THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM

Language Arts

Reading/Literature

• Strategies used by good readers: purpose for reading, prior knowledge, SQRR, phonics, structural analysis, KWL
• Comprehension strategies: rereading, predicting, sequencing, cause/effect, drawing conclusions, generalizing, story mapping, paraphrasing, summarizing
• Story elements: topic, main idea, point of view, character, plot, setting, problem, solution
• Literary techniques: dialogue, illustrations, conclusions
• Literary circles
• Types of literature: fantasy, adventure, poetry, tall tale, biography, newspaper, poetry
• Strategies for reading informational text: fact vs. opinion, identifying important information, indexes
• Types of informational text: textbooks, letters, diaries, directions, recipes, magazines, newspaper
• Oral reading with expression

Genre:

• Biography
• Drama
• Fiction
• Nonfiction
• Mystery
• Fantasy
• Historical Fiction

Language

• Weekly spelling tests
• Grade-appropriate mechanics: end punctuation, quotation marks, commas, apostrophes, capitalization of titles and proper nouns.
• Grade-appropriate grammar: simple sentences, subject/verb agreement, adjective forms, homophones, double negative, pronouns: I/me
• Vocabulary: antonyms, synonyms, homonyms, analogies, content vocabularyReference skills: alphabetical order, multiple meanings, parts of speech in a dictionary; glossary, pronunciation key

Writing

• Prewriting and drafting strategies: brainstorming, webbing, topic generation, using thinking maps
• Revising and editing strategies: fluency, attitude, audience, purpose, organization, word choice, sentence construction, indenting/paragraphs, titles
• Proofreading and publishing strategies: correct spelling, capitalization, end punctuation, apostrophes, commas, indenting, quotations marks, grade appropriate grammar and usage
• Types of writing: personal narrative, friendly letter, story, description, persuasive essay, how-to paragraph
• Research skills: dictionary, thesaurus, atlas, encyclopedia, Internet

Penmanship

• Introduction to cursive writing
• Second semester required cursive writing

Speaking and Listening

• Directions: follows four-step and generates three-step
• Listening: takes turns, raises hand, focuses on speaker, avoids interrupting, asks appropriate questions, asks for clarification
• Expressing ideas orally: clarity, volume, eye contact, staying on topic, sequencing thoughts, standard English, correct grammar, personal voice, pauses and gestures
• Types of speaking opportunities: poems, role-playing, Readers’ Theater, presentation of personal writing, informal interviewing, choral reading, short presentations with visual, plays
• Group participation: stays on task, performs assigned role

Social Studies

Time Travelers 1600 - 1750 C.E.

• Asia, Africa, Europe, America

History

• History of Saginaw
• Current events

Civic

• Local government
• Laws and rules
• Reciting and explaining the “Pledge of Allegiance”
• Problem-solving in communities
• Responsible citizenship
• Core democratic values
• Philanthropy

Geography

• Cardinal directions, maps & globes, symbols & legends, landforms
• Migration
• Human and physical characteristics of Saginaw

Economics

• The economy of Saginaw
• Natural/human/capital resources
• Goods/services and commerce
• Labor/industry and manufacturing
• Supply/demand and scarcity
• Barter/bargain
• Service Learning

Science

Scientifice Method

Life Science

• Plant life cycle

Earth Science

• Rocks and minerals

Health

• Sun protection

Physical Science

• Machines and force
• Electricity
• Sounds
• Energy

Invention Simulation

• Study of inventions and the invention process
• Thomas Edison Day
  

Math

Numbers

• Five and six digit numbers
• Place value for six digit numbers
• Expanded notation through 100,000
• Counting forward and backward by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s,
  10’s from any given four-digit number
• Comparing three digit whole numbers using =, <, and >
• Decimal parts in a pictorial representation
• Comparing pictured fractions
• Comparing decimals through tenths

Operations, Relations, and Number Systems

• Addition and subtraction facts to 18
• Multiplication and division facts
• Number families
• Sum or difference of two or more whole numbers
  with four or more digits
• Estimation to check for reasonable answers
• Product of a one digit number and a three or four
  digit number without regrouping
• Quotients of a whole number division problem with one digit division and two digit dividends, no remainder

Measurement and Reference Frames

• Counting and recording money using decimal
  notation
• Using appropriate tools to measure length, volume,weight
• Measuring to the nearest ¼ inch or millimeter
• Reading thermometers to the degree
• Telling time to the minute
• Determining elapsed time
• Introduction to coordinate grids

Geometry and Spatial Relations

• Two and three dimensional figures
• Lines of symmetry
• Points, lines, line segments, rays, angles, parallel,
  perpendicular, intersecting segments
• Open and closed figures
• Determining perimeter
• Determining area using square units