3rd Grade

Mathematics

Students in the third grade continue their study of addition and subtraction facts. Algebraic formulas are used to help students think in the abstract rather than only in the concrete. Multiplication is revisited and division is introduced to the students at this point. Since their knowledge of addition and subtraction is vital to multiplication and division, students find the idea of multiplication to be nothing more than just “repeated addition” and therefore easy to comprehend. Roman numerals are introduced so that students begin to understand other numbering systems. Realistic problems from data help students understand why and how research is related to mathematics. Elementary geometry and probability units are introduced and mastered.

Social Studies

The third grade science curriculum consists of studying the regions of the United States. A textbook is used as well as a workbook, map skills book, and monthly periodicals that help the students keep up with current events. The elections are a special topic this year and as such will be studied in depth. Students’ knowledge of the elements of citizenship, culture, science, technology, and the society of the United States enables them to become geographically literate. Students are involved in individual as well as group projects involving presidents, states of the union, and Native American Tribes.

Science

Third graders explore life, earth, physical, and health science. They accomplish this through the use of vocabulary development, directed lessons, labs, notes, worksheets, and projects. Students develop an understanding and enjoyment of science and its investigative properties.

Language Arts

Success in learning is grounded in students acquiring solid knowledge and skills in these core areas: spelling, vocabulary, composition, grammar, and reading. Students learn spelling and vocabulary through a variety of strategies which enable them to discover word meanings and relationships. Using phonics, syllabication, word relationships, context clues, and multiple resources, students apply this knowledge to achieve fluent oral and silent reading.

Reading from a variety of books, both assigned and student selected, provides experiences in gaining information and pleasure from diversity in reading selections. Third graders enjoy reading eight to ten novels, mostly fiction, throughout the year. From reading these novels, students extend their thinking and understanding as they read stories about people from similar and different backgrounds. They learn to apply comprehension strategies in their readings to become more proficient readers. The strategies include prediction, inference, sequencing, cause and effect, drawing conclusions, summarizing, critical thinking, and usage of literary elements.

Students demonstrate their literacy not only through their ability to read, but also through their competency with written language as a means of expressive communication. The forms of writing in which students create a unique voice include descriptive, narrative, expository, persuasive, how-to-essay, short story, and research papers. The incorporation of conventional grammar, usage, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and vocabulary is evident in their writing. As students progress through the five stages of the writing process, the goal is to achieve a more mature literary style in their writing.

The language arts curriculum components provide for an interesting and challenging experience for third grade students in the development of their academic growth.

Spanish (Meets five days per week)

Students in third grade have bi-weekly tests and weekly written homework. Their daily activities of listening, writing, speaking, and reading become increasingly more demanding. The third grade tests typically contain a listening portion. It can be alphabet letters, two to three letter syllables, dictation of easy words, numbers, prices of objects, and identifying seasons or other words through clues. They are also exposed to spoken Spanish in class from songs, dances, movies, and other listening activities that occur in class.

Students answer personal questions (name, age, feelings, birthday, origin, sisters/brothers, favorite pets, and food. They use daily expressions of courtesy and farewells, repeat song words, phrases, and sentences, as well as demonstrate comprehension and understanding from the readings, and from one another. Students recite numbers from 0-100, days of the weeks, months of the year, vocabulary words, phrases, sentences, and certain cultural expressions from the topics being studied. Furthermore, they read short stories in Spanish aloud.

ART… (Meets twice per week)

Lessons on the visual arts illustrate important elements of making and appreciating art, and emphasize well-known artists, works of art, and artistic concepts. Topics in art are often linked to different disciplines. Students experiment with a variety of media and study works from various cultures. In the lower school, students study art of the cavemen, Egyptians, Greeks and Aborigines. Mediums include crayons, markers, clay, colored pencils, paper mache’, tempera, paints and inks. Artists including Matisse, Seurat, Miro’, Da vinci, Escher, Picasso and Van Gogh are introduced.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION… (Meets three days per week)

Receiving regular exercise is an integral component of growing up healthy. Third grade students receive year-long instruction and practice opportunities in a variety of age appropriate sports including kickball, soccer, tee-ball, badminton, jump rope, jogging and other aerobic activities. Active participation, teamwork, and good sportsmanship are modeled and encouraged.

MUSIC… (Meets twice per week)

The purpose of the music education program at Hale Academy is to develop life-long musical understanding, skill, and sensitivity. As education develops the intellect, music education develops musical ability. As musical understanding, skill and sensitivity grow, aesthetic response increases.

Hale Academy music students learn that music has duration, pitch, form, timbre and expressive qualities. They feel the emotional content that music expresses. They possess adequate understanding of their own musical heritage and that of other cultures and continually grow in their ability to listen to, respond to, and create music with understanding, skill, and sensitivity.

LIBRARY…(Meets twice per week)

The media center at Hale Academy exists to stimulate our students’ love of reading and to foster their desire for life-long learning.

Lower School Competencies:

1. Understands and follows rules for appropriate use of the media center

2. Handles books and other media center materials with appropriate care

3. Gives a broad explanation of the Dewey decimal system, and locates books by category in the media center

4. Chooses age-appropriate books for personal enjoyment and to meet curriculum requirements