Curriculum Outline
Reading
We
incorporate a variety of materials and activities in our reading program. The
Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study will be used as a primary curriculum this year.
This reading workshop model gives students an authentic reading experience and
teaches students key reading strategies and comprehension skills through
reading books at their individual level, discussing books in teacher-student
conferences, and working in partnerships and book clubs with other students.
Students will have extended periods daily to read and apply reading skills and
strategies learned in class.
In
addition to the Units of Study, we will be using Houghton–Mifflin reading
program. This curriculum combines the elements of whole language, phonics,
spelling and other Language Arts skills. We will be using an anthology of short
stories to do whole and small group reading activities and to practice key
reading comprehension skills.
Our
science and social studies curriculums provide opportunities for nonfiction
reading through the texts and magazine/newspaper articles related to the
topics.
Independent
reading at home will also be required and assigned as homework throughout the
year. We ask all students to read for 20 to 30 minutes each night.
Spelling
This
year we will use the Evan Moor Spelling program for third grade students. This
program teaches valuable phonetic spelling patterns and strategies. Students
will receive a spelling list at the beginning of the week, will practice at home
throughout the week, and will take a final test each Friday.
Writing
This
year students will go through the writing process which includes prewriting,
drafting, revising, editing, evaluating, and publishing. They will publish a
few different texts this year including personal narrative, fiction, and
expository texts. A great deal of emphasis will be placed on the 6+1 traits of
writing model which will prepare our students toward becoming more skillful
writers in all areas. The seven traits include: ideas and content, word choice,
voice, organization, sentence fluency, conventions (grammar skills) and
presentation. We will use the Step UP to Writing program and The Units of Study
Writing program to support and teach writing skills this year. Students will
also be asked to write to a prompt throughout the year both for district
assessments and for additional writing practice.
Mathematics
We will
use the EnVision program this year for our Math. The areas of Number &
Operations (place value, addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division skills), Algebra, Geometry,
Measurement, Data Analysis and Probability and Problem Solving, encompass the
program. This Math program gives the students a very strong background with
basic algorithms and mathematical thinking. Problem solving is taught within
each lesson. There is an engaging digital piece to each lesson and students
will have the opportunity to access this math website to complete assignments,
practice skills and play games. Each student will be given a username and a
password.
Social Studies
The
Social Studies theme for third grade is “Our Community and Beyond.” This is the
Social Studies program adopted by the Lake Washington School District last
year. This is a student-centered, activity-based program which integrates hands
on learning and content reading which build mastery of state standards in both
social studies and language arts.
Science
There
are three units in our third grade Science Curriculum. Our Science education is
based on the inquiry method of learning. Scientific processes such as
observation, comparing, recording and analyzing data will be utilized. The
critical content areas for third grade science include the following:
· Earth Science- characteristics
of rocks and minerals.
· Physical Science – the
properties of sound.
· Life Science – the structure
and function of animals, adaptation, and the survival of animals, plants,
ecosystems, and habitats.
*We
will be using the Foss kits to teach the science curriculum.
Art
Visual
Arts and Literacy is the Art Curriculum utilized by the Lake Washington School
District. Students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to create,
perform and respond effectively to the arts. Students will have the opportunity
to use a variety of art mediums. They will be introduced to different artists
by studying their art pieces and will learn how to use the techniques used by
these artists in their own art work. Parent volunteers are often used to help
in the classroom during these art lessons. Art will also be integrated into
many subject areas as well.
Handwriting
D’Nealian
Handwriting is an important part of our third grade curriculum. At the
beginning of third grade students will review all manuscript letters. Then
cursive will be taught and practiced throughout the year. (Please be aware that
we have carefully worked out a progression for teaching each letter.) Your
efforts at home to encourage your child to form the letters correctly would be
a great help.
P.E., Music, Library and Computer Lab
Our children will continue to
have “specialist” times throughout the week where they have instruction in
Physical Education, Music, Library and Computer Lab. We work closely with Mrs.
Conrick, Mrs. Lindgren, Mrs. Schroeder, and Mrs. Luna to connect what they are
learning in the classroom to what they are learning during these specialist
times as well.
