Third Grade Curriculum 2010-2011

Math

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Our district currently uses the Houghton Mifflin series for math, and the skills taught are directly linked to the newly adopted Arizona State Standards.  We will be learning skills in the following math strands: number sense; data analysis and probability; patterns, algebra, and functions; geometry and measurement; and structure and logic. Students will be taught through a hands-on, concrete approach. Every day they will be given whole group instruction, small group centers, and individual work time in order to master the skills taught. Also, by the end of third grade, students will have mastered multiplication facts 0-10. 

 Arizona Mathematics Standards

Language Arts

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Reading and Writing is a big part of our school day. Our reading time will focus on fluency, vocabulary, phonics, and comprehension.  We will practice these reading skills through a variety of literature. Students will participate in whole group and small group instruction, as well as literacy work stations.  This will ensure that every student receives instruction in third grade skills, and then has time to practice these skills in books at his or her reading level. The writing program teaches the writing process, the six traits, and different writing modes, which is all a requirement of AIMS. Students will be asked to write short and long pieces throughout the school year using the six traits, which include ideas, organization, word choice, sentence fluency, voice, and conventions.  The different modes that we will study this year are Personal Narrative, Story, Formal Letter, Descriptive Essay, Persuasive Essay, and Research Report. Students will also learn cursive handwriting at the beginning of the year and be expected to write in cursive for the remainder of the year. 

 Arizona Reading Standards

Arizona Writing Standards

Science

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Our district has adopted the Houghton Mifflin series for science.  This year students will investigate many different concepts using scientific inquiry.  Some units that we will be studying include How Living Things Grow, Living Things and their Environment, Earth’s Surface, The Earth in Space, Matter and Energy Change.

 Arizona Science Standards

Social Studies

We will be using a curriculum from Scott Foresman in social studies.  The students will be studying about communities from the local level to the world.  There is also an emphasis on current events in our community and world.  The social studies curriculum involves student reading and writing.

Arizona Social Studies Standards 

Spelling

Students will be given a list of spelling words for every new story.  They will have a variety of opportunities to work on spelling words within our reading time.  It is also important that the students practice spelling throughout the week at home. They will be given a spelling packet, which includes a practice test and one or two activities that need to be completed.  This spelling packet will be due on the fifth day from receiving the packet. They will also take the test on that fifth day, even if it falls on a Monday.