THIRD GRADE CURRICULUM
(Kdg - 5th Grade Curriculum pdf)

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, making inferences, critiquing
• Story elements: topic, main idea, point of view, character, plot, setting, problem, solution
• Literary techniques: dialogue, illustrations
• Types of literature: historical fiction, fantasy, poetry, fairy tale, biography
• 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 vocabulary
• Reference skills: alphabetical order, multiple meanings, parts of speech in a dictionary; glossary, pronunciation key

Writing
• Prewriting and drafting strategies: brainstorming, mapping, 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
History
• Michigan to statehood

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 and globes, symbols and legends, landforms
• Migration
• Human and physical characteristics of Saginaw and Michigan
• Human interaction environment in Michigan

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

IB Units
• Who we are: Human body systems
• Where we are in place & time: Michigan
• How we express ourselves: Traits found in writing
• How the world works: Impact of inventions
• Sharing the planet: Different forms of energy
• How we organize ourselves: Solar system

Science
Scientific Method

Life Science
• Human body

Earth Science
• Solar System

Physical Science
• Electricity
• Properties of matter

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