Academics/Curriculum

Curriculum

Grade 3

Language Arts Phonics/Spelling/Vocabulary

  • Recognizes syllables and applies rules of syllabification when appropriate
  • Applies strategies for independent decoding of words
  • Identifies and generates four types of sentences (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamatory)
  • Uses subject/verb agreement
  • Identifies pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, compound words, and articles
  • Identifies and uses past, present, and future verb tenses
  • Punctuates dates, addresses, and titles of books
  • Uses apostrophes correctly
  • Uses quotation marks correctly
  • Uses decoding strategies to clarify pronunciation
  • Uses a variety of spelling strategies (i.e., root words, prefixes, suffixes, words families, syllabification)
  • Identifies and uses figurative language (simile, metaphor, idiom, personification, hyperbole)
  • Begins systematic program of learning vocabulary (Wordly Wise)

Reading

  • Distinguishes between literary genres and nonfiction text
  • Identifies conflicts in text and how they are resolved
  • Identifies motivation of characters in text
  • Identifies main theme of text
  • Makes connections between information in texts and historical events
  • Recognizes major information in nonfiction text
  • Uses knowledge of formats, ideas, plots, and elements from previous reading to generate questions and make predictions about content of new text
  • Makes, confirms, and revises predictions
  • Understands explicit and implicit ideas and information in age- appropriate texts
  • Recognizes when a text is intended primarily to persuade
  • Reads and organizes information for different purposes (i.e., main idea, skimming for facts, implied message, relevant supporting details, order of events)
  • Identifies fact vs. opinion
  • Recognizes an author’s purpose
  • Uses information from reading and real-life experiences to form conclusion
  • Identifies setting, plot, characters
  • Interprets information in reference sources
  • Recognizes and analyzes text that is presented in sequential or chronological order
  • Responds to fiction reading with some type of composition: journal entry, book report, illustration, etc.

Writing

  • Chooses specific detail and appropriate words to support theme of writing
  • Creates simple, logical organizational pattern appropriate to narrative writing
  • Develops anecdotes or examples to support reasons
  • Begins to present facts and examples objectively
  • Uses a variety of strategies to prepare for writing (lists, mapping ideas, etc.)
  • Uses the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing)
  • Uses effective sentence variety
  • Formats written page correctly
  • Elaborates on sensory details when describing people, places, and experiences
  • Displays knowledge of conventions of written language in thank you notes, formal letters, invitations, etc.

Public Speaking

  • Gives oral presentations for different purposes (explaining, reporting, persuading, etc.)
  • Gives one original presentation to the class
  • Uses eye contact and gestures that engage audience
  • Speaks at an appropriate pace for audience understanding
  • Expresses thoughts in an organized manner

Mathematics

  • Reads, writes, and identifies 6- and 7-digit numbers
  • Reads, writes, and identifies proper fractions with denominators including 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 100
  • Reads, writes, and identifies 1- and 2-digit decimal notation
  • Compares and orders commonly used fractions, including halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, and eighths using concrete materials
  • Uses concrete materials to model equivalent forms of whole numbers and common fractions
  • Identifies symbols in Roman numeral system and compares them to the decimal number system
  • Solves multiplication and simple division problems using various strategies
  • Finds patterns in multiplication and division facts
  • Writes number sentences for given situations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers
  • Uses problem-solving strategies to determine the operation needed to solve one-step problems involving the four basic functions
  • Chooses estimation strategies in real-world problem situations and explains the choice
  • Solves real-world problems involving measurement using concrete and pictorial models for length, weight, time, capacity, temperature, and angles
  • Calculates and compares measurable characteristics using manipulatives
  • Knows an appropriate unit of measure (standard or nonstandard) to measure weight
  • Knows how to estimate the area and perimeter of square and rectangular shapes and the volume of a rectangular prism using manipulatives
  • Uses manipulatives to solve problems requiring spatial visualization
  • Knows congruent and similar figures
  • Compares the concepts of area and perimeter through the use of concrete and graphic materials
  • Identifies missing parts in patterns
  • Describes, extends, and creates numerical and geometric patterns through models
  • Analyzes number patterns and states the rule for relationships
  • Identifies and extends a pattern according to a given rule
  • Uses physical models and graphs to solve real-world equations and inequalities
  • Identifies different parts of a graph
  • Interprets and compares information from picto- and bar graphs
  • Interprets and explains orally and in writing displays of data
  • Identifies the range, median, mean, and mode in a set of numerical data
  • Uses a calculator to compare data
  • Understands and uses the language of probability

Physical Education

  • Emphasis in learning the importance of warming up and stretching before each unit
  • Stress on teamwork and good sportsmanship
  • Introduction to game structure
  • Emphasis on body control during movement
  • Introduction to proper throwing, catching, and kicking techniques
  • Introduction and understanding of the basic skills needed to play soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball, and flag football
  • Practices and takes the Presidential Fitness Test

Social Studies

  • Identifies major figures in world exploration and US exploration
  • Describes reasons why countries/people want to explore new areas
  • Identifies connection between expansion of known world and immigration
  • Identifies the reasons groups of people migrate from one country to another
  • Compares reasons for immigration throughout history, including current day
  • Researches own family history for reasons of migration
  • Investigates, writes report, and makes class presentation on one ancestral homeland

Science

  • Identifies planets in the solar system and their relative placement
  • Describes the lunar cycle and its effects on the earth
  • Recognizes how human knowledge of the solar system has changed over time
  • Identifies select number of constellations
  • Understands the changing constellations that can be seen over time
  • Identifies organs involved in the human respiratory system
  • Describes how oxygen circulates through the human body
  • Knows the ways in which the environment impacts health
  • Knows the most common health problems of children

Chinese

  • Understands simple stories recited
  • Responds through role playing, drawing, singing, and moving
  • Provides basic spoken information
  • Describes people and objects in daily environment
  • Recognizes and uses oral syntax and inflection
  • Recognizes brush stroke directions
  • Pinyin phonetic system: initial sounds – final sounds
  • Combines initial and final sounds
  • Recognizes and vocalizes ideograms
  • Practices correct brush grip
  • Uses brush strokes approximation
  • Writes strokes
  • Learns the eight basic brush strokes
  • Introduces pinyin system on the computer keyboard

Spanish

  • Describes important people and objects in the everyday environment
  • Answers and formulates questions about a variety of experiences
  • Recognizes and appropriately uses oral syntax and inflection
  • Continued focus on writing, listening, reading, and speaking
  • Understands the basic plots of stories and everyday commands in different situations
  • Reads using correct pronunciation of words and intonations of sentences from appropriate stories
  • Paraphrases the actions of the characters in the stories
  • Continues to appreciate the rich culture of Latin America through activities in the arts and field trips

Art

  • Uses control in handling tools and materials in a safe and responsible manner
  • Uses good craftsmanship in a variety of two- and three-dimensional media
  • Understands what makes different art media, techniques, and processes effective in communication
  • Uses different approaches to respond to and to judge various works of art
  • Knows the types of tasks performed by various artists and some of the required training

Music

  • Recognizes different music notation
  • Continues to develop proficiency in Orff instrumentation
  • Develops vocal skills, including singing in harmony, as appropriate
  • Identifies different styles of music
  • Identifies the shape of a melody
  • Analyzes and compares melodic movement

Computer and Technology

  • Uses more advanced word processing skills (highlighting, word art, etc.)
  • Uses appropriate on-line resources to support learning and research
  • Searches the internet using developmentally appropriate search engines
  • Applies appropriate techniques for information retrieval
  • Understands the concept of a computer network

School Skills

  • Identifies and understands the purposes of a book’s index, guide words, citations, end notes, and bibliography
  • Uses a dictionary to determine word meanings
  • Uses thesaurus to identify alternate word choices
  • Uses simple alphabetical and numerical systems to organize information
  • Understands main concept and supporting details in nonprint media
  • Understands nonverbal cues (i.e., music, color, motion) used in a variety of media
  • Uses text features to predict content and monitor comprehension
  • Expands ability for rote memorization with practice of multiplication tables

Thinking Skills

  • Analyzes, critiques, and evaluates text at an appropriate reading level
  • Analyzes cause and effect relationships
  • Begins to accept opinions different from own
  • Begins to evaluate accuracy of information found on the web