Language Arts
Our goals for student reading, writing, and oral communication are targeted during language arts, and reinforced across the curriculum as children apply those skills to the content areas. The students select and read a variety of good literature, both fiction and non-fiction, from different genres, including Norse, Greek, and Roman myths, science fiction, legends, poetry, and tall tales. We emphasize vocabulary and comprehension skills on the literal, interpretive and evaluative levels. Children meet in teacher-led guided reading groups and student-led literature circles to discuss the story elements and vocabulary, and literature response projects.
The WIS curriculum helps children to see themselves as writers sharing their own experiences, ideas, knowledge and observations. Students brainstorm, draft, revise, edit and produce final drafts, while refining spelling and grammar skills. They also write in journals and use the writing process to prepare for oral presentations and written reports. Third grade integrates spelling with writing and reading. We focus on phonetic spelling patterns, and individualized spelling lists. Children are expected to use standard spelling in their daily work. In penmanship, children review the formation of cursive letters and transition to using cursive writing in their daily work.
Mathematics
The third grade math program is based on a balanced approach of concepts, skills, and problem solving. It includes both hands-on, small group activities using a variety of manipulatives and whole group instruction. Children further their understanding of the base-ten numeration system and place value concepts as they work with numbers through one hundred thousand. Students continue to advance their skills with regrouping in multi-digit addition and subtraction with numbers in the thousands. The most significant third grade topics are multiplication and division. Students work to develop quick recall of multiplication tables. Other topics include customary and metric measurement, geometry, data/graphing, probability and fractions. A strong problem-solving strand with multi-step word problems is woven through all the units.
IB Units: (Science and Social Studies)
Traditional science and social studies skills are integrated into six transdisciplinary themes that are studied throughout the year. These topics are organized into six themes that connect ideas and concepts throughout the IB PYP program and allow students to apply higher level thinking skills within the rich inquiry based topics.
Who we are:
Exploring Learning Styles
Understanding different ways of learning enables people to respond to their own learning needs as well as the needs of others.
Students will explore how the human brain works and functions. They will reflect on their own personal experiences to understand how different learning styles relate to their daily lives. This self awareness will lead to empathy and tolerance in the differences of others.
Understanding oneself will lead to self-initiated strategies for better learning.
Where we are in place and time:
Space Exploration
Increased knowledge about the universe has changed humans’ perspective about where we are in space and time.
Third grade students will study the cause and effect relationships in our solar system. They will then apply this understanding to the progression of human understanding of space through time. They will learn about space exploration of the past and it's implication on the future.
How we express ourselves
Architecture
People express aspects of their culture through public structures.
Students explores elements of architecture and then do a deeper study of the a public building of their choice.
How the world works:
Simple Machines
Humans use machines to convert energy and to perform many tasks.
The six basic simple machines will be explored through hands-on activities. Students will construct an understanding of how simple machines help convert energy into motion. They will make connections between the simple machines and how they can be applied to help humans with work past and present. Students will use their understanding in problem solving.
How we organize ourselves:
Marketplaces
Marketplaces depend on the ability to produce goods and supply services that can be interchanged.
The global economy will be explored through looking at different market places. Students will identify wants and needs and goods and services and think about how they are interconnected in a market place. Students will collect data about goods from their daily lives and inquire about where they come from, how they are made, and how goods become available to consumers. Students will use knowledge to think about how they can be a better consumer.
Sharing the Planet:
Water
Water is essential to life and is a limited resource for many people.
Third graders will inquire: Where does water come from? Students will use hands on learning and and take a trip to the water treatment plant to gain an appreciation for clean water. After developing an understanding of the water cycle and human influences, they will be encouraged to help develop strategies to address the global concerns surrounding clean water and it's shortage to take action for their future.
Stories, songs, rhymes, and plays continue to be the core of the program. Children are able to read with understanding a variety of simple materials containing basic learned vocabulary. They begin to write very simple texts following a model. They are equipped to give an oral presentation (e.g. a description of themselves, skits, songs). Reading and writing are able to be used with more ease along with the communicative skills of listening and speaking. Songs, games, and stories from Mandarin/Spanish culture are a key component of the program, as well as occasional integration with the classroom curriculum. Students memorize and rehearse a play as a class and in groups.
In third grade, the concepts of space and dimension are emphasized. Students comprehend concepts of foreground, middle ground, and background; use overlapping shapes, variation in lines, textures, colors and sizes. They can define symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial balance; identify columns, beams, domes and arches, and analyze how a building is constructed. They develop personal use of color and other elements effectively in their work, and become aware of articulation of parts of the human form.
Third graders are interested in learning to draw realistically, and at the same time appreciate that fantasy exists in the imagination, and may be used in artwork.
Students expand their awareness of the value of art in a variety of cultures, including Native American, Ancient Roman and Byzantine art.
By learning about various artists, using their techniques, and having class critiques, students learn how to problem solve, communicate their ideas and feelings, exchange multiple solutions to an artistic problem, and respect the work of others, an essential skill to global citizenship.
The third grade music program begins to focus on music literacy as musical concepts are translated to written notation. Students use pitched instruments to explore staff notation. Listening exercises continue to emphasize the application of musical terms to sound. Biographical information on composers is presented. Songs choices support classroom curriculum topics. Topics in world music are introduced in conjunction with the international curricula.
Physical Education
The emphasis is on continued refinement of locomotor, non-locomotor and selected manipulative skills. Appropriate specialized skills are applied to group and team activities, promoting proper social interaction and sportsmanship. A continuation of activities which promote physical fitness and health related topics will be included. A personal well-being develops in WIS students through a balance of physical, intellectual and social skills.
The goal of technology instruction is to teach students to effectively use the computer and other technology tools to enhance, support and extend their learning in all areas of the curriculum. Technology is purposefully taught and used to increase productivity, promote creativity, and develop problem-solving skills.
Library/Research Skills
Third graders build upon skills learned in earlier grades and continue to be introduced to a wide variety of books during their regularly scheduled visits to the library. Students engage in a yearlong study of genres. They become familiar with a wide variety of genres, learn to identify the literary elements of common genres, and are motivated to read a greater variety of books. The classroom teacher and librarian collaborate to plan activities designed to help them develop information literacy skills. Students develop and practice a wide variety of information literacy skills as they conduct research in the classroom, library and computer lab.
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