Third Grade
Third graders bring increased attention spans and capacity for inquiry to new learning opportunities this year, featuring activities ranging from student-led hand-puppet book reports and an afternoon of kite-flying while learning of its origins.
Our third grade homeroom teachers provide instruction in Language Arts, Math, and Social Studies.
Curriculum
Homeroom
Language Arts
- Literary excerpts for reading discussion
- Higher-level thinking skills of predicting, summarizing, comparing and evaluating
- Spelling
- Book reports with oral/written presentations
- Composition/creative writing with proofreading
- Vocabulary development
- Listening and oral communication skills
Math
- Nationally-recognized Bridges math curriculum
- Rigorous program encompassing use of strategies, number sense, critical thinking, and inquiry-based, hands-on learning activities
- Addition/subtraction two digit and above numbers
- Multiplication/division
- Logical thinking and reasoning
- Application of an equation to word problem; use of various methods to solve
- Tables, graphs, fractions
- Algebraic functions, basic geometry
- Area and perimeter
- Measurement
- Number Corner daily math enrichment activities
Social Studies
- Themes related to the traditions, cultural events and history of countries around the world
- Comparing and contrasting lifestyles
- Identifying map elements and understanding geographic terms
- Create and fly kites in conjunction with science
- International Fair
Enrichments
Drama
Students learn the fundamentals of performance during 4 weeks of rehearsing a full-length musical theater performance. Each student gains self-confidence by actively performing on the stage. The students' efforts culminate in a final production with two live performances for students and parents.
- Learn memorization, characterization
- Develop acting and performance skills including music and singing, timing and choreography
- Recognize the values of team-building, goal-setting, and working toward a deadline
- Activate creativity, imagination, empathy
Drama teacher, 4 week unit
Music
Music at ACDS incorporates tonal instruments, dance, and voice in the Orff Program.
- Basic music theory as a foundation for reading music
- Integrate movement and dance while developing their voices and discovering the joy of singing
- Learn the songs of our country and other cultures
- Experience the beauty of great works of music and learn about the composers who wrote them
- Learn to perform and create alone and with others
Music teacher, 1 class per week
Art
In conjunction with their social studies curriculum, third grade art focuses on exploring rich cultural art traditions and practices around the world including:
- 20th century American art
- Ancient Greek art
- The French Impressionists
- Batik art from India
- Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) traditions from Mexico
- British traditional coat of arms
Art teacher, 2 classes per week
French
- Incorporate coding with French history and culture
- Learn basic computation in French (math integration)
- Student-led activities and projects
- Small group collaboration with technology
- Oral dialogue and role-play
- Integrate with Social Studies; French-speaking countries around the world
- Learn about French family life, culture and traditions
- Study of French Impressionist painters
French teacher, 2 classes per week
Science
The following conceptual units are studied in third grade:
- Sticky Burr, an investigation of our garden
- Mapping the garden and the world
- Designing hand pollinators
- Physics of Angry Birds
- Force and Motion Lego*
- Building
- Bridges and arches*
- Build a house
- The physics of sound
- All elementary science units contain STEM elements and activities; however, those with asterisks have a particularly strong STEM focus.
Elementary science teacher, 3 classes per week
Technology
- Interactive projectors, laptops, and iPads are available for small group work and collaboration on projects
- Students learn how to use basic presentation word processing skills to better communication ideas and understanding, create stories, and learning games
Library
Third grade students visit the library once a week. Our full-time librarian reads stories to the class, and students are encouraged to check out books to bring home. Third graders do various research-based projects and use the library to find books to support their project.
Librarian, 1 class per week
Physical Education
- Indoor aerobic sequences are taught using dance
- The concept of pacing is introduced as running distances increase
- Cooperative games how include strategic elements related to offensive and defensive positions
P.E. teacher, 3 classes per week
Third Grade Sample Schedule
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00-7:45 | Complimentary Extended Care before school | ||||
| 7:50-8:00 | Arrival | ||||
| 8:00-8:15 | Morning Meeting | ||||
| 1st Period 8:15-9:00 |
Language Arts | Language Arts | Language Arts | Language Arts | 3A Fine Arts 3B PE |
| 2nd Period 9:05-9:50 |
Language Arts | Language Arts | Language Arts | 3A Science 3B Writing |
3A PE 3B Fine Arts |
| 9:50-10:05 | Snack/Recess | ||||
| 3rd Period 10:10-10:55 |
3A Science 3B Media/Library |
Number Corner/Math | 3A PE 3B Fine Arts |
8th Grade Big Buddies | Language Arts |
| 4th Period 11:00-11:45 |
3A Media/Library 3B Science |
Math | 3A Fine Arts 3B PE |
3A Writing 3B Science |
Language Arts |
| 11:45-12:25 | Lunch | ||||
|
5th Period Garden |
Number Corner/Math | 3A PE 3B Fine Arts |
3A/B Garden (ever other week) 3B/A Math |
Number Corner/Math | Number Corner/Math |
| 6th Period 1:20-2:05 |
Math | 3A Fine Arts 3B PE |
Media | Math | Math |
| 7th Period 2:10-2:40 |
Imaginarium | Social Studies | Imaginarium | Social Studies | Imaginarium |
| 2:45-3:00 | Dismissal (or Extended Care until 6:00 p.m. - registration required) | ||||