3rd Grade G&T Curriculum Overview
2025-2026
Math: From the Past into the Future
Medieval Castles
In this interdisciplinary unit, students will connect history, language arts, and math in an engaging, hands-on way. They will learn about two- and three-dimensional shapes, geometry, measurement, area, and perimeter. To apply these concepts, students will design and build their own medieval castles using tools such as rulers, protractors, and compasses. We will also read selections from the Sir Cumference book series, which make mathematical ideas fun and accessible. This project combines creativity with problem-solving, while giving students a deeper appreciation of both math and medieval history.
Mars Project
This unit is built around the nonfiction text Mission: Mars and integrates Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science as students explore NASA’s goal of a manned mission to Mars. Using the Vivify Mars Colony Planning Game, student teams will take on the roles of engineers, scientists, and mission planners to design and build a functioning Mars colony.
Through this immersive experience, students will apply concepts of measurement, budgeting, proportions, and resource allocation while calculating supply needs, energy use, and land area for habitats. Students will also use data tables, graphs, and problem-solving strategies to optimize their colony. In addition, they will explore astronomy, planetary science, life-support systems, and engineering challenges. Students will research Mars’ environment, including its atmosphere, terrain, and weather patterns, and propose solutions for food production, water recycling, and sustainable energy. The game provides structured scenarios, such as equipment trade-offs, emergencies, and environmental hazards, requiring teams to adapt and justify their decisions. The culminating project is a student-designed Mars colony blueprint and model, demonstrating their ability to apply cross-curricular knowledge to a real-world challenge.
Language Arts: The Journey Within and Beyond
Language Arts work for the year will be built around the chapter book Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Reading:
Vocabulary activities
Exploration of Chinese folktales and legends
Analysis of character development and themes
Author’s use of embedded stories.
Writing: Students will develop their own original folktale that reflects an important value, lesson, or cultural connection.
In addition to the specific reading and writing activities listed above, students will participate in discussions and projects about broad, critical-thinking issues including:
Culture: Traditions and the power of storytelling
SEL: The role of generosity and gratitude in building strong communities, self-identity and discovery
Geography:: How geography influences culture and choices.
Nonverbal: Code Breakers
Using our Birdseed TV curriculum, students will dive into the fascinating world of secret messages through the units Codes and Ciphers and Factors and Codes. In Codes and Ciphers, students explore the history and purpose of hidden communication, from ancient substitution ciphers to modern-day encryption. They practice encoding and decoding messages, strengthening logical reasoning and pattern recognition while also learning how secret codes have played a role in history and technology.
In Factors and Codes, students build on these ideas by applying mathematical concepts such as factors, multiples, and divisibility rules to code-making and code-breaking. For students identified as gifted in nonverbal reasoning, these units are especially valuable: the work emphasizes spatial visualization, abstract patterning, and flexible problem-solving. Students are encouraged to look beyond words, relying instead on mathematical structures, symbols, and logical design as they invent and crack codes. This gives them rich opportunities to leverage their strengths, deepen their mathematical and analytical skills, and experience the creativity and challenge of thinking like a real codebreaker.
Personal Passion Learning Project
This year, all of our Gifted and Talented students in grades 3–5 will take part in a personal passion learning project inspired by the book Genius Hour by Andi McNair. Following McNair’s framework, students will move through the six P’s of Genius Hour: passion, plan, pitch, project, product, and presentation, as they develop their ideas from curiosity to completion. They will begin by identifying a topic or problem they care deeply about, then create a plan of action and “pitch” their idea to their peers and teacher for feedback. From there, they will research, create, and problem-solve as they work on their projects, ultimately producing a product that demonstrates their learning in a way that is creative and meaningful. Finally, they will present their work, reflecting on both their process and their growth as learners. Throughout the experience, students will practice collaboration, perseverance, and critical thinking while discovering how their passions can make a difference in the world.
Gifted Gallery
An end-of-year event for G&T families that showcases student work