3rd Grade Curriculum

Third grade is a big year of development. Students expand from processing information to understanding how to use it in multiple ways.  Students begin to dive deep into problem-solving skills and working with other students.  Students also learn to be more independent and responsible.  Students practice these skills while still having fun and cultivating each student’s personal growth. 

STREAM in 3rd Grade

The goals of STREAM education for 3rd graders are to cultivate curiosity, foster critical thinking, and introduce foundational concepts in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on and inquiry-based learning. It aims to develop problem-solving skills, encourage collaboration, and build confidence in experimenting and exploring ideas. By connecting these subjects to real-world applications, STREAM education seeks to inspire a love for learning, promote creativity, and lay the groundwork for more advanced understanding in later grades.  It is in the 3rd grade that we begin more rigorous application of collaboration, critical thinking, and communication skills. 

Collaboration Critical Thinking

Understands role in a group Identifies patterns

Listens to others’ ideas Explains reasoning

Shares responsibilities Uses logic in problem-solving

Communication

Engages effectively in discussions

Asks and answers appropriate questions

Writes a simple narrative

Scientific Method         

Conducts a simple experiment

Performs basic measurements             

Records data in table or graph         

Identifies different types of data

Engineering Design Process

Breaks down problems into subsets

Brainstorms multiple solutions

Learns from failures and adjusts prototype

Shares ideas with others

Examples of STREAM Activities and Projects

NASA Mission Patch  Using NASA's Artemis missions as inspiration, students create a patch to reflect one of the many teams working together to design a station on the moon.

Focus:  Collaboration and communication

Raft Design:  Students design a functioning raft for a variety of plastic toy animals.  Themes have included Three Billy Goats Gruff and real life animal rescue.

Focus:  Engineering Design Process and collaboration

Bird Scavenger Hunt and the Great Backyard Bird Count:   Identifying birds at our school with binoculars to practice data collecting for the Great Backyard Bird Count

Focus:  Scientific Method and collaboration

Botzee Mars Rovers:  Using Botzee robots, students design and build a rover to move "boulders" (tennis balls) on Mars.   This lesson was completed in conjunction with NASA STREAM Day.

Focus:  Engineering Design Process and critical thinking