This trimester, your 3rd grader will be learning about their role in the community and the basics of local governance. They will learn to:
Understand Community Life ποΈ:
Recognize that they are part of a larger community that shares common goals and values.
Understand why we have rules and local laws and the importance of following them.
Identify Local Government Basics ποΈ:
Learn who makes important decisions about local services (like trash collection, parks, and schools).
Practice Good Citizenship Skills β :
Recognize and value core democratic principles, such as fairness and respect.
Understand their rights and responsibilities as a community member.
Realize that they have the power to work with others to solve problems and make their community a better place.
Your child will learn to read, interpret, and create basic maps, developing a foundational understanding of location and geography.
Reading Map Keys (Legends) π:
They can read and use a map key (or legend) to understand what symbols and colors represent on a map (e.g., a blue line means a river, a star means a capital city).
Understanding Directions (Compass Rose) β¬οΈβ¬οΈβ¬ οΈβ‘οΈ:
They can identify and use the four main cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) and, in some cases, the four intermediate directions (Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, Northwest) using a compass rose.
Using Scale π:
They can understand and apply the concept of map scale to estimate or measure the real distance between two places shown on a map.
Locating Places (Grid Systems) #οΈβ£:
They can use a simple grid system of letters and numbers (like those found on a road map) to find the exact location of a specific place.
Distinguishing Map Types π:
They can distinguish between and use different types of maps, such as political maps (showing borders and cities), physical maps (showing mountains and bodies of water), and thematic maps (showing things like population or rainfall).
Connecting Maps to Globes π:
They understand the relationship between a flat map and a three-dimensional globe, and know that a globe is the most accurate representation of Earth.
Your child will learn basic economic concepts related to choices, resources, and exchange in the context of families and communities.
Scarcity and Choice π€:
They understand the concept of scarcityβthat people cannot have everything they want or need because resources are limited.
They recognize that scarcity forces individuals, families, and communities to make choices about how to use resources.
Goods and Services π:
They can define and distinguish between goods (physical objects people buy, like food or toys) and services (actions people do for others, like teaching or cutting hair).
Producers and Consumers π§βπΎ:
They understand that people play two roles in the economy: producers (people who make goods or provide services) and consumers (people who buy and use goods and services).
Specialization and Interdependence π€:
They recognize the benefits of specializationβwhen people focus on doing one job very well.
They understand that specialization leads to interdependence, meaning people must rely on one another to meet their needs and wants (e.g., the farmer needs the truck driver, and the truck driver needs the mechanic).
Money and Barter π΅:
They can explain that money is a medium of exchange used to buy goods and services.
They can compare the use of money to the practice of barter (trading one item for another without using money).