What your child will learn in Third Grade

Introduction

At the Amsterdam Elementary Schools, we have created an atmosphere of high expectations of education and relationships. We are committed to assist our children in attaining their maximum growth and potential. By exposing children to meaningful learning experiences, they will learn that in order to become a successful adult, their education, as well as, valuing and respecting individual differences are imperative.

The best educational opportunities are provided when the parents and school are active partners. With this in mind, we have created a pamphlet for parents with an overview of what your children are expected to learn by the completion of the third grade. By working together, we can reach each and every goal.

Subjects Taught

Science

The third grade Science Curriculum consists of 6 units of study: Plant Growth, Animals in Their Environment, Environmental Issues, Electricity, Changing Earth and Sound.

Plant Growth

The student will be able to:

Environmental Issues

The student will be able:

• Define recycling and how it is done

• Distinguish between biodegradable and non biodegradable materials

• Compare different habitats and their components

• Explain how habitats can be affected by man

Electricity

The student will be able to:

• Construct a circuit by using a wire, bulb and battery

• Differentiate between conductors and nonconductors by handling given material in a simple circuit

• Locate the strongest part of a magnet

• Describe the way in which poles of magnets act toward each other

• Discuss the uses of a compass

Changing Earth

The student will be able to:

• List examples of weathering and erosion by water, wind, organism and man

• Discuss sources of acid precipitation and how it effects living and nonliving things

• List and describe the 3 layers of the earth

• Identify the main parts of soil

• Describe the travels of a drop of water as it travels through the water cycle

• Differentiate the terms of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation

Sound

The student will be able to:

• Define the terms pitch and volume in regard to sound

• Explain how sound travels

• Explain how an echo is formed

• Tell how the ear hears sound
  
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Reading

The student will be able to:

• Identify main idea and supporting details

• Sequence events in a story

• Distinguish fact from opinion

• Identify fiction from nonfiction

• Identify a fable and a folk tale

• Write a basic summary of a story

• Develop and apply vocabulary strategies

• Develop study strategies and appropriately use

• Dictionaries encyclopedias, and charts

• Identify the characters, setting, plot, and solution of a story

• Spelling

• The student will be able to:

• Spell basic third grade vocabulary

• Use a personal speller to increase his/her spelling vocabulary
  
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Writing

The student will be able to:

• Display the correct usage of capitalization, punctuation, proper nouns, commas, indentation, and some dialogue in his/her written work (students will learn to self-correct mistakes by using an editing sheet/they will learn to conference with peers about their work in a positive fashion)

• Learn to write a story using a beginning sentence, supporting details, and an ending

• Learn to use transition words such as first, net, then, finally, etc. to make his/her written stories fluent and contain a logical order of events

• Write stories for information and entertainment

• Take notes from factual stories

• Chart information and categorize
  
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Language

The student will be able to:

• Recognize synonyms and antonyms

• Write and identify similes

• Use the correct forms of verbs and verb tenses in speaking and writing

• Use common homophones and homographs correctly in writing

• Recognize compound words and compound sentences

• Give oral presentations of work in all subject areas
  
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Mathematics

The student will be able to:

• Master addition and subtraction facts as well as being able to solve multi-digit addition and subtraction problems

• Write fact families for addition and multiplication

• Order numbers

• Round to the nearest ten and hundred/also estimate

• Skip count by 2, 5, and 10

• Tell time, count money and make change

• Read charts, bar graphs, and tally graphs

• Use measurement

• Identify geometric figures and find area and volume

• Master multiplication and division facts from 0-10

• Multiply 2 digit by 1 digit numbers

• Write fractions, find equivalent fractions, use mixed numbers, add and subtract fractions, and read decimals
  
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Computers

The student will be able to:

• Develop and maintain proper computer work habits

• Use the computer for drill and practice, problem solving, and simulation software

• Recognize the components of a computer

• Begin developing correct keyboarding skills

• Use word processing software

• Recognize computers are used in many occupations

• Recognize computers need instructions to operate
  
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Art

The student will be able to:

• Become participating, creative members of our multi cultural society

• Create art work in a personal, imaginative, creative style

• Use a variety of techniques, processes, tools and mediums to create Art

• Create Art both independently and in groups

• Correlate and integrate Art with other subject areas
  
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Music

The student will be able to:

• Recognize simple musical elements i.e. tempo, dynamic markings, 1st and 2nd endings through reading music

• Have an introduction to part singing through rounds and partner songs

• Study style and form in music trough movement and dance

• Read melody and rhythm on the staff through use of keyboards, mallet percussion

• Perform individually and in groups
  
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Health

The student will be able to:

• Emotional health

• Human growth and development

• Nutrition

• Diseases and disorders

• Environmental health

• Consumer health

• Community Health

• Drug awareness

• Different types of families

• Child Abduction Prevention Program as per NYS requirement

• Safety - bus, playground, home, bicycle, etc.
  
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Social Studies

The Social Studies Curriculum for third grade is covered by learning about the 5 regions of the world: Deciduous Forest, Grasslands, Tundra, Rain Forests, and Deserts.

The student will be able to:

• Identify each region's climate, plant life, animal life and communities.

• State how everything depends on the climate and natural resources of an area

• Compare similarities and differences of the cultures we studied

• A unit on geography and current events is covered

• Geography - The student will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the information on a map or a globe

• Locate on map or a globe: continents, oceans, Northern/Southern

• Hemispheres, North/South Poles, equator, and latitude/longitude lines

• Current Events - The student will be able to locate information in a newspaper under world, state and local news
  
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Physical Education

The student will be able to:

• Develop physical fitness.

• Develop the cardio-vascular system.

• Develop and increase in strength and motor coordination.

• Participate in a diversity of activities so each child may meet success.

• Develop an enjoyment of exercise and understand its importance and benefits.

• Develop eye-hand coordination.

• Develop perceptual motor skills.

• Develop proper attitudes and sportsmanship.

• Develop skills necessary for lifetime activities and sports.

• Develop and understanding of the rules for sports and games.

• Develop and understand the meaning of team sports.

• Participate in a variety of lead-up games.

• Have an opportunity to participate in an intramural program.
  
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In all courses we want the children to:

• HAVE FUN!

Parental Support Tips

• Read with your child every day for at last 20 minutes

• Ask your child each day what s/he "learned" in school rather than what s/he "did"

• Practice basic addition and subtraction facts with your child

• Use math outcomes in daily situations (i.e. measuring when cooking, estimating costs when shopping, identifying items that are in liters around the house)

• Have your child write in some form daily (letters, notes, lists...)

• Take a family trip every month: zoos, local historical sites, art galleries, museums, planetariums, plays, concerts, sports events, and movies

• Encourage your child to observe and talk about the world of science around him/her (observe and identify plant and animal life in your neighborhood)

• Watch and discuss educational TV programs and limit the amount of time to no more than one hour per day

• Plan and enjoy physical activities together (hike, skate, walk, play ball..)

• Model and expect respectful, responsible, honest and caring behavior ("please", "thank you")

• Sing, draw and dance with your child

• Encourage a healthful lifestyle by being sure your child eats a well balanced diet and gets plenty of sleep

• Review and monitor your child's daily homework

• Make productive use of car travel time to talk with your children

• Give each of your children a hug and a kiss and tell them you love them every day.
  
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