Fountas and Pinnell is a leveled literacy curriculum designed for whole group, small group and independent reading and writing opportunities. Through mini lessons, interactive read alouds, shared and guided reading students learn a number of skills and strategies. Third grade focuses on comprehension, fluency, expanding word knowledge, identifying main topics and supporting details, utilizing graphic features, distinguishing various genres, demonstrating understanding of a text through discussion and writing and using text evidence. In writing, students will learn to communicate their thoughts and ideas through written expression in an organized and purposeful way. Emphasis will be on developing and using correct grammar and conventions to produce clear and coherent writing. Students will have many opportunities to practice writing skills in daily cross-curricular activities/assignments in addition to producing letter writing, realistic fiction, opinion writing, and informational multimedia presentation pieces. Throughout the year, Fountas and Pinnell writing lessons will be used as a resource in class.
3rd Grade ELA Reporting Skills
The main focus for third grade math will be developing fluency in the four main operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division). We will work on strategies through games, patterns, and modeling. Other math topics focus on place value, time, measurement, graphing, fractions, shapes, and problem solving. As we begin to think more like mathematicians, we will explore how each of these math topics relate to one another. By using real world examples, students will see connections and realize math is found throughout their every day lives.
Third grade science gives students the opportunity to organize and use data to help answer many scientific questions. Our third grade topics include weather, plants, animals, environment and forces. Third graders will be able to describe typical weather conditions in different parts of the world. They will also develop an understanding of the similarities and differences of organisms’ life cycles. Students will be able to determine the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object. Through Mystery Science, an interactive website, students will learn how to ask and answer questions, analyze data, plan and carry out investigations and design solutions.
The social studies curriculum used is Inquiry Journeys. This is an inquiry-based curriculum where students start with a compelling question, move through an investigation of content and culminates with students taking informed action. Third grade will focus on Global Connections, Migration and Movement and The 20th Century Civil Rights Movement. Students will also learn the various ways to pay for goods through Junior Achievement financial literacy lessons.