The big ideas in grade 3 include: developing an understanding of multiplication and division and strategies for multiplication and division within 100; developing an understanding of fractions, especially unit fractions (fractions with numerator 1); developing an understanding of the structure of rectangular arrays and of area; and describing and analyzing two-dimensional shapes. 

In 3rd grade, students continue to build foundational skills in reading, writing, speaking, and language. The focus shifts toward becoming more independent readers and writers, preparing them for deeper learning. In reading, students engage with a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts to develop comprehension skills. They learn to identify main ideas, describe characters, settings, and events, and use context clues to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. Students also practice drawing inferences and summarizing what they’ve read to enhance their understanding.

 Writing in 3rd grade emphasizes crafting clear and organized opinion essays, informative paragraphs, and creative stories. Students learn to write with a focus on structure, using details and examples to support their ideas. They also begin to explore the writing process by planning, drafting, revising, and editing their work.