Third Grade Curriculum
	Basic Math Description: Students attend class no less than 50 minutes a day/five days per week in grade appropriate activities designed to develop higher order thinking skills, problem-solving skills, an understanding of mathematical concepts, and an ability to make appropriate, correct calculations. Text(s): Title: Math Authors: Charles, Barnett, Briars, Crown, Johnson, Leinwand, and Van de Walle Publisher/Copyright Date: Scott Foresman, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1999 General Objectives: 1. The student will learn to value mathematics, reason mathematically, communicate mathematically, develop confidence in the use of mathematics, solve problems using mathematics, and compute accurately. 2. The student will demonstrate effective usage of thinking skills and problem solving strategies, real number applications, operations with whole numbers, estimation, measurement with metric and English units, organizing data, basic probability, basic statistics, and basic geometry.   Basic Science Description: Students study life science, physical science, earth science, and human science by reading the textbook and performing experiments. Text(s): Title: Scott Foresman Science Author: Cooney, DiSpezio, Foots, Matamoros, Nyquist, and Ostlund Publisher/Copyright Date: Addison-Wesley Educational Publisher, 2000 General Objectives: The student will: 1. be able to discuss areas of: a. life science b. physical science c. earth science d. scientific behavior e. the human body f. technology   Reading Description: For two hours every morning, students read the basal reader, write in the skills workbooks, write creatively, and are engaged in activities which strengthen their language arts skills. Text(s): Title: SRA Open Court Reading Author: Bereiter, Brown, Campsone, Carruthers, Case, Hirshburg, Adams, McKeough, Pressley, Riot, Scardamalia, Treadway Publisher/Copyright Date: Open Court, 2000 General Objectives: The student will: 1. recognize different types of literature 2. comprehend what is read 3. use proper grammar 4. set reading goals 5. write creatively 6. define vocabulary words from lists derived from anthologies   Grammar Description: Students will be exposed to skills in writing, grammar, usage, and mechanics. Text(s): Title: The World of Language Author: Hiebert, Hodges, Livingston, Perkins Publisher/Copyright Date: Silver, Burdett, and Ginn, 1996 General Objectives: The student will: 1. learn sentence structure. 2. learn parts of speech. 3. learn the writing process. 4. learn punctuation rules. 5. understand paragraphs. 6. understand phonics. 7. learn dictionary skills.   Spelling Description: Students are exposed daily to fundamental principles of effective and correct spelling of age-appropriate words. Text(s): Title: Rebecca Sitton’s Spelling Sourcebook for Third Grade Teachers Author: Sitton, Rebecca Publisher/Copyright Date: Egger Publishing, Inc., 2002 (2nd edition) General Objectives: The student will: 1. Achieve spelling success in writing and on spelling achievement tests. 2. Receive ongoing instruction and practice in basic spelling skills. 3. Learn to spell frequently used words and words with unusual patterns. 4. Improve visual skills and proofreading ability.   Creative Writing Description: Students write daily to improve their written communication skills. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. be exposed to the writing process. 2. brainstorm. 3. pre-write. 4. draft. 5. revise. 6. proofread. 7. publish (including illustrating).   Short title: HANDWRITING Description: Students will further develop cursive writing skills. Text(s): Title: A New Alphabet Author: Hackney, Clinton Publisher/Copyright Date: Zaner-Bloser, 1996 General Objectives: The student will: 1. learn to write legibly in cursive   Communities/South Carolina History Course Short Title: Social Studies Description: The study of the community, government, and geographical regions of the United States. Text(s): Title: Communities Author: Publisher/Copyright Date: Harcourt and Brace Company, 2000 Edition: General Objectives: The student will: 1. learn map skills, graphic skills, social studies vocabulary, and reference skills.   Short title: South Carolina History Description: Student will gain an overview of South Carolina history. Text(s): Title: South Carolina USA Author: Sharon Benston Publisher/Copyright Date: Silver Burdett Ginn, 1993 Edition: General Objectives: The student will: 1. be introduced to South Carolina’s history.   Art Description: Students attend class once a week for 50 minutes and study sequential and interdisciplinary studio and classroom experiences in the visual arts. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. continue to develop an approach to art in everyday life and the appreciation of our culture and those of other countries and religions through the use of new techniques used by other cultures to create art. 2. develop and expand fine arts knowledge. 3. develop and express skills related to the fine arts. 4. acquire knowledge of historical and cultural developments. 5. build a base from which to make informed aesthetic judgments.   Music Description: To develop an appreciation for music and learn basic music values, notations, and qualities. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. by listening, singing, and moving, the student will be able to: a. identify meter in groups of two and three and time signatures b. recognize dynamic symbols c. distinguish intervals as step, skip, or leap d. recognize chord changes, rounds and counter melodies e. identify instruments and music styles f. recognize phrases, theme and variation g. recognize tempo changes   Physical Education Description: A basic program designed to promote good physical health and encourage a lifelong interest in physical activity. Students attend class once a week for 50 minutes. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. Demonstrate competency in many different movement forms and proficiency in a few movement forms. 2. Apply movement concepts and principles to the learning and development of motor skills. 3. Exhibit a physically active lifestyle. 4. Achieve and maintain a health-enhancing level of physical fitness. 5. Demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior in physical activity settings. 6. Demonstrate understanding and respect for differences among people in physical activity settings. 7. Understand that physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and social interaction.   Library Description: The third graders come to the library for a scheduled forty-five minute period each week. Previously taught skills are reinforced along with introduction of new skills, including the skills tested on the standardized tests given in the spring. Text(s): Title: The Complete Library Skills Grade 3 Author: Linda Turrell Publisher/Copyright Date: T.S. Denison, N/A Title: LiBEARy Skills Grades K-3 Author: The School Librarians on Chambersberg, Pennsylvania Publisher/Copyright Date: T.S. Denison, 1990 General Objectives: The student will: 1. continue to learn about the variety of written media. 2. expand upon the use of Accelerated Reader Program. 3. continue to develop reference skills.   Computer Science Description: To reinforce basic computer components and functions to the third grade. To provide reinforcements of the skills taught in third grade classroom. To review the concepts learned in second grade computer class. The students will be exposed to the inside of the computer. The students will be exposed to hardware and software. Students will now come to the computer lab twice a week. Text(s): None General Objectives: The student will: 1. be introduced to or reintroduced to the computer and all components. 2. be reintroduced to all the keys on the keyboard and especially the special keys on the keyboard. 3. learn the difference between hardware and software. 4. review the proper care and techniques of using a computer. 5. be allowed to access the computer programs alone. 6. be exposed to Excel.   Spanish Description: A basic introduction to Spanish culture and language. Students attend class three times a week for 15 minutes. Text: None General Objectives: The student will: 1. Ask and answer simple questions in Spanish. 2. Use greetings, farewell expressions, and polite expressions in Spanish. 3. Carry out a few commands. 4. Identify objects, colors, numbers, days of the week, months, dates, seasons, parts of the body, emotions, animals, hobbies, clothing, and foods. 5. Describe themselves and discuss things they like to do.