Grade 3 20 Grade 8

Grade 3 Curriculum

At-a-Glance

Third Grade is an exciting year as girls develop the ability to work productively for sustained periods of time independently, as well as in groups, and become better able to recognize and understand experiences and perspectives that differ from their own. Third Grade begins the year exploring the natural wonders of the Butler Campus to better understand the world around them. Through interdisciplinary study, weaving together research, literature, art, and science, girls make connections between ideas and apply their knowledge.

Reading:

• Converse daily about reading with teachers and small groups of peers • Read both fiction and non-fiction books • Enjoy uninterrupted time to read • Learn to make choices about appropriate reading material • Use evidence from the text to support thinking • • Identify personal connections to texts • Continue the development of higher-order critical-thinking/ comprehension skills: identifying problems and solutions, determining importance from the text and synthesizing information

Writing & Spelling:

• Assess writing through self-evaluation and peer and teacher feedback • Enhance spelling skills through the individualized Words Their Way program • Write across all disciplines

Social Studies:

• Explore how the local community has changed over time through the usage of maps and timelines • Discover the importance and history of National Parks while emphasizing unique geographical, geological, and historical features of the United States • Investigate how risk-taking and perseverance has an impact on people’s lives by exploring invention and innovation • Demonstrate knowledge of entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and marketing through the creation of a classroom company • Examine play and purposeful design by participating in the Design

Thinking process to develop inclusive and creative playground equipment • Consider and appreciate multiple perspectives • Conduct research and examine primary and secondary sources • Foster creativity through an integration of role-playing, music, dance and art

Mathematics:

The enVision® Mathematics program emphasizes five core mathematical practices: Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them; Reason abstractly and quantitatively; Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; Model with mathematics; Use appropriate tools strategically; and Attend to precision.

The topics covered in Third Grade include: • Explore numbers and place value within 10,000 • Develop computation skills and problem solve using all four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division • Gain addition, subtraction, multiplication and division fact fluency within 100 • Discover fraction concepts, including unit fractions, relative size, equivalent fractions and the addition and subtraction of like fractions • Continue exploration of money through addition and subtraction of amounts • Advance skills in mental math strategies, data analysis, measurement, time, temperature, patterns, properties and functional relationships • Focus on geometric concepts of sides, angles, perimeter, area and symmetry • Enhance mathematical communication through connections, representation and usage of mathematical vocabulary • Recognize mathematical practices of mathematicians and incorporate practices into own mathematical life • Use Hands-On Equations–concrete, visual, and kinesthetic problem solving and working with algebraic equations–as a supplemental enrichment activity for all students

Science:

Students will continue to develop proficiency in the following science and engineering practices: • Observe and ask questions about the world that can be answered through scientific investigations • Design and conduct scientific investigations using appropriate safety techniques • Use appropriate mathematics, tools, and techniques to gather data and information • Develop and communicate descriptions, models, explanations and predictions • Think critically and ask questions about the observations and explanations of others • Communicate scientific procedures and explanations • Apply knowledge of science content to real-world challenges

Content covered includes: Local plant and animal adaptations and their communities with special focus on crayfish, bats, birds and sugar maples, Ohio and National Park geology, playground physics and the investigation, observation and measurement of properties of matter.

World Language:

A semester each of furthering the study of both French and Spanish language: • Gain skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing • Strengthen oral communication • Cultural exploration through songs, stories and celebrations • Comparing and contrasting the two languages to aid girls with their language pathway

Technology:

• Foster and increase awareness of technology concepts • Develop a foundation for digital citizenship and responsible use • Learn how to recognize and stand up to cyberbullying • Practice appropriate use of digital learning tools that foster collaboration, creativity, and authentic audiences, such as iPads and Chromebooks

Art:

• Further develop personal expression through self-reflection • Experience drawing from observation • Explore art materials • Continue the examination of line, space, form, pattern and texture • Explore color theory: monochromatic, expressive and complementary colors • Develop an appreciation for women artists • Engage in arts immersion experiences and performances combining visual art, drama, music and dance

Music:

• Enjoy musical experiences small- and large-group activities and ensemble work • Develop note-reading skills through the study of the ukulele • Recognize that beats can be divided into different patterns and moving notes up and down the treble staff determines pitch • Identify and perform basic duple rhythms and the pitches of the

C Pentatonic scale on the ukulele • Explore extending vocal range and vocal independence • Engage in solo and ensemble performances

Physical Education:

• Develop a greater understanding of specific movements related to cycling, the challenge course and a broad range of sports and games • Use individual goal setting to build self-esteem while striving to achieve personal best on the 16-element Project Adventure course