Third Grade Curriculum

In third grade General Studies, students begin to transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn'' as they dive into more advanced content in reading, writing, math, social studies, and science. As students begin to study vocabulary and grammar, these skills carry over into their writing as they are now able to write longer, more complex narratives and informational pieces. Students begin to read novels in reading groups, having rich discussions to further advance their comprehension skills. Students use Third Grade level Wilson Fundations® and strengthen sentence variety, paragraph organization, and note-taking through The Writing Revolution. In social studies, students study Communities around the World: they learn to use globes and maps, examine the geography, lifestyle, language, customs, holidays, and government of selected world communities, and compare them with their own. In science, students explore how animals and their environments have changed over time, compare life cycles of animals and plants, study inherited and acquired traits, investigate weather and climate patterns, and explore balanced and unbalanced forces, gravity, and friction. In math, students work with three-digit numbers, place value, addition, and subtraction, and study multiplication and division, fractions, measurement (time, liquid volume, and mass), and shapes, including perimeter and area. There is a strong emphasis on problem solving skills as well. In Judaic Studies, third graders continue to use iTaLAM and L'havin U'Lehaskil and are becoming more proficient in speaking in Hebrew and navigating the Chumash independently. This year, they begin to study Rashi, which culminates in the annual Rashi Play, a key third grade milestone event. In addition to learning about the holidays and weekly Parshiyot, students begin to work b’chavruta - "in pairs'' as they hone their textual analysis skills.

Students study the second half of Parshat Vayera and Parshiot Chaye Sarah, Toldot, and Vayetze, are introduced to the Rashi alphabet and vocabulary, and learn additional Shacharit tefillot, including Birchot Kriyat Shema. Specials include STEM, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Grow Torah in our teaching garden.