planets are like

 

Physical Sciences:

_ Know the three states of matter

_ Know how matter can change

_ Identify the different properties of each state

_ Identify simple and compound machines

_ Identify forms of energy

_ Know how sound and light travel

_ Identify and understand types of force

Health:

Basic health concepts are taught using the Scott, Foresman series.  Topics of study include:

_ Nutrition and Exercise

_ Illnesses and staying fit and healthy

_ Social Skills

_ Safety and Fire prevention

 

Social Studies:

The third grade students will continue to explore and build a foundation in history, geography, economics, government, citizenship, culture, science, technology and society.

 

 

Understanding the Community:

Students will be able to:

_ Understand and use proper vocabulary

_ Identify what makes up a community

_ Understand how communities are governed and formed

_ Know the history of their community

_ Know the importance of who make the community

_ Identify different types of communities

_ Know how a community is affected by its geographical location

_ Know how communities relate to a state and country

_ Understand how members interact help and depend on one another in a community

_ Know how communities are always changing

_ Relate their community to other communities in Texas, the United States and the World

_ Identify how past communities are similar and different to communities of today

_ Identify benefits of living in a community

_ Identify what a community needs to survive and be successful

Geography Skills:

 

Students will be able to:

_ Read and use different kinds of maps

_ Understand and identify the 5 themes in geography

_ Understand how geography affects community and the environment

_ Identify different geographical features

_ Locate countries, continents and major geographical features on both a map and a globe

_ Measure distances on a map

_ Know the differences between a map and a globe

 

Religious Studies

Faith

The third grade program proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ to the children and strengthens their belief in Him and His message.  The children learn the mysteries of revelation, the heritage of the Catholic faith, and the means by which they can live what they believe.  The children are led to:

† Appreciate their faith as a gift from God

† Desire to share their faith with others

† Acquire habits that deepen their faith

† Integrate Gospel values into their daily lives

† Know and understand the basic doctrines of the Faith as the appear in the Creed

† Put their trust in our good and loving Father

 

Prayer:

Prayer is an important part of every class session.  Children are led to reflect quietly on themselves and their relationship with God.  Experiences in both guided and non-guided meditation are provided to help the children respond prayerfully to the message.  Prayers of our Catholic heritage, learned in previous years, are reviewed and third graders learn the Prayer to the Holy Spirit, the Apostle’s Creed, and how to pray the Rosary.

 

Liturgical Life:

The third grade program presents the sacraments as effective signs of Jesus’ presence with us on our way to eternal happiness.  The study of the sacrament of Baptism centers on the children’s incorporating into the Church and the life of grace.  The lessons on the Sacrament of Reconciliation deepen the children’s understanding of God’s forgiving love and the role of this sacrament in the Catholic way of life.  The lessons on the sacrament of the Eucharist review the sacramental presence and sacrifice of the Lord and explain the devotion of the Benediction.  Praise and thanksgiving will be experienced throughout the year in a variety of celebrations.  The children will take part in the planning of a Eucharistic celebration.

 

Moral Growth

The third grade program continues to foster the development of Christian attitudes and values.  They will experience the peace that comes from listening to God and acting on his Word.  The lessons help the children become aware of God’s presence and guidance in their lives.  The lessons help the children to:

† Appreciate God’s constant, unconditional love

† Live as Jesus did

† See the wisdom of living the Ten Commandments

† Realize that self-discipline and sacrifice are necessary for them to remain true to Christian         teachings

† Develop skills that will help them analyze their motives and determine whether their actions      are genuinely Christian         

† Learn to deal positively with mistakes and failures

 

Social Responsibility

As the children recognize their oneness with all human beings, they will grow in concern for the spiritual and temporal well being of their brothers and sisters in Christ.  The children will be provided with opportunities to offer help to the needy, the sick, the poor and the elderly.

 

SPECIALS:

 

Art:

Students at the third grade level will experiment by using their five senses to enjoy beauty, pattern, and movement in nature and artistic ideas.  The child’s active imagination will be implemented to create works of are in several media of his/her favorite things.  The third grader will explore the principles and elements of design and become more aware of the creativity of his fellow classmates.  Students will also view and discuss the works of artists of the past and present and their artistic vocabulary will expand as they learn to speak about and through their art.

 

 

LIBRARY/MEDIA SKILLS

Overview

Library/media skills are taught to all 3^rd grade students with the goal they will become life-long readers with the ability to enter any library equipped with the knowledge to locate and use all available resources.

 

The care and location of materials, browsing and checkout procedures and notable authors and illustrators are introduced in the primary grades.

 

Library use skills are reinforced in the upper grades with particular emphasis on the arrangement of fiction and non-fiction materials.  With the completion of automation, students will be taught to use the computerized card catalog, electronic resources and traditional print materials to enhance classroom instruction and reading enjoyment.

 

Philosophy:

Students are encouraged to read recreational books including fiction and non-fiction.  Picture books are read to all students and teachers to encourage interest in favorite authors and illustrators.

 

Objectives:

_ Library Orientation - students will learn library procedures

_ Browsing and book checkout

_ Location of materials and other resources

_ Proper care for all materials and return policy

_ Be courteous and exhibit good conduct

_ Utilization of resources - students will learn to identify materials

_ Alphabetical order-fiction materials are arranged by the first three letters of the author’s last

                name

_ Locate periodicals in ABC order by title

_ Determine how books are classified and where they will be shelved

_ On-line card catalog - Look up books on specific subjects, titles or authors

 

Research and Study Skills:

_ Identify parts of a book

_ Use reference tools such as an encyclopedia, atlas, dictionary, almanac, etc.

_ Use the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature for magazine articles on specific subjects

_ Use newspaper for current events

_ Special activities

 

Our library has weekly activities to include all students.  The librarian reads to all classes and uses book talks to interest students in checking out books for class assignments such as book reports, summaries or research projects.  Materials are made available in the library to support classroom curriculum and teaches may request library use at any time.

 

Books on the Bluebonnet and Texas Lone Star reading lists are available and our library also subscribes to the Junior Library Guild as a source for good reading material.

 

Book fairs are scheduled during the school year and are an excellent source for books and fun.

 

Authors are invited to our school to share their time and talent and are welcomed by all students and faculty with great enthusiasm         

           

Music:

Students develop their intellect and refine their emotions, understanding the cultural and creative nature of musical artistry and making connections among music, the other arts, technology, and other aspects of social life.  Through creative performance, students apply the expressive technical skills of music and critical thinking skills to evaluate multiple forms of problem solving (as per Texas state TEKS music introduction).

Students will:

·         Learn and sing songs that are coordinated with the season, themes, liturgical year and different multicultural artistry

·         Students will use rhythm instruments that will coordinate with songs

·         Taught how to keep time, rhythm and tempo

 

 

Physical Education:

Overview:

In this physical education class students will gain knowledge in several different sports.  We will also be learning rules, skills and technique of these games.  The overall objective of the physical education courses at both the primary and middle school level is to teach activities, which will form the basis for a lifetime of physical fitness.

 

Instructional Content:

~ Be able to apply physical education to life

~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which better enable participation in group and      team sports

~ Assess physical fitness levels and participate in activities that improve fitness, wellness, and      cardiovascular capacity

~ Be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills, which will better enable participation in               individual and dual sports and recreational activities.