Curriculum

Science

In Science, third grade students engage in the study of a variety of topics, including fossils and environmental change, life cycles and heredity, weather and climate, and the principles of forces, motion, and magnetism.        

Social Studies

In Social Studies, third grade students explore topics such as map skills, types of communities, Pennsylvania Dutch culture, local Native American history, economics, and community government.

As part of our Native American unit, students will create a model of a traditional Native American home. 

Math

In Math, third grade students develop a strong foundation in key concepts such as multiplication and division, multi-step problem solving, area and perimeter, fractions, data analysis and graphing, and geometry.

We use the Eureka Math program, which is organized into thoughtfully sequenced modules that connect mathematical concepts to real-world applications and problem-solving scenarios.

ELA

In Reading, third graders begin by developing strong reading habits and stamina in Creating a Reading Life. They then explore nonfiction texts in Expository and Narrative Nonfiction, learning to identify key ideas and text structures. In Character Studies, students analyze characters’ traits and motivations to deepen their understanding of fiction. The year concludes with Animal Research Clubs, where students work collaboratively to research and present information about animals using nonfiction sources.

In Writing, students learn strategies for crafting personal narratives, as well as informational, persuasive, and opinion pieces. We conclude the year with a creative unit where students write their own adaptations of classic fairy tales.

In Grammar, students focus on sentence structure, parts of speech, punctuation, prefixes, suffixes, and other essential language conventions.

During Word Study, students explore spelling patterns, syllabication, and word relationships. Vocabulary instruction is integrated throughout the year, with an emphasis on words commonly found in third grade texts.