Religion

Third grade religion focuses on building a basic understanding of Catholic doctrine through the study of the Catholic Social Teaching Principles.  The students will read from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures (Old and New Testaments).  Third graders learn to participate in a faith community through prayer and liturgies.  Students will also spend the year practicing skills learned in “Second Step” (conflict resolution), “Steps to Respect” (bullying prevention), and “Talking about Touching” (personal safety) programs.

Literacy

Third graders will move toward becoming more independent readers by cementing basic reading strategies and skills.  Students will practice reading strategies at a deeper level and use critical-thinking skills to increase understanding of what is read.  The writing process will be used to help students learn to write skillfully in a variety of genres.  Students will increase their ability to communicate effectively through written work (especially paragraph writing).  They will also practice high-frequency words and build on their knowledge of spelling patterns.

Math

Our school follows the Washington State math standards.  In third grade this includes: concepts of multiplication and division, geometry (2-D), customary and metric measurement, and fractions.  Students will gain knowledge and practice through a variety of texts, resources and math educator Marilyn Burns’s activities.  Students will practice problem solving using previous and new knowledge and demonstrate understanding through work, manipulatives, discussion, and journal writing.

Science

Our science program is an inquiry-based approach that utilizes the scientific method: observation, forming hypotheses, creating relevant predictions, data gathering and investigations.  Third graders will use the following Foss Kits: Structures of Life, Physics of Sound, and Earth Materials.

Social Studies

Third grade focuses on the four strands of social studies: geography, history, civics and economics.  Students learn about these strands through their study of the westward movement and the early pioneers, an in-depth study of Seattle ’s history, and a thematic unit on cultural understanding, focusing on Japan .

Drama

Drama uses a variety of artistic skills in the creative process including:  mime, improvisation, voice, movement, character development, directing and performance. These skills are learned and developed in a variety of ways including drama games, activities, and various performances. Drama is also integrated into other areas of the third-grade classroom learning through our study of Japanese drama.

Music

In third grade there is more emphasis on music reading skills, singing in harmony, and exploring the sounds of the instruments of the orchestra (timbre).  Movement is still important in internalizing the music concepts.  Third grade music books are a great resource.

Physical Education

In third grade, physical education instruction focuses on solidifying basic loco-motor movements, hand/foot/eye coordination, and providing an introduction to basic team sports.  Students are evaluated based on their attitude, effort, and sportsmanship during class.  Students have PE twice a week.