 |
Third Grade |
|
|
A typical day in third grade starts with a Daily Oral Language (DOL) exercise. This usually consists of two sentences written on the board with errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation. Students correct sentences in their spiral DOL notebooks. Corrections are reviewed in class together and the students make necessary changes. They also do a "math message" exercise that is brief but challenging. When students have completed both DOL assignments, and if time permits, they often do silent reading on a Reading Counts book they have checked out of the library. This is followed by a few minutes of teacher reading in which good reading techniques are modeled. The class continues with language arts, where students are engaged in reading various novels and exploring different aspects of the books through enrichment activities. Third graders explore social studies and then begin the mathematics curriculum, which is centered on problem-solving strategies and techniques. Language Arts The third grade language arts curriculum incorporates three key elements of study: reading, writing, and vocabulary. Using the core reading series SRA/McGraw Hill Open Court and chapter books, students increase their comprehension and learn to identify story elements. Students are also read to for auditory identification of story elements. The Scholastic reading program Reading Counts program is available and encouraged. Reading Counts is a supplement to setting individual goals and choosing literature in which computer generated quizzes are taken for comprehension. Reading objectives:
Third graders are exposed to expressive, narrative, informative, and expository writing. In all writing assignments, children will be expected to brainstorm their ideas, write a rough draft, make revisions, and write the final copy. In addition, we will be using the Jr Great Books interpretive activities. While working on these activities, students will:
This program will be used to enhance and enrich the students reading experience. Time allocation: 1 hour each day Core Material: SRA/Open Court Level 3 Copyright 2000 Other Resources: Golden Threads Anthology Jr. Great Books Scholastic Reading Counts Age appropriate books Special features of the Vocabulary Workshop program developed by Sadlier-Oxford include:
The new levels are based on the same principles as the previous program, using age-appropriate word lists. Especially useful features include analogies, word associations, and “Fun with Vocabulary” sections. Social Studies The third grade social studies program focuses on the community. Students read selected chapter books and use our text to get a sense of time and place as well as cause and effect. We include social studies across the curriculum and employ works of fiction and historical fiction to also reinforce reading comprehension. An example social studies resource reading:
All of these books lead to great discussions of how our country came to be formed. Social issues come up in just about all subject areas. Examples are the correlation of animal habitats studied in science to those of humans, and the use of mathematical shapes in human communication (symbols used in transportation systems). In this way, students more easily grasp concepts and naturally apply their acquired knowledge to different situations and subjects. Time allocation: 45 minutes, 4 days a week Core Material: Harcourt Brace, Social Studies: Communities Level 3 Copyright 2002 Other Resources: Student Activity Books www.hbschool.com Science Third grade science class covers a variety of topics using classroom resources and the campus as a “living laboratory.” We use the, pond, creek, and forest extensively to learn a great deal about the ecology of our campus. Visits to local museums, science and environment centers further enrich the curriculum. Following are the main subjects:
Time allocation: 45 minutes two times weekly Core Material: McGraw-Hill, SCIENCE Level 3 Copyright 2000 CDSA Campus as a “Living Laboratory” Mathematics Daily activities begin with a math message and mental math problems. Students then learn or review skills through different activities in which they explore and manipulate materials, or even play a math game, so the skills and concepts being taught are reinforced. The Silver Burdett Ginn Mathematics helps students develop a variety of successful problem solving techniques. Students develop creative and flexible thinking processes and can make easy transitions among all problem representations. It specifically helps prepare students for Pre-Algebra, Algebra, and Geometry offered in grades 7 and 8. This Curriculum builds on fundamental mathematical strands (listed below) such as numeration and order, measures and measurement, reference frames, operations, patterns, functions, and sequences, it uses more of the mathematical spectrum by exploring data and chance, geometry and spatial sense, and algebra and the uses of variables. Three of the listed chapters below are covered in each quarter.
Time allocation: 1 hour, 15 minutes each day Core Material: Mathematics, Silver-Burdett-Ginn 2001 Foreign Language By the end of the Spanish and French language programs at CDSA, students should be able to converse in the language with a native speaker. They will be able to use the language to express themselves in the present, past and future, read aloud, comprehend the written material, demonstrate expressive writing, and have a basic knowledge of the countries where the language is spoken. The categories into which we have divided our curriculum are: listening, speaking, reading, writing and culture:
Listening—students should be able to
Speaking—students should be able to
Reading—students should be able to
Writing—students should be able to
Cultural
Time allocation: 45 minutes twice weekly Art Third graders concentrate on four foundational disciplines that contribute to the creation and understanding of art: art production, art history, art criticism, and aesthetics. The art program provides instruction in art theories, applications, mediums, and concepts of perspective and color theory. Through developmentally appropriate hands-on experiences, students develop confidence in their abilities to create with various mediums. Thus, students have opportunities to create and respond to art. Areas of study: sculpture; printmaking; crafts; collage/assemblage; color theory; art history; art appreciation; art elements. Major goals:
Time allocation: 45 minutes weekly, and an additional 45 minute class every 3 weeks (also an elective opportunity) Music CDSA offers students a very comprehensive and appealing music program. Third grade students study the basic elements of music through several approaches. Movement, rhythm instruments, dance, and body percussion activities teach rhythm. Melody is explored in song. Singing fun songs, informative songs that link with academic curriculum, songs from here, and songs from far away lead to positive musical experiences. Listening experiences, utilizing multi-media, add to age appropriate participation in music history/appreciation activities. Third grade students are offered activities involving music theory, music appreciation, music history, composers past and present, instruments of the orchestra, introduction to the basic elements of music, composition, dance, music vocabulary, and learning opportunities in creative performance and movement through the Orff-Schulwerk method. Creativity, expression, and discipline are all learned through participation in the music electives. Whether it is drawing a picture to interpret the music they are listening to, making their own instrument, or recording a simple karaoke song, the students learn that music provides a way to be confident, creative, and expressive individuals. Time allocation: 45 minutes weekly, and an additional 45 minute class every 3 weeks (also an elective opportunity) Computers The technology program is conducted through hands-on projects that integrate computer instruction with language arts, math, science, and social studies, health, music and art. Categories covered include:
Time Allocation: 45 minutes weekly, and an additional 45 minute class every 3 weeks (also an elective opportunity) Physical Education Third graders continue to develop strength, endurance, and flexibility through physical activities. Students can demonstrate mature form in fundamental locomotive and manipulative skills, and can often maintain that form while participating in dynamic game situations. Identifying personal fitness goals for themselves and beginning to understand how exercise affects different parts of the body and is an important part of the instructional process. Students also learn age-specific skills, health benefits of physical activity, and begin to learn game strategies, rules, and etiquette. Time allocation: 45 minutes, 3 times per week Special offerings for third grade students: Electives: In addition, students attend one student selected elective class twice weekly, these include Drawing, General Art, Painting, Playwriting, So You Want to be an Actor, Puppetmaking, Language Arts through the Arts, Math Lovers Unite, Recorder Explorers, Percussion on the Move, Insects of CDSA, Birds of CDSA, Floating Your Boat, Making Social Studies Come Alive, Keyboarding and Math and Science Projects Using Excel. Families Program: All K-8th grade students form small groups of mixed ages to work on special events and community service projects. Each group is led by an eighth grade family head and consists of about nine other members. Club soccer: available to students on Monday afternoons Chess club: available to students on Friday afternoons after school.
|
